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 n 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, already awaited him outside of his residence to say their official goodbyes and simr words.


    "Hikari...", Takumi greeted, his voice carrying a blend of respect and familiarity that had defined their rtionship 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 n, now being in the same position as Takumi, however, some warmth and closeness still remained as seen by how Takumi called him by his name without any hesitation right away.


    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 congrattions, something the protocol of the official event hadn''t allowed, "Congrattions, 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 rtionship had evolved significantly. What began as a calcted mentorship, with Takumi viewing Hikari as a promising investment, and Hikari viewing Takumi as a temporary ''shelter'', had grown into a somewhat moreplex 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 avable 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 cane 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 thepound, please. You know why...", The caution in Takumi''s voice hinted at theplexities and dangers that came with Hikari''s elevated status in the vige.


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


    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; it was the genuine concern for his welfare that resonated deeply with Hikari.


    At that moment, moved by Takumi''smitment, Hikari silently vowed to ensure Takumi''s wellbeing in the future as much as possible, as long as it aligned with his overarching goals—amitment 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 the strength that Takumi possessed, which ranked him among the strongest figures within the n, alongside figures like the Patriarch, Hiashi, and now Hikari himself, his top 4 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 remainedrgely unaffected.


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


    This marked a significant change, as he had spent thest 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,parable in size to Takumi''s Fifth Estate and those of the other Elder lineages, buzzed with activity.


    As Takumi had promised, personnel were bustling about, engaged in moving belongings, cleaning, and attending to various tasks.


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


    Observing the estate more closely, Hikari noted that despite its simr size, it appeared more barren and slightly neglectedpared to the residences of the other Elders, but that was about to be changed from then.


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


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


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


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


    Furthermore, Hikari nned to relocate allmercial activities rted to his lineage to the Third Estate like other elders.


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


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


    His involvement in these operations over the past few years had not only familiarized him with the intricacies of the business but also earned him considerable respect from managers and workers alike.


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


    This groundworkid 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 nned.


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


    The innovative policies and business strategies that Hikari introduced, which were influenced by his unique knowledge from a past life, had not gone unnoticed by the other Elders within the Hyuga n.


    Observing the sess and efficiency brought about by Hikari''s methods, several Elders began to adopt simr tactics within their own lineage''s operations.


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


    The sweeping sess and modernization of the Hyuga n''smercial operations,rgely influenced by Hikari''s innovative approaches, certainly also yed arge role in the Elders'' rtively 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.


    Although there were many other sectors that the other lineages had been involved in that could also apply some of the same principles as he did in his own.


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


    For example, among many of the things he did a few of them were that 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 ofpetitors.


    He embraced strategic nning 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 vtile 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 poption 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 offeringpetitivepensation, opportunities for advancement, and a workce 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 economdscape was dominated by powerful shinobi ns, 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 find themselves targeted by threats from these influential ns, with no protection from the Hokage.


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


    They monopolized key administrative and governance roles, enabling their own business interests to thrive through advantageous public contracts and regtions, thus cementing their wealth and power in such an unbnced economic framework.


    Nevertheless, Konoha''s essence as a military-focused society, where financial gain was predominantly through shinobi and mercenary kind of 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 arger "share of the pie" for his Hyuga n 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 n by introducing innovative business concepts and ideas, aiming to transform the economic system from within.