Konoha's Reaction

The Konohagakure village in the afternoon was peaceful and serene.

The dust of war had yet to settle, but reconstruction efforts had already begun.

Every Konoha shinobi knew that the village's vitality had been severely wounded by this war.

Despite this, their passion for life had allowed the village to regain some of its spirit.

Yūhi Shinku stepped through the village gates, his pace unbroken.

The news of budget cuts weighed heavily on his chest.

The image of the young Daimyo, those calm eyes, lingered in his mind.

He sped directly towards the Hokage Building.

The Hokage's Office.

Smoke filled the air.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat behind his desk, puffing on his pipe, his brow furrowed.

Before him lay mountains of post-war reports and casualty lists.

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, the two elder advisors, sat on either side, their expressions grave.

In the shadowy corner of the office, Shimura Danzo leaned on his cane, silent.

The atmosphere was heavy.

"Still no news?" Mitokado Homura spoke first, impatient.

"Judging by the time, Shinku should be back soon," Hiruzen Sarutobi put down the scroll in his hand and rubbed his temples.

He wasn't worried about the supplementary budget request being rejected.

Daimyo throughout the ages had never refused Konoha on such matters.

Konoha was the shield of the Land of Fire, and the cost of maintaining that shield was a necessary expense.

Sending Yūhi Shinku this time was to submit the battle report and, more importantly, to gauge the attitude of the new Daimyo.

A sixteen-year-old boy who ascended to power through bloody struggle would undoubtedly possess extraordinary character and methods.

But he was young, after all.

As long as Konoha presented itself as the meritorious servant and offered some appeasement, there shouldn't be any major issues.

Knock knock.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Enter."

The door was pushed open, and Yūhi Shinku, dusty and travel-worn, entered, his face etched with fatigue and a complex expression.

"Lord Hokage, esteemed advisors."

"You're back. Thank you for your hard work."

Hiruzen Sarutobi offered a gentle smile. "How did things go? What did the Daimyo say?"

All eyes fell on Yūhi Shinku.

Yūhi Shinku straightened his body but didn't answer immediately.

His Adam's apple bobbed, as if he were struggling to find the right words.

He looked up, meeting their gazes, and spoke with difficulty.

"Lord Hokage, the Daimyo Manor has rejected the request for a supplementary budget."

The office fell silent.

While some present had anticipated this outcome, hearing it directly caused their expressions to darken.

Mitokado Homura's voice was filled with confusion. "Rejected? Why? So many people died in the village, can't the Daimyo see that?"

Utatane Koharu added coldly, "What does the Daimyo want? Is he trying to establish his authority by targeting Konoha right after taking the throne?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent, merely taking a puff of his pipe, his face appearing and disappearing in the smoke.

This matter was likely not as simple as it seemed.

From the shadows, Danzo's single eye flashed with ferocity.

"Shinku, tell us the details of your meeting, word for word," Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice remained calm.

"Yes."

Yūhi Shinku gathered his composure and recounted the meeting exactly as it had happened.

From Chiba Ran's classification of the battle report as a duty report, to the heart-piercing words, 'Are the lives of ninjas more precious than those of civilians?', and finally, to the seemingly considerate special fund for nurturing prodigies.

When he finished, the atmosphere in the entire office became extremely oppressive.

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu looked utterly shocked.

These words were flawless.

The other party stood on the grounds of righteousness, turning Konoha's merits into its due responsibilities.

They twisted Konoha's request for compensation into a conflict of interest with the people.

What shrewd tactics!

Could a sixteen-year-old boy really say such things?

"Not only that..."

Yūhi Shinku's voice was hoarse. "Before I left, I heard that the Daimyo Manor was undergoing financial reform..."

"The Daimyo has ordered that starting next quarter, the village's annual budget will be cut."

"What?!"

This time, even Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't sit still.

He looked up sharply, his eyes flashing with brilliance.

They wouldn't give the additional funds, and now they were cutting the existing ones?

"How much was cut?"

From the shadows, Danzo's voice rang out, chillingly cold.

"Two... two-tenths."

This number made everyone's heads buzz.

Two-tenths!

This was no small sum.

