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Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Konoha’s Performance Report

Yuhi Shinku.

Hearing that name, Arashi immediately thought of another person.

Kurenai.

Konoha's future genjutsu master, Asuma's wife, a woman possessing both maturity and a strong will.

Interesting.

Sending a letter, then sending a messenger, tsk tsk…

"Let him in."

Arashi's voice was calm.

Moments later, footsteps sounded, and a man entered the study.

He wore Konoha's standard vest, his figure tall and upright, though the faint scent of blood on him could not be hidden.

He must have just returned from the battlefield.

"Konoha Jonin, Yuhi Shinku, greets Daimyo-sama."

The man bowed with perfect etiquette, but his posture still carried the pride of an elite ninja.

It was the confidence forged in mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

"No need for formalities."

Arashi's gaze swept over him.

His strength was decent, his Chakra reserves full, and his mental energy refined.

A qualified ninja.

Unfortunately, before him, he was nothing more than an ant.

"Where is the report? Bring it."

"Yes, Lord."

Shinku stepped forward, presenting a thick scroll with both hands.

"The report details Konoha's casualties, material expenditures, and strategic assessments from this war. Please review it, Daimyo-sama."

Gen stepped forward, received the scroll respectfully, and placed it on Arashi's desk.

Arashi didn't open it immediately. He lightly tapped the scroll with his finger.

"You've worked hard."

"To survive such a brutal battlefield, you are a hero of Konoha."

"And a meritorious subject of the Land of Fire."

His tone was warm and courteous, like a gentle spring breeze.

Shinku quickly bowed. "To serve the Land of Fire is the duty of a Konoha ninja."

"Well said."

Arashi nodded approvingly, then unrolled the report.

The Battle of Kikyo Pass.

The Kannabi Bridge Battle.

One after another, battle names appeared, followed by cold, emotionless casualty numbers.

Each number represented a vibrant life, a shattered family.

Senju Hashirama, your naivety killed them all.

"It's tragic," Arashi murmured as he rolled the scroll shut.

"Konoha's ninjas have paid a heavy price for the Land of Fire."

Seeing the opportunity, Shinku spoke earnestly. "My Lord is wise. It is precisely for this reason that the Third Hokage sincerely asks the Daimyo Manor for assistance."

He paused, lowering his voice.

"The Village has sacrificed countless ninjas. Their families need compensation, the wounded need treatment, and the homes destroyed by war must be rebuilt. All of this requires funds. I implore Daimyo-sama to understand Konoha's difficulties."

Here it comes.

Arashi sneered inwardly.

"Jonin Shinku, I understand your purpose, and I have already read the Third's letter."

He shifted the topic smoothly, pushing the scroll forward.

"But it seems you have misunderstood something."

"This report is not a record of Konoha's merits or a petition for rewards."

"It is a performance report, detailing how Konoha has fulfilled its duties to the Land of Fire."

Shinku's pupils shrank sharply.

Arashi's tone wasn't loud, but his words struck like a hammer.

"Do you think the funds the Daimyo Manor allocates to Konoha are insufficient? Or have you used them for your own comfort during peacetime, and now come asking for more?"

"You must understand, that money pays for your sacrifices in war, it pays for every casualty on this report."

"You have shed blood, and the Land of Fire has not treated you unjustly."

Arashi stood, walking around the desk until he stood before him, looking down from above.

"My brothers emptied the treasury in their struggle for power, that was my family's affair."

"I quelled the rebellion and drained the finances, that was state business."

"And now, you come to me, bringing what should be a duty report, demanding more compensation?"

"Jonin Shinku, tell me—why?"

"Or do you think the lives of ninja are worth more than the tens of thousands of civilians displaced and starving in the flames of war?"

Each word pierced deeper than the last.

Shinku opened his mouth, but no words came out.

All explanations suddenly felt meaningless.

Their achievements were reduced to mere duty.

Konoha's sacrifices, dismissed as transactions.

This man simply didn't place Konoha on an equal footing.

Were ninja merely tools?

A chill ran down Shinku's spine.

"I… understand."

After a long silence, he bowed deeply.

"I will report My Lord's words to Hokage-sama."

"Mm."

Arashi nodded, expression unreadable. He didn't care what Konoha's response would be.

Whether they were angry or silent.

If they dared to provoke him, he would crush them without hesitation.

Once Shinku stepped back, Arashi's expression softened. Compassion replaced the cold authority from moments before.

"The dead are gone; what we can do now is protect the living."

"In this great war, Konoha lost too many pillars. I truly grieve for them."

His tone grew gentle.

"Especially genjutsu ninja. Their strength can often decide victory through subtlety. Losing even one is a great loss for the Land of Fire."

"Does Konoha's next generation have any promising talents to inherit your will?"

The sudden shift in tone caught Shinku off guard.

After a brief pause, he replied instinctively, "To answer My Lord, among the younger generation, there are indeed several talented children."

"Oh?"

Arashi's eyes lit with mild interest. "For those talented in genjutsu, I have high expectations."

Shinku's face brightened slightly.

He said with pride, "My daughter, Kurenai, has shown some talent in genjutsu. She's already listed by the Village as a key training target."

"Kurenai…"

Arashi repeated the name softly, smiling. "A fine name. How old is she now? Has she been on the battlefield?"

Shinku replied, "My daughter is sixteen this year and has already experienced battle."

Arashi's tone softened with apparent sympathy. "A sixteen-year-old girl on the battlefield… how tragic."

"Tell the Third that heroes bleed on the front lines, and the Land of Fire will never let their families shed tears behind them."

"For outstanding ninjas like Jonin Shinku, the cultivation of their descendants should indeed be prioritized."

Shinku looked up suddenly, stunned.

What did he just hear?

Humiliation, suppression, and then… reward?

"I will allocate a special fund for genius cultivation to Konoha starting next quarter."

"I hope your daughter and other gifted youths will receive the support they deserve."

"Thank you, My Lord." Shinku's tone was filled with gratitude.

"Good. You've endured a long and tiring journey."

Arashi waved dismissively. "I've received the report. You may return."

He added casually, "Since you're already here, don't leave so soon. Walk around the capital, see the post-war reconstruction, and understand the people's lives."

"Yes!"

Shinku bowed deeply, then turned and left.

Only after walking out of the Daimyo Manor and feeling the cool evening breeze did he realize his back was drenched in cold sweat.

Meeting this young Daimyo was more exhausting than facing enemies on the battlefield.

That invisible pressure had nearly suffocated him.

So, this is what true power feels like.

Inside the study, Arashi toyed with the brush in his hand, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, do you think sending an elite Jonin would test me?

You'll soon learn that I won't just cut your budget. I'll take your talents too.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Arashi returned to his documents.

Establishing a new order required absolute patience.

Time passed quietly. The moon rose high in the night sky.

Gen entered silently to replace the candles, his movements light and precise.

"My Lord, it's late."

"Mm."

Arashi didn't look up.

Only after finishing the last document did he exhale deeply.

Continuous work had finally taken its toll, leaving a trace of fatigue.

Suddenly, that pale, stubborn face from yesterday appeared in his mind.

He wondered if, after a day of "teaching," that hard bone had finally been broken.

Arashi stood, a hint of anticipation in his eyes, and walked slowly toward the sleeping quarters.

(To be continued.)

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