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Chapter 7 - 7. Konoha's Response

In the afternoon, Konoha Village was peaceful and serene.

The smoke of war had not yet dissipated, but reconstruction had already begun.

Every Konoha person knew that the village had suffered a loss of vitality in this war.

Despite this, the enthusiasm for life still allowed the village to recover some energy.

Yuhi Shinku stepped through the village gate, his footsteps unwavering.

The news of budget cuts weighed on his chest like a stone.

The image of that young Daimyo, those calm eyes, lingered in his mind.

He sped all the way, heading straight for the Hokage Building.

Hokage Office.

Smoke filled the air.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat behind his desk, puffing on his pipe, his brow deeply furrowed.

In front of him was a mountain of post-war reports and lists of compensation.

Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado, the two elder advisors, sat on either side, their expressions grim.

In the shadows of the office corner, Danzo Shimura leaned on his cane, silent.

The atmosphere was heavy.

"Still no news?" Homura Mitokado spoke first, being impatient.

"Judging by the time, he should be back soon." Hiruzen Sarutobi put down the scroll in his hand and rubbed his temples.

He wasn't worried that the request for additional budget would be rejected.

No previous Daimyo had ever refused Konoha on such matters.

Konoha was the shield of the Land of Fire, and the cost of maintaining the shield was a necessary expense.

This time, sending Yuhi Shinku was to submit a war report and also to gauge the attitude of the new Daimyo.

A sixteen-year-old boy, who ascended to power through a bloody struggle, possessed a nature and methods that were certainly not ordinary.

But he was young after all.

As long as Konoha presented itself as a meritorious servant and offered some appeasement, there shouldn't be a big problem.

Knock, knock.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come in."

The door opened, and a dust-covered Yuhi Shinku walked in, his face full of fatigue, his expression complex.

"Hokage-sama, Advisors."

"You're back, you've worked hard."

Hiruzen Sarutobi showed a gentle smile. "How did things go? What did the Daimyo say?"

Everyone's gaze fell on Yuhi Shinku.

Yuhi Shinku stood up straight but didn't answer immediately.

His Adam's apple bobbed continuously, as if he was organizing his words.

He looked up, met their gazes, and spoke with difficulty.

"Hokage-sama, the Daimyo Manor rejected the request for an additional budget."

The office instantly fell silent.

Although those present had anticipated this outcome, hearing it firsthand still caused their faces to sink.

Homura Mitokado's voice was filled with doubt. "Rejected? Why rejected? So many people died in the village, does the Daimyo not see it?"

Utatane Koharu also said coldly, "What does the Daimyo want? Does he want to use Konoha to establish his authority as soon as he takes that position?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't speak, merely took a puff from his pipe, his face vaguely visible behind the smoke.

Things were probably not that simple.

In the shadows, Danzo's single eye flashed with a sharp glint.

"Jonin Yuhi, tell us the detailed circumstances of the meeting, word for word." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice remained calm.

"Yes."

Yuhi Shinku composed herself and recounted the meeting exactly as it happened.

From Shin defining the war report as a performance review to the soul-piercing question, 'Are the lives of shinobi more noble than those of civilians?'

And finally, the seemingly caring special fund for genius cultivation.

When he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the entire office became extremely oppressive.

Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu were shocked.

Those words were airtight.

The other party stood on the side of justice, turning Konoha's merits into its due responsibilities.

He twisted Konoha's request for compensation into competing with the people for profit.

What a cunning tactic!

Could these really be the words of a sixteen-year-old boy?

"Not only that..."

Yuhi Shinku's voice was strained. "Before I left, I heard that the Daimyo Manor is undergoing financial reform..."

"The Daimyo has ordered that, starting next quarter, the village's annual budget will be cut."

"What?!"

This time, even Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't sit still.

He abruptly looked up, his eyes bursting with sharp light.

Not only were they denying the additional request, but they were also cutting the existing budget?

"How much was cut?"

In the shadows, Danzo's voice rang out, cold and biting.

"Twenty... twenty percent."

Boom!

This number made everyone's heads buzz.

Twenty percent!

This was no small sum.

