"Just go and help contact Uchiha and Hyuga on Tsunade's behalf. Otherwise, no one will contribute financially, no matter how desperate the situation is," Shinki suggested.
The Third Hokage frowned as Shinki gave him a long, pointed look. It made the Hokage uncomfortable.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked.
"Uchiha and Hyuga's demands are simple," Shinki said flatly. "Stop targeting them and remove the unfair policies. Hokage-sama, please restrain yourself. No matter what the history is, they are part of this village. It's not appropriate to overdo things."
The Hokage coughed nervously, his face reddening. "There's absolutely no such targeting. I promise—never has been, never will be."
"That's good to hear."
Shinki stood up decisively, preparing to leave. "I'll have Hyuga and Uchiha send the money soon. Remember, this is a loan. Hokage-sama, I hope you keep your promise. Don't accept their money and then continue oppressing them. They're not like Uchiha Madara or Uchiha Kagami, who just appear out of nowhere to stir things up."
"I promise this will never happen again," the Hokage assured, though his tone betrayed a hint of defensiveness.
The terms were direct and left no room for interpretation. To go back on his word would be to admit dishonesty and openly insult someone as principled as Shinki.
Still, the Hokage's agreement was strictly conditional: he would not target Uchiha and Hyuga unless they themselves caused trouble. But offering them any additional benefits? That was a stretch. This financial arrangement was purely transactional—a means to stabilize the village's economy, nothing more.
With the immediate crisis solved, the Hokage exhaled deeply, reclining in his chair. Reflecting on his conversation with Shinki, he realized he had made no unnecessary commitments and avoided any promises that might corner him later. This thought calmed him.
"Targeting Uchiha and Hyuga?" he muttered to himself. "There's no time for that nonsense now."
Between managing the financial crisis and dealing with internal politics, he had enough on his plate. Even Danzo Shimura and Koharu, his usual allies in pressuring Uchiha, would likely bow under the weight of Konoha's financial struggles.
From the Hokage's perspective, Uchiha's issues paled in comparison to the looming fiscal disaster. For now, Uchiha was relatively stable—the hawks and doves within the clan had cooled their internal feuds, and no one was shouting about destroying the village. This stability was enough for him to deprioritize their concerns.
In the face of money, principles and grudges could wait.
Shinki had delivered the conditions from Uchiha and Hyuga, and the Hokage had accepted them without hesitation. Any delay would have been disrespectful to the financial aid they were providing. The money could ensure pensions were paid and keep the village running long enough for the funds from the Daimyo's estate to arrive.
Of course, the Daimyo had their own plans. While they wouldn't outright deny the funds, delays were inevitable. Financially squeezed villages like Konoha had little choice but to tolerate the postponement.
"At least we're getting something," the Hokage muttered bitterly.
No sooner had Shinki left than another crisis erupted. A plan for the Sarutobi clan's development was delivered to the Hokage's office, demanding additional funds. The Hokage froze. Only hours earlier, he had assured everyone that Konoha's finances were secure.
The Sarutobi clan, though influential, was financially weak. Rapid expansion had outpaced the clan's ability to sustain itself. Without financial aid from the village, their growth plans would collapse.
"Again?" the Hokage groaned, massaging his temples.
Previously, he could have pulled strings to reallocate funds, but now the Ministry of Finance had everything on lockdown. Diverting money to the Sarutobi clan would destabilize the entire budget, a risk he could no longer afford.
Reluctantly, the Hokage shelved the clan's development plan. From now on, Sarutobi ninjas would have to rely on self-sufficiency. Subsidies were out of the question.
"I hope this doesn't cause too much unrest," he sighed, though his confidence wavered.
Even as he dealt with the immediate financial strain, the Hokage couldn't shake the feeling that he was merely delaying the inevitable.
>>>>>
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