Sarutobi's Compensation

Amid Utatane Koharu's furious roar, the wind blade had already slashed swiftly toward Uchiha Yashiro.

Uchiha Yashiro froze, never expecting Danzo to act so decisively.

Facing the sudden wind blade, he could only clench his fists tightly. He knew that the moment he made a move, the clan members whose emotions had already reached their peak would instantly erupt into a riot.

Yet he also trusted his clan head.

Sarutobi and Fugaku, who had been observing from the shadows, both changed expression. Neither side hid any longer, and they quickly moved to intervene.

At the same time, Hane teleported in front of Yashiro.

Yashiro's expression changed in alarm, and he tried to stop Hane from doing something so dangerous. His own death would not matter much, but if the clan head's son died, that would truly tear all ties with the village apart.

Danzo's face darkened. "Is this brat trying to get himself killed?!" He admitted that he wanted to kill the brat, but he did not want to do it so openly! If Hane truly died by his hand, then his time as an elder would likely be over.

Given that monkey's character, he would absolutely be made the scapegoat to placate the Uchiha Clan!

Just as everyone tensed, the wind blade, which could have sliced through stubborn rock and refined steel, seemed to gain physical form and was gently pinched between Hane's fingers.

Hane silently looked at Danzo and the others. "Have you had enough? If the village truly wants to spill blood with the Uchiha Clan, then the Uchiha Clan will accompany you to the end!"

The entire scene fell silent. Everyone stared blankly at this incomprehensible sight.

With a slight squeeze from Hane, the wind blade cracked and shattered like a brittle cookie, turning into the purest elements and dissipating into the air.

Sarutobi was the first to recover. He coughed a few times. "Hane, do not think of the higher-ups as so heartless. This was all just a misunderstanding!" After casually placating Hane, Sarutobi turned toward the grim-faced Danzo.

"Danzo, who gave you the nerve to attack a Konoha villager?"

"Hmph!" Danzo gave a cold snort, but did not refute the Third Hokage.

After scolding Danzo, Sarutobi turned to Hane with a benevolent expression.

"Hane, this is all my fault. I did not explain things clearly enough to those below, so they wrote the notice board incorrectly."

A trace of amusement flashed through Hane's eyes, and he smiled faintly. "Since Lord Third has said so, then it must only have been a misunderstanding. Still, someone attacked a ninja of the village without distinguishing right from wrong. He is simply unfit to be an elder. I ask Lord Third to judge this fairly!"

Sarutobi looked embarrassed. "Hane, the battles at the border are pressing. Elder Danzo merely wished to resolve this quickly so he could support the front lines, which made him somewhat impulsive. I hope you can understand."

Sarutobi then stopped speaking to Hane and turned toward the suddenly appearing Fugaku. "Fugaku, you are here!"

"Lord Third, this is all because I failed to restrain my clansmen and allowed matters to reach this point."

Fugaku looked ashamed. If Hane had not known what Fugaku was really thinking, he might actually have been fooled by that honest appearance. They were all actors!

"Fugaku, this is not your fault. The village's finances are strained because of the war. For the village's Revival Plan, we had no choice but to delay the Uchiha Clan's relocation payment. As Hokage, I already feel deeply ashamed, and I hope you can understand."

The Third Hokage wore an expression of guilt, fully displaying his kindly and benevolent demeanor. Hane even saw some Uchiha clansmen reveal looks of sympathy, leaving him speechless.

Fugaku immediately looked overwhelmed with gratitude. "So that was it! Lord Third, I had overthought things. The war is urgent and cannot be ended anytime soon. Even after the war, the village will need to prepare for postwar recovery, so finances will surely remain tight. How about..."

At this point, Uchiha Fugaku looked at the Third Hokage with some difficulty. "How about the Uchiha Clan simply not moving for now?"

"No!"

"How can that be!"

"Absolutely not!"

Three urgent voices of opposition rang out.

Fugaku's gaze flickered as he looked at Danzo, Utatane Koharu, and Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had stepped forward. At that moment, his heart went cold, and he suddenly remembered what Hane had said that night: the Konoha Elder Council would never abandon its desire to destroy the Uchiha Clan.

"The Revival Plan is an important part of the village's future development and cannot be abandoned," Sarutobi immediately said in a righteous tone, realizing that he had reacted too abruptly and quickly changing his wording.

"Of course, the Uchiha Clan's demands are also reasonable. The village will not mistreat any villager."

After speaking, Sarutobi pondered for several seconds. "How about this? Several newly developed large shops in central Konoha will be given to the Uchiha Clan as financial compensation from the village, to make up for what the village owes the Uchiha Clan."

It could be said that Sarutobi had bled heavily this time. Those were shops in central Konoha!

Once the war ended, auctioning off just one shop would bring in tens of millions of ryo, given Konoha's current standing in the Ninja World. And there was more than one shop. These were fixed assets.

If the Uchiha Clan made good use of them, raising the clansmen's standard of living by a level would be no problem at all.

Yet Fugaku did not feel particularly happy. The village would rather pay such a high price to make the Uchiha Clan leave their ancestral grounds than allow them to stay. Their purpose was clearly not so simple.

A faint panic rose in Fugaku's heart. "Then we shall do as the Hokage says!"

"Good. In that case, Fugaku, take your clansmen back," Sarutobi said calmly. "Also, Fugaku, arrange for the clansmen to relocate as soon as possible!"

With that, Sarutobi swiftly left with Danzo, Utatane Koharu, and the others.

Only the Uchiha clansmen remained at the scene. Their gazes quickly gathered on Fugaku as they waited for his orders.

Fugaku sighed softly. "Everyone, disperse! I will send people to take over those shops. As for how they will be distributed afterward, I will notify the clan elders, draft a plan, and then inform everyone."

The clansmen dispersed one after another. After the Third Hokage's performance, most of their resentment had faded considerably.

Watching the departing clansmen, Hane tugged at Uchiha Retsuyō's sleeve and signaled for him to lean closer.

Sensing Hane's gesture, Uchiha Retsuyō quickly bent down and waited for Hane's instructions.

"Tonight, wait for me at the place we agreed upon!"

Uchiha Retsuyō hurriedly nodded.

Seeing Hane's little gesture, the panic in Fugaku's heart suddenly eased considerably. With such an outstanding son, the Uchiha Clan should still have a way forward.

Only after Uchiha Retsuyō and the others had completely left did Fugaku slowly walk toward Hane.

"Hane, let us go home!"

"Mhm! All right, Father!"

When the two arrived home, they saw Itachi sitting silently at the table, while Young Sasuke slept peacefully in his arms.

Seeing this, Fugaku said to Itachi, "Itachi, take your brother and rest first! Your brother and I still have some matters to discuss!"

Itachi raised his head indifferently. "Father. I want to stay." This was the first time Itachi had defied his father, and Fugaku became slightly angry.

Just as he was about to say something.

Hane spoke gently. "Since Itachi wants to stay, let him stay. There are some things he should know, so that he does not overthink them."

Seeing this, Fugaku could not refute his eldest son and could only nod in agreement.

Itachi obediently carried Sasuke back to the room. After coming out, he quietly sat beside Hane.

And Hane once again received Gratitude Points from Itachi.

Gratitude Points +1000

Hane nodded in satisfaction.