Sarutobi Hiruzen stood frozen in place.
Itsuki said kindly, "Lord Hokage, how about I blow something up just to try it out? Don't worry, I promise I won't blow up the Sarutobi clan. You've got to trust me. I've got a special feeling for the Sarutobi clan."
Damn it!
Even without turning around, Hiruzen could sense that the eyes of every ninja around were fixed on him.
Among the Konoha ninjas present, apart from the Anbu, no doubt, they were all members of the ninja clans.
Only the ninja clans needed people to stay behind.
Civilian ninjas? Get your butt to the battlefield already. You're the only ninja in your family—if you don't go, who will?
What? Your wife just gave birth?
Where's your Will of Fire? Without it, you're not worthy of being a Konoha ninja.
So the pressure from the surrounding ninjas on Hiruzen felt almost tangible.
This involved their personal interests, so of course, they were tense.
Their family members were fighting desperately for Konoha on the front lines, while the clan members at home were gone because of your order, Hiruzen!
If I don't make your clan vanish too, I'd be doing you a favor, Hiruzen!
What's that? It's not your fault?
Are you not the Hokage?
You're the Hokage, so it's your responsibility. It's on you since Danzo isn't around.
"Hokage, why are you looking at them?" Itsuki grumbled. "You're the Hokage! When you make decisions, how can you still consider other ninjas? I can't stand it! Are they even treating you like the Hokage? Whatever you say goes. Anyone who rebels is a traitor."
He glared at the ninjas around him, saying, "If any of you consider yourselves Konoha ninjas, step forward right now so I can mark your clan."
To hell with you!
Every ninja present was cursing Itsuki silently.
Even some of the Uchiha were thinking the same.
Listen to yourself. Are you even speaking like a human?
Definitely not!
"What's the matter? You think I'm wrong?" Itsuki snapped. "If you don't listen to the Hokage, do you want to end up like the Uchiha and become traitors?"
More people's faces turned dark.
Some Uchiha were itching to throw an explosive tag right at Itsuki's face.
Becoming traitors was already a sore spot, and here he was, rubbing it in.
Itsuki pointed at them, shouting, "Let me tell you something—"
"Enough!" Hiruzen interrupted. "200 million ryō! I'll pay. Take the Uchiha and leave now!"
"300 million! Not a cent less!" Itsuki waved his hand dismissively. "Don't believe me? I'll blow up another one to show you!"
With that, he pulled out a button, muttering, "Whose clan was this again? Forgot. Oh well, doesn't matter."
"No, don't—"
*Boom!!!*
Another explosion shook Konoha.
Everyone was stunned.
He really did it?
Itsuki squinted for a moment, then clapped his hands, "Looks like that was the Kurama clan's land. Well, that clan was a problem anyway, so I solved it for you. No need to thank me, Hokage, just throw in another 50 million ryō."
Hiruzen was breathing heavily.
The veins on his forehead bulged, and his fists clenched tightly.
He was at his limit.
*Whoosh!*
A ninja hurried over to Hiruzen's side and whispered something in his ear.
Hiruzen's anger subsided slightly as he turned to look at the Hyuga ninja in front of him. "Are you sure?" he asked quietly.
"Positive!" the Hyuga ninja replied softly. "I went to several ninja clan lands, and underneath each one, I found a large number of explosive tags. If they go off… even the outskirts of the Sarutobi clan's land are rigged. I didn't dare check deeper."
Hiruzen said nothing.
"Hokage-sama!" Nara Shikaku leaned in and whispered, "Maybe… we should just pay."
Hiruzen sighed in resignation. "Konoha's treasury can't afford that much."
A major battle was coming, and Konoha's finances were already stretched thin.
300 million ryō? Even selling himself wouldn't be enough.
"We know that!" Shikaku glanced at the other ninjas around them. "All the clans are willing to chip in."
The other ninjas nodded in agreement.
Though the Hyuga ninja had spoken softly, they all had a rough idea of what was said.
So the Hyuga had already checked several clans and found explosive tags.
And "several" might include their own clans.
Fine! Pay up!
Better to lose money than lives.
"Fine." Hiruzen sighed again. "Uchiha Itsuki, you win. 300 million ryō—Konoha will pay."
"350 million," Itsuki corrected seriously. "I took out the unstable Kurama clan. Logically, you should show some appreciation."
The veins on Hiruzen's head throbbed visibly, almost as if they were drumming.
You beast! You want to charge me 50 million ryō for destroying a Konoha clan?
A "thank-you fee"? I'll thank your ancestors, you scumbag!
God knows how much I want to kill you right now!
If I had known you'd turn out like this, I'd have strangled Kagami at birth, cutting you off at the source.
"Hokage-sama!" Shikaku called out.
We've already agreed on 300 million, what's 50 million more?
Let's just get rid of this disaster!
"I'll pay!" Hiruzen finally forced the words through gritted teeth.
"Thank you for your patronage!" Itsuki beamed. "How about I blow up a few more clans, and you can pay me a bit more? I'm helping the Sarutobi clan clear the way."
Hiruzen glared at Itsuki, speaking slowly, "Uchiha Itsuki, if you provoke me again—"
*Click!*
Without hesitation, Itsuki pressed another button.
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
This explosion was the biggest one yet.
All of Konoha shook violently.
Several buildings collapsed.
Near the village's center, a massive mushroom cloud rose into the sky.
Itsuki grinned. "What do you think? Spectacular, right?"
Hiruzen stood there, dumbfounded.
So did everyone else.
After a long silence, the Hyuga ninja whispered, "That was the Koharu clan's land."
Koharu!?
Koharu Utatane!?
"Nooo!" Hiruzen suddenly screamed, leaping toward Itsuki.
Luckily, Shikaku reacted quickly and grabbed Hiruzen, holding him back.
"Hokage-sama, please stay calm!"
"Noooo!" Hiruzen struggled, but Shikaku held on tightly, repeatedly telling him to calm down.
Itsuki blinked, confused. "What's going on here?"
"Monkey, you've got nothing! Danzo's cackling sounds way better. What's with all your howling?"
"Uchiha Itsuki!" Shikaku snapped, "You've gone too far—um…" He paused, swallowing his words awkwardly. "Please show mercy!"
Itsuki, holding the remote in his hand, simply stared at Shikaku in silence.
I'm not saying a word.
I just like hearing you beg!
(End of Chapter)
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