"Yoichi-dono, I didn't expect you to be alarmed by the commotion caused here. It was my mistake. Cat, Dog—take Yoichi-dono to the Hokage Office for a meeting."
As soon as Hiruzen said this, two ANBU appeared on both sides of Yoichi, bowing slightly as if asking him to move forward.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen, don't try to change the topic. Let's settle everything here, in front of everyone.
"Tell me—is everything written here true?"
As Yoichi said this, he passed the document in his hand to Hiruzen. At the same time, the Uchiha also passed copies of the same document to the other people present.
Seeing this, Hiruzen felt a bad premonition, and when he started reading it, he understood that his premonition was correct.
Others reading the documents were also enraged. As for what was written in them—
It was nothing extraordinary. Just the financial records of the past few decades.
Seeing no response from Sarutobi Hiruzen, Yoichi became so angry that he laughed.
"Hehehe. Third Hokage Good good good
Every year the Daimyo funds Konoha with forty-two billion ryō, and every year you come to me asking to increase the amount, threatening me that if we do not, Konoha would become the next Sunagakure.
Every year, I wrestle with the Daimyo to increase Konoha's funds so that the Land of Fire remains peaceful. Now I understand why Konoha, even with the full support of the Daimyo, lost to the Hidden Lightning Village and was forced to sign a humiliating peace treaty at the cost of a pair of Byakugan.
Out of thise forty-two billion ryō, seventeen billion goes directly into the pockets of your ninja clans. And even from the remaining twenty-five billion, the majority of the money funds your ninja clans and businesses.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, if you do not give me an answer right now, then for the next ten years, I will make sure that the funding of Konoha is even less than Sunagakure."
The other people, hearing this, were even more angry—not only at Sarutobi Hiruzen but also at the Uchiha clan. By now, they understood that the Uchiha clan wanted Konoha to sink along with them.
They knew that the Uchiha clan and the high-level officials of Konoha had conflicts between themselves. But why should the entire village be dragged into it? If you want to fight, then fight among yourselves.
After a few minutes of silence, Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed.
"I understand. I will resign from the position of Hokage and start the election for the Fifth Hokage."
As Hiruzen said this, he looked as if he had aged a few years just by speaking those words.
But Yoichi was not satisfied with this answer. According to him, once everyone had seen and read the documents, Hiruzen would have to resign even if he didn't want to.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen, last time, during the Third Great Ninja War, you resigned from the position of Hokage to escape your mistakes, and now you want to do the same?
What do you think Konoha and the Land of Fire are?
A game?
I'm saying this clearly now—your ninja clans will return all the money that you stole to the Daimyo, or from now on, Konoha will receive only one ryō in funding every year."
Hearing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen became angry. He had already given up his beloved Hokage seat. What more did this greedy bastard want from him?
"Yoichi-dono, what is the total amount you are talking about?"
Just then, Fugaku, who had been silent all this while, spoke for the first time.
"Isn't it already written at the end of the page?
Three hundred and ninety billion ryō.
Give it back, or from now on, face the sanctions of the Land of Fire and the entire ninja world."
Hearing this, Nara Shikaku and all the other Konoha ninjas panicked. By now, they knew that the Shimura and Sarutobi clans alone couldn't return such an amount to the Daimyo.
If the Land of Fire really placed sanctions on Konoha, then Konoha's situation would truly become worse than Sunagakure's.
The reason was simple—the Land of Fire granted legitimacy to Konoha. How did Konoha earn most of its money after Daimyo funding?
Missions
And ninety-nine percent of the people who gave missions were civilians who followed the Daimyo and the nobles. With sanctions from the Land of Fire, Konoha could forget about receiving missions. And even if there were any, they would be nothing more than catching cats or farming fields.
"Yoichi-dono, I understand Konoha's difficult situation. For the next ten years, the Uchiha clan will run the Police Department without taking any money, and the Uchiha clan will also donate the one-plus billion ryō that we legitimately collected from the villagers to the village."
"Fugaku-dono, you are indeed a role model for this generation of the Uchiha.
