Still trying to take a kickback?

"You flatter me, you flatter me!"

"This is just a minor trick, nothing more."

"Not just anyone is qualified to challenge Konoha."

Uchiha Nan said this with a fake smile, his scarlet Sharingan fixed on the Daimyo, making the Daimyo's skin crawl.

"Yes, yes!"

"Who in the Ninja World doesn't know the fame of the Uchiha Sharingan?"

The Daimyo repeatedly agreed, understanding the unspoken meaning behind Uchiha Nan's words. Even if Konoha's strength had declined significantly, it was still undoubtedly the strongest power in the Land of Fire.

"Guards, carry Genkū away!"

"Useless trash!"

The Daimyo turned his head, his fawning expression instantly changing. He immediately ordered his subordinates to drag the fallen Genkū away.

Seeing that his display of power had achieved its purpose, Uchiha Nan dropped his stern facade and resumed his smile, engaging in an enthusiastic conversation with the Daimyo.

Their topics of conversation were wide-ranging.

The Daimyo complained about the difficulties of governing.

His ministers deceived him, kept false accounts, encroached on land, refused to pay taxes, and embezzled his money.

"This is all my money!"

Uchiha Nan offered perfunctory agreement, also lamenting his own hardships.

"Being a ninja is difficult, and being Hokage is even more so!"

"To navigate through blades and fire, one wrong step means instant death."

The joys and sorrows of people are sometimes shared. The Daimyo and Uchiha Nan chatted idly.

Men, they could discuss history, then military strategy, then aliens, and finally the origin of the universe, freely exploring any topic, but it always inevitably led back to women.

"Are you satisfied with the gift I sent to the Hokage yesterday?"

The Daimyo wore a knowing smile, and Uchiha Nan naturally returned one, their understanding conveyed without words.

"If the Hokage likes this kind of thing, I have..."

The Daimyo's eyes shifted as he extended an invitation to Uchiha Nan. Women, for people like them, were the least valuable things.

The Daimyo would do his utmost to fulfill any request from Uchiha Nan if it could even slightly leverage their relationship.

Uchiha Nan's mind immediately flashed to a certain lewd mission involving three widows, but he quickly dismissed the thought.

"Too perverse!"

Uchiha Nan still had some shred of decency he didn't want to lose.

"No, no..."

"Don't be greedy!"

Uchiha Nan repeatedly shook his head, refusing the Daimyo's kind offer. The Daimyo was slightly disappointed but didn't show it.

After chatting with the Daimyo for a while, it was time for lunch, and the Daimyo naturally invited Uchiha Nan to dine in the palace.

Uchiha Nan, adopting a "since I'm already here" attitude, naturally didn't refuse. The Daimyo's chefs were truly skilled!

After lunch, Uchiha Nan didn't forget to pack some food for Kaede and Suzu in their room. The delicacies the Daimyo enjoyed should be a first for the two sisters.

The two sisters waited nervously for Uchiha Nan in the room. This important figure they heard was a ninja, and even the Hokage of Konoha!

They weren't very clear about the title of Hokage, but when it came to ninjas, they understood very well!

They knew that ninjutsu capable of killing could be unleashed with a mere gesture, and they had not only heard of rogue ninja killing civilians with impunity but had also witnessed it.

"Thank you, Master."

Kaede, being the elder sister, was a bit bolder and stepped forward to accept the food containers. Although the food was covered, its aroma still wafted out.

"Gulp!"

The two sisters swallowed their saliva. They had been kept busy by Uchiha Nan half the night and hadn't eaten much breakfast. By now, they were both starving, but they still didn't open the containers.

They wouldn't dare without Uchiha Nan's permission.

"Eat, what are you looking at me for?"

"There's also cream cake at the bottom. I thought you two might like it, so I brought some."

"I have other matters to attend to. Stay in your room after lunch and don't wander off."

Uchiha Nan instructed them before leaving. He still needed to get the funding from the Ministry of Finance with the Daimyo's note.

As soon as Uchiha Nan left, the two sisters eagerly opened the containers and began to enjoy the meal.

"Sister, the cake is so sweet!"

Suzu picked up a piece of cake and licked the cream on top. It was soft and sweet.

Sugar was a rare commodity these days. For commoners, just being able to eat without starving was considered fortunate. Sugar was something only the wealthy and powerful could afford.

Let alone cream cakes!

"Mhm."

Kaede nodded, the sweetness in her mouth easing some of the fear she felt about the future. Her master seemed like a good person!

Uchiha Nan walked out of the Imperial Palace, and with the Daimyo's approval slip, headed to the Ministry of Finance.

Ministry of Finance

The room was filled with ledgers, and each clerk had stacks of them in front of them, their abacuses clicking away busily.

A middle-aged man in a black robe, with a potbelly, was slowly sipping tea, doing nothing in particular.

So idle?

That must be the person in charge!

"Where is your minister?"

Uchiha Nan walked straight up to the man and said.

The man looked up, saw Uchiha Nan wearing the divine robe, and immediately stood up to greet him, his face full of smiles.

"The Minister is working in the inner room. I will escort the Hokage to meet him now."

Uchiha Nan nodded and followed him into the room, where he saw the Minister, also drinking tea.

Upon seeing Uchiha Nan, the Minister of Finance greeted him with a smile. Uchiha Nan got straight to the point.

"This, this is a bit difficult, Lord Hokage!"

When the Minister of Finance heard that he was being asked for 32 billion Ryo, the smile on his face froze, and he put on a miserable expression.

"The national treasury is empty. We have to provide relief to the disaster victims and resettle the refugees. There was a drought in the north this year, and floods in the south..."

Excuses came one after another. In short, there was no money. He didn't say he wouldn't give it, he just wanted to stall.

Damn it!

Damn these vermin!

The Minister of Finance rubbed his hands discreetly, clearly expecting a bribe. They dare to skim off the top of the ninja villages' military expenses?

They really want money more than their lives!

"1 million Ryo!"

Uchiha Nan raised one finger and stated his offer. This person was the Minister of Finance, a high-ranking official in the Land of Fire. He had to play by the rules of human relationships.

"Tsk."

The Minister of Finance chuckled and raised five fingers again.

"50 Million Ryo!"

Are you looking for death?

Uchiha Nan had already activated his Sharingan. How dare he skim so much money?

"Lord Hokage, don't get angry. This is the old rule. I haven't asked for extra."

"Don't worry, we'll cooperate with everything you need. We'll make the accounts for your Ministry of Finance seamless, so no one can see through them!"

Uchiha Nan smiled slightly, his Sharingan appearing.

A moment later, the Minister of Finance trembled as he got up from the ground, his eyes filled with fear. He didn't mention the kickback at all. He transferred the money, created fake accounts, and completed the entire process with various receipts, all at lightning speed.

What a spineless worm!

Ptooey!

Uchiha Nan spat on the Minister of Finance's face and walked out of the room without looking back.

"Please take care, please take care!"

Although it's a bit late, I wish all my brothers a happy Qixi Festival.

Please continue reading.