Konoha, Hokage Building.
The dull knocking hadn't even stopped yet.
With a loud bang, the heavy solid wood door of the office was kicked open.
"Old man! Look who I brought back for you!"
Tsunade Earth Flow.
Even after returning to this familiar place after many years, she showed no signs of awkwardness or restraint.
His fiery temper was on full display the moment he opened his mouth.
Those following behind her.
It was Kenya Senju, wearing floral shorts and Senju Kenya dangling from his mouth.
He strode confidently into the office that symbolized the highest power in Konoha, hands in his pockets.
His gaze swept casually around, like a bandit inspecting his territory.
The Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, was sitting behind his desk, initially troubled by the hole smashed in the door.
When I saw Tsunade's familiar face...
A smile, so kind it could melt ice and snow, instantly appeared on his wrinkled old face.
" Tsunade... you've finally come back."
The Third Hokage stood up, his tone carrying a hint of elder's satisfaction and excitement.
You've suffered so much these past years.
"But it's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."
As he spoke, he turned his gaze to Tsunade behind Kenya.
Seeing this "culprit" who had just smashed down the village gate an hour earlier.
The Third Hokage's eye muscle twitched involuntarily.
But he quickly concealed his complex emotions, forcing a wide smile on his face in an attempt to create a warm family atmosphere.
" Kenya..."
The Third Hokage's tone became earnest, even tinged with heartache.
"You must have suffered a lot these past two years, right?"
He leaned on his pipe, slowly walked around the desk, and stood in front of Kenya.
"I know that what happened two years ago caused you to have a deep misunderstanding of the village."
" Danzo's actions were indeed biased, and I have already severely criticized him."
But you must believe.
The Third Hokage took a deep breath, his eyes becoming incredibly sincere.
"The village has always loved you."
"As the founders of the Senju Clan, how could the village's leadership not value the Konoha clan?"
"You see, the fact that you returned safely today proves that the bond of the Will of Fire still tightly binds us together."
The Third Hokage launched into his signature " Will of Fire " speech.
They tried to use kinship and bonds to influence the young man who had already acquired terrifying power.
However.
Faced with this moving performance by Third...
Kenya showed no sign of being moved.
He couldn't even be bothered to listen to those high-sounding platitudes.
"Alright, alright, old man, save that line for Genin fresh-out-of-school ninja."
Kenya rolled his Byakugan dramatically, rudely interrupting the Third Hokage's speech.
He walked to the sofa next to him, plopped down, and crossed his legs.
"What misunderstanding? What criticism?"
"Don't think I don't know about your petty squabbles; one of you plays the good cop, and the other plays the bad cop."
"If I hadn't been lucky enough to run away quickly, you'd have boiled my bones into soup by now."
Kenya's words were like a sharp awl.
It ruthlessly punctured the Third Hokage's hypocritical mask.
The Third generation's smile froze, and his hand, which had been raised in mid-air, awkwardly fell to the ground.
" Kenya, your prejudice against the village runs too deep..."
He tried to salvage the situation once more.
But Kenya didn't want to listen to his nonsense anymore.
"Stop talking nonsense. I didn't come here today to listen to your bittersweet reminiscences."
Kenya pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket.
With a "snap".
It was slammed heavily onto the coffee table in front of the Third Hokage.
"Old man, look at this."
The Third Hokage picked up the piece of paper with a puzzled look.
I only glanced at it.
His old eyes widened instantly, like copper bells, and his hands even began to tremble slightly.
It was a large bank draft.
The numbers on it are clearly visible, bearing the seal of the largest money exchange in the Land of Fire.
That's a full two hundred million taels!
"What... what is this?"
The Third Hokage swallowed hard and asked in a dry voice.
As the highest leader of Konoha, although he controls a huge military budget, 200 million ryo in cash is definitely a huge sum of money that can solve Konoha's urgent financial problems!
"This is a special donation I made on behalf of the Iron Fist Chamber of Commerce of the Land of Waves, for the Konoha Chunin Ninja Exams."
Kenya leaned back on the sofa, watching the Third Hokage with a leisurely air.
"With this money, you can not only fix the door that I 'accidentally' broke."
"We can even renovate the exam venue, and the remaining money will be enough to pay all the Anbu Konoha a year's worth of bonuses."
Kenya's tone reeked of money.
This is a direct and physical slap in the face using money!
This directly shattered the Third Hokage's carefully crafted emotional offensive.
"Of course, there's no such thing as a free lunch."
Kenya sat up straight, his smile vanished, and his eyes became incredibly sharp.
"Two hundred million taels for two conditions."
"First, acknowledge the Iron Fist Chamber of Commerce's legitimate business status in Konoha."
"Second."
Kenya held up two fingers, his tone domineering and leaving no room for argument.
"The old houses of the Senju Clan that you took over the village, as well as the territory within a two-kilometer radius."
"I demand that you return everything to me, with interest!"
"From this day forward, that area belongs to me, Senju Kenya!"
Upon hearing this, the entire office fell into a deathly silence.
The Third Hokage's hands trembled as he held the check worth two hundred million ryo.
He never expected this.
Kenya actually used such an extremely ruthless business tactic to demand the Senju Clan's territory.
Not giving it to me?
If this 200 million taels of sponsorship slips away, what will become of Konoha's reputation among the various daimyo? Where will the money for repairing the gate come from?
Give?
That would be tantamount to admitting that the higher-ups had compromised with this missing-nin, and in the heart of Konoha, they had carved out an uncontrollable special zone for this tiger!
The Third Hokage held the check as if it were a hot potato.
Agreeing is not an option, nor is refusing.
Just when he was caught in a dilemma, torn between his conscience and his own will, he was caught in a difficult situation.
Kenya, who was sitting on the sofa, suddenly glanced at the Third Hokage.
at last.
His gaze was fixed intently on the white jade pipe dangling from the Third Hokage's mouth.