Inside Konoha's military encampment, Shimura Danzō stared at the intelligence report that had just been delivered, deep in thought.
Hanzo of the Salamander had actually done it.
And far too quickly at that.
There was also that strange note in the report—about Hanzo's way of counting money. He really did seem short on funds…
"Twenty million…" Danzō muttered to himself.
"Two enemy jōnin for only twenty million. That's practically a bargain."
"Has he already decided I will become the Fourth Hokage? Is he accumulating favor in advance?"
"It seems… he can be put to good use."
After a moment's contemplation, Danzō pulled out several more lists.
"Next time, I'll have him eliminate this batch."
Then something suddenly occurred to him.
He was out of money.
Even if one jōnin only cost ten million, killing ten would be one hundred million.
Where would he get that kind of money?
The Shimura clan couldn't raise much more. Over the years, to fund Root, he had nearly drained his clan dry. The cultivation of Root operatives, the research into Hashirama's cells—almost all of it had been financed by the Shimura family.
The funds he had just used were his last reserves of liquid capital.
If he wanted to continue hiring Hanzo… there was nothing left.
"Because of the treaties signed with Amegakure and Sunagakure, Konoha's finances are already strained. Hiruzen won't allocate additional support to Root…"
"So where can I get more?"
For once, Danzō understood Hanzo's frustration.
Being broke was unbearable.
After weighing his options, a thought formed in his mind—
Konoha's battlefield supplies.
On the front lines, kunai, shuriken, and explosive tags were consumables. Even if shinobi brought their own, prolonged combat would quickly deplete their stock.
Each month, the village sent standardized supplies to the front. Every shinobi had a fixed allotment.
"You will be the necessary sacrifice for my path to Hokage."
There was no other way.
Danzō summoned two subordinates and entered a separate tent.
"Lord Danzō!" the quartermaster exclaimed in surprise. Since arriving at the battlefield, Danzō had focused solely on military command. He had never visited this tent before.
"My lord, what brings you here?"
Danzō replied solemnly, "I have just received word from Konoha. Due to financial strain, adjustments must be made to battlefield supply allocations. I have come to inform you."
The quartermaster looked troubled.
"Adjustments? My lord, we are already at minimum supply levels. They cannot be reduced further."
Danzō's expression darkened.
"It cannot be helped. The village faces numerous pressures and must also support other fronts. You must understand."
The quartermaster nodded slowly.
"I understand. Please tell me the new figures. I'll reorganize distribution accordingly."
"Very well," Danzō said. "From now on, monthly allocations per shinobi shall be adjusted to four kunai, thirteen shuriken, and two explosive tags."
"Understood?"
The quartermaster blinked in surprise.
"Oh! So that's it! My lord, you should've said so earlier—you nearly gave me a heart attack."
"So the supplies are being increased? I thought they were being reduced again."
"If our allocation is rising, that means the pressure on the other fronts must have eased. That's excellent news!"
"…What?"
Danzō's eyes narrowed.
"Increased? What do you mean increased?"
Startled by the sudden shift in Danzō's tone, the quartermaster stammered.
"Yes, increased. My lord… is something wrong?"
In a flash, Danzō seized him by the throat with his remaining left hand and lifted him off the ground.
"Explain. In detail."
Strangled by killing intent, the quartermaster struggled to breathe.
"L-Lord Danzō… the current allocation… per shinobi… is three kunai, twelve shuriken, and one explosive tag per month…"
"Is… is there a problem?"
"What?!"
Veins bulged across Danzō's forehead.
"You dare betray Konoha? Do you understand the crime you've committed?"
The sound of bones creaking under pressure echoed sharply.
"I… I don't know anything…!"
Danzō suddenly laughed coldly and released him.
"I will give you one chance. Tell me everything. Otherwise… you will learn Root's methods."
The quartermaster collapsed, coughing violently.
"I swear, I don't know! I only distribute the supplies sent from Konoha!"
Then, as if grasping a lifeline, he scrambled to a nearby table and returned with a stack of notebooks.
"My lord! Every shipment from the start of the war is recorded here. Please examine them."
Danzō flipped through the records page by page. With each turn, his fury deepened.
When he closed the final ledger, he slammed his fist down.
"Who oversees Konoha's strategic supplies?"
"T-The materials are managed directly by Elder Mitokado Homura and Elder Utatane Koharu. No one else is permitted to interfere."
"Homura. Koharu. You two bastards!"
Danzō trembled with rage.
While he had nearly lost half his body stabilizing the Iwa front in the Land of Earth, they had remained in Konoha, living comfortably.
Now that he was fighting on the Mist front, not only had they offered no support—they had stabbed him in the back.
The Shimura clan had nearly been wiped out because of his sacrifices.
Meanwhile, their clans flourished.
This war was critical. And they dared embezzle military supplies?
Danzō pressed a hand against his chest.
Everything he had done—had been for Konoha.
The attack on Uzushiogakure? To seize vital resources and preserve Konoha's advantage in jinchūriki power.
The elimination of certain Konoha shinobi? Because they posed potential threats to the village's interests.
The dismantling of the Senju clan? To weaken entrenched clan dominance and give civilian shinobi a path upward.
Even his intent to remove Sakumo Hatake and Katō Dan—because he believed he would elevate Konoha further as Hokage.
Whether driven by ambition or conviction, he had always believed his actions served Konoha's greater good.
But these two?
The standard monthly allocation had originally been five kunai, fifteen shuriken, and three explosive tags per shinobi.
Homura and Koharu had siphoned off more than twenty percent.
Former comrades had fallen so low.
Danzō turned to his subordinates.
"Copy these records. Deliver one set to Hiruzen."
"Wait."
He paused, reconsidering.
"Make two copies. Deliver one to Homura, and one to Koharu."
"Include a message from me."
"Ensure absolute secrecy. Hiruzen must not know. No one in Konoha must discover this. Understood?"
"Yes."
After they left, Danzō turned back to the quartermaster.
The man trembled.
"I don't know anything! I didn't hear anything!"
Danzō extended his left hand.
"If you wish to live… you will join Root."
He formed a seal.
"Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal."
"Allow me to place this mark upon you. Only then will I trust you."
...
Mitokado Homura. Utatane Koharu.
Since they had handed him leverage so conveniently, Danzō would make full use of it.
He needed money.
If they had embezzled so much, they had no need for it anymore.
He would take it.
And when the time came to compete for the Hokage's seat—
Their weakness would be invaluable.
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