Inside the meeting room, as Hiruzen Sarutobi handed the stage over to the floor, the atmosphere turned heavy. Not a single person dared to be the first to speak.
After all, this meeting was absurd. Putting aside the sheer scale of the damages, the real issue was the Uchiha.
Where the hell did the Uchiha get a Tailed Beast?
First, a twelve-year-old Jōnin, then a Half-Tailed Beast transformation, then this level of chaos. Was this not just the Uchiha Clan deliberately flexing their muscles? And what about the kid's identity? A disciple of the Sannin and a vital member of Root?
Whose side was he actually on? What kind of madness was this?!
Lord Third, give us a hint! How are we supposed to pick a side?
The various clan heads were dazed. They looked from the Third Hokage to the silent, stony-faced Danzo, and then to Yashiro Uchiha. Since both Fugaku and Setsuna were out of the village, Yashiro was representing the clan. He sat there with an enigmatic expression and a faint, sinister smirk playing on his lips.
What was happening to the world? In a situation like this, shouldn't Danzo be the first to stand up and ruthlessly denounce the Uchiha?
Why isn't he moving?!
Finally, unable to bear the tension, everyone turned their gaze toward Orochimaru, who sat in a side seat, chin resting on his hands, lost in thought. The look in their eyes said it all: "He's your disciple. Aren't you going to say something?"
Orochimaru, however, looked like he was suffering from chronic constipation. Standing up meant taking responsibility for the money—over 100 million ryo. Did they think he was an idiot? Did they think his research and equipment upgrades were free?
Specifically, because of that brat Ren, Orochimaru had recently opened a new cellular research lab. He had just updated his centrifuges, vacuum pumps, PCR machines, real-time cell analyzers, polymer carriers, transfection reagents, cell disruptors, protein assay kits, and proliferation reagents...
In short, his pockets were empty! Even if he turned into a block of wood today, he wouldn't stand up. No one could make him.
Suddenly—
SLAM!
The meeting table groaned under a massive impact. Everyone's spirits lifted. That strength, that sound—could it be Princess Tsunade? She was, after all, the primary victim of this incident.
But when they looked up, they were dumbfounded. The one standing was the only female member of the Council of Elders, Koharu Utatane.
Despite her age, the old woman's voice was full of vigor. Her face was set in a cold mask as she glared at Hiruzen.
"Regardless of the circumstances, using a Half-Tailed Beast mode in the village and causing such catastrophic damage is unacceptable!"
"Lord Third, there must be severe punishment! Even if he is Konoha's new Jinchūriki, it makes no difference! I propose Ren Uchiha be immediately imprisoned in the Hokage Rock Prison under 24-hour guard to atone for the losses and prevent further chaos!"
The attendees exchanged looks of sudden realization. Among the three elders, Koharu handled finance while Homura handled daily administration. Furthermore, Koharu was the nominal head of the Barrier Team.
Ren Uchiha had blown a hole in the barrier and poked a hole in the village's treasury. It would be weirder if she wasn't looking for trouble.
At that moment, Kushina, sitting with the Barrier Team, stood up. A tight, artificial smile was plastered on her face, and her red hair drifted upward like a fiery habanero.
"Lord Third," she added with a laugh that made everyone's skin crawl. "I think it's more appropriate to leave that brat in my care. I'll teach him exactly what it means to be a proper Jinchūriki!"
Hiruzen stroked his chin, his eyes brightening. He thought it was an excellent idea. Entrusting the boy to Kushina—an expert in sealing—backed by the Anbu and the Barrier Team, was the safest route.
Kushina's outburst was exactly what Koharu had planned. Everyone knew Ren was a "golden goose." Aside from the debt, his status as a Jinchūriki brought massive political capital. On the way here, Koharu had manipulated Kushina, setting up a "good cop, bad cop" routine to secure Ren.
