Night.
The palace was brightly lit, with dish after dish of delicacies laid out before Uchiha Nan. One table was already full, and there was another beside it.
The focus was sheer extravagance.
Of course, there were also security considerations for the Daimyo. The Daimyo was an ordinary person, not a shinobi. He only took a bite or two from each dish. Even if shinobi from an enemy village had poisoned something, the Daimyo might not eat that particular dish—unless his luck was truly terrible.
"Music!"
A plump attendant clapped his hands, and the band standing nearby began to play and sing. Uchiha Nan had no idea what tune they were performing, but it sounded decent enough.
As the music and dancing began, rows of lightly dressed young girls entered the palace. It was truly an age of song and dance, with peace reigning under heaven.
In ancient times, a Daimyo this debauched would either be a ruler who lost his nation or not far from becoming one.
Eh? Eh? Eh?
Daimyo, why were you dancing along too?!
After the Daimyo, already thoroughly Liu Bei-fied, danced himself tired, he skillfully returned to his seat with two beauties in his arms.
"Lord Hokage, you have come from afar. Why not relax a little? The Imperial Palace's waters and soil nurture beauty, and these young girls' skin is exceptionally soft and smooth!"
The Daimyo narrowed his eyes slightly, looking utterly dissolute. Seeing that Uchiha Nan remained unmoved, he clapped his hands again, and a pair of young girls entered from outside.
They were about the same age as Uchiha Nan, with faintly blue hair and lovely features. More importantly, they were twins, and they took the initiative to sit beside him.
"Lord Hokage, these are my gifts to you today."
"Kaede, Suzu, the two of you must treat Lord Hokage well for me today!"
Mm! Just like Hyuga Takuma, he was here to pimp people out.
Uchiha Nan was tempted, though it was not because he had any thoughts about the twins.
Well, he did have a few thoughts.
But that was not the important part. The ten drawing opportunities were what Uchiha Nan wanted most.
As long as he was strong enough, any woman Uchiha Nan wanted could be delivered to him by countless people.
But he had come alone to ask the Daimyo for money, only to return to the village with a pair of twins...
What would the people in the village think of him afterward?
The Daimyo narrowed his eyes slightly. Seeing that Uchiha Nan still did not react, he sighed inwardly.
Was he just like those two Senju brothers? What a pity. Why did every one of them insist on refusing his goodwill?
Shinobi were truly annoying!
A trace of disgust flashed across the Daimyo's face, but he did not reveal anything outwardly.
"Daimyo, I like this gift very much!"
Uchiha Nan finally said it. In that instant, he felt as though some layer of membrane within him had been torn open.
What did a little integrity matter? Strength was what mattered most!
He needed to broaden his horizons. True powerhouses did not care about such things. Orochimaru could even become She-Orochimaru!
"Good, good, good!!!"
The Daimyo visibly became happier, thinking to himself.
The Uchiha seemed easier to communicate with than the Senju. None of them were good people, so why pretend to be righteous gentlemen?
For a time, the atmosphere grew even livelier. The Daimyo rose directly from his chair, came over to Uchiha Nan, and ate at the same table with him.
After several rounds of drinking, Uchiha Nan felt he could not let this continue any longer. It was time to discuss serious business.
Money!
He had to make the Daimyo open his purse first!
"Daimyo, Konoha's funds are already stretched thin."
Uchiha Nan rubbed his fingers together. Based on his experience, this should be the easiest time to discuss money with a financial backer.
"Hahaha, Lord Hokage, rest assured. 31 Billion Ryo will be delivered to Konoha's accounts on time."
Uchiha Nan looked around at the resplendent, golden palace and shook his head.
"Not 31 Billion Ryo. 41 Billion Ryo!"
"What?!!"
The Daimyo instantly froze, stunned by Uchiha Nan's appetite. This budget was already no small sum.
If Konoha had not fought for the Land of Fire for so long, even exhausting its foundations, the Daimyo would have restored the budget from several years ago to 20 billion ryo, let alone given them 31 Billion Ryo.
Did he think money fell from the sky?
Konoha was not the only one that had suffered heavy losses. The Land of Fire had also been ravaged by the war. Refugees were everywhere, and bandits sprang up in droves.
The people under his rule were becoming increasingly unruly, occupying more and more land while finding all sorts of ways to avoid paying taxes. Being able to squeeze out 31 Billion Ryo to feed this pack of shinobi was already nearing his limit.
Resettling refugees and reclaiming wasteland in the coming years—every single one of those things required enormous sums. Surely he could not subsidize it from his own private treasury?
"Lord Hokage, you must be joking."
The Daimyo forced a smile and waved his hand.
The noisy music stopped abruptly. The assorted guests all tactfully withdrew. The two important figures were about to discuss serious matters.
"Do you know that Konoha receives the largest funding in the entire Ninja World? The Land of Fire has had it difficult these past years as well. Natural disasters and man-made calamities have never ceased, and taxes have become harder to collect with each passing year."
"Do you know why Sunagakure behaved itself for so long after being defeated by Konoha?"
Uchiha Nan shook his head. During the First Shinobi World War, Sunagakure had been the first to withdraw. He had never paid much attention to why. Back then, all he had thought about was increasing his strength, busy cutting people down on the battlefield.
"The Daimyo of the Land of Wind cut Sunagakure's funding by more than half."
Uchiha Nan was stunned. He had not expected the Daimyo of the Land of Wind to be so ruthless that he even dared to slash a shinobi village's funds so severely.
Although the entire Ninja World promoted the Ninja Tool Theory, claiming shinobi were people who needed to learn endurance, shinobi were still people in the end.
They were living, breathing people, not to mention that every one of these shinobi was skilled at killing.
"Isn't that just courting death—"
Uchiha Nan did not continue. Following the Daimyo of the Land of Wind truly was a disaster. He even cut the money shinobi earned by risking their lives.
Uchiha Nan understood better than anyone how much money it took to become an outstanding shinobi. He had spent no small amount on himself.
His ninja sword alone had cost several hundred thousand ryo, not even counting secret medicines for training, ninja tools, and all sorts of other expenses.
For ordinary shinobi, every bit of funding spent on them would become combat power.
"But what else could he do? The Land of Wind is so poor that all it has left is sand. If Sunagakure's funding was not cut, even ordinary people would have no way to survive."
"Without ordinary people working themselves to the bone, who would support shinobi like you?"
The Daimyo took over Uchiha Nan's words, sneering repeatedly. His stance on Uchiha Nan's outrageous demand was already perfectly clear.
Even Sunagakure's funding had been cut, while Konoha's funding had increased compared to previous years. They should be satisfied.
They still wanted more money?
Sorry, not a single ryo!
"35 billion ryo!"
Uchiha Nan decided to compromise. After all, the man before him was Konoha's biggest financial backer, the client. He had to give him some face.
The Daimyo said nothing. Left with no choice, Uchiha Nan could only keep lowering his offer.
"34 billion ryo!"
"33 billion ryo!"
"32 billion ryo!"
After three consecutive offers, Uchiha Nan's expression had already turned somewhat ugly. I give you face, and you refuse to give me any?
Then I'll lose my temper and start cutting people down!
Before you continue