Shamu asked with a smile,
"Third Hokage, aren't you going to explain this?"
The Third Hokage's thoughts were in turmoil, but his expression remained calm.
At a time like this, the Third Hokage naturally could not admit that these Jonin had issues. Even if they were mediocre, if the Hokage said they were Jonin, then they had to be Jonin.
The Third Hokage stepped forward and spoke into the microphone.
"The Sarutobi Clan has grown over many years, and its numbers are indeed rather large. I can guarantee this in my capacity as the Third Hokage."
"Their Jonin status has all been registered and can be verified. There is absolutely no falsification involved!"
Shamu inwardly laughed at the Third Hokage's stubborn, face-saving explanation.
However, it no longer mattered how many civilians believed the Third Hokage. Shamu had already achieved his goal.
The expressions of the major ninja clan heads and Konoha's elders below had all turned quite ugly.
With the Sarutobi Clan's growth, it was indeed possible for them to have a large population.
But for the Sarutobi Clan to have a full 129 Jonin was absolutely impossible.
The Sarutobi Clan was not a Kekkei Genkai clan. Their odds of producing Jonin were nowhere near that high.
If they had claimed there were 129 Special Jonin, everyone could have barely accepted it.
After all, Jonin were people who excelled in every respect.
So it was obvious that the Third Hokage had used his authority to promote Sarutobi Clan members with Chunin or Special Jonin strength into Jonin.
Jonin received monthly stipends after being promoted.
After all, a village's upper-tier combat strength consisted of its Jonin.
The more Jonin a village had, the stronger it was.
If your strength reached the Jonin level and you went to join a village, that