Ninjas Had It Rough-So Rough That Anyone with a Bit of Humanity Couldn't Bear It
Mitokado Homura brought up the issue of ninja Pension.
Konoha had actually taken relevant measures regarding this matter before.
However, due to financial difficulties, the intensity is not obvious. It can only be said to be better than nothing.
"Among the ninjas who died fighting for their villages during the Second Shinobi World War, there are 2,015 whose family members are still alive."
"The village sets the individual Pension at one million taels, and this expenditure, including redundancy, totals 2.2 billion."
Orochimaru's heart skipped a beat. With 2.2 billion plus 500 million, wouldn't that mean all the money would be gone?
It wasn't because he was cold-blooded; in his view, Konoha could only obtain more financial resources by continuing to invest in scientific research and reproduction.
Just as Orochimaru was feeling somewhat puzzled, Hiruzen Sarutobi explained, "The total amount of this Pension is 2.2 billion, but the village still needs to develop, so it has been decided to pay it to the families of the fallen ninjas in monthly installments plus interest over five years."
"The total amount is 2.5 billion, divided into five years, with an expenditure of 500 million per year."
"The Pension system will remain in place, with 500 million yuan set aside annually as a Pension reserve, totaling one billion yuan."
Orochimaru's eyes lit up, and he nodded to himself.
Paying monthly is indeed more reasonable.
This would alleviate Konoha's short-term financial pressure while avoiding systemic risks.
Furthermore, for most surviving family members, a lump-sum payment of Pension is actually more likely to pose a risk.
Short-term extravagance and lack of planning are objective realities, and monthly payments are more conducive to ensuring the livelihood of surviving family members.
At this moment, the look in Hatake Sakumo Hiruzen Sarutobi was practically burning with passion.
Look at what these Lord Third have done!
Not only did they compensate the Fallen Ninja Pension, but they also factored in the interest when making monthly payments.
Their generosity is simply beyond words.
The expressions of the other Commoner Ninja Committee Member were not much different from those of Hatake Sakumo; they were the ones who knew best the hardships faced by ninjas.
Although ninjas make money quickly, their high-intensity combat and the large consumption of Ninja Tool also lead to an unusually large appetite.
Aside from the necessary expenses for maintaining physical health, relieving mental stress, and studying Ninjutsu, the actual amount of money saved was very little.
Many Special Jonin are short of money; only top-tier Jonin have real savings.
Hizashi Hyuga stared intently at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Compared to the Main Branch, the Hokage is far superior.
The Main Branch is also wealthy, but they generally don't give much of their money to the Main Branch Family because they have other uses for it.
As for its use, even the Branch Family didn't know.
But seeing the expressions on the ninjas' faces, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a deep sense of emotion.
One million taels of silver is a lot, but it's also a little.
It's not difficult for a Chunin to earn this much money in a year with a little effort.
It's not unreasonable for Special Jonin three million ryo a year.
Jonin are a bit of a special case.
It varies from person to person. Some earn a few million taels, while others, like Jiraiya and Orochimaru, are mission fanatics who can easily earn 20 million taels a year.
By Hiruzen Sarutobi's standards from his previous life, this amount of money was pitifully small!
According to his familiar standards, he died in battle.
It's a one-time compensation payment covering at least fifteen to twenty years, plus long-term benefits, the total amount can be converted into equivalent income over thirty to forty years.
This doesn't even include other subsidies.
In the Shinobi World...
The annual income of a mere Chunin was enough to shock these ninjas.
Hiruzen Sarutobi is not a soft-hearted person.
But this scene made him realize that the ninjas had endured a life of hardship for far too long. With just a little bit of "human experience," his eyes immediately reddened.
Seeing that another wave of applause was about to erupt, Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately stopped it.
"Regarding this Pension, the village will allocate a portion of it through missions, with some ninjas making regular home visits to help and resolve practical difficulties in the lives of the bereaved families."
"This money will be given to the ninjas who complete missions, but the amount will be less than that for ninjas who complete missions outside the village."
Hizashi Hyuga was completely dumbfounded.
Does this mean the village is going to give money to the ninjas so they can visit the families of fallen ninjas?
Isn't this a bit too humane?
"Lord Hokage, I believe this is the duty of every Konoha Ninja— " Hizashi Hyuga raised his hand and said, "There's no need to continue occupying the village's funds!"
The Konoha Committee Member stared at Hizashi Hyuga in surprise.
In fact, many people share this view.
Surrounded by humanization, the ninjas, who were heavily influenced by a tool-oriented mindset, suddenly felt unworthy of it.
But if word gets out, people will gossip; after all, isn't this just making others do work for free?
No matter how appealing the name, the essence remains the same.
But Hizashi Hyuga didn't care; in a sense, his thoughts were somewhat similar to Shimura Danzō's.
Perhaps it's even more extreme, because he had no desire to become Hokage.
Hizashi Hyuga didn't care at all what others thought of him.
He was only Isshin of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Even if everyone condemns him, as long as Hiruzen Sarutobi still trusts him—
Then Hizashi Hyuga's mental barrier would not budge in the slightest, remaining as hard as steel!
Hiruzen Sarutobi his head and chuckled.
He had just been reflecting on how he was used to the hard life of a ninja when something he wasn't used to came along.
"Hizashi, I understand your thinking; you're considering the greater good of the village."
"I want to say a few words in defense of the Hizashi. In the Anbu, the Hizashi work tirelessly day and night for the village's security—"
"His Anbu also praised him as a ninja with the Will of Fire. His suggestion was made out of altruism, so please don't misunderstand."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said this.
"Hizashi can act as a lone minister," meaning he doesn't care about others' opinions and speaks freely, even making sensitive remarks.
However, as Hokage, he has to protect those who are loyal to him.
"Otherwise, how can he be the big brother?"
As Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke, he tilted his head slightly toward Danzo.
Although Danzo felt a little awkward, he immediately said, "Hizashi as swift as the Hiruzen —as the Third said, he is doing an excellent job in the Anbu."
It's a fact that he did a good job at his Hizashi.
But Danzo's thoughts were actually similar to Hizashi's; he also felt there was no need to treat the "ninjas" so favorably.
A little bit is enough!
But for some reason, whenever Hiruzen Sarutobi, it was as if he were being controlled.
I found myself unconsciously following along with his conversation.
Danzo silently warned himself, "I can't do this again. Next time I should find fault."
What annoyed him most was Orochimaru's gaze.
He had just subconsciously called out Hiruzen when Orochimaru's eyes suddenly lit up.
If he didn't immediately address him as the Third Hokage to make amends, Orochimaru would probably jump up and accuse him of being a nuisance!
They're so concerned with these trivial details; they completely misunderstand the bond between him and Hiruzen.
"Hizashi, the ninjas are already burdened with too much."
"Visiting our comrades and their families is a matter of course, but it also takes up time that is spent on missions. Therefore, the village provides some subsidies so that this care can last longer."
"To be honest, I'm not satisfied with the amount of this Pension."
"But there's no other way; the village's main focus right now is development. However, I promise everyone that no Konoha Ninja will be left behind—"
Hizashi's heart was pounding!
This is the Hokage he has chosen to follow for the rest of his life.
Fearing he would be misunderstood, he even enlisted Shimura Danzō to vouch for him.
Hizashi Hyuga felt a surge of heat coursing through his body, wanting to do something immediately for Hiruzen Sarutobi.
It could be said that even if Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered him to Hyuga Tenzo to the death—
The Hizashi wouldn't ask why; they'd just throw a punch.