Ninja compensation, treatment for the injured, research and development of new ninja tools, maintenance of the village's defense system... which of these didn't require money?

If it were reduced, the village, already financially strained, would fall into operational difficulties!

Utatane Koharu cried out in disbelief, "He's insane! He's trying to destroy Konoha! He's undermining the very foundation of the Land of Fire!"

Danzo emerged from the shadows, his cane striking the ground with urgent, heavy thuds. "A two-tenths cut?! What gives him the right?! How dare he?!"

"What does he think ninjas are? Tools that can be measured by money?"

"We shed blood and sacrificed for the Land of Fire, and this is the humiliation we receive?"

"Hiruzen, we can't tolerate this any longer!"

"This brat is declaring war on us! We must teach him a lesson!"

Mitokado Homura echoed sternly, "Exactly! He must be made to retract his order!"

"Once the budget is cut, there will inevitably be unrest within the village, and our deterrent power against other ninja villages will significantly decrease."

"Don't forget, Kumogakure is still watching us menacingly!"

In the office, emotions ran high.

Hiruzen Sarutobi shouted, "Everyone, calm down!"

After the initial shock, Hiruzen Sarutobi forced himself to calm down.

He sat back down, picked up his pipe, but didn't light it for a long time.

His mind was filled with the young Daimyo that Yūhi Shinku had described.

Calm, authoritative.

His emotions hidden, his expression unreadable.

Speaking in the gentlest tone, he uttered the most cutting words.

First, he hits you with a stick, then he throws you a useless candy, making you grateful to him.

He was too familiar with this tactic.

But this shouldn't come from a sixteen-year-old boy!

These methods...

This cunning...

This foresight...

He was clearly an old monster who had been steeped in the art of power for decades!

He remembered the past.

Back then, to secure his position as Hokage, he had also sought the support of the Daimyo Manor.

He knew well that the Daimyo's power was not just in nominal rule.

Economics was the most lethal weapon.

After all, everyone had to eat, and ninjas were no exception.

But he had never imagined that this new Daimyo would refuse so decisively.

They didn't negotiate with Konoha at all.

Instead, they were issuing a decree.

They had all misjudged this new Daimyo.

A terrible memory suddenly flashed through Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind.

Just last month, he had received a plea for help from this Daimyo.

At that time, the battle for the Daimyo position was in full swing.

And he had refused!

Thinking of this, cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

"Hiruzen! What are you still hesitating about!"

Danzo stepped closer, his voice chilling, "Send the ANBU to give this Daimyo a warning! Let him know what co-governance means!"

"Foolish!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed the table, shouting sternly.

Danzo's steps faltered.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at him, his gaze sharp as a knife, "A warning? How would you warn him?"

"Send someone to assassinate him? And then what? Have all the nobles and commoners of the Land of Fire see us, Konoha, as rebels? Have the other four great nations laugh at us? Take this opportunity to declare war on us?"

"Without the support of the Daimyo Manor, can the village withstand a war?"

A barrage of questions left Danzo speechless.

Yes.

The other party was the legitimate Daimyo.

He was cutting the budget using the excuse of the nation's financial difficulties and the need to overcome hardship together.

What right did Konoha have to object?

Were Konoha ninjas not people of the Land of Fire?

All the righteousness and legitimacy were in the other party's hands.

Konoha possessed immense strength but had its hands and feet tied.

"Then... then what do we do? Just let it go?" Utatane Koharu was unwilling.

Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent.

He walked to the window, gazing at the village below and the Hokage Rock faces in the distance, symbols of the Hokage's will.

After a long while.

He exhaled a breath of stale air.

"No."

"We can't just let it go."

He turned around, his composure as the "Shinobi Hero" restored.

"I will resolve this matter personally."

His cane struck the ground heavily. Danzo questioned, "How will you resolve it?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up the invitation letter and said, "Let's not make a fuss about this for now. During the enthronement ceremony, I will speak with the Daimyo."

"It's been too long. Let Root handle this!"

"Danzo, I'm warning you, keep your Root in check and don't act rashly!"

"Hmph, Hiruzen, you will regret this!"

"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"

"Hmph!"

"Bang!"

The door was slammed shut!