Unanimously Passed!

Uchiha Nan went on at length for twenty minutes without even realizing he had been talking for so long.

"So, for Konoha's development, we must be willing to suffer a little ourselves."

As soon as Uchiha Nan finished his final sentence, everyone's spirits lifted. Everything he had said before had been nonsense, merely a prelude to the real business. What came next was what truly mattered.

"Every clan has sacrificed many of its members for Konoha. The survivor benefits for their families must be paid immediately and cannot be delayed."

"However, for Konoha's development, I believe the other debts Konoha owes you can be postponed for a while."

Uchiha Nan's words made the expressions of the higher-ups from every ninja clan present change.

Was he planning to keep stalling on the payments?

This was a direct challenge to the interests of every ninja clan in Konoha!

"Rest assured, Konoha will repay every last bit of what it owes you."

"It simply cannot be paid in full all at once. I have a proposal: we can pay in installments."

"We will pay off thirty percent in one lump sum first, then repay the remaining seventy percent over five to ten years. The exact timeframe will depend on circumstances, and interest will be paid at the bank loan rate."

"What do you think?"

The ninja clans were cursing in their hearts.

What did they think?

Of course they didn't like it!

They had already lived in poverty for so long. Now that the money was finally coming in, he wanted to drag it out even longer? Did he think they were invisible?

"As the Clan Head of the Uchiha Clan, I will be the first to agree to this proposal."

Uchiha Nan symbolically raised his hand, then swept his gaze across the crowd.

Hmm. Every single one of them looked extremely unhappy with him, but that was no big deal.

The Uchiha Clan could handle it. Their strength was right there for all to see, and Uchiha Nan did not believe anyone would be foolish enough to jump out and oppose him directly.

"Hyuga Clan Head, state your position!"

Uchiha Nan smiled at Hyuga Takuma and gave him a look. You're my ally. Isn't this the time to stand up and support me?

"Ah, um..."

Hyuga Takuma felt like crying. He really wanted to say he disagreed, but Uchiha Nan's meaning was already very clear.

If they were allies, then he had to step forward and take the hit.

If he stabbed Uchiha Nan in the back at such a crucial moment, Hyuga Takuma could already imagine what the Hyuga Clan's future would look like. They would definitely be singled out.

Everyone's eyes focused on Hyuga Takuma, waiting for him to stand up and say those three words: "I disagree!"

However, Uchiha Nan understood the Hyuga Clan's nature. They would never be the first to stick their necks out.

If they had that kind of courage, they would not have pushed the clan head's younger brother out to die in order to quell Kumogakure's fury.

What Uchiha Nan found most embarrassing was that it had all happened in self-defense.

"I agree!"

Hyuga Takuma forced out those two words, feeling as though all the strength had been drained from his body.

"Good!"

"What noble character!"

"Everyone, give the Hyuga Clan Head a round of applause!"

Uchiha Nan took the lead in clapping. The heads of the other clans looked as though they had swallowed fly droppings, but they could only follow Uchiha Nan's lead and clap.

When the leader was applauding, were they really going to keep their hands down? Did they still want to keep doing this?

That was one settled!

Uchiha Nan turned his eyes toward Senju Touma.

"Senju Clan Head, the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan founded Konoha together, so naturally you understand Konoha's difficulties best. This is precisely the time to carry forward the Will of Fire."

"I believe that as the pillar of the Senju Clan, Senju Touma and the Senju Clan..."

Uchiha Nan rattled off several paragraphs in one breath, frantically heaping praise upon Senju Touma and the Senju Clan.

"So, Senju Clan Head, what is your opinion?"

Senju Touma was numb. Uchiha Nan had blocked off every path for him. With that whole string of lofty hats piled on him, they were practically taller than he was. Did he even have the chance to say no?

He simply could not say it. The Senju Clan had always claimed to be Konoha's rightful lineage and the inheritors of the Will of Fire. If they dropped the ball now, their political stance would become untenable.

"I agree!"

Senju Touma struggled inwardly. He desperately wanted to refuse. He was badly short on money right now, and restarting the Hashirama Cells experiments would cost an astronomical sum—possibly hundreds of millions.

But Senju Touma ultimately yielded. Political standing was more important than money; it was the foundation of the Senju Clan's survival in Konoha.

That was another one settled!

Uchiha Nan rejoiced inwardly. The three great bloodline noble clans of Konoha had already taken the lead in stating their positions. The rest were no longer a concern.

"Nara Clan Head, your Ino-Shika-Cho three clans are bound together. What is your opinion?"

Uchiha Nan looked at Nara Shikaku. He intended to put this man to important use in the future, so he would test him first and see whether he understood the situation.

Nara Shikaku had already seen the situation clearly. The prevailing tide stood with Uchiha Nan, and anyone who went against it had only one road ahead: death!

He might as well be decisive. Thus, Nara Shikaku answered almost instantly, without the slightest hesitation.

"For Konoha, our three clans naturally agree!"

"Very good!"

Uchiha Nan praised him, very satisfied with Nara Shikaku's tactfulness.

"What about the rest of you?"

"Who agrees, and who objects?"

Uchiha Nan could not be bothered to ask them one by one, so he addressed everyone remaining directly.

"If anyone disagrees, you may say so. Every clan has its own difficulties, and as a Clan Head, I understand how hard it is to maintain a clan."

Uchiha Nan wanted to make his conduct look a little less ugly, so he deliberately added that line.

So infuriating!

They really wanted to beat Uchiha Nan up!

The remaining clan heads seethed inwardly. He had already put a knife to their throats, yet he was still smiling as he asked whether they were satisfied.

Was that something a person could do?

Unfortunately, they were destined never to have the chance to make that thought a reality in this lifetime.

"I agree."

"I agree."

"I agree."

"..."

One agreeable voice after another rang out, delighting Uchiha Nan.

"Good, this proposal has passed unanimously!"

"As expected, everyone here is a pillar of Konoha. Each of you has fully grasped the spirit of the Will of Fire."

"This is all for Konoha!"

Uchiha Nan's official rhetoric rolled off his tongue more and more smoothly, and his slogans grew louder and louder. He had caught it—the sickness of leadership had infected Uchiha Nan.

"Today's meeting has concluded successfully. Everyone, applaud!"

Uchiha Nan was the first to stand and clap. The others sprang to their feet as well, their eyes glistening with tears as though they had been moved by the spirit of today's meeting.

Of course not. Those were tears of pain. Their clans were about to return to hard times!

Still, Uchiha Nan was in an excellent mood. After the meeting ended, everyone returned home, and Uchiha Nan went back to his little nest.

Kaede and Suzu had already prepared lunch and were waiting for him at home. Uchiha Nan happily ate three large bowls!

After eating, Uchiha Nan felt especially happy today and figured he should do something to celebrate. He still had ten chances to draw, so he might as well use them on this auspicious day.

Uchiha Nan shut himself in his room and, as usual, began by praying.

"Buddha, Guanyin Bodhisattva, Jade Emperor, Jesus..."

"Bless me with gold!"