It's dead of night, but Hokage Building is still brightly lit.
At this time, the four-person group that holds the real power of Konoha is having a small meeting.
"Since the end of the war, the number of missions Konoha has accepted has increased by about four times compared to the war period."
Utatane Koharu placed the document in his hand in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"As the documents show, in the context of such a new environment, the workload of our village is in a period of increasing growth.
Of course, this is inseparable from Chunin Exams, but overall, the village's economy has shifted from a medium-to-high-speed growth stage to a high-speed growth stage. "
Utatane Koharu read out a lot of data, and it can be seen that Konoha is in great shape recently.
Third Hokage said softly, "This is a question for you professionals, but are the recent prices in the village too high?"
"It's indeed a bit high." Utatane Koharu nodded.
"No, not to mention, the price of pork alone is several times more expensive than last year, and the same is true for fruits. What's going on?"
Third Hokage knocked on the table and looked at the three people in front of him.
It doesn't matter if the price goes up, but if it goes up so much, how can he eat braised pork ribs so arrogantly?
Homura Mitokado bit the bullet and explained, "In fact, it is not as severe as imagined. In the long run, prices are within expectations, the increase is controllable, and the situation is good. The villagers said they can accept it."
"..."
"What did you say Danzo?" Third Hokage looked at Danzo.
Danzo said impatiently, "What does this have to do with me?" I don't control the price, so don't blame me for everything. "
"Does it have nothing to do with you?" Third Hokage's voice was cold, staring at his friend.
"You have only taken over Police Force for more than a year, what have you been doing?
Relying on the responsibility of Police Force, Commercial Street's store was inspected. In the past, it was inspected three times a year. How can you do it three times a month? How can you let others do business? "
"There are also those ninja families. Many of them control the raw materials. If you restrict them, can the price not be expensive?"
Danzo snorted coldly.
This is not the first time he has done this kind of thing. During Second Great Ninja War, he briefly managed Police Force and abused his power in this way.
Police Force's responsibilities are much greater than imagined. The civilian merchants in the village, including the shops opened by various ninja clans, are theoretically managed by Police Force.
So this is really a hated department, which is also the original intention of Second Hokage.
But Danzo doesn't care about this. Now that he has mastered this department, he must make good use of it.
How to use it well, that is to suppress the stores of major families to force them to send their outstanding clan members to Root.
Don't listen? Then check three times a day.
You must know that in a family, there are not only ninjas, but also many clan members who are not engaged in ninja activities, and they all rely on these side jobs to make a living.
Danzo used this method to carry out small tricks overtly and covertly. Many families were forced to send their clansmen to Root.
Third Hokage knew what Danzo was thinking, and he continued to ask, "Sixth Elder of the Nara Clan, what's going on?"
"What's going on? He was reported and suspected of fraud." Danzo said nonchalantly.
Some families naturally rejected Danzo's unreasonable demands, such as Nara Clan.
Someone happened to report that Nara Sixth Elder was defrauding Uchiha Plaza, so Danzo asked his subordinates to arrest him.
The arrest of Nara Sixth Elder this time was not only meant to warn Nara Clan, but also to test Chen's bottom line of tolerance.
He was still on the battlefield at that time. Chen returned to the village and completed the reform of the Uchiha Clan in a short time.
The reform has been completed and Commercial Street has been built. Now it is difficult for Danzo to say anything openly. We can only use Police Force to suppress Uchiha Shopping Street.
"Why are you lying? He just showed off to Shogi's old man and let me go quickly!" Third Hokage said angrily.
"But he did cheat a lot of money, and ninjas from several villages reported him."
"Fart! That's because their skills are not good. I have played many times myself, and I always win a lot of money. Let me go quickly." Third Hokage patted the table.
"I gave Police Force to you, not for you to mess around like this!"
Danzo said dissatisfied, "Then you can take it back and give it to the Uchiha Clan. Don't forget that this department was originally Master Second Hokage..."
"Okay." Third Hokage interrupted, "Since we have taken it back, don't mention returning it."
"I'm warning you, Uchiha Clan is so well integrated with the village now that it can't be separated. This is what Mr. Second Hokage wanted back then. Don't make any small moves."
Seeing Danzo's indifferent expression, Third Hokage said angrily, "After Chunin Exams ends this time, I will reorganize Police Force and recruit team members from the village."
"Whatever you want!"
For Sarutobi Hiruzen to take back Police Force, Danzo has also been mentally prepared.
Police Force can be used to bully other families in a short period of time, but it is a hot baggage after all, otherwise Second Hokage would not have given it to the Uchiha Clan.
Danzo just wants to make a one-time deal and throw it away after using it. How can it be kept in hand for a long time?
Seeing that Danzo had no objection, Third Hokage turned to ask Chunin Exams.
"Chunin Exams is about to begin. How are the security preparations at the venue going?"
Homura Mitokado, as the person in charge, introduced, "There are four teams distributed in the first examination room, and in the second Forest of Death, sixteen teams are distributed, which is basically guaranteed..."
Before he finished speaking, Sarutobi Hiruzen interrupted, "I don't think it's possible. Everything is just in case. You can't say basically."
"But it used to be this configuration." Homura Mitokado explained.
"It was before. This time there is Seven-Tails Jinchuriki in the team. Four more teams will be added. Listen to me!" Third Hokage said in a deep voice.
"Yes, I understand." Homura Mitokado nodded.
Sarutobi Hiruzen is obviously not in a good mood now, so it's better not to offend him.
Danzo, a person who always looks gloomy and seems to owe millions to everyone, no one thinks there is anything wrong with his harsh tone.
But when an honest person like Sarutobi Hiruzen, who is cheerful all day long, gets angry, it is even more frightening.
It seems that the recent rise in prices has made him very angry.
The meeting went on one by one, and in the final stage, several people inevitably mentioned the issue of Fourth Mizukage.
Although there were rumors outside that Third Hokage did not want to abdicate, the three of them all knew that Sarutobi Hiruzen had already made up his mind, but at the last moment, he hesitated about his successor.
Danzo, who looked indifferent just now, became nervous at this time.
He urged, "Hiruzen, you are still young, why do you have to leave office so quickly? You can just stay for another five or ten years."
Danzo himself had no chance of becoming Fourth Mizukage. He thought about it and found that Sarutobi Hiruzen continuing to serve seemed to be the best choice.
He decided to step up the game.
"I think..."
Third Hokage, who was in a bad mood, interrupted directly:
"I don't want you to think, I want me to think, just listen to me on this matter."
Danzo still wants to argue.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen gave him no chance to interrupt.
"Listen to me. I alone have the final say. This matter does not need to be discussed."
After finishing speaking, Third Hokage was the first to leave his seat, leaving only Danzo with the back of the domineering president.