What It Means to Change the Climate!

In the top-floor office of the Hokage Building, the heating had yet to come on, but the atmosphere was already so stifling it was hard to breathe.

Minato stared at the financial report hanging nearly to the floor and felt his temples throb.

Orochimaru stood across the desk, his pale face carrying a stubborn look.

His long tongue slid over his cracked lips, and his eyes were practically glued to the budget sheet.

With a bang, Ye strode through the door and slapped a geothermal pressure-test report onto the desk.

Minato grabbed the stack of reports, rubbed his brow hard, and finally exploded.

"You people really know how to spend! No matter how deep the reserves we seized from the Underground Money House are, they can't withstand this kind of drain!"

"The Police Force comes crying poverty every day, and the defense force is clamoring for new gear."

"And now, Orochimaru, you want another batch of ridiculously expensive constant-temperature incubation chambers? Do you think Konoha's money grows on trees?"

"Sensei, money has to be spent where it counts."

Ye pressed a knuckle against the report he had brought and pushed the first page toward Minato.

"The geothermal pipeline in the east of the village is already overpressured. We can divert the flow tonight."

Before he could finish, a head wearing an ANBU cat mask cautiously poked through the crack in the office door.

"Lord Hokage, sorry to interrupt... the final payment invoice for the pipeline construction crew, perhaps you could..."

"Make him wait! Come back tomorrow!"

Minato was so angry he laughed. He grabbed a vermilion brush and pointed it at the door. "Anyone who dares hand me another overdue invoice today can go scrub the ANBU toilets!"

The ANBU outside sharply drew back his neck, yanked his head away