Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu stared at the ledger in their hands with grim expressions. They hadn't expected it to be uncovered so quickly. How did he manage to do it?
Homura Mitokado took a deep breath. "Tsunade, you know that when Hiruzen first took office, those Ninja clans would listen to orders but not declare their allegiance. We had no choice but to strengthen our own power in private."
"This was also decided after Hiruzen and we discussed it. Later, Hiruzen was able to control Konoha very well, and this decision played an indispensable role."
"That's right, Tsunade. You can deal with those who made mistakes; we will absolutely not shield them." Utatane Koharu spoke up at the right moment.
Seeing them still trying to shirk responsibility and downplay the matter, Tsunade directly threw a scroll at them.
"Take a look at this."
The two opened it with confusion, and their expressions changed drastically. Homura Mitokado hurriedly defended himself: "Tsunade, I really didn't know about this."
"Hmph! If you had known, you would be speaking to me from the Anbu right now."
Hearing Tsunade's words, the two breathed a sigh of relief.
At this moment, the two exchanged glances, knowing that they had to step down. They had to exchange this for Tsunade to handle the matter privately; otherwise, if it were exposed, their entire clans would be finished.
"We are old, and we will resign from our positions as Advisors."
"That's not enough. You must spit out everything you have swallowed. Also, those who killed their fellow countrymen must be put on trial; they cannot be allowed to live."
The two turned pale upon hearing this. Whether the wrongdoers lived or died didn't matter, but having to spit everything back out would cost their four clans their very lives.
Utatane Koharu took a deep breath and said decisively: "It is impossible to spit it all out. We did it all for Konoha, and it was all used on Konoha previously. The four of our Ninja clans combined don't even have that much money."
"As for those people, since they did something wrong, they should accept punishment. We have no objection to that."
Seeing their resolute expressions, Tsunade knew it was impossible. Otherwise, both sides would end up destroyed, which would definitely be a disaster for Konoha.
Tsunade stared intently at the two and said in an undeniable tone: "Fine. However, your four clans must cough up one billion ryo. If you can't produce it, I will go and take it myself."
Just as Utatane Koharu was about to say something, she was interrupted by Homura Mitokado: "Fine, we agree to this request, but you must give us some time."
Seeing that her goal had been achieved, a rare smile appeared on Tsunade's face. One billion ryo was Konoha's annual budget; this would allow her to be much more comfortable.
"Fine, I'll give you one month."
Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu turned and left with expressionless faces.
On the way back to their clan, Homura Mitokado sighed: "The younger generation is truly formidable!"
Utatane Koharu rolled her eyes at him: "You actually have the mood to praise that brat."
"Haha," Homura Mitokado laughed.
"Koharu, since we lost, we have to admit it. Think about how we, along with Hiruzen, Danzo, Kagami, and Torifu—the six of us—struggled fiercely to take back power from those Ninja clans."
"Now, that brat has effortlessly grabbed us by our Achilles' heel. This method reminds me of Teacher Tobirama. The next generation of Konoha is not simple!"
Utatane Koharu also smiled immediately: "That's true."
"However, we have to reorganize when we get back. I didn't expect them to dare to do such things. If it were in Teacher Tobirama's era, that would have been grounds for extermination."
Homura Mitokado's expression immediately turned gloomy: "Yes, it really is time to reorganize!"
The Homura clan compound.
At this moment, the two Konoha Advisors and the heads of the four major clans were sitting at a long table.
"What? Admitting defeat is impossible! If we hand over the power, we won't be able to support so many clansmen relying solely on missions. Elder Homura, is there no other way?"
"That's right! Can't we just hand over those who preyed on the vulnerable? We haven't failed; our power is still there."
Hearing that the two Advisors wanted to concede, the four became agitated and started clamoring all at once.
If they failed, there would be fewer missions. Previously, the four clans had priority in selecting Konoha's missions, leaving fewer options for commoners.
By then, there would definitely be clansmen who couldn't get missions, as they could no longer have priority over all missions.
"Enough, you are all getting on in years, why are you still so hot-headed?"
Homura Mitokado slammed his teacup onto the table and stopped them with a deep voice.
He scanned them with a sharp gaze: "Do you know the consequences if the things they did were really exposed?"
"Deliberately sending commoners and small clan Ninjas to their deaths, then embezzling their family assets—if this were exposed, it would detonate all of Konoha."
"From now on, everyone will be on guard against our four clans, and we will be isolated by everyone."
This is not like Danzo's case, where everyone knew the matter was done by Danzo alone; he took the blame himself, and nothing happened to the Shimura clan.
This matter is not like that. Everyone has classmates and friends; who knows what they are thinking? In the future, when going on missions, just wait to be stabbed in the back.
"You are all clan heads, you should know what to do. This is the best outcome."
Subsequently, Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu stood up and walked toward the door.
At the door, he stopped: "I know you think that given Tsunade's temperament, she won't do anything to you. But don't forget Aoki Yoru; that brat is extremely similar to Teacher Tobirama. Once he takes power, our four clans can just wait to follow in the footsteps of the Uchiha Clan!"
After that, he left without looking back.
The four clan heads looked at each other, heads lowered in silence.
The power struggle between the Fifth Hokage and the four clans ended in such a staggering way.
In just a few days, the four major clans were completely defeated in an unexpected way.
The two Advisors, Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu, completely resigned and retired.
Over sixty Ninjas from the four clans, including three elders, were taken away for investigation by the Anbu. No one ever saw them again; they completely vanished from Konoha.
The power of the Mission Department, the Field Department, the Konoha Military Police Force, and the Anbu was completely controlled by the Fifth Hokage.
Coupled with the Medical Department she already controlled, the Fifth Hokage had completely grasped the great power of Konoha, with authority rivaling the Third Hokage.
Although everyone didn't know what had happened in these few days, those with keen eyes had already learned that Aoki Yoru had cleared up all the ledgers in a short time, grabbed them by their Achilles' heel, and forced them to surrender.
"What a monster!"
This was the inner voice of everyone.
You have to know that with the Third Hokage's talent, it took him several years, with the help of several classmates, to slowly take power.
He was only able to fully take power thanks to having three disciples and leading Konoha to victory in the Second Ninja World War.
Ever since the four Ninja clans surrendered, the Logistics Department and the Mission Department were completely filled with Tsunade's own people, and Aoki Yoru suddenly became idle.
Anyway, he was a leader and didn't need to do the work; his subordinates would solve the problems themselves. Otherwise, what use were they?
Every day, he would just clock in at the office and then start practicing the breathing technique. He had already touched the threshold of Sun Breathing.
Now, he had integrated the breathing technique into his daily breathing, and the Yang Release Chakra within his body was being produced continuously.
In a little while, he would be able to break free from the nourishment of the white zetsu cells and completely eliminate this hidden danger.