Inside the Hokage Building...
"Hiruzen? What are you doing here? The Konoha Military Police Force let you out?" Danzo asked in confusion when he saw Hiruzen arrive.
Hadn't Hiruzen been arrested in the police force's anti-prostitution raid yesterday?
"Ahem, yes, they let me out. Let's not talk about that. Anyway, I'm here on serious business." Hiruzen gave an awkward smile and sat down to one side.
"Go on. Hasn't your ANBU been doing pretty well these past few years?" Danzo shook his head helplessly and asked.
"Well, could you improve ANBU's pay and benefits? We've been getting fewer and fewer recruits these past few years. The compensation's too low to attract anyone. They're all going to work at Dave's company. Back in the day, ANBU was huge, with hundreds, even thousands of people. What an impressive sight that was!"
"And now? The whole of ANBU has a hundred people, including the two old men guarding the door. Most of them are older Shinobi who'll all be retiring in a few years. I'm honestly scared someone will die of a heart attack on a mission before the enemy even kills them. Then it'll just be me and those two old men." Hiruzen spoke with a heart full of anguish.
"...Didn't I raise your ANBU's compensation last year? It's second only to Dave's company now, on the same level as Kagami's Konoha Military Police Force. His force only has a few hundred people, too. There's a tiny gap between you and him, but you're still doing pretty well." Danzo picked up a report and spoke slowly.
"...You call that a tiny gap?!" Hiruzen roared in fury.
"...Ahem... Please try to understand. The Hokage Building really has no money left. I truly can't raise your pay and benefits." Danzo coughed awkwardly twice.
"No.