As for the money? If she played the "victim" who showed mercy, there would be no need for repayment. The costs would be labeled as "necessary village expenditures."
Hiruzen, seeing no objections, frowned. He didn't want to be the one left holding the bag. He looked at Koharu to address the elephant in the room.
"Koharu's suggestion has merit. Even a hero of Konoha must face discipline. Let's combine the ideas: Ren Uchiha is sentenced to three years of detention, after which he will be transferred to the Barrier Team under Kushina's tutelage."
Hiruzen paused, turning to Koharu. "And... about the damages..."
Koharu gritted her teeth, prepared to take the hit. As the financial head, she could move the funds. It was a fair price for the political capital of a Jinchūriki.
But just as the matter was about to be settled, someone no one expected stood up.
"Absurd!"
Danzo Shimura slammed his cane against the floor and stood, glaring coldly at Koharu.
"I object!"
The room fell into a stunned silence. Danzo... was speaking up for an Uchiha? But his next words nearly made their jaws hit the floor.
He let out a cough, his face dark. "Ren Uchiha used the Half-Beast form in the village, which was indeed an error. But did he harm a single villager?"
"Furthermore, he is only a twelve-year-old child! To control a Tailed Beast to such an extent at his age is nothing short of a miracle from the heavens!"
He narrowed his eyes, casting a chilling gaze over Koharu and Kushina. He snorted in derision.
"Is this how you treat a child? Imprisonment? Interrogation? Or handing him over to this brainless woman to vent her spite? Have you forgotten the ideals of the First Hokage?!"
"Ren Uchiha performed legendary deeds on the battlefield! To treat a hero of Konoha—a twelve-year-old boy—this way!"
Danzo looked at Hiruzen with an expression of deep grief, pounding his cane. "Hiruzen, does your conscience not ache?!"
He whirled his cane toward Koharu. "And you, Koharu Utatane! Your behavior is barbaric! Short-sighted and vulgar! I am ashamed to be counted among your ranks!"
"For a genius who mastered Tailed Beast power at twelve, we should not be punishing him—we should be showering him with rewards!"
Danzo's reprimand, punctuated by the angry thud of his cane, echoed through the room. The expressions of the clan heads were priceless. The logic was sound, but hearing it come from a man who hated the Uchiha with every fiber of his being... it was surreal.
What is wrong with this world?!
Suddenly, an even more furious voice erupted.
"REWARDS?!"
"Rewarding a crazy Uchiha who blew up my home?!"
"Are you kidding me?! Don't think I don't know Ren Uchiha is one of your Root members, Danzo! No villagers were harmed? WRONG! Has anyone asked how I feel?!"
"Today, Danzo Shimura, you will pay me tenfold for the damages to the Senju territory!"
CRASH!
With a single palm strike, Tsunade shattered the meeting table and punched a hole through the floor. She stood like a raging lioness, glaring at everyone in the room.
In the Uchiha seats, a collective look of sheer, unadulterated joy spread across their faces. This was the moment they had been waiting for!
Yashiro Uchiha stood up, his face nearly turning blue from the effort of suppressing a laugh. He looked solemn as he spoke with exaggerated sympathy.
"Lady Tsunade, the Uchiha will cover all the losses of the Senju Clan! We... are not short on cash!"
"Furthermore, Ren Uchiha has been sent to the hospital, hovering between life and death due to the strain. We would like to request Konoha's best doctor, Tsunade-hime, to save him. Surely, since this concerns Konoha's second Tailed Beast, you won't stand idly by?"
"Here is a checkbook. Fill in the medical fees as you wish!"
Yashiro tossed the checkbook onto the table in front of Tsunade. Then, without hesitation, he led the Uchiha out of the room.
The moment they were outside—
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"The Senju finally got what was coming to them! HAHAHA!"
"Yashiro, why didn't you ask if Ren could blow up the Senju district again?"
"Shh! Quiet! Tsunade can still hear you!"
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