Unanimous Approval!

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

"So, for Konoha's development, we must make sacrifices ourselves."

As soon as Uchiha Nan finished his final sentence, everyone in the hall perked up. Everything he had said before had been meaningless drivel, merely a prelude to the real matter. What came next was what truly mattered.

"Every clan has sacrificed many of its members for Konoha. The compensation owed to their families must be paid immediately. It cannot be delayed."

"However, for Konoha's development, I believe the rest of Konoha's debts to you can be postponed for a while."

Uchiha Nan's words immediately changed the expressions of the senior members of every ninja clan present.

Was Konoha planning to keep owing them money?

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

"Rest assured, Konoha will repay every last cent it owes you."

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

"First, thirty percent will be repaid in a lump sum. The remaining seventy percent will be paid off over five to ten years, depending on the circumstances. The interest will be paid according to bank loan rates."

"What do you think?"

The ninja clans were cursing furiously inside.

What did they think?

Of course they didn't like it!

They had lived in poverty for so long. Now that the money was finally within reach, he wanted to drag it out even longer? Did he take them for air?

"As the Uchiha Clan Head, I'll be the first to agree to this proposal."

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

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

The Uchiha had the strength to back themselves up. With his own power on display, Uchiha Nan did not believe anyone would be foolish enough to jump out and oppose him directly.

"Hyuga Clan Head, state your position!"

Smiling, Uchiha Nan looked toward Hyuga Takuma and gave him a meaningful glance. You're my ally. Aren't you going to step up and support me at a time like this?

"Ah, this..."

Hyuga Takuma felt like crying. He desperately wanted to say he disagreed, but Uchiha Nan's meaning had been crystal clear.

If they were allies, then he had to step forward and back him up.

If he stabbed him in the back at such a critical moment, Hyuga Takuma could easily imagine what the Hyuga Clan's future would look like. They would inevitably be targeted.

The entire hall focused on Hyuga Takuma, hoping he would stand up and say those three words: "I disagree!"

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

If they had possessed that kind of courage, they would not have pushed the Clan Head's younger brother out to die in order to appease Kumogakure's wrath.

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

"I agree!"

Hyuga Takuma forced out those two words, feeling as though every bit of 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 flies mixed with shit, yet they could only clap along with him.

The leader was clapping—were they supposed to keep their hands still? Did they still want to keep their positions?

One down!

Uchiha Nan turned his eyes toward Toma Senju.

"Senju Clan Head, the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan founded Konoha together, so naturally you understand Konoha's difficulties best. At a time like this, it is precisely the moment to embody the Will of Fire."

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

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

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

Toma Senju went numb. Uchiha Nan had blocked off every route of retreat. The pile of accolades on his head was practically taller than he was—did he even have the chance to say he disagreed?

He simply could not say it. The Senju Clan had always claimed to be Konoha's true orthodox line and the inheritors of the Will of Fire. If they failed to come through at a time like this, their political stance would be completely untenable.

"I agree!"

Toma Senju struggled internally. He wanted badly to say no. He was desperately short of money right now; restarting the Hashirama Cells experiments would require an astronomical sum, perhaps hundreds of millions.

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

Another one down!

Uchiha Nan secretly rejoiced. Konoha's three great bloodline ninja clans had already taken the lead in declaring their stance; the rest were no longer a concern.

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

Uchiha Nan looked at Nara Luyuan. He intended to make great use of this man in the future, so he would test him first and see whether he knew what was good for him.

Nara Luyuan had already seen the situation clearly. The momentum was with Uchiha Nan, and standing against it meant only one road: death!

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

"For Konoha, our three clans naturally agree!"

"Very good!"

Uchiha Nan praised him, greatly satisfied with Nara Luyuan's tact.

"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 directly questioned everyone who remained.

"If anyone disagrees, you may speak up. Every clan has its own difficulties. As Clan Head, I understand how hard it is to sustain a clan."

Uchiha Nan wanted to make his coercion look a little prettier, so he deliberately added that line.

How infuriating!

They truly wanted to beat Uchiha Nan up!

The remaining clan heads were furious inside. He had clearly put a blade to their throats, yet he still smiled and asked whether they were satisfied.

Was that something a human could do?

Unfortunately, they were destined never to have a chance to act on such thoughts in this lifetime.

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

"..."

One pleasant chorus of agreement after another rang out, delighting Uchiha Nan.

"Good, this proposal has passed unanimously!"

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

"All of this is for Konoha!"

Uchiha Nan's official rhetoric grew smoother and smoother, while his slogans grew louder and louder. He had caught the disease—the disease of leadership had infected Uchiha Nan.

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

Uchiha Nan was the first to rise and clap. The others also shot to their feet and applauded, tears glimmering in their eyes as though they had been moved by the spirit of today's meeting.

Of course not. Those were tears of pain. Their clans would have to live hard lives again in the future!

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

Fu and Rin had already prepared lunch and were waiting for him at home. Uchiha Nan heartily devoured three huge bowls!

After eating, Uchiha Nan felt especially happy today and thought he ought to do something to celebrate. He still had ten drawing chances unused, 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 a gold pull!"