The Young Konoha Speaks

Uchiha Yan had only just returned to Konoha and had not even entered his home when the wicked Senju Tobirama came sniffing around.

"Uchiha Yan." Senju Tobirama got straight to the point. "Research funding requires one billion."

"What? One billion?" Uchiha Yan frowned. "No. At most, I can allocate one hundred million for your research."

That wicked old Senju bastard actually had the nerve to ask for one billion in research funds right off the bat. Who didn't know? He researched this and that, but in the end, wasn't it all to deal with the Uchiha?

In the plot of his previous life, Impure World Reincarnation, Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags, Flying Thunder God... which one of them had not been aimed at the Uchiha? Now that he was the Minister of Revenue, in charge of Konoha's entire purse, he absolutely had to keep this old bastard's funding in check.

"Uchiha Yan, this is targeted discrimination!" Senju Tobirama's expression darkened. His already blood-red eyes grew even redder, as if he were about to activate the Sharingan.

Uchiha Yan was utterly unfazed. Straightening his back, he shot back word by word, "I'm Konoha's Minister of Revenue, not you! Hundreds of thousands of Konoha's people need to survive, develop, find work, and eat. I'm the first person responsible—not you!"

"The six ministries have only just been established. Which one doesn't need money? You open your mouth and demand one billion in research funds—" Uchiha Yan sneered. "Tobirama, you aren't Hokage yet. Even if you were, you still couldn't invent pretexts to siphon off the village's funds."

Senju Tobirama's face alternated between green and white.

Invent pretexts? Siphon off funds?

Heaven and earth bear witness: Senju Tobirama did want to study ways to deal with the Uchiha, but did that count as inventing a pretext? At most, it was a well-intentioned lie—for the village's safety, to prepare technical reserves in advance in case the Uchiha one day turned hostile. What was wrong with that?

"Tobirama, I'm the Minister of Revenue."

Bang— Senju Tobirama slammed a hand on the table. "Uchiha Yan, you'll regret this!"

Ten billion sounded like a lot, but Konoha needed money in every area. In the village's early days, there were holes to fill everywhere. One billion for a single research project? Dream on.

That afternoon, in the People's Conference Room of the Hokage Office Building—the Konoha White Palace.

At the head of the table sat Hokage Uchiha Madara, wearing his white Hokage robe as he sat upright in the main seat. Senju Hashirama sat to his right, while Uchiha Yan sat to Madara's left, thick ledgers and documents spread out before him.

Next were the heads of the three chancellery departments: Secretariat Director Nara Shikato, Chancellery Director Senju Tobirama, and Department of State Affairs Director Hyuga Tennin.

The ministers of the six ministries took their seats in turn: Minister of Medicine Aburame Shibi, Minister of Rites Sarutobi Sasuke, Minister of Justice Senju Momoka, and Minister of Works Shimura Yuno. The post of Minister of War was temporarily vacant and remained directly under the Hokage's authority. In addition, the heads of the various clans were present as observers.

Uchiha Yan rose to his feet.

"Everyone." His voice echoed through the conference room. "The Daimyo of the Land of Fire deeply understands the hardships of Konoha's founding and has provided Konoha with ten billion in funding."

The moment he finished speaking, the conference room erupted.

"Ten billion?"

"That much?"

Although everyone knew that Uchiha Yan was going to see the Daimyo specifically to ask for money, they were all well aware that the Daimyo would certainly be reluctant. They had assumed that securing five billion would be the absolute limit, but they never expected Uchiha Yan to actually pull in ten billion—doubling their expectations.

The looks many clan heads gave Uchiha Yan changed. This man was not only capable in battle and strategy; even his ability to secure funding was first-rate.

Senju Tobirama snorted and turned his head away.

"After discussion and deliberation by the Hokage, the heads of the three chancellery departments, and the ministers, this money will mainly be divided into four major areas." He opened the ledger before him and began reading each item aloud.

"The first area is public welfare. One billion will be allocated, with Department of State Affairs Director Hyuga Tennin and Minister of Works Shimura Yuno in charge."

Hyuga Tennin and Shimura Yuno both straightened in their seats.

"Your task is to quickly repair and construct Konoha's public infrastructure, especially the commercial streets and farmland." Uchiha Yan's gaze settled on Shimura Yuno. "Next, Konoha must move quickly to attract investment. This is our top priority. To build an economically strong village, we must improve the investment environment. If Konoha is to develop, public welfare is the foundation."

