The Biggest Problem Is Not Being Able to Find a Problem.

If this had happened at the very beginning, with the Third Hokage leading the charge, all the ninja clans would have resisted together, and this decree from the Daimyo would have been impossible to implement.

But now, everyone's intentions were no longer aligned with the Third Hokage.

"Ten years of planning, gone in an instant!" As the Third Hokage looked at the decree in his hands, a sweetness rose in his throat and his vision went black; only one thought remained in his mind.

Now, not only had the conditions for his plan to make Shinnosuke Sarutobi the Fifth Hokage been destroyed, but the Sarutobi Clan would have to bleed assets to appease the fury of all the other clans.

All the benefits he had siphoned off during his decade-plus in the seat of Hokage would have to be spat back out.

His body swayed a few times, but he forced himself to remain standing.

He could not fall yet; he needed to secure a retreat for the Sarutobi Clan.

"An audit? Then we shall conduct a re-audit!"

The Third Hokage's eyes bulged from his weathered, bark-like face as if they were about to spit fire, his gaze locked tightly onto Shinichi Hyuga.

It was Shinichi Hyuga who had rendered his schemes void; he had underestimated him.

Shinichi Hyuga did not back down. He began to clap, speaking at the same time, "I truly hope no issues are found!"

To everyone's ears, these words sounded like sarcasm.

Yet, this was exactly what he thought: if no issues were found, that would be the biggest issue of all.

It would mean that Konoha had been completely controlled by the Third Hokage.

The Third Hokage might be at ease!

But what about the Fourth Hokage?

What about the various clans?

What about the Daimyo of the Land of Fire?

Could they be at ease?

Knowing full well there were problems, yet being unable to find them—that was the greatest problem of all.

Regardless of the final result, there would always be those dissatisfied with the outcome.

The cake was only so big; would it be redistributed? It would inevitably damage the interests of some ninja clans.

Some people would be forced to bleed.

However, the interests already paid out could not be recovered, and in the end, it would create a large group of people dissatisfied with the Third Hokage.

Shinichi Hyuga's goal had already been achieved.

The Sarutobi Clan would need to suffer a massive loss this time.

Minato Namikaze stood where he was, holding the Daimyo's decree that the Third Hokage had handed over to him.

He was the Fourth Hokage, theoretically responsible only to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.

His choice was of particular importance.

"Then starting tomorrow, each clan will send representatives to conduct a re-audit." The Fourth Hokage followed the rules as always.

The reason he was elected was that he was obedient.

He didn't just listen to the Third Hokage; he also listened to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.

Shinichi Hyuga revealed a satisfied smile.

This was why he had sought out the Daimyo; with the Daimyo's decree in hand, Minato Namikaze was the Hokage who could finally let go of his restraints and fight for the interests of the civilian ninjas.

A chasm had already opened between him and the Third Hokage.

When Minato Namikaze faced his former teammates—including Shinichi Hyuga, Dodo Akimichi, Gaku Inuzuka, and others—who hoped he would use his authority as Hokage to support them in seizing clan political power through legitimate means, Minato Namikaze chose his own ninja way.

He chose to be an impartial Hokage, one responsible only to the village as a whole.

This time, the methods used by the Third Hokage and the other older power-holders regarding the interests of the other ninjas were far from honorable.

Minato Namikaze continued to uphold his ninja way, acting as a fair Hokage.

This was the result Shinichi Hyuga had hoped to see.

"I wish you all success in getting what you want. I shall take my leave!"

Shinichi Hyuga no longer looked at these clan heads with their varying agendas; he strode toward the door and left directly.

The bomb had been thrown; it remained to be seen how many people pretending to be innocent would be blown to bits.

"Everyone, disperse!"

Minato Namikaze appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was in turmoil; he was doubting himself, and he was doubting the Third Hokage.

This sentence was the greatest response he could give to the Third Hokage.

He took over the duties of the Hokage.

At the same time, he gave the Third Hokage the greatest convenience.

Dismissing them now gave the Third Hokage time to lobby the ninja clans and patch the mistakes he had made.

The Third Hokage swept his gaze across the faces of those present, then departed from the conference room.

Some matters simply could not be discussed in the open.

The clan heads who had attended the meeting left in small groups of three or five.

Some walked quickly, their strides hurried.

Others strolled along at a leisurely pace, seemingly in no rush to return.

With different goals, they took different paths.

Everyone had their own calculations running through their minds.

The streets of Konoha appeared peaceful.

The so-called civilians went about their livelihoods honestly.

However, those capable of living in Konoha were all connected to ninja clans; were they truly just simple civilians?

Otherwise, how could they afford to live here?

They were the ones providing services to the ninjas, and behind them lay the entangled interests of various ninja clans.

The Sarutobi Clan.

The council hall.

All the jonin of the Sarutobi Clan on standby had received orders to gather here.

It had been many years since this council hall had been put to use.

Because while Sarutobi Hiruzen was in power, they could openly use the Hokage's conference room.

The Third Hokage stood at the very center, hands behind his back, remaining standing.

His knuckles were white as he gripped his pipe, not even realizing that it had long since gone out.

Surrounding him were the elders of the Sarutobi Clan and Shinnosuke Sarutobi.

"The Daimyo has ordered a re-verification of the merits from the Third Ninja World War. What are your thoughts?" The Third Hokage turned around, feeling as if a lifetime had passed.

When the clans merged into the ninja village, their Sarutobi Clan was one of the greatest beneficiaries.

The Sarutobi Clan possessed no special Kekkei Genkai, but they actually possessed a Pseudo-Sage Body; outstanding clansmen were endowed with all five chakra natures.

Even those with poor natural talent often possessed a gift for ninjutsu.

This gave them a large base and strong selectivity.

As long as they had training resources and ninjutsu, they could improve steadily.

After he became the Third Hokage, he rectified the issues of the Sarutobi Clan's limited ninjutsu and lack of resources, allowing their strength to develop rapidly.

Now, the Sarutobi Clan had over a hundred jonin, comparable to prestigious clans like the Uchiha Clan and the Hyuga clan.

The number of genin and chunin even exceeded those two prestigious clans.

He could say with certainty that the Sarutobi Clan was the ninja clan with the largest number of ninjas in Konoha!

He felt proud of his achievements.

But now, someone wanted to destroy his life's work!

Fury spread through his heart; his hostility toward the Hyuga clan now even surpassed that toward the Uchiha Clan.

"Father, for the most part, there is no problem. Our supervisory teams on the battlefield maintained basic fairness. There shouldn't be any major issues with the merits."

Shinnosuke Sarutobi's expression was even uglier; he knew he no longer had a chance to become Hokage.

Now that he had shifted all his focus back to the Sarutobi Clan, he was the one who most wanted the Sarutobi Clan to continue to prosper.

"No! On the battlefield, no one thinks their own contributions are small, because they faced danger and even sacrificed their lives.

Your fairness is not the same as what they perceive as fairness.

Furthermore, everyone has their own biases.

Take fifty million ryo from the Sarutobi Clan's treasury and, in my name, provide a supplementary pension to all the ninjas who died in this war."

The Third Hokage felt a headache coming on and picked up his pipe, only to find that the tobacco inside had already burned out.