Internal Debt Is Not Debt

Early morning.

Uchiha Nan got out of bed, supporting his aching back. He walked to the window and pulled open the curtains. Sunlight streamed in, illuminating the bed. The snow-white body against the golden light was a breathtaking sight.

He got it up!

However, a mirror directly facing Uchiha Nan in the room made him suppress his urge.

His messy hair, sunken eyes, and dark circles. How did his beard grow so long overnight?

I've been injured by wine and women, to be so haggard!

From today onwards, I shall abstain from lust!

Uchiha Nan made a firm resolution. The feeling of knowing the taste of pleasure was too addictive. He couldn't afford to ruin his kidneys.

"Master, you're awake?"

Kaede rubbed her eyes, seemingly woken by the commotion Uchiha Nan had caused. Seeing Uchiha Nan's naked body, she instinctively covered her eyes. Then, she suddenly realized she was also naked, and quickly grabbed the bedsheet to cover herself, her cheeks turning bright red.

So cute.

Uchiha Nan sighed inwardly, watching Kaede's flustered movements.

"Master, I'll go make you breakfast right away."

Kaede nudged Suzu, trying to wake her up to help Uchiha Nan get dressed and wash up.

"Never mind, don't go to so much trouble. I'll go out to eat myself. You two can keep sleeping."

Uchiha Nan waved his hand. He'd experienced being served for dressing and washing up once, and there was no need to make the two sisters work so hard.

Without giving Kaede a chance to argue, he grabbed his clean clothes and walked out of the room. After washing up and shaving his beard, he found a random breakfast shop and ate.

After breakfast, Uchiha Nan arrived at the conference room.

At this hour, there was still an hour before the meeting. Uchiha Nan had expected the conference room to be mostly empty.

To his surprise, the conference room was packed. Almost all the high-ranking members of Konoha's various clans were present.

But it makes sense. They're distributing salaries. Not being eager for your pay is just plain stupid.

Uchiha Nan thought this to himself as he walked through the crowd to his seat.

When everyone saw Uchiha Nan enter, they all wisely shut their mouths and returned to their seats.

Uchiha Nan sat in the central head seat and scanned the crowd. Noticing that Mito Uzumaki wasn't here yet, he casually asked Senju Touma.

"Why isn't Lord Mito here today?"

Senju Touma's fists clenched at the question. He couldn't help but suspect Uchiha Nan brought this up intentionally.

His mother's face had been beaten into a pulp by the wicked Uchiha Nan. If not for the Uzumaki clan's strong vitality and rapid recovery, her face would likely have been disfigured.

In any world, a woman's face is paramount. It was only because Mito Uzumaki prioritized the greater good that she didn't try to fight Uchiha Nan to the death.

"My mother is feeling unwell, so she couldn't come today."

Senju Touma replied expressionlessly, choosing not to argue with Uchiha Nan.

"Oh! It seems the previous injury hasn't healed yet."

"You!!!"

Senju Touma's composure broke. He was now certain Uchiha Nan was doing this deliberately.

Don't get angry, don't get angry.

Senju Touma decided to endure it again. There was no benefit in falling out with Uchiha Nan now, and perhaps Uchiha Nan was just waiting for him to lose his temper.

This is the time for funding distribution. I can't fall for it!

Senju Touma turned his head away, pretending not to hear Uchiha Nan.

"Lord Hokage has arrived, and everyone else is here. Let's begin the meeting."

Hyuga Takuma stepped forward to smooth things over, not wanting the two major Konoha families to become too estranged.

"Then let's begin the meeting!"

Uchiha Nan nodded, initiating the day's money-distribution conference.

"The Land of Fire has allocated funds to Konoha."

Uchiha Nan paused deliberately. The clan heads of various families looked up at him expectantly, eager to know the amount of funding.

"30 billion!"

The revelation of the funding amount shattered the quiet conference room, and everyone began to chatter and discuss.

Was 30 billion a lot?

For a single clan, it was an astronomical sum. But this amount was for the entire village of Konoha.

After deducting the over 10 billion owed to various clans, less than 20 billion remained.

This was just for Konoha's ninja clans. There was also a large number of commoner ninja, not many Jonin or Jonin, but a considerable number of Genin. This would be another expense.

And then there were various other areas, countless places where money needed to be spent.

"Today, let's discuss this budget."

Uchiha Nan had only recently taken office and couldn't yet command absolute authority to freely use allocated funds.

The entire village's ninja were eyeing this money like hungry wolves.

As soon as Uchiha Nan finished speaking, everyone began to express their opinions freely, no longer just murmuring amongst themselves.

These ninja clans first argued that previous debts should be paid off before discussing the use of the remaining funds.

A long list of budget items was compiled, covering Konoha's daily operational expenses.

The Ninja Academy needed to continue recruiting, which required funds.

Then there were various ninja tools, Soldier Pills, and Explosive Tags.

Konoha's hospital needed expansion, and they also needed to train Medical Ninjas, which was another significant expense.

Furthermore, the budget for defenses against Kirigakure and Iwagakure was not a small sum; just maintaining the standing army cost 500 million Ryo monthly, and if localized skirmishes escalated into war, that figure would triple or quadruple.

And then there was Kumogakure; although a peace treaty had been signed, it wasn't a foolproof measure, and preparations were still necessary.

The staff recording the proceedings continuously calculated future budget expenditures.

Seeing that the discussion had progressed sufficiently, Uchiha Nan inquired about Konoha's future budgetary needs.

"Reporting to Lord Hokage, if no large-scale wars occur in the future, realizing these budgetary goals will require over 50 billion."

"Hiss..."

As expected!

Uchiha Nan clutched his head. Budgets were always insufficient.

Every ninja village had its weaknesses: either the funds for training at the Ninja Academy were inadequate, the medical sector was lacking, or defensive capabilities were insufficient.

Almost everyone present had mentioned something vital for Konoha's development as a ninja village; this amount of funding was definitely not enough.

"And what if a war breaks out?"

Hyuga Takuma asked. The recorder offered a wry smile. If war had already broken out, where would there be sufficient budget for anything?

You're burning money; there's never enough when you're burning it.

"The situation isn't very optimistic!"

"Comrades."

Uchiha Nan faced everyone with a stern expression. The shortage of money persisted.

"Konoha is our shared home. We must weather this storm together and embody the spirit of the Will of Fire."

"..."

Uchiha Nan began with a lengthy speech to convey the meeting's intent.

Since Konoha lacked sufficient funds for development, someone had to provide them. Who else could be relied upon for fiscal redistribution besides these wealthy ninja clans?

Relying on commoner ninja?

How much could they possibly squeeze out?

Even a starving camel is larger than a horse!

Konoha owed money to the ninja clans; this was an internal matter, an internal debt!

Internal debt isn't true debt!

Let the ninja clans bear the hardship; I'll take the blame!