Kurenai Yuhi's Demands

"During wartime, the ninjas conscripted by the village receive no compensation. According to long-standing custom, ninjas have always only been required to turn in half of the spoils seized on the battlefield."

"I wonder what rules the advisor is referring to? And who exactly set these rules?"

Mitokado Homura's expression darkened:

"That was in the past! This time, you allowed your subordinates to plunder the Land of Wind, which has severely damaged Konoha's reputation! All these assets must be turned over to the village for unified disposal!"

Uchiha Gento sneered:

"The money has already been distributed. If the advisor finds this inappropriate, you are welcome to go and retrieve it from the ninjas of the various clans yourself. I won't stop you."

Mitokado Homura was choked into a dark-faced silence.

Go and retrieve it himself?

That would be equivalent to offending every participating ninja clan at once; he didn't have the guts for that.

Uchiha Gento ignored him and continued his report:

"Furthermore, the war reparations from Sunagakure amount to five billion ryo."

As these words fell, the breathing in the office hitched.

Five billion!

That was nearly the equivalent of two years of Konoha's fiscal revenue!

"Including the previous 2.8 billion, the total is 7.8 billion ryo. Of that, 5.5 billion was used for various expenditures during this war, and the remaining 2.3 billion is here."

Uchiha Gento pushed three scrolls forward.

"5.5 billion in expenditures?"

Utatane Koharu couldn't help but question with dissatisfaction.

"What kind of expenses could cost so much? You've turned in less than half of what you collected!"

Even Hiruzen, who usually maintained a calm expression, furrowed his brows at this moment.

Uchiha Gento... was taking far too much.

Mitokado Homura slammed his hand on the table and stood up again:

"Without Konoha's support, could you, Uchiha Gento, have won this war? Now that you've lined your own pockets, you only give the village this little? I absolutely will not agree to this!"

Uchiha Gento merely raised his eyes and asked indifferently:

"You think it's too little?"

Hiruzen slowly exhaled a puff of smoke and finally spoke:

"Gento, it is indeed... too little. You know as well as I do that since the Third Shinobi World War began, the village has suffered heavy casualties, and the pensions for many fallen ninjas have yet to be settled..."

Uchiha Gento swept his gaze over the three of them and suddenly asked:

"Then, how much did the commanders of the other three fronts—Orochimaru, Namikaze Minato, and the late Hyuga Hishu—each turn in?"

Utatane Koharu was stunned.

Uchiha Gento continued unhurriedly:

"Since my 2.3 billion is considered too little, I assume the other three must have turned in much more?"

Hiruzen, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu were left speechless.

It was already difficult enough for the other three fronts to avoid collapse; where would they get any spoils? They even required the village to constantly pour in supplies and support—calling them a "negative return" would not be an exaggeration.

Following that, Uchiha Gento's tone turned cold:

"Furthermore, ninja pensions are in no way my responsibility to pay, especially since my subordinates suffered almost zero casualties."

He looked at Hiruzen and added one final sentence:

"Lord Hokage should not forget that the Sunagakure front is the only one where Konoha has been able to hold its head high and achieve a complete victory."

He paused, his voice dropping a few decibels:

"Perhaps, your political life... will also be extended because of this."

Having said that, Uchiha Gento fell silent.

Hiruzen remained silent for a long time, the embers in his pipe flickering in the dim light.

Finally, he nodded slowly:

"Then... let it be so. It is understandable that Gento had higher expenses for his first time commanding a major war. Let this be the only time."

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu wanted to say more, but were silenced by a look from Hiruzen.

Uchiha Gento bowed to take his leave and turned to walk away.

No sooner had he left than Shimura Danzō pushed the door open and entered:

"Hiruzen, approve another one billion in funding for my Root."

Hiruzen took a deep drag of his pipe:

"No."

"How could there be none?!"

Danzo's voice rose sharply.

"Didn't Uchiha Gento just hand over nearly ten billion? I've heard all about it!"

"The Uchiha and the village... split the profits three-seventy."

"Why only seventy percent!"

"Seventy percent belongs to them!"

