"Andrew Uchiha, what exactly do you mean by this?"
"You said you'd support the village's development, and now you're cutting off our funding?"
The voices of Elder Koharu and Elder Homura were panicked. The funding they had applied for was denied, and it shook the foundation of their carefully built financial plans.
Their clans had already spent their own savings just to repay debts and maintain basic operations in the village. If they didn't receive more money soon, the financial collapse of their family shinobi corps would be inevitable.
Andrew sat back comfortably, legs crossed, expression unreadable. "What do I mean?" he echoed, then gave a small laugh. "I think I've been very clear from the start. You just misunderstood on purpose."
"You really believed the so-called 'rural revitalization plan' meant I'd just hand over huge sums of money for you to use however you wanted? What do you take me for—a blind donor?"
Koharu opened her mouth, but Andrew raised a hand.
"Let me be clear. I didn't assume control of this program just for some ceremonial consultant elder position. Don't project your ambitions onto me."
He rolled his eyes, making no effort to hide his contempt.
Homura's face darkened. "Then just tell us plainly—how do we get the money? The village finances are nearly collapsed!"
Andrew's smile widened, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"First of all, understand this: these assistance funds have nothing to do with Konoha's central treasury. None. Each support package goes directly to approved sectors—not into the village's general pool. If you're out of money, that's your own problem."
He pointedly tapped the scroll of rejected applications on his desk.
"What? Did you think Uchiha money was for rebuilding your family fortunes?"
"This is about the village, not your clans," he said bluntly. "Don't come crying to me when your personal wealth dries up."
Homura stood up, voice rising. "So what you're saying is, you decide when and how much funding to give out. You're the one in control of it all?"
"Exactly," Andrew said. "The money comes from Uchiha. I decide where it goes. You don't like it? Beat me in an election. Or better yet, try building your own fortune."
Koharu opened her mouth to argue, but Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, held up a hand to calm them.
"Andrew, I understand your concerns, but doing it this way… the village's development will stall. You don't understand which parts of Konoha need immediate investment. Let us help guide where the money should go—"
"Stop," Andrew said flatly, cutting him off.
"I don't need to understand where you think money should go. This revitalization project has clear, non-negotiable early-phase targets. Once those are met, we can talk about long-term investment."
He looked around the room at all three elders.
"Right now, Konoha's biggest need is medical support. After all the attacks lately, too many shinobi and civilians are injured. So I'll approve medical infrastructure support. Anything else? Rejected."
The elders' faces stiffened, but there was nothing they could say.
Andrew wasn't just holding the purse strings—he was controlling the flow of life itself within the village.
If Konoha didn't want to work with him, he could pull the plug entirely and go straight to the Daimyō of the Land of Fire.
The Uchiha Group had immense wealth. They could obtain supplies and weapons through private channels. But large-scale purchases still raised questions—even for them.
That's why using Konoha's logistics as a middleman made more sense. The deal was simple: Uchiha funds development, and Konoha collects food, medicine, and tools in return. A clean transaction. No obligations.
The true reason for collecting materials? Andrew was preparing for war.
He didn't know when or where, but with Akatsuki rising and tensions flaring between the great villages, peace wouldn't last long. When war came, everyone would need supplies—and Andrew intended to make sure Uchiha had leverage no matter who clashed.
As long as someone paid, the Uchiha would supply.
Third Hokage stared quietly at Andrew's approval scroll. Even though it wasn't what they'd wanted, at least some money was being granted. And right now, that was something they desperately needed.
---
"War compensation?" Koharu repeated cautiously.
"Approved," Andrew said coolly. "You can send someone to the Uchiha administrative office in Konoha to collect it. Properly filed, of course."
The faces of all three elders darkened. Being forced to personally retrieve funds from Uchiha HQ… was humiliating.
But worse news was coming.
"As for the Civilian Support Program," Andrew continued, eyeing them closely. "It can be approved—on one condition. All recipients must be re-evaluated. Only true civilians or promising young genin from disadvantaged backgrounds will qualify."
The room went cold.
That program had long been a financial lifeline for their families. Under the guise of public aid, most of the money flowed back into the pockets of their clans.
"You can't!" Koharu burst out. "This program has existed for decades. Some shinobi rely on it. You can't just end it now—it will cause chaos!"
Andrew raised an eyebrow. "Chaos? Or just cut off your personal wealth? Want me to spell out who's been milking this program dry?"
No one spoke.
He looked over to Sarutobi again, who remained silent—his face a mixture of resignation and quiet agreement.
"Let me make something crystal clear," Andrew said firmly, voice rising slightly.
"Uchiha money doesn't fall from the sky. It will not be used to support your clan's private finances. Give up that idea now."
He leaned forward across the table. "This isn't about punishing you. It's about justice. For years, your clans have taken and taken from Konoha while preaching loyalty. Now? You want more?"
"No more."
---
Koharu clenched her fists. Homura said nothing.
Andrew stood up and began to gather the scrolls on his desk.
"If you have genuine projects—projects that benefit the entire village—you'll get support. But if I find one more fraudulent request, I'll blacklist your family from the program entirely."
He looked up one last time, his eyes piercing.
"Consider yourselves warned."
---
Outside the council chamber, Andrew met with Uchiha Kamasu, handing off the latest reports from Uchiha Industries.
"How did it go?" Kamasu asked.
Andrew smirked. "They're choking. Good. It's time they felt what it's like to live without endless favors."
Kamasu nodded. "We've already begun discreet collection of supply chains. Hidden armory stockpiles are being relocated under the Uchiha banner."
Andrew stared out over Konoha from the tower window.
"Good. Then when the storm hits, we'll be the ones holding the umbrella."
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