Shinobi compensation, treatment for the injured, research and development of new shinobi tools, maintenance of the village's defense system... which of these didn't require money?

Once cut, the village, already under financial strain, would face operational difficulties!

Homura Mitokado cried out, "He's crazy! He's trying to destroy Konoha! He's shaking the foundation of the Land of Fire!"

Danzo stepped out of the shadows, the sound of his cane hitting the ground urgent and heavy. "Cut twenty percent?! On what grounds?! How dare he?!"

"What does he take shinobi for? Tools that can be measured by money?"

"We bled and sacrificed for the Land of Fire, and this is the humiliation we get in return?"

"Hiruzen, we can't tolerate this anymore!"

"This brat is declaring war on us! We must teach him a lesson!"

Utatane Koharu also echoed sharply, "That's right! We must make him retract his order!"

"Once the budget is cut, there will inevitably be turmoil within the village, and our deterrent power against other shinobi villages will also significantly decrease."

"Don't forget, Kumogakure is still watching us like a tiger eyeing its prey!"

In the office, emotions ran high.

Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a sharp cry, "Everyone, calm down!"

After the initial shock, Hiruzen Sarutobi forced himself to calm down.

He sat back down, picked up his pipe, but didn't light it for a long time.

His mind was filled with the young Daimyo Yuhi Shinku had described.

Calm, dignified.

His emotions unreadable.

Speaking the most soul-piercing words in the gentlest tone.

First hitting with a stick, then throwing you a useless candy, making you grateful to him.

He was all too familiar with this tactic.

But it shouldn't appear in a sixteen-year-old boy!

These methods... this cunning... this depth... he was clearly an old monster who had been immersed in power for decades!

He remembered back then.

At that time, to secure his position as Hokage, he had also sought the support of the Daimyo Manor.

He knew that the Daimyo's power was not only reflected in nominal rule.

Economy was the most lethal weapon.

After all, everyone had to eat, and shinobi were no exception.

But he had never thought that this new Daimyo would refuse so decisively.

The other party didn't bargain with Konoha at all.

Instead, he was issuing a notice.

All of them had misjudged this new Daimyo.

A terrible memory suddenly flashed through Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind.

Just last month, he had received a plea for help from this Daimyo.

At that time, the struggle for the Daimyo position was in full swing.

And he had refused!

Thinking of this, cold sweat broke out.

"Hiruzen! What are you still hesitating for?!"

Danzo took a step closer, his voice sinister. "Send the ANBU to give this Daimyo a warning! Let him know what co-governance means!"

"Foolish!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed his hand on the table, shouting sharply.

Danzo's footsteps halted.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at him, his eyes sharp as knives. "Warning? How will you warn him?"

"Send someone to assassinate him? And then what? Make all the nobles and civilians of the Land of Fire see us Konoha as rebels? Let the other four great nations laugh at us? Take the opportunity to declare war on us?"

"Without the support of the Daimyo Manor, can the village still withstand a war?"

A series of questions left Danzo speechless.

Yes.

The other party was the legitimate Daimyo.

His reason for cutting the budget was the nation's financial difficulties and the need to overcome them together.

On what grounds could Konoha object?

Could it be that Konoha shinobi were no longer people of the Land of Fire?

Justice, legitimacy, all were in the other party's hands.

Konoha had strength, but its hands and feet were tied.

"Then... then what do we do? Just let it go?" Homura Mitokado was unwilling.

Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent.

He walked to the window, looking at the village below, and the rock statues in the distance symbolizing the will of the Hokage.

For a long time.

He exhaled a turbid breath.

"No."

"We can't just let it go."

He turned around, having regained the calmness of a shinobi hero.

"I will personally resolve this matter."

Danzo's cane struck the ground heavily as he questioned, "How will you resolve it?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up the invitation and said, "Do not publicize this matter for now. I will talk to the Daimyo during the coronation ceremony."

"It's been too long, let Root make a trip!"

"Danzo, I warn you, control your Root, and do not act rashly!"

"Hmph, Hiruzen, you will regret this!"

"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"

"Hmph!"

"Bang!"

The door was tightly shut!

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