The expression on Danzo's face turned spectacular in an instant, shifting from astonishment to shock, and finally to an irrepressible rage:

"Hiruzen! You really have grown senile!"

He practically pointed at the Hokage's nose:

"How could you let the Uchiha take away so much money? Do they even know how to use it?"

"Once the Uchiha's influence expands in the future, what will the village use to keep them in check?"

"You will regret this!"

Hiruzen raised his eyes:

"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"

"Bang!"

Danzo slammed the door and stormed out.

Walking out of the Hokage building, Gento felt quite refreshed.

With 5.5 billion ryo safely secured, this capital was enough for him to vigorously develop the population after taking over the Uchiha clan.

Just as he was thinking this, a pair of soft hands suddenly covered his eyes from behind:

"Guess who I am~?"

Without a second thought, Gento reached back and pulled the person into his arms.

"Ah! Gento, let me go~!"

Kurenai Yuhi's coquettish voice rang out, though it carried a smile she couldn't hide.

Gento planted a heavy kiss on her cheek before laughing and letting her go.

Kurenai looked exceptionally radiant today.

She wore a short ninja outfit, the top slightly tight, outlining her full bust and slender waist.

On the bottom, she wore shorts designed for mobility, revealing a pair of straight, long legs.

Her whole being radiated an aura that was both youthful and sexy.

"How did you know I was back?"

"Hmph, my father is back, so of course you're back too!"

Kurenai wrinkled her nose, looking proud.

"I'm the one who made my father apply to join your team!"

Gento realized, no wonder Hiruzen had specifically assigned Shinku Yuhi; it was because of Kurenai's persuasion.

"So it was your arrangement... your father was a huge help this time."

"Then how are you going to thank me?"

Kurenai blinked and leaned close to his ear.

Gento smiled and pinched her cheek:

"A new dango shop opened, shall I take you there?"

"Yes, please!"

The two walked to the shop hand in hand.

As soon as Gento spoke:

"Boss, two servings of three-color dango."

The shopkeeper looked up and exclaimed in pleasant surprise:

"Isn't this Konoha's hero, Lord Gento! Since you're here, it's on the house! Free of charge!"

Kurenai covered her mouth and giggled from the side:

"See, now the whole village knows you're a hero~"

Gento felt a bit embarrassed; he quickly took the dango and pulled Kurenai away at a brisk pace.

The two strolled aimlessly, eating the sweet, chewy dango as they walked.

Before he knew it, he had arrived downstairs at Xuandou's home.

Having spent many days rushing about and fighting, Xuandou had long since been itching to let loose.

He stopped in his tracks, looked at Kurenai Yuhi beside him—her cheeks slightly flushed—and whispered:

"Want to come up and sit for a while?"

Kurenai feigned ignorance:

"Come up... for what?"

Xuandou wore a wicked grin:

"Why, to have an 'in-depth' exchange about genjutsu, of course."

As he spoke, he swept Kurenai up into his arms.

Kurenai let out a soft cry, yet her arms naturally wrapped around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder as she murmured, her voice as thin as a mosquito's hum:

"Then... you had better 'go deep' properly..."

The door closed, and soon, the sound of rustling movement drifted out.

Both were young, hot-blooded ninja who hadn't seen each other in a long time; this "exchange" was nothing short of exhilarating.

Fortunately, Xuandou lived in a detached house, or else the neighbors would have complained about the commotion long ago.

It wasn't until the afternoon that the door opened once more.

Kurenai Yuhi leaned against the wall, her legs weak as she stepped out, the flush on her cheeks yet to fade:

"No more... I really can't do it anymore... I can't get home too late."

Xuandou was still unsatisfied, but he had no choice but to let her go.

In the days that followed, the two were practically inseparable, thick as thieves.

Every time Xuandou invited Kurenai over to his place, the two would toss and turn with intense fervor.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, only two days remained until the Uchiha clan meeting.

That day, a member of the Uchiha came to report:

"Lord Xuandou, that Scorch Release ninja you brought back says she wants to see you."

Upon hearing this, Xuandou's expression shifted.

"Oh? Has Pakura finally come to her senses and decided to become his woman?"