章節 299: Chapter 299: No Choice, the Daimyo Is Furious
After several sleepless nights, the Third Hokage, with pronounced dark circles under his eyes, convened a private meeting in his office with Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.
As Nara Shikashin had predicted, the Third Hokage hadn't rested in days.
Shinki's proposal had been gnawing at him. He wanted to dismiss it, but no better solution presented itself. Accepting Shinki's plan meant tarnishing his reputation and incurring the ire of the Daimyo. Yet rejecting it would leave Konoha's financial crisis unresolved.
At his wit's end, the Hokage turned to his advisors.
"Tell me your thoughts—do I have to accept this suggestion?"
After relaying Shinki's detailed plan, he felt a slight sense of relief. At least he wasn't alone in his anguish—his advisors were now sharing the burden.
Damn it!
The same thought flashed across the minds of Koharu and Homura as the Hokage finished.
"This is outrageous!" Koharu exclaimed. "This suggestion is pure lunacy!"
Mitokado Homura, however, was more composed, though his expression was grim.
"If we follow this plan, the Daimyo will likely stop withholding funds, but the method is risky—deeply offensive to the Daimyo and likely to anger many ninjas in the village," Homura said.
"The relationship with the Daimyo's mansion will sour further. As for the ninjas, they'll grumble, but we can manage that with clear communication and compensation later. Most will calm down once subsidies and benefits are distributed."
Homura's assessment was pragmatic. Ninjas, though angry, would eventually come around if they saw concrete benefits. The Daimyo, however, was another matter entirely.
"This is essentially forcing the Daimyo's hand," he added. "It's not just political pressure—it's threatening the safety of the Land of Fire. From the village's perspective, it's a necessary evil. But for the Hokage, the personal cost is steep."
The room fell silent. The weight of the decision was palpable.
"Do we have any other choice?" the Hokage asked rhetorically, sighing heavily.
No one answered.
They had petitioned the Daimyo multiple times for funds, only to be met with delays. The Daimyo knew Konoha was in financial trouble but remained unmoved, seemingly content to let the village struggle.
After a long pause, the Third Hokage exhaled deeply.
"Write the letter in my name," he said, his voice resigned.
"I'll do it," Homura volunteered.
As Homura turned to leave, Koharu stopped him. "Make sure to phrase it carefully. We need to minimize the damage to the Hokage's reputation."
Homura glanced back, a wry smile on his lips.
"Reputation? Right now, none of us have the luxury of worrying about that. Internal stability comes first. The rest we'll deal with later."
Two days later, the letter—signed by the Third Hokage—was delivered to the Daimyo.
Upon reading it, the Daimyo's face froze.
The first half of the letter contained apologies and explanations, but the second half outlined the dire consequences of Konoha's financial woes. It suggested that if funding was not provided, Konoha would be forced to reduce its ninja forces and withdraw troops from the borders.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen, are you insane?!"
The Daimyo exploded in rage, slamming the letter onto his desk. His outburst startled his aides and guards, who lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at him.
The room buzzed with curiosity. What could the Hokage have written to provoke such a reaction?
Even when Konoha had rejected negotiations with the Sand Village, the Daimyo hadn't been this furious. Now, his anger knew no bounds. He even resorted to cursing the Hokage's relatives, a clear sign of how livid he was.
"Damn it, damn it!"
Tearing the letter to shreds, the Daimyo turned on his staff with a fiery glare.
"Why didn't you stop me?! Why did you let me block Konoha's funds?! You're the ones who deserve to be punished!"
His trusted aide, utterly bewildered, stammered, "My lord, I—"
"Guards! Seize him!" the Daimyo roared.
The guards, accustomed to obeying without question, grabbed the confused staff member and dragged him out.
"It's all your fault!" the Daimyo continued, his voice booming. "If you hadn't convinced me to withhold funds, I wouldn't be in this mess! Do you understand what you've done? If Konoha reduces its forces and pulls out from the borders, who will protect the Land of Fire?!"
The Daimyo's rage reverberated through the palace, but his course of action was clear.
Within hours, an emergency session was convened, and funds were released to Konoha without delay. Though furious, the Daimyo knew he had no choice but to comply. The potential consequences of a weakened Konoha were too grave to risk.
Back in Konoha, the Third Hokage sat at his desk, staring at the confirmation of the funds transfer. He felt a wave of relief but also a deep bitterness.
The funds would stabilize the village for now, but the damage to his reputation and the strained relationship with the Daimyo were prices he would have to bear.
In his heart, he cursed Shinki's cunning. Yet he couldn't deny that the plan, however ruthless, had worked.
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