Uzumaki Miho didn't trust Konoha's higher-ups, but she trusted Namikaze Minato. With Minato acting as an intermediary, she agreed to meet Hatake Sakumo.
As soon as they met, Hatake Sakumo, the highest-ranking authority in Konoha, bowed deeply to Uzumaki Miho.
"I'm sorry. Konoha wronged the Uzumaki Clan."
After they had talked for a while, Uzumaki Miho, who had seen the world's hardships and understood human nature, felt that Hatake Sakumo was sincere.
He wasn't putting on an act.
The silver-haired Hokage before her truly practiced what he preached.
The Land of Fire's daimyo was a figurehead, and Konoha controlled the country's finances entirely. As a result, Konoha had no shortage of funds.
There was no need for Hatake Sakumo to concern himself with the other matters. A certain blond man was already looking after her emotional well-being, so all he needed to do now was win her over with money.
"This is a small token of our apology."
At Hatake Sakumo's signal, Nara Shikaku brought out a black briefcase. With a deft movement of his right hand, he opened the clasp and showed Uzumaki Miho what was inside.
The briefcase was crammed full of neatly stacked banknotes. Uzumaki Miho, who had spent her life scraping by, had never seen such a huge sum of money. The sheer weight of this apology left her unable to think.
For a moment, she went practically deaf, staring at the people beside her as their mouths opened and closed.
"Um... Could I meet Princess Kushina?" Nara Shikaku had been outlining further forms of compensation when Uzumaki Miho suddenly interrupted him.
Despite all the generous terms he'd offered, Uzumaki Miho showed no joy. Instead, her brow was clouded with a trace of sorrow and worry.
Nara Shikaku was an exceptionally clever man, but even he