The daimyo was awaiting Konoha's response, and the Third Hokage was likewise awaiting the daimyo's reaction.
He had already sent Anbu to investigate around the Daimyo's residence, confirming that it had indeed been attacked, and the target was the daimyo himself—not the Uchiha, as he had initially suspected.
Although the Uchiha had taken on the responsibility of defending the Daimyo Mansion, they hadn't taken steps to control it entirely. Many people dressed as daimyo were present during the incident, and when a Root shinobi had shouted that incriminating line, it was heard by many. It was easy for Anbu to uncover this information.
But to be honest, while the daimyo could afford to wait, Konoha couldn't. The reason was simple: the village was out of money.
Originally, the Third Hokage's plan had been to request funds from the daimyo immediately after paying the Uchiha's compensation. However, given the current circumstances, it would be fortunate if the daimyo didn't withhold funding or hold Konoha accountable.
"Sarutobi, has the daimyo's money been allocated yet? The village's accounts are empty, and if this continues, we won't even be able to pay mission rewards."
Mitokado Homura entered the Hokage's office and addressed him directly. They had been friends for decades, so they often spoke more candidly when alone.
Under normal circumstances, the Third Hokage might be pleased by an old friend's visit, but the mention of money only added to his weariness.
"Maybe there's been a delay. Let the families support us temporarily—it shouldn't take long…"
The Third Hokage sighed, unwilling to disclose the events at the Daimyo Mansion to the other senior advisors.
Although Danzo had been under increased scrutiny, the Third Hokage hadn't taken action against him due to a lack of conclusive evidence implicating him directly. He had also chosen to extend trust to Danzo, partly due to certain personal reservations.
Danzo, as Konoha's hidden force, was closely tied to him in a way that could be seen as two sides of the same Hokage. Danzo knew too many of his secrets, and taking action against him could have personal repercussions, so he had delayed making any decision.
He had neither acted against Danzo nor responded to the daimyo, thus allowing the situation to linger.
"Let the families support us? Hiruzen, we have already emptied our resources to pay Uchiha's allowances. How can we possibly come up with more money now?"
Mitokado Homura responded with a bitter expression. He wasn't only here because the village's funds had run dry but also because his family had pressured him.
At first, he'd thought the family funds given to the Hokage would be quickly reimbursed, but several days had passed with no return of funds. Even the usual village welfare subsidies had ceased, leaving the Mito family with no savings or village support. A clan of their size would soon face severe difficulties.
Their weak economic foundation couldn't sustain their substantial structure.
"Then why are you coming to me? I can't give you money. Or do you expect me to ask the Uchiha for the 500 million taels back? If I did, do you think they'd return it?"
The Third Hokage, already in a foul mood, couldn't suppress his frustration any longer, and Homura's plea only added fuel to the fire.
Mitokado Homura was taken aback by the Third Hokage's sudden outburst, momentarily lost for words. As a comrade from the same generation, he hadn't seen Sarutobi Hiruzen lose his temper with him in years.
"I… I didn't mean that. I'm only concerned about the village. We're truly short of funds now. Why not send a reminder to the daimyo?"
Mitokado Homura adjusted his tone, speaking seriously.
He wasn't foolish enough to suggest reclaiming the 500 million taels from the Uchiha. He was well aware that, as soon as they had received the funds, the Uchiha clan had withdrawn the amount on the same day. By nightfall, a new Uchiha hotel had appeared in a major town on the eastern side of the Land of Fire.
"At this point, going to the Uchiha to ask for money is pointless; even if they wanted to return it, they wouldn't have the funds on hand."
Mitokado Homura's main purpose in coming to the Third Hokage was to request him to urge the Daimyo Mansion to expedite the funds allocated to the village. Otherwise, not only would the village's economy collapse, but the livelihoods of several prominent families would be affected.
"The daimyo… It's no use appealing to the daimyo right now… Forget it, call Koharu. We need to settle this matter," the Third Hokage said wearily. The pressure he had been under was overwhelming; there had been no further letters from the daimyo, and the Uchiha clan continued applying for permission for more shinobi to leave the village. It was clear that the daimyo had no intention of letting the matter go. The Third Hokage knew it was time to confront the situation.
Even if Danzo hadn't attempted to assassinate the daimyo, the daimyo had already implicated him. Without sufficient evidence proving otherwise, waiting any longer was futile.