"Understood."

The Hyuga clan was wealthy and powerful. One billion was not enough to make Hyuga Tennin overly excited.

But a glimmer flashed through Shimura Yuno's eyes. The Hyuga clan might not care about this one billion, but the Shimura clan desperately needed it. Infrastructure projects required manpower and management everywhere. Without violating principles, he could make some appropriate arrangements for the Shimura clan.

"Yes. The Shimura clan will certainly give it our all."

"The second area—medicine. Five hundred million will be allocated, with Minister of Medicine Aburame Shibi given full authority. The task is to train more medical ninja for Konoha as quickly as possible and develop medical equipment."

Aburame Shibi nodded slightly. Five hundred million was an enormous sum, enough to build a respectable Konoha hospital and train a group of qualified medical ninja.

Uchiha Yan paused, his gaze sweeping toward Senju Tobirama.

"In light of Chancellery Director Senju Tobirama's research capabilities, an additional two hundred million will be allocated for him to collaborate with the Ministry of Medicine and achieve results as soon as possible."

There were many combat geniuses in the ninja world, but only two could truly be called technological geniuses—Senju Tobirama and Orochimaru. Tobirama's research abilities were beyond doubt: from Flying Thunder God to Shadow Clone, from Impure World Reincarnation to Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags, as well as human-body research. But now, he could obediently research medicine instead.

The muscles in Senju Tobirama's face twitched.

He had originally asked for one billion, only to have it cut down to one hundred million, which had angered him enough to storm out. Now Uchiha Yan had raised it to two hundred million. Though it was still far short of his original one-billion budget, it was at least one hundred million more than before.

"Hmph." Senju Tobirama snorted, looking displeased. For a moment, he suddenly felt that Uchiha Yan did not seem quite so detestable after all—of course, it was only a fleeting feeling. The next second, he was once again calculating how to use those two hundred million in funding for some extra research.

"The third area—education. Another five hundred million will be allocated, with Minister of Rites Sarutobi Sasuke in charge."

"It takes ten years to grow trees, but a hundred years to cultivate people. For a hundred-year plan, education comes first." Uchiha Yan looked at Sarutobi Sasuke, his tone especially solemn. "Konoha's next generation will determine Konoha's future. How to build schools, hire teachers, and design curricula—these are all matters you must oversee."

Sarutobi Sasuke nodded heavily. Ever since he had become Minister of Rites, the other ninja clans had been gossiping in private—saying he had risen through his son, saying he had merely latched onto the Uchiha. Their words stabbed into his heart like needles.

Now, the opportunity had come.

He would use this chance to prove himself. He would let everyone know that Sarutobi Sasuke had become Minister of Rites not because of his son, but because of his own ability.

Seeing the fighting spirit in Sarutobi Sasuke's eyes, Uchiha Yan nodded slightly. In the original story, Sarutobi Hiruzen had loved slipping in his own agenda, constantly instilling his Will of Fire into children. Now that the Sarutobi clan was part of his Uchiha faction, if anyone was going to slip in an agenda, it would be the Uchiha's.

"Here, I want to emphasize something in particular."

Uchiha Yan's voice suddenly rose, and the entire conference room fell silent.

Facing everyone present, he recited each line with deliberate clarity—

"When the youth are wise, the village is wise; when the youth are prosperous, the village is prosperous;

when the youth are strong, the village is strong; when the youth are independent, the village is independent;

when the youth are free, the village is free; when the youth progress, the village progresses;

when the youth surpass the Land of Fire, the village surpasses the Land of Fire;

when the youth stand mighty in the shinobi world, the village stands mighty in the shinobi world."

Senju Hashirama said excitedly, "Well said... That was so well said..."

Though Uchiha Madara said nothing, his hand unconsciously clenched into a fist.

Even Senju Tobirama fell silent. His lips remained tightly sealed, not a word escaping him, but a complicated look flickered in his eyes.

Uchiha Yan looked at Sarutobi Sasuke, his gaze blazing. "Minister of Rites, the burden on your shoulders is heavy. Konoha's hopes rest on you—don't let the village down."

Sarutobi Sasuke abruptly rose to his feet and snapped to attention with a smack, his voice ringing out loud and clear. "Yes! The Sarutobi clan will give it our all and never disappoint the Hokage!"