Chapter 36. The Passionate Will of Fire
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The time for the Chunin Exams was drawing near, and the village had started its preparations, making the atmosphere more tense. To ensure the successful hosting of this Chunin Exam, Sarutobi Hiruzen called a small meeting just before the event.
At the moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen's team was gathered in a small meeting room. Of course, their close friend, Shimura Danzo, was absent from this meeting for various reasons.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the new bounty poster with 400 million written on it, feeling a bit melancholy as he took a puff from his pipe. "Danzo… does he really not trust me?" he sighed, lamenting that his old friend didn't even attend his meeting.
If I saw someone with my bounty posted on their desk all the time, I wouldn't trust them either.
But as Sarutobi Hiruzen's close friend, Mitokado Homura couldn't say this aloud. Instead, he sighed and commented, "It's grown a bit excessive, hasn't it?"
It hadn't even been that long, and it was already up to 400 million. And it was still rising, likely tempting some rogue or assassin ninjas. Even though the village was generally safe, there was always the risk that someone might sneak in, gunning for Danzo's head.
Homura paused thoughtfully, "I hear the bounty didn't come from just one source. What has Danzo done to warrant such widespread attention?"
"That's enough," said Utatane Koharu, shaking her head. "Regardless, this bounty is starting to interfere with our work. We need to investigate which village or individual is behind such an exorbitant sum."
When the First Hokage sold off the tailed beasts, it wasn't this outrageous. Who knows how high this will climb?
Turning to Hiruzen, she added, "But right now, we should focus on the upcoming Chunin Exams."
"Haha, indeed!" Hiruzen put the bounty poster away, frowning slightly as he looked at his old friends. "As you may have noticed, the other villages have been acting strangely. This means we need to tighten village security for the Chunin Exams."
"Let's have the Police Force cooperate with the ANBU's actions," suggested Koharu. "The Sharingan will be quite useful for that."
"Very well, we'll do as Koharu suggested and call a meeting with the Clan Leaders later," Hiruzen nodded with a smile. "And as for the village's reception…"
"I've already made arrangements for that."
Before he could finish, Mitokado Homura, looking scholarly and composed, adjusted his glasses and said seriously, "Uchiha Yuto, a man with a deep Will of Fire, has taken the initiative. Though he's been removed from the Uchiha clan and is no longer a ninja, his success in expanding his tea shop across the Land of Fire shows he has business acumen that far surpasses others." He paused. "Moreover, he loves Konoha, is generous, and often contributes to the village. He is an excellent Konoha citizen. Recently, he approached me, offering to share the burden for the village, help host the foreign ninjas, and support the Chunin Exam. I have a good feeling about him."
"A mere businessman involved in ninja affairs…" Koharu frowned slightly, pondering for a moment. "It's inappropriate."
"It is indeed inappropriate," Hiruzen took a puff on his pipe and nodded. "He hasn't been a ninja for years, and this is a crucial Chunin…"
Before he could finish, Homura continued, "He agreed to provide free meals, drinks, and sunshades to all villages during the exam. He's also willing to cover guidance for entering the village. Furthermore, he's prepared a personal donation of… fifty million ryo. If we agree, he'll transfer the funds tonight."
With that, both Sarutobi Hiruzen and Utatane Koharu fell into silent contemplation. After all, who could turn down extra funding? Each additional million meant the village could accomplish more.
And Yuto wasn't looking to meddle in the exam, only to do his part.
"What a remarkable Konoha citizen!" Hiruzen said with a satisfied sigh. "Through Yuto, I can truly sense the passionate Will of Fire that loves Konoha, loves the Hokage, and loves the citizens!"
"So, Hiruzen, does this mean…?"
"Since he's offered so sincerely, how can we turn him away? We'll still assign ninjas to oversee things." Hiruzen nodded, visibly pleased with Yuto's pro-village attitude. "Now, let's bring in the Clan Leaders and the Jonin staying in Konoha for the meeting!" He paused. "Also, let someone notify Danzo." Glancing at the 400 million ryo bounty, he smiled with a benevolent expression. "After all, he's an important partner of ours."
"Understood." Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu nodded and got up to make arrangements.
Once they left and closed the door, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the intel on his desk and fell into silence. Finally, he burned the note with his pipe and sighed with emotion, "The painting left by the First Hokage? Five million ryo?"
He raised his head with melancholy, looking at the white light on the ceiling. "Homura, don't let yourself fall into temptation!"
Don't forget our original intention and keep in mind our dreams back then!
…
As the messenger ninja delivered the orders, the Clan Leaders promptly received the Third Hokage's summons and rushed to the Hokage building for the meeting, not daring to delay.
The usual format involved the Hokage's advisory council assigning tasks, with the Clan Leaders nodding in agreement and only raising questions if something was unclear.
As the Uchiha Clan Leader and head of the Konoha Police Force, Uchiha Fugaku also attended the meeting. By the time it ended and he returned home, night had fallen.
"I'm back," he said in a calm tone.
"Fugaku, you're home?" Mikoto Uchiha smiled as she saw him. "Dinner's ready. I'll warm it up; please wait a moment."
"Mm." Fugaku nodded, handing his ninja vest to Mikoto and relaxing as he sat down.
Nothing beats being home~
Noticing Itachi quietly sipping his milk tea nearby, Fugaku's mouth twitched.
That Yuto really is… something else. He'd promised to send tea and snacks, and sure enough, starting the next day, he'd been sending a constant supply—way too much of it. It would be wasteful to throw it out, but it's all junk food, and eating too much isn't good.
With a sigh, Fugaku maintained a stern expression as he looked at Itachi. "Don't eat too much of this stuff."
"Yes, Father!" Itachi nodded obediently. "I only ate some after asking Mother because I didn't want it to go to waste. Tomorrow, I'll give the rest to others—"
Before he could finish, Fugaku seemed to sense something. He furrowed his brow and looked at Itachi seriously, "Come here."
"Father…" Itachi said, puzzled, as he walked over.
Then Fugaku lifted his young son, still with a serious expression, and weighed him in his hands. After a moment, he spoke gravely, "Itachi, have you… become a bit fatter?"
"???"
The two-year-old looked at his father in total confusion.