"The privilege enjoyed by the Senju and Uchiha Clans was acknowledged by all the other ninja clans. In fact, the other ninja clans were the ones who proposed it.
That's how things were done before, too. It's been so many years, and you made such a huge fuss just to drag out this ancient provision?
I remember your Utatane Clan was one of the ninja clans that supported it back then. Don't tell me you... didn't know?"
Tsunade looked at Utatane Koharu with some confusion.
"Th-this... I... I... well..."
Hearing Tsunade's words, Utatane Koharu was at a loss.
Utatane Koharu stammered as she spoke, unable to make sense of what she was even trying to say.
She took several deep breaths before finally managing to regain a little of her composure.
"Tsunade, did you just say things were done this way before, too? Then why didn't anyone notice before?"
Tsunade considered it for a while, then answered with some uncertainty, "Maybe because very few members of the Senju and Uchiha Clans were merchants before-almost none, even-so this privilege was never used."
"Yes, Lord Hokage is right. I don't know about the Senju Clan, but as far as we Uchiha are concerned, we have indeed never exercised this privilege.
In the past, not many of us Uchiha engaged in business. Even when a clan member occasionally set up a stall, opened a snack shop, or ran some other small store, their income was limited, and they didn't pay much in taxes.
So we felt there was no need to go to all that trouble to exercise this privilege. It wasn't worth the hassle."
Picking up where Tsunade left off, Fugaku explained the Uchiha Clan's circumstances.
"There, that's the answer you wanted!"
Tsunade pursed her lips at Utatane Koharu.
"In that case,