Naruto: In Konoha Village, I awakened Wood Release at the start.

Konoha Village.

Inside the meeting room.

Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent for a full ten minutes.

In these ten minutes.

Koharu and Mitokado felt like they were being fried in a pan of oil.

"it is good."

"I am willing to hand over 70% of the Sarutobi clan's assets."

at last.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed.

That breath was long, as if it had drained all the life force from his body.

This statement came out.

Xiaochun, who had just changed dorm rooms, felt as if she had been struck by a heavy blow and collapsed into her chair.

Mitomon was also ashen-faced, and his glasses had slipped down to the tip of his nose.

It’s over.

It's all over.

Hiruzen Sarutobi retreated.

They've even lost their last fig leaf.

"Ninety percent!"

Chiba, however, was not satisfied.

Although he had never been exposed to these things before.

But he knew very well that the four major families had embezzled far too many resources.

Seventy percent of the family fortune is not enough to repay the debt!

"At most 80%."

"And you need to agree to one condition."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath.

He stared intently at Chiba, his expression becoming incredibly resolute.

If Chiba doesn't agree.

Even if he were to die with his family, he would not let Chiba have his way.

Dare to discuss terms?

A dangerous smile curled at the corners of Chiba's mouth.

He could have slapped those three old bastards to death and wiped out their families.

If it comes.

He can also access the resources of the four major families.

But he didn't do that.

It's not because he's soft-hearted.

Rather, it's because Hiruzen Sarutobi has an inescapable identity.

Tsunade's teacher.

Chiba had considered this issue on his way back to Konoha.

Tsunade, that woman, although she curses Hiruzen Sarutobi, still cherishes old feelings for him.

If he really chopped up Hiruzen Sarutobi and fed him to the dogs.

Tsunade must have some reservations.

Chiba didn't want to create a rift between himself and Tsunade because of an old good-for-nothing.

and so.

As long as Hiruzen Sarutobi knows what's good for him.

Chiba can spare his life.

Using him as a mascot and having him return the embezzled money is a way of making use of waste.

"explain."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's chest heaved violently a few times.

He placed his hands on the table, his fingers interlaced.

"After you become Hokage, you cannot target the Sarutobi clan."

"We cannot deliberately send our people on missions that will result in certain death."

"The Sarutobi clan cannot be deprived of their basic rights in the village."

"The same treatment that other ninjas receive should also be given to the ninjas of the Sarutobi clan."

"..."

This is Hiruzen Sarutobi's bottom line.

This is what he wants to exchange for the wealth he has accumulated over most of his life.

Koharu and Homura were stunned.

They were initially shocked.

Then.

A bone-chilling coldness shot from the soles of my feet straight to the top of my head.

They understood.

They understood what Hiruzen Sarutobi meant!

In the past few decades.

The four families went to extreme lengths to consolidate their