"Sarutobi! What is this? You actually had Anbu monitor me and restrict my movements. Do you take me for an enemy?"
The Third Hokage and the two elder advisors were seated in a small room, and just as Utatane Koharu was about to ask what was going on, Danzo stormed in, shouting.
Danzo had been unsettled for days; the operatives he had dispatched hadn't returned, nor had there been any communication. When he attempted to send others to investigate, he found himself surrounded by Anbu, unable to move or communicate with Root.
His requests to meet Sarutobi Hiruzen had been ignored, fueling his suspicions. Faced with the Third Hokage now, his composure was hanging by a thread.
"What do you mean, Danzo? Do you honestly have the nerve to ask me that? I'd like to ask what you mean by all of this! Are you satisfied now? The village economy is on the verge of collapse, and the daimyo is refusing to allocate funds to us. All thanks to your handiwork!"
The Third Hokage's anger flared as he slammed his palm onto the table, glaring at Danzo.
"Sarutobi! Don't place all the blame on me. The village has no funds because you chose to pay the Uchiha 500 million taels! I told you not to be so lenient with those fools in the Daimyo Mansion. If I were Hokage, how dare the daimyo refuse me funding!"
Although Danzo was briefly startled, he quickly rebounded, retorting without fear.
Hearing Danzo's words, the Third Hokage and his advisors felt a chill. It was no wonder the daimyo suspected Danzo of plotting against him with that attitude.
"Enough! The two of you argue every time we meet, and we don't even know what's going on. Did you call us here just to watch you bicker?" Utatane Koharu, sensing things escalating, raised her voice to stop them.
"Hiruzen, let's sit down and talk this over calmly. Grievances with Danzo won't resolve anything. And Danzo, remember that Hiruzen is Hokage, and the daimyo is still the lord of the Land of Fire. Show some respect."
While it wasn't unusual for the Third Hokage and Danzo to disagree, they had nearly come to blows this time.
"Humph." Danzo grunted, sitting cross-legged on a futon, folding his arms as he glared at the Third Hokage, waiting for an explanation.
"Talk calmly? I'd love to! Do you know what Danzo did? He actually sent someone to assassinate the daimyo!"
"I wanted to believe it was a misunderstanding, but with Danzo's tone just now, does he really expect us to believe he wouldn't do such a thing?"
The Third Hokage turned away, finally expressing the suspicion that had weighed on his heart for days. A sense of relief washed over him.
*Assassinate the daimyo?*
Danzo was momentarily stunned, as were Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, who exchanged bewildered glances, still processing the Third Hokage's words.
"Nonsense! I don't have time to waste on someone so inconsequential!" Danzo retorted indignantly. While he might disrespect the daimyo, he wasn't foolish enough to target a powerless figure and invite trouble.
"It doesn't matter whether you did it or not. The fact is, the daimyo has declared you responsible for arranging the assassination. He sent a letter directly to me, questioning Konoha's intentions."
The Third Hokage threw the letter, bearing the daimyo's seal, in front of Danzo. When Danzo's eyes landed on the line, "Uchiha eliminated the assassin," he broke into a cold sweat.
He remembered the elite Root shinobi he had sent; it was no wonder there had been no word. It seemed they had died in the Daimyo Mansion.
But had they been painted as the daimyo's assassins? Danzo had only ordered them to track the Uchiha!
"Slander! This is a Uchiha setup! They're framing me!" Danzo shouted, realizing the gravity of the accusation. Arranging an assassination attempt on the daimyo of the Land of Fire was a crime he could never bear. If confirmed, Konoha wouldn't protect him—not only due to pressure from the Daimyo Mansion but also from other ninja villages.
Though Konoha was powerful, it was no longer the force it was under Hashirama. If all four great ninja villages united against them, Konoha could be wiped out.
The daimyo's influence was strong, despite lacking personal power, due to the alliances he could forge.
"Hiruzen, this must be a misunderstanding. Danzo…even if he's disrespectful to the daimyo, would never attempt something like this. Furthermore, the accusation that these operatives were sent by Danzo comes from the Uchiha, making it all the more suspect."
Utatane Koharu intervened, pointing out that Danzo's longstanding feud with the Uchiha clan was well-known, and a motive to frame him was obvious.
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