Kapitel 52: Relocating and Commercial Strategies

As soon as Hikari stepped out of the Patriarch's Estate, he was met with a palpable shift in the atmosphere.

The respect and reverence from the clan members he encountered were markedly more pronounced than before.

Their bows were deeper, their gazes more deferential, and the title they used to address him—"Third Elder-sama"—carried a weight that underscored the significance of his new seat.

Embracing his new role, Hikari made his way to the Fifth Estate, where Takumi, his mentor and 'childhood' caregiver, awaited him outside his residence to say their official goodbyes and similar words.

"Hikari...", Takumi greeted, his voice carrying a blend of respect and familiarity that had defined their relationship over the years.

"Takumi-sensei...", Hikari responded, acknowledging the subtle shift in how Takumi addressed him.

Gone was the '-kun' suffix, a change that reflected Hikari's elevated status within the clan. Now, he was in the same position as Takumi. However, some warmth and closeness remained, as seen by how Takumi called him by his name without any hesitation.

The atmosphere between them was markedly different from the formal setting of the earlier ceremony. Here, in the more intimate surroundings of the Fifth Estate, Takumi took the opportunity to offer his congratulations, something the protocol of the official event hadn't allowed, "Congratulations, Hikari. Your new position is well deserved...", Takumi said, his usual stern demeanor softening slightly to convey his genuine pride in Hikari's achievements.

Hikari sensed the sincerity in Takumi's words and felt a surge of gratitude. Over the years, their relationship had evolved significantly.

What began as a calculated mentorship, with Takumi viewing Hikari as a promising investment and Hikari viewing Takumi as a temporary 'shelter,' had grown into a somewhat more complex genuine bond to some extent.

Takumi's stern and reserved nature had always made him a challenging figure to read, but his consistent guidance and other kinds of help had been instrumental in Hikari's development.

"I already ordered for all your stuff to be moved to the Third Estate, and I also ordered all of my available personnel to go there and join your personnel in helping you move in there and reorganize the Estate in a way that you would like next...", Takumi spoke, his actions reflected a level of care that went beyond mere duty; it was a gesture of solidarity and support for him.

"You also know that you can come here at any time if there is anything you need, right, Hikari?", Takumi continued, reinforcing the open door he had always offered to Hikari.

"As for other things, just follow your own mind. You are even more intelligent than me, to be honest. There is no need to hesitate about anything..." Those words were a clear signal that Takumi saw Hikari not just as a student or protégé but as a fully-fledged leader on his own.

"So, I'm not worried about how you'll fare in your new position. Just be careful when you venture outside the compound. You know why..." Takumi's caution hinted at the complexities and dangers that came with Hikari's elevated status in the village.

"And if you need any help, I'm willing even personally to move on your request...", Takumi's offer of personal assistance was a significant gesture, underscoring the depth of his commitment to Hikari's success and well-being both for the clan's future and due to their close relationship.

Hikari found himself momentarily taken aback by the depth of Takumi's dedication. It wasn't just the material support of organizing his move to the Third Estate or the offer of ongoing assistance; the genuine concern for his welfare resonated deeply with Hikari.

At that moment, moved by Takumi's commitment, Hikari silently vowed to ensure Takumi's well-being in the future as much as possible, as long as it aligned with his overarching goals—a commitment he deemed highly feasible given their shared interests and mutual respect.

Internally, Hikari also paid homage to Takumi's prowess. He was acutely aware of Takumi's strength, which ranked him among the strongest figures in the clan, alongside figures like the Patriarch, Hiashi, and now Hikari, his top four estimates.

Takumi's reliance on spiritual energy and Yin Release for his most advanced techniques truly set him apart.

It made it so that his skillset was less dependent on brute physical strength than for an average shinobi.

That means that even as Takumi entered his first years of fifties, his capabilities remained largely unaffected.

After exchanging a few more sincere farewell words with Takumi, Hikari went toward the Third Estate.

This marked a significant change, as he had spent the last eight years in the Fifth Estate under Takumi's mentorship.

Now, with his new role as Third Elder, he was ready to take on the responsibilities and start managing the logistics of his lineage's estate.

The walk there was filled with anticipation for the changes ahead and a readiness to embrace his new duties.

Upon reaching the front of his Third Estate, Hikari took a moment to survey the scene before him. The estate, comparable in size to Takumi's Fifth Estate and those of the other Elder lineages, buzzed with activity.

As Takumi had promised, personnel bustled about, moving belongings, cleaning, and attending to various tasks.

Hikari's new servants, some of whom had been waiting in the estate for his arrival over the past eight years, while the Patriarch had just appointed others, all showed him the utmost respect and saluted him upon his arrival.

Observing the estate more closely, Hikari noted that despite its similar size, it appeared more barren and slightly neglected compared to the residences of the other Elders, but that was about to change.

Stepping into the Third Estate, Hikari couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. The vast space was now his to command, which was quite beneficial to some of his follow-up plans.

As he moved through the estate, inspecting each room, the courtyard, and the expansive areas within, the busy personnel and servants treated him with respect and salutes.

