Sparks of fury practically flew from Danzo's remaining eye.
"I've said it all along. The Uchiha are evil by nature!"
"They have no regard for the village whatsoever."
"Now they're even using their relocation as leverage to blackmail us."
"A cancer like this should be torn out by the roots!"
Mitokado Homura ignored Danzo's roaring.
He held the list, calculating the costs line by line.
The more he calculated, the harder his hands shook.
"This is daylight robbery!"
"Compensation for matchmaking opportunities lost by single young men?"
"Emotional distress compensation for ninja dogs?"
"Funds to appease their ancestors through memorial rites?"
"They've even included the finest rosewood in the Land of Fire for the gates of the New Clan Grounds!"
Mitokado Homura slapped the list onto the table.
"Where is Konoha supposed to find all this money for them?"
"This year's budget has already been finalized."
"The funds allocated by the daimyo aren't even enough to renovate the Ninja Academy."
"We absolutely cannot agree to this!"
Utatane Koharu voiced her agreement.
"Homura is right."
"We can't set this precedent."
"If we pay the Uchiha this much to relocate..."
"What happens when the Hyuga Clan wants to renovate its estates?"
"What happens when the Akimichi Clan wants to expand its barbecue restaurants?"
"If every clan follows their example, the village's finances will collapse immediately."
The Third Hokage sat behind his desk.
He lit his pipe again.
Thick smoke filled the office.
He quietly listened to his three old comrades complain.
Only when they had all tired themselves out...
Did the Third slowly speak.
"Then what do you suggest?"
The three elderly advisers froze.
The Third exhaled a smoke ring.
"If we refuse, they won't move."
"If they don't move, this time bomb stays right in the center of the village."
"How are we supposed to calm the villagers' fears?"
"How are we supposed to dispel the shadow of the Nine-Tails' Rampage?"
Danzo snorted.
"Just give the order."
"Root can act tonight."
"With the Anbu's cooperation, we can arrest the Uchiha leading this trouble outright."
"If they dare resist, we'll charge them with treason against the village!"
The Third slammed his hand on the desk.
The teacups rattled from the impact.
"Nonsense!"
"Do you think the Uchiha are some band of wandering ninja?"
"The clan has hundreds of ninja who have awakened the Sharingan."
"If fighting really breaks out, how many people in Konoha will die?"
"How much of the village center will be destroyed?"
"If the Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth exploit our weakness and invade, can you hold them off at the front, Danzo?"
Danzo gritted his teeth.
"That still doesn't mean we can give in to them!"
"The Hokage's authority is at stake!"
The Third sighed.
His tone softened a little.
"None of you has understood the real meaning behind Fugaku's actions today."
"He came asking for money, and his demands were this detailed."
"What does that tell us?"
Mitokado Homura frowned in thought.
"That their greed knows no bounds?"
"No." The Third shook his head.
"It tells us they don't want to rebel."
"It tells us that within the Uchiha, at least Fugaku's faction is willing to make concessions for peace."
"Any problem we can solve with money is better than bloodshed."
"Think about how Fugaku used to be."
"When did he ever discuss money with us?"
"He only talked about the Uchiha's glory and his clan's dignity."
"That was the truly dangerous attitude."
"Now they're willing to sit down and work out the costs. That gives us leverage in negotiations."
Utatane Koharu adjusted her glasses.
"Hiruzen, are you saying we should pay?"
"Yes, but not the full amount." The Third tapped the list.
"Someone has clearly been teaching Fugaku to make these outrageous demands."
"We need to negotiate the price."
"Cut every one of those ridiculous emotional distress claims."
"Keep only the basic relocation and housing reconstruction costs."
Mitokado Homura grimaced.
"Even the basic reconstruction costs amount to a fortune."
"The finance department really has no money left."
The Third turned to Danzo.
"Danzo, Root applied for funding to purchase a batch of high-grade ninja tools last month."
"Those funds haven't been disbursed yet, have they?"
Danzo's lone eye flew wide open.
He glared at the Third.
"Hiruzen, have you lost your mind?"
"You want to cut Root's military funding to satisfy the Uchiha's appetite?"
"Root walks in darkness to protect Konoha!"
"Without those ninja tools, how is Root supposed to carry out its missions?"
The Third stared at him.
"We're only postponing the purchase."
"I'll make it up to you when next year's budget comes through."
"Right now, appeasing the Uchiha takes priority for the village."
"You're always talking about Root's sacrifices. Shouldn't you take some concrete action for the village's peace now?"
Danzo was beside himself with rage.
"You're betraying our country!"
"I absolutely refuse!"
"Not a single penny of Root's funds is to be touched!"
Mitokado Homura hurriedly interjected.
"We can't touch the funds for upgrading the Anbu's equipment either."
"Hiruzen, think of another way."
The Third looked at his old comrades, who had been so righteous moments earlier, only to erupt the moment he proposed taking something from their own plates.
A wave of helplessness washed over him.
"Since none of you is willing to pay..."
"We'll just let the stalemate drag on."
Early the next morning.
The corridors of the Konoha Military Police Force headquarters were silent.
The hands of the wall clock moved leisurely onward.
Eight fifty-nine.
Carrying a bag of freshly bought meat buns, Uchiha Chikage stepped through the office door right on time.
The moment the clock's minute hand pointed precisely at twelve...
A crisp mechanical notification sounded in his mind.
"Ding." "Current time detected: nine a.m." "Today's clock-in completed." "Ten daily points awarded."
Chikage pulled out his chair and sat down, satisfied.
He set the buns on the desk and brewed himself a steaming cup of strong tea.
Another day of slacking off had officially begun.
Just as he was about to open the newspaper...
Someone pushed the office door open from outside.
Uchiha Fugaku strode in.
The usually stern-faced Uchiha Clan Head walked with a spring in his step today.
He could not keep the corners of his mouth from lifting.
Chikage took a bite of his meat bun.
"Uncle, have you had breakfast?"
"I've still got two vegetable buns here."
Fugaku pulled over a chair and sat across from Chikage.
He waved away the offered buns.
"I'm not hungry."
"Chikage, that list you made yesterday was brilliant!"
"You should have seen the faces of the Third and those people on the Advisory Council."
"Danzo was so furious he smashed a dent with his cane."
"Mitokado Homura's hands kept shaking as he held the bill."
Chikage swallowed his mouthful of bun.
"Did they pay?"
The smile on Fugaku's face faded slightly.
"They weren't that cooperative."
"With this much money involved, they're bound to haggle."
"But the Third has already softened his stance."
"He agreed to cover the basic relocation and housing reconstruction costs."
"They flatly refused to acknowledge those miscellaneous emotional distress claims."
Chikage lifted his teacup and took a sip.
"That was expected."
"Ask for the moon, then let them bargain you down."
"As long as they're willing to negotiate, we have a shot."
"All you need to do now is hold firm on the infrastructure standards for the New Clan Grounds."
"The longer they drag this out, the more the villagers will speculate about that empty tract of land."
"The higher-ups are more anxious than we are to settle this."
Fugaku nodded repeatedly.
He now saw this nephew of his in a whole new light.
He had always thought the kid was a good-for-nothing who did nothing but eat and wait to die.
Now, it seemed he was actually the Uchiha Clan's hidden strategist.
"Chikage, I came to see you today because I have an important announcement to make."
Fugaku cleared his throat and sat up straight.
"In recognition of your outstanding contribution to the relocation negotiations..."
"I've decided to promote you."
"The Konoha Military Police Force's Second Squad happens to have an opening for a deputy captain."
"Starting today, you're the deputy captain of the Second Squad."
Before you continue