第21章 先抽你六成税.

The more shops someone owned, the more income they earned, and the more taxes they had to hand over.

This move was aimed specifically at the rich.

In any case, these ninja clans did not support Orochimaru. They thought he was hard to control, had ideas of his own, and showed no regard for personal ties.

So they could just be put through the wringer.

The ones being taxed sixty percent were all rich people, the extremely wealthy kind.

It had nothing to do with civilian Jonin, who paid fifteen percent personal income tax and could receive pensions in old age. They were practically hoping for it—the wealthier the village was, the better their benefits would be when they grew old.

"Sixty percent tax? If I earn a million ryo, I have to give Konoha six hundred thousand?!"

"Are you out of your mind?!"

"Third Hokage-sama, if you approve Masaichi's suggestion, that would be nothing but treas—"

"Shut up!!"

A Jonin with business holdings nearly blurted out the word "defection," but Choza Akimichi beside him sent him flying with a punch.

After he recovered from being knocked away, he realized what he had almost said.

"I'm very sorry, Third Hokage-sama. I spoke without thinking." After getting up, he hurriedly dropped into a deep bow.

Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a long puff of smoke and waved for him to rise.

He was thinking about something.

After Orochimaru became Hokage, what were the chances that Masaichi would take the Fifth Hokage's seat? And if Masaichi became Hokage and did something like this, would Konoha fall apart?

Was Minato really the better fit after all?

That only strengthened his resolve not to let Orochimaru become Hokage. Konoha's current situation was not suited for reform.

"About this matter..." Hiruzen Sarutobi was about to reject the proposal and win back some goodwill.

Danzo, seated above, suddenly stood up. "Third Hokage, I support Jonin Masaichi's proposal."

Hiruzen Sarutobi: "?"

"Danzo, what nonsense are you causing now?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's head was about to explode. They were at war—could he stop making trouble?

Danzo's reason for supporting Masaichi was simple! This order was far too much like their teacher's style!

Tax them sixty percent!

Damn it! How had he not thought of that?!

Wasn't the teacher's vigorous support of ninja clan businesses back then all for this very moment?!

He had always wondered why their teacher had been so kind, giving the medical-animal industry to the Nara Clan, medicinal herb production to the Yamanaka Clan, the meat industry to the Akimichi Clan, fruit-related food production to the Sarutobi Clan, and the pet industry to the Inuzuka Clan...

He had even supported the Uchiha in the arms industry.

He knew it!!

Over the years, the ninja clans had flourished and expanded, and the wealth they had accumulated was no small sum.

Their teacher had clearly anticipated that the village would run short of money, so he had arranged a money bag they could draw from at any time.

Originally, Masaichi's proposal had no chance at all. But once Danzo, that troublemaking stick—no, that great banner—joined in, its odds of success soared.

Money! How could Danzo refuse money that could be so easily stuffed into his mouth?!

Masaichi had spoken just now, so the village's Jonin had not felt much pressure.

Now Danzo was speaking. Pressure!!!

Whose clan present had not been extorted by Danzo, forced to contribute one or two clan geniuses to him?

That piece of shit liked to boast that he was like the Second Hokage.

In truth, he resembled him neither in form nor spirit. He was a complete monstrosity, a rabid dog!

If Danzo came after them for money, could they really defect from the Konoha where they had put down roots for so many years just for the sake of money?

Inside the Jonin meeting room, every face wore a different expression.

Everyone's gazes turned toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.

In the end, it still depended on whether he supported it.

"Meeting adjourned! We'll discuss this later." Hiruzen Sarutobi did not dare take on so many people at once. He hurriedly ended the meeting, deciding to discuss it among the upper ranks first.

The Jonin breathed sighs of relief. It seemed the Third Hokage was on their side.

Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi act so cowardly, too afraid even to accept the gift package their teacher had left behind.

Inside the Hokage's office.

Danzo was furious enough for his lungs to burst. "Hiruzen, the village has already reached this point, and you're still hesitating?! You keep looking forward and back—how did our teacher ever take a liking to you!"

"Danzo! You're thinking too simply. Would the Shimura Clan agree to you doing this?"

"Heh, what do you think? No matter who it is to me, everyone in the village should follow what our teacher said: a ninja's duty is to carry out orders. When a mission is issued, execute it. Don't think about anything else. Anyone who dares question the village should be arrested for treason!"

"Danzo! That is not the same thing. Ninja clans and ordinary people should be taxed equally."

The two of them argued fiercely again that day.

"Enough, both of you. Danzo, the Third Hokage has his reasons too."

"Mm."

"You'll regret it. I'll become Hokage."

Bang~~~

Hiruzen Sarutobi had expected Minato to become the Fourth Hokage.

But in order to lull Orochimaru, he had still given him some of the acting Hokage's authority.

What if the Third Hokage did not agree?

Then they would find the three-and-a-halfth Hokage to agree.

Inside the Root base, Danzo, Masaichi, and Orochimaru were holding a secret discussion.

"Orochimaru, once this succeeds, I want thirty percent for Root's operating funds."

"Is that so? But I also need thirty percent as research funding."

The two of them were each taking thirty percent? That would not do. They were already handling this behind the monkey's back, acting first and reporting later. If they gave only forty percent to the village treasury afterward, would that monkey not summon Enma and beat them to death?

"Research funding..." Danzo really wanted to say that research funding could take a smaller cut.

"Hashirama Cells."

Researching Hashirama Cells consumed a great deal of money. The cells were extremely sensitive.

Change the serum batch → the results changed.

A temperature fluctuation of 0.5°C → the results changed.

A slightly lighter or heavier hand from the operator → the results changed.

To ensure reliability, the experiment had to be repeated dozens of times.

One failure, and all the money spent before that went down the drain.

The equipment also had to be maintained.

The moment the words "Hashirama Cells" were spoken, Danzo compromised. But Root's funding could not be reduced.

"Then I..." Masaichi also wanted ten percent. He needed to use it to build welfare facilities in Konoha and earn an untouchable reputation!

Competing with Minato for the Hokage position would be a long-term battle.

Politics meant gathering more and more supporters while making opponents fewer and fewer.

Since the ninja clans opposed them, they would strike first and choke them out.

The civilians were their foundation, so they needed to win their support!

Masaichi had already devised a complete strategy in his mind for Orochimaru becoming Hokage.

However...

"What do you need money for?" Danzo's face went cold, as though he would throw Masaichi into a water prison to feed the Kikaichū the next second.

"Are you dating Minato's student?" Orochimaru was puzzled as well.

"No." Ridiculous as it sounded, he had failed to win her over when they were children.

"Then what do you need money for?" Orochimaru was absolutely not going to give him any.

Danzo and he were each more expensive than the other. If they gave Masaichi another share too, heh.

"I..."

Adults were talking. Children should not interrupt.

They could yield on anything else, but money was the one thing they could not yield on.

Talking about money really hurt relationships. Orochimaru and Danzo nearly came to blows because they could not divide the spoils evenly.

The policy had not even been implemented yet, and those two were already acting like this.

Masaichi did not know how many times he had worried about the future.

He really wanted a smoke, but smoking was bad for his health.

Sigh.

This was worrying him to death.