As Hikari assessed the estate's current condition, his mind was already racing with plans for its transformation.

His first order of business was to establish the diplomatic division he had been granted permission to form.

Furthermore, like other elders, Hikari planned to relocate all commercial activities related to his lineage to the Third Estate.

This move would also symbolize the Third Estate's revival as a key hub of activity and influence within the clan.

Hikari was confident that the Third Estate's transition, reorganization, and integration of his lineage's commercial operations would be smooth and swift.

His involvement in these operations over the past few years had familiarized him with the business's intricacies and earned him considerable respect from managers and workers alike.

His innovative approaches and strategic improvements significantly revitalized his lineage's commercial activities and rejuvenation and brought them on par with, if not surpassing, those managed by other elder lineages, even before his official ascension to elder status.

This groundwork laid by Hikari meant that most of the personnel were already aligned with his vision and methods.

They respected his leadership and were likely to be cooperative and efficient in implementing the changes he planned.

Hikari anticipated that the necessary adjustments and enhancements to the estate and its operations could be accomplished seamlessly with a few days of focused effort.

Hikari's innovative policies and business strategies, influenced by his unique knowledge from a past life, did not go unnoticed by the other Elders within the Hyuga clan.

Observing Hikari's methods' success and efficiency, several Elders began to adopt similar tactics within their own lineage's operations.

This collective shift towards more modern and effective management practices significantly enhanced the clan's commercial ventures, leading to a notable increase in prosperity. It all officially made the Hyuga clan the wealthiest shinobi clan in Konoha and the world.

The sweeping success and modernization of the Hyuga clan's commercial operations, largely influenced by Hikari's innovative approaches, certainly also played a large role in the Elders' relatively straightforward decision to appoint him as a full-on Elder at such a young age.

However, this rise in prominence and wealth also brought with it a heightened wariness from the Hokage's faction.

Focusing on areas where his lineage had traditionally been involved, Hikari decided to concentrate on Real Estate and Housing Services, Training Facilities and Dojos, and Entertainment and Leisure.

Many other sectors that the other lineages had been involved in could also apply some of the same principles as he did on his own.

Leveraging his knowledge from a past life, he sought to revolutionize these sectors with innovative approaches and efficiency improvements to make more profitable investments, acquire the best-value assets, and generate the most profits, and he did it.

For example, among many of his actions, Hikari applied principles of supply and demand to adjust offerings based on market needs, ensuring his businesses were always aligned with current trends and requirements.

He also utilized economic forecasting to anticipate shifts in the shinobi world that could affect his operations, allowing him to stay ahead of competitors.

He embraced strategic planning and SWOT analysis to identify opportunities for growth and areas needing improvement.

Lean management techniques were adopted to streamline operations, reduce waste, and improve overall efficiency across all ventures.

Hikari was also strategic and discerning, focusing on areas with the highest potential for return. He understood the importance of portfolio diversification, spreading investments across different sectors to mitigate risks associated with the volatile shinobi economy.

He introduced budgeting practices that allowed for more effective allocation of resources, ensuring financial stability and sustainability.

Cost-benefit analysis became a standard procedure before any new investment, ensuring that resources were only put into ventures with a clear path to profitability.

Sales and marketing strategies were modernized to include segmentation and targeting, allowing Hikari's businesses to tailor their offerings to specific segments of the Konoha population and beyond.

Promotional strategies were refined to create more impactful campaigns that resonated with their intended audiences.

Hikari focused on talent acquisition and development, creating an environment that attracted and retained top talent by offering competitive compensation, opportunities for advancement, and a workplace culture that valued innovation and teamwork.

By harnessing his past-life knowledge and carefully adapting it to the context of his world, Hikari set new standards for excellence and innovation within his lineage's businesses.

All of those strategies were revolutionary in a setting like Konoha, where the norm was an economy driven by the interests of a few, operating under a crony "rent-seeking" model rather than a straightforward free-market system.

In this environment, the economic landscape was dominated by powerful shinobi clans, leaving small-time civilian merchants struggling to survive and stifling opportunities for upward economic mobility.

If ordinary civilians dared to challenge this established order, they would be targeted by threats from these influential clans and have no protection from the Hokage.

This issue was particularly acute under the leadership of Hiruzen and his advisors, whose clans—the Sarutobi, Shimura, Utanane, and Mitokade—were the primary beneficiaries of this insular economy.

They monopolized key administrative and governance roles, enabling their own business interests to thrive through advantageous public contracts and regulations. Thus, they cement their wealth and power in such an unbalanced economic framework.

Nevertheless, Konoha's essence as a military-focused society, where financial gain was predominantly through shinobi and mercenary means, implied that the necessity for a shift towards free-market capitalism was not paramount.

With all of this understanding, Hikari, leveraging his sophisticated business insights and knowledge from his previous life on Earth, early on recognized the futility of attempting to secure a larger "share of the pie" for his Hyuga clan within Konoha's tightly controlled economy, which was firmly in the hands of the Hokage's faction.

Instead, he chose to "expand the pie" for his lineage and clan by introducing innovative business concepts and ideas to transform the economic system from within.