With Fugaku-dono's help, sixty-one billion ryō has been deducted from the total debt—of course, only if you pay it all this year.
Now, the current total debt is three hundred and twenty-nine billion ryō."
Hearing this, many people looked at the Uchiha with gratitude. But then they remembered that everything had happened because of them—so why should they be grateful?
"The Ino–Shika–Chō clan donates three billion ryō to the village."
Hearing this, many people looked gratefully at Nara Shikaku and the others. Then the civilians turned their gaze toward the other major and minor clans.
"The Hyuga clan donates five billion ryō to the village."
"The Aburame clan donates ... "
A few minutes later, all the clan leaders donated a specific amount of money according to their standing, with the Uchiha clan giving the most and the Hyuga clan seconding the Uchiha.
"Good. Now I see the unity of Konoha and the Will of Fire you spoke of.
With the donations from all of you, the total amount remaining is two hundred and sixty billion ryō. Sarutobi Hiruzen, you have been quiet all this while. Now you have to say it."
Hiruzen also knew that all the clans had already given whatever they could, and now, if he couldn't provide the remaining amount, the Sarutobi and Shimura clan would face an even worse situation than the Uchiha clan.
"The Sarutobi and Shimura clans will pay the rest of the debt within this year.
Hearing this, Yoichi nodded with satisfaction.
"I want two hundred billion ryō this month, and after that, the remaining hundred and thirty billion can be paid monthly. And, Third Hokage, I hope you can elect the Fifth Hokage by the end of the year."
After saying this, Yoichi gave Fugaku a nod of respect and then left in a good mood, a smile on his face.
But the rest of the people were not smiling and were not influenced by Yoichi's expression.
They looked at their Hokage in silence, wondering what hateful things Konoha had done in the past to suffer like this.
Finally, Itachi broke the silence.
"Everyone who joined the Police Department, instead of paying the Police Department, pay the village now.
From tomorrow onwards, I want every one of you to be present at exactly ten o'clock. And remember, just like missions, money is deducted for mistakes—here, it will be the same.
So if you make any mistakes, you will have to pay more, proportionate to your salary.
Okay, disperse."
With Itachi's order, all the new members of the Police Department left. Along with them, the civilians also departed, intending to spread the news they had heard today to their relatives.
Just then, a ninja wearing clothes bearing the Uchiha clan symbol appeared in front of Itachi.
He handed him a scroll and whispered something to him.
Hearing this, Itachi smiled and finally turned toward Takahashi, who was still thinking about his stolen jewelry.
"Takahashi-dono, during this time, one of our brave ninjas finally caught the thief.
Unfortunately, during the fight, the Uchiha junior got too excited and burned the ninja to ashes.
But you don't have to worry. Here it is—all your goods, safe and sound."
Hearing this, Takahashi was first surprised, then smiled in relief and took the scroll from Itachi's hand. But then, Takahashi understood.
How could there be such a coincidence? His shop was robbed, and then such a huge commotion happened here.
The Uchiha had all the documents prepared in advance, and coincidentally, the Finance Minister arrived with Fugaku, carrying budget reports detailing corruption and everything else.
And then, coincidentally, after everything was over, his goods were recovered and the thief conveniently died.
Takahashi understood that everything was part of the Uchiha's plan—but he didn't say anything. At least the Uchiha had returned his goods.
Just as Takahashi turned around to leave, Itachi's voice came from behind.
"Takahashi-dono, although this wasn't the Uchiha clan's fault, we can't let you suffer because of the village. Here—this is what my father gave as compensation."
As he said this, Itachi took out a sealing scroll and took out a bundle of notes totaling one million ryō, handing it to Takahashi.
Takahashi smiled, and after a few polite exchanges with Itachi, he left with a smile on his face.
Then the Uchiha gathered, and with Fugaku leading them, they also left the open space in front of the Police Department headquarters, leaving behind only the ninja clans and the Hokage.
"Sigh"
This wasn't just Sarutobi Hiruzen sighing but all the Ninja clans sighing.
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