Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his hand and pressed it against his shoulder.
Jiraiya.
"I remember the copyright fees for ' Icha Icha Paradise ' were settled recently, right?"
Jiraiya's body stiffened.
"The settlement has indeed been made."
"But that's my money."
"I know."
Hiruzen Sarutobi placed his other hand on top of it as well.
"Lend it to Konoha for temporary use."
I'll pay you back when my finances are better.
Jiraiya's eyes widened.
"You want to borrow my copyright fees?"
"That's money I earned from writing books with all my hard work!"
"And didn't you just say that the Konoha Treasury would pay?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a dark face, "The money in the treasury isn't something you can just touch."
" The Chunin Ninja Exams still incur significant expenses."
"Venue, reception, ninja subsidies, and supplies—which of these doesn't cost money?"
"You are one of the Konoha Sannin."
"The village is facing difficulties now, you should do your part."
Jiraiya took a step back.
"I've already done my part!"
"I've been staying in the village all this time investigating the tavern."
"They even spent a whole week digging a swimming pool in the backyard!"
That has nothing to do with copyright fees.
Hiruzen Sarutobi at him.
"Lend me fifteen million taels first."
"I need it tomorrow."
Jiraiya almost jumped up.
"Fifteen million?"
"Are you borrowing money, or are you planning to drain me dry?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed.
"The cost of Konoha flowers is too high."
"Even the teacher can't do anything about it."
Jiraiya looked at him, unable to utter a single word.
He suddenly began to regret returning to the village.
If he had known Konoha was spending so much money, he should have continued gathering materials outside.
Meanwhile, inside the office of the Undead Tavern.
Zhang Yu had already seated everyone.
Madara, Hashirama, Tobirama, Izuna, Zabuza, and Haku were all present.
Zhang Yu tapped on the table.
The Chunin Ninja Exams last for a month.
"The tavern must not close."
Therefore, the personnel were divided into two groups.
Everyone looked at him.
Zhang Yu first pointed to Tobirama.
" Tobirama stays at the tavern."
"You'll be in charge of the accounts and bartending."
Tobirama nodded.
"No problem."
Izuna will continue to be in charge of the kitchen.
Zhang Yu said, "The number of guests will increase during the exam period, so we need to prepare ingredients and snacks in advance."
Izuna agreed.
I will adjust the daily dosage.
Zhang Yu then looked at Zabuza.
" Zabuza also be left behind."
"Responsible for front-of-house, delivery, and pub security."
Zabuza crossed his arms.
"Clear."
After confirming who would remain, Zhang Yu looked to the other side.
"I took Madara, Hashirama, and Haku to the Chunin Ninja Exams."
The exam will be held during the day.
"Everyone, go back to the tavern to rest tonight."
Spotted head.
"Can."
Hashirama had no objections.
"Ban and I are in charge of the area around the exam venue?"
"Follow my instructions."
Zhang Yu said, "We are not Konoha Ninja, so we don't need to interfere with the normal examination process."
"My responsibility is only to follow up and supervise."
"Someone disrupted the exam; we'll deal with that later."
Hashirama immediately agreed.
"Clear."
Bai asked softly, " Boss Zhang Yu, what am I responsible for?"
"Follow me."
Zhang Yu said, "I'll let you know when there are arrangements."
"Good."
The division of labor has been finalized.
As Zhang Yu was about to leave the office, he remembered something else.
He turned to look at Izuna.
We'll be back tonight.
Don't just grab dinner.
Prepare more dishes.
"Meat, snacks, and chilled drinks are all necessary."
Izuna looked at him helplessly.
When have I ever skimped on dinner?
Just a heads-up.
Zhang Yu looked Izuna up and down, then said with a smile, "After all, we have a virtuous girl at home, so the quality of the food has to be guaranteed."
Izuna's face darkened instantly.
"Boss."
"I'm a man."
Zhang Yu couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Hashirama, who was in the office, also started to laugh.
Even Madara turned his head to the side and his shoulder twitched slightly.
Izuna stood there, his expression growing increasingly grim.
How many times do I have to say this?
Two days later.
As soon as the tavern door opened, Jiraiya walked in carrying a leather suitcase.
His steps were unsteady.
Her complexion was also very poor.
He looked like he hadn't slept for days.
Zhang Yu, sitting at the bar, noticed his expression and casually asked, "Did you bring the money?"
Jiraiya placed the suitcase on the table.
"The remaining fifteen million taels."
Tobirama immediately took the suitcase and began to check it.
Jiraiya stood to the side, and every time he saw a stack of banknotes being taken out, his heart ached.
"My royalties."
"I've saved up my royalties for so long."
"It all disappeared in the blink of an eye."
Zhang Yu looked at him.
"Isn't Konoha paying for it?"
Jiraiya's expression grew even more pained.
The old man said he'd lend me his money first.
"But now he can barely afford to buy tobacco leaves."
"When will this money be repaid? Does anyone know?"
Tobirama wrote a record in the ledger.
"Fifteen million taels, the amount is correct."
"The payment for the care Chunin Ninja Exams has been received in full."
Zhang Yu felt even better.
"Good."
" Konoha is quite efficient in getting things done."
Jiraiya clutched his chest.
"You're the one who feels good."
"It's my money that's being spent."
" Konoha's expenses are too high right now."
"The wine is expensive, the tasks are expensive, even hiring someone to watch over you during the exam is so expensive."
As he spoke, he picked up the iced cola on the table and drank more than half of it in one gulp.
I've decided to go out for a walk to clear my head.
"If I stay in the village any longer, I won't be able to keep what little savings I have left."
Zhang Yu did not try to stop him.
Looking at the 20 million taels of income in the ledger, he felt that making money was becoming easier and easier.
Two more days passed.
The Chunin Ninja Exams have officially begun.
At eight o'clock in the morning, Zhang Yu left the Undead Tavern with Madara, Hashirama, and Haku.
The candidates will not gather until 10:00 AM.
They set off two hours early, which gave them plenty of time.
The four walked along Konoha's main street toward the examination hall.
The shops on both sides of the street have already opened.
Ninjas from different villages came and went.
Hashirama he looked around at the buildings, the pillar slowed his pace.
" Konoha is completely different from before."
"The streets are wider."
"There are more houses now."
Madara looked towards the Hokage Rock in the distance.
"Only those few faces remain."
Hashirama looked up.
"The fact that the village has developed to this point proves that the choice made back then was correct."
Ban remained silent for a moment.
"The people have changed generation after generation."
The two spoke more and more slowly.
Zhang Yu walked ahead, listening with a sense of helplessness.
That's enough.
"You two have been sighing and reminiscing ever since you left the house."
Hashirama chuckled, "Seeing Konoha now makes me nostalgic for the past."
Ban said calmly, "You don't understand."
Zhang Yu stopped in his tracks.
"If you keep complaining, I'll send you back to the tavern right now."
"I don't need to go to the Chunin Ninja Exams either."
Hashirama immediately shut his mouth.
Madara also withdrew his gaze from the Hokage Rock.
Their artistic mood vanished instantly.
Bai walked behind Zhang Yu and chuckled softly.
The four quickly arrived at the Chunin Ninja Exams.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was already waiting inside.
Ibiki, Mitaraishi Anko, and all the Jonin in charge of the exam were also present.