Konoha Needs to Learn About Frugality

The night was thick.

Chiba Ran set down the scroll and rose to stretch his limbs.

After finishing his official duties, he left the study and walked slowly toward the bedchamber.

Along the way, the guards and maids all bowed their heads, not daring to breathe too loudly.

Chiba Ran was accustomed to this, and it pleased him greatly.

At the entrance to the bedchamber, two new maids stood with their hands at their sides, bodies slightly bent.

Chiba Ran pushed the door open and entered.

Inside, candlelight flickered, and the scent of incense drifted through the air.

A figure was curled up on the bed, the blankets outlining a curved silhouette.

Chiba Ran softened his steps, a faint smile on his face.

Perhaps hearing his footsteps, that curve visibly tensed.

Chiba Ran walked straight to the bedside and sat down, a playful look on his face as he reached his hand under the covers.

What his hand met was not skin smooth as jade, but the texture of fabric.

Chiba Ran's smile vanished instantly. He yanked the blanket open. "You're still wearing it?"

Qing Yueye's eyes flew open, filled with terror, yet her face was stubborn.

Chiba Ran paid no heed to her emotions. His face darkened as he snorted coldly. "It seems you still haven't learned how to be a maid."

"Someone come!"

The chamber door swung open at his command. The maid at the entrance rushed in, dropping directly to her knees, her forehead pressed hard against the cold floor.

"I told you to teach her the rules!" Chiba Ran pointed at Qing Yueye, whose face was a mix of terror and resentment, his voice barely containing his anger. "Did you not teach her?"

"This..." The maid trembled all over, knocking her head against the floor repeatedly.

Chiba Ran grew irritated. "Take her away. Teach her again. Make her understand what a maid is supposed to do."

He paused, his voice turning colder.

"If she hasn't learned by this time tomorrow, I'll hold you accountable."

The maid quickly nodded. "Yes! Yes! Your maid obeys! I will teach her the rules properly!"

Chiba Ran turned aside, and the maid immediately scrambled up, rushed over, and grabbed Qing Yueye by the arm. No matter how she struggled, the maid dragged her out of the bedchamber by force.

The chamber door closed, cutting off the cries from outside.

The next day, early morning.

Sunlight streamed into the study, casting streaks of light and shadow.

Chiba Ran had finished reviewing several memorials and was now slowly savoring a cup of tea.

"Lord Daimyo, Lord Tanaka requests an audience," Minamoto announced from outside the door.

"Let him in."

Soon, a slightly plump middle-aged man strode in quickly. His name was Tanaka Shigeru, a veteran minister of the Land of Fire.

Tanaka Shigeru bowed respectfully. "Greetings to Lord Daimyo."

"Sit, Lord Tanaka," Chiba Ran said, setting down his teacup. "Serve tea."

"Thank you, my lord!"

Tanaka Shigeru sat as instructed, his buttocks barely touching the edge of the chair, his posture humble.

After a few pleasantries, Chiba Ran said, "Last night, the Third Hokage of Konoha sent a letter."

Tanaka Shigeru asked, "May I ask what it contained?"

Chiba Ran toyed with the lid of his teacup, his tone flat. "The letter was quite touching. First, it congratulated me on my smooth succession, then reminisced about the deep friendship between Konoha and the Daimyo Manor over the years, and finally, it made a small request."

Tanaka Shigeru's eyelid twitched.

Any request that the Daimyo described in such a tone was definitely not small.

"What does the Third Hokage mean?"

"He means that in this great war, Konoha contributed the most, but also suffered heavy losses. The village is in ruins and needs rebuilding." Chiba Ran's words betrayed neither joy nor anger.

"So, he hopes the Daimyo Manor can allocate an additional budget for post-war reconstruction."

Tanaka Shigeru's face immediately turned bitter. He hurriedly spoke, "My lord, this... this absolutely cannot be done!"

"The national treasury is emptier than my hair! The recent rebellion suppression already drained all the funds. Rebuilding various regions, compensating casualties—everything needs money! There's simply nothing left to squeeze out!"

"Oh?" Chiba Ran raised an eyebrow. "Is it that serious?"

"Even worse, my lord!"

"Bring me Konoha's account books and let me take a look."

Tanaka Shigeru was prepared, quickly presenting a thick ledger with both hands.

Chiba Ran took it, opened it, and scanned the pages at a glance.

The numbers on it were shocking.

Weapons and equipment procurement, ninja mission subsidies, casualty compensation, infrastructure construction, research and development funding...

All sorts of expenditures added up to a full third of the Land of Fire's annual budget.

Especially during the Third Shinobi World War, that ratio had once soared to half.

Chiba Ran's face darkened as he closed the ledger with a dull thud.

"This much?"

Sweat beaded on Tanaka Shigeru's forehead as he carefully explained, "Konoha is, after all, the nation's military shield. Over the years, if they hadn't held the front line, we..."

Chiba Ran smiled.

"Lord Tanaka, let me ask you—Konoha is important, but what about the other citizens of the Land of Fire?"

"In wartime, I understand the military spending is high."

"But now, the Third Raikage is dead, Iwagakure is crippled, Sunagakure has submitted, and Kirigakure is too busy with its own internal strife to bother anyone. The war is about to end."

"Instead of thinking about giving back, he wants to increase the budget. What kind of logic is that?"

Tanaka Shigeru was momentarily speechless. "Then... my lord means we should reject it outright?"

Chiba Ran waved a hand. "Ah, rejecting it would hurt feelings. The Third is, after all, a man of high virtue and merit, having rendered great service to the Land of Fire. We can't be so heartless."

Tanaka Shigeru didn't quite understand.

Chiba Ran's smile grew meaningful. "Not only will we not reject it, we'll take the initiative to help him out."

"Help him—and help everyone in Konoha—learn what it means to be frugal."

He held up two fingers.

"Starting next quarter, cut Konoha's annual budget by twenty percent."

"Twenty... twenty percent?!"

Tanaka Shigeru nearly jumped out of his chair in shock. "My lord, this is absolutely unacceptable! This is no small sum—Konoha will never agree! The Third Hokage..."

"He will agree!"

Chiba Ran cut him off, his tone firm.

He stood up, walked over to Tanaka Shigeru, and patted his shoulder.

"The nation's finances are strained after the war. For the overall recovery of the Land of Fire, everyone must share the hardship. As a part of the Land of Fire, Konoha should set an example. I believe the Third will understand."

Tanaka Shigeru opened his mouth, cold sweat trickling down his cheek.

He understood now.

This was about making an example of Konoha—killing the chicken to scare the monkey!

"But... what about Konoha..."

"Given the losses from this war, I've already been more than fair by not making an issue of it."

Chiba Ran sat back down. "The Third is a smart man. He knows how to choose."

"It's settled. Go back and draft a new budget for me."

"Your servant obeys." Tanaka Shigeru bowed.

"Go on. Make the official document sound heartfelt."

"Yes!"

Tanaka Shigeru bowed and withdrew, his steps unsteady.

The study fell silent once more.

Chiba Ran's expression was calm. This first move had been made.

Even without the system's mission, he would have taken aim at Konoha.

As the Daimyo, how could he let the blade rest in another's hand?

Titles and authority—these must never be lent to others!

Just then, Minamoto's voice came from outside the door.

"My lord."

"Enter!"

Minamoto pushed the door open and bowed. "My lord, a Konoha ninja requests an audience. He says he has come on the orders of the Third Hokage to submit a detailed report on this great war."

"A Konoha ninja?"

Chiba Ran was somewhat surprised. "Who is it?"

"He calls himself Yūhi Shinku."