Hiashi didn't bother managing the chaos in the compound.
They'd been holding it in for too long. They needed to vent.
Instead, he ducked into a room with the Senior Elder and the Second Elder and started working an abacus.
The more they calculated, the brighter his eyes became.
Based on hospital pay and benefits, one position could support seventeen or eighteen clan members.
If they lived tight, ten positions would be enough.
And how many positions had their muko-dono given them?
"Fifty!"
Fifty!
The Senior Elder practically danced as he gestured the number.
Hiashi slapped the table on the spot, eyes turning red.
"Good. Good!!"
Our Hyūga clan finally doesn't have to live like paupers anymore!
Our Hyūga clan finally doesn't have to keep pretending we're fine when we're not!
So it was true.
It was true!!
Kangetsu really did have the Will of Fire. He really was a good man.
Even with the profits already divided, he could still scrape out a couple pieces of candy and toss them to the Hyūga.
They hadn't misjudged him…
But right then, the Senior Elder's sharp eyes caught sight of a certain little bastard.
Tokuma.
That dog finally came back to the compound…
So the Senior Elder immediately went to the Clan Head with a "small report."
The moment Hiashi heard, his expression darkened.
The Second Elder's heart dropped.
Bad.
The private benefits had been exposed. The Senior Elder had sold him out.
"Ahem, Clan Head… don't listen to the eldest spouting nonsense. My boy got into the hospital on pure merit."
Hiashi leaned back as if struck.
Even the Senior Elder nearly laughed from sheer outrage.
As if he didn't know Konoha Hospital's hiring standards?
"He's playing you, Clan Head!"
"…Do you have anything else to say?" Hiashi asked flatly.
"T-This… Clan Head-sama, I…"
"Clan Head! That old bastard didn't even come to the meeting last night!"
Why didn't he come?
Because last night he'd been celebrating Tokuma becoming a glorious member of the "hospital people."
"…Very good," Hiashi said, voice cold. "You understand the consequences of this, don't you?"
Hiashi hated this kind of dog who secretly grabbed benefits for himself.
Did he have any sense of collective responsibility?
Did he spare a thought for the clan?
"Guards!"
"Yes!"
"Bring out the clan law!"
"Yes!"
The moment Tokuma saw the look on his grandfather's face—his expression completely collapsing—he turned to bolt.
He was caught immediately.
By the Senior Elder.
The Senior Elder had been watching that little demon the entire time.
Staring down Tokuma's miserable face, the Senior Elder smiled like a nightmare.
So you're the "old bastard," huh?
So you've been sneaking the good grain for yourself, huh?
"Byakugan! Hakke Rokujuuyon Shō (Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms)!"
…
…
The Hyūga compound was lively now.
When the Third Hokage heard reports about the commotion, he smiled with quiet satisfaction.
A few days later…
The Hyūga clan began preparing to report for work, full of energy.
Plenty of major clans and minor clans heard the news.
And immediately, their eyes turned red with envy.
What? Kangetsu-san really could leak benefits and carve some out?
Sure, the slice wasn't huge, but it wasn't as small as everyone had assumed either…
So a whole lot more clans began storming the Hokage's office too.
For example, the Inuzuka.
"Hokage-sama! The Inuzuka clan is suffering!"
For example, the Aburame.
"Hokage-sama! You can't play favorites! You know how hard the Aburame have it!"
And then there were the Interrogation Division, the Barrier Team, and the Ninja Academy.
"Hokage-sama! Those are children at the academy! No matter how poor we are, we can't let the kids suffer!"
"Hokage-sama! The Interrogation Division hasn't been paid in years!"
"Hokage-sama! Is the Barrier Team some stepchild no one cares about!?"
"Hokage-sama!"
"Hokage-sama…"
Help.
The Third Hokage was getting harassed numb.
Everyone was "his people." He couldn't just start swinging the stick…
Meanwhile…
Danzo was in high spirits, thrilled he hadn't been pushed out as the one making concessions.
His eyes were a little swollen, though.
Ino-Shika-Cho had done that.
They were probably still holding a grudge from last time.
But Danzo was magnanimous. He didn't care.
As long as nobody split his money.
Then he pushed open the Hokage's office door.
The instant he saw the packed crowd—people shoving people—Danzo pulled his leg back out.
Facing those greasy-red, hungry-wolf stares, he forced a strained smile.
"My apologies. I came at a bad time."
Then—bang—he slammed the door, locked it, and braced his back against it.
All in one smooth motion.
Feeling the tidal surge of pressure against his back as everyone tried to shove the door in, Danzo wiped cold sweat from his forehead.
This is bad.
They're definitely coming for me.
Don't believe it? Listen—
"Danzo!! Open up!! I'm from Interrogation!"
"Danzo, open the door! We can talk nicely!"
"You bastard, open up!! You're sitting on all that money—does your conscience not hurt!?"
"Danzo! I don't want much! Half a percent! Give me half a percent and I'll leave right now!"
Hah. Spit.
Not happening.
Danzo would rather die here—right here—jump off this building—
Before he hands over a single coin!
At the same time…
The vested-interest group in the clothing business all received a certain… subtle message.
They all shut their doors and refused to come out.
Concessions?
Impossible.
The money was already in their pockets. Trying to pry it out was asking for their lives.
One clothing business, producing revenue that could stand toe-to-toe with all of Konoha's ordinary income.
Who would let that go?
They understood perfectly.
Before, those people had been quiet because they were watching.
Now that everyone knew the clothing business was a flowing river of profit, of course they'd start making noise.
If you could hold the line, the money stayed yours.
If you couldn't, you'd have to pinch your nose and give some up.
The Third Hokage couldn't sit still anymore.
He went straight to Kangetsu to ask.
Kangetsu, do you have any other business ideas?
Don't worry—plenty of people will back you!
No ideas for now?
The Third Hokage could only sigh.
Fair enough.
In his mind, "doing business" was high-end, refined, and complicated. How could you just slap your butt and invent a new one?
With no better option, he followed Kangetsu's suggestion and used Konoha's original "mission assignment" model to ease the pressure.
Give more missions to those groups. Pacify them for now.
And if there were new businesses in the future, everyone could split the fruit then.
After barely smoothing things over, the Third Hokage wiped sweat from his brow, still shaken.
Kangetsu…
You need to step up.
Our whole village only has you with a brain for business. Our whole village is counting on you…
Kangetsu also made his stance clear.
"Hokage-sama, rest assured. I, Kangetsu, swear I will come up with new business to resolve Konoha's urgent needs!"
(End of Chapter)
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