The Sarutobi Clan.
Sarutobi Hiruzen hurriedly walked into the clan residence.
"Clan Leader, why have you come back?" a member of the Sarutobi clan asked curiously.
In addition to being the Hokage of Konohagakure, Sarutobi Hiruzen was also the head of the Sarutobi clan.
Usually, at this time, the clan leader would be in the Hokage Residence dealing with village affairs. Yet today, for some unknown reason, he returned in a rush, his expression slightly panicked.
"Quickly! Notify the elders to gather at my house for a meeting!" Sarutobi Hiruzen said anxiously.
"Yes, Clan Leader!" The clansman immediately ran off after hearing his words.
Although he was very curious about what had happened, he knew this wasn't something he was qualified to know.
At Sarutobi Hiruzen's residence.
Hiruzen sat sternly in his chair, brows tightly furrowed, his eyes half-closed. His heart was filled with anxiety and unease.
He was pondering how to gather eight hundred million within three days in order to repay Black Zetsu…
Just then, the sound of light footsteps echoed, and the door slowly opened. An elderly man with graying hair and a solemn expression stepped inside.
It was the Great Elder of the Sarutobi clan, one of its most important figures.
Sensing something unusual about Hiruzen's demeanor, the Great Elder asked with concern:"Hiruzen, what matter has made you summon us so urgently?"
Hiruzen slightly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes glinting as he spoke in a hoarse voice:"Great Elder, let's wait until the other elders arrive before I explain…"
After saying this, he let out a heavy sigh and sank back into thought.
The Great Elder frowned. He knew Hiruzen's character well—if it wasn't something extremely troublesome, he would never summon them in such haste.
Could it be that something serious had happened in the village? Or perhaps some grave matter within the clan?
Time passed, minute by minute. Finally, the other elders arrived one after another.
When they saw the grave expression on Hiruzen's face, an ominous premonition rose in their hearts.
The Sarutobi clan had four elders in total, each an experienced and wise figure. At this moment, the four gathered together, their eyes collectively fixed on Hiruzen, waiting for him to speak.
Unable to suppress his growing unease, the Great Elder asked impatiently:"Hiruzen, what on earth has happened?"
Upon hearing this, the other elders also turned their curious gazes toward him, eager to hear his explanation.
Hiruzen took a long drag of his pipe, his expression complicated as he said slowly:"Someone has seized something against me and is threatening me to pay him eight hundred million. Otherwise… he will expose everything…"
Hearing this, one elder's eyes widened in shock. He slammed the table and shouted in anger:"What evidence does he have to dare demand such an outrageous sum? Eight hundred million—this is far too much!"
The Second Elder's face turned red with rage as he echoed:"Exactly! He must think the Sarutobi clan is easy to bully!"
The Third Elder clenched his fists tightly, gritting his teeth as he said:"We absolutely cannot hand over such money!"
Listening to their words, Sarutobi Hiruzen lowered his head in shame and whispered:"Actually… I was caught peeping into the women's bathhouse… and the evidence was recorded…"
At this revelation, the elders who had been furious just moments ago froze, their expressions stiffening instantly.
They could hardly believe what they had just heard. One by one, their eyes widened in disbelief as they stared at Hiruzen.
The Great Elder's face shifted from anger to deep disappointment as he let out a heavy sigh:"Hiruzen, you fool…! How could you do something like this?"
The Second Elder shook his head sorrowfully and said in grief:"You are the Hokage, yet you've committed such a shameful act! What will the villagers think of our Sarutobi clan?"
The Third Elder even stood up abruptly, pointing at Hiruzen in fury as he roared:"You bastard! Do you even understand what you've done? This not only tarnishes your own reputation, it will stain the honor of the entire clan!"
They truly could not understand it. Hiruzen was already over sixty years old—how could he still harbor such perverted tendencies? Was it true that men remained boys until the day they died?
Hearing their reprimands, Hiruzen lowered his head in deep shame, unable to meet their eyes.
At that moment, the Fourth Elder, who had remained silent since entering, finally spoke.
"Enough. What's done is done. What matters now is finding a solution."
"The Fourth is right. Let's think about how to handle this," the Great Elder agreed.
Hiruzen finally let out a sigh of relief, gratitude filling his eyes as he looked at the Fourth Elder.
"Can we find an opportunity to kill this person?" the Fourth Elder asked calmly, glancing at Hiruzen.
The other elders' eyes immediately lit up.
Yes, of course! Wouldn't it be easier to just eliminate the blackmailer? That way, they wouldn't need to spend a single coin, and the problem would be solved at its root.
"Fourth, you're a genius!" the Great Elder exclaimed excitedly.
But Hiruzen only gave a bitter smile and shook his head. He had thought of this in his office earlier, but the mysterious power and the confident words of his blackmailer made him realize that killing the man would not be easy.
Even if they could kill him, it would take time—and during that time, Black Zetsu would have already exposed everything…
"It would be very difficult to kill him…" Hiruzen said, recounting in detail what had happened in the office.
After hearing his explanation, the elders all fell silent. For a long while, no one spoke.
Finally, one elder said with a complicated expression:"It seems we have no choice but to hand over the money. But… where are we supposed to get such an enormous sum?"
Hiruzen clenched his teeth and said:"Contribute whatever you can. I will figure out the rest myself."
"If we cut down on clan expenses for the next few years, we might scrape together two hundred million," the Fourth Elder suggested.
"I have a funerary ledger worth ten million. Hiruzen, you can use it…" the Great Elder offered.
"My entire fortune amounts to only five million," the Second Elder muttered quietly.
"If I mortgage all my properties, I might be able to raise thirty million ryō," the Third Elder said.
The Fourth Elder tapped the table lightly, then looked at Hiruzen."I can give you twenty million in full. The rest—you'll have to find on your own…"
Hiruzen bowed deeply to the elders, his face filled with gratitude."Counting everything I've saved over the years, I can raise at most three hundred million."
The Great Elder patted Hiruzen on the shoulder and said firmly:"Hiruzen, no matter what it takes, you must resolve this matter. The future of our clan rests on you!"
The position of Hokage held by Sarutobi Hiruzen was of utmost importance to the Sarutobi clan. At this very moment, they were on the verge of rising to the status of one of Konoha's great clans. Not a single mistake could be afforded.
When the Sarutobi clan first joined Konoha, they were only a minor family. But ever since Hiruzen became Hokage, their power and influence had steadily grown. Now, they stood at the threshold of becoming one of the village's great clans.
Hiruzen nodded, and suddenly his eyes lit up—he had figured out how to obtain the remaining five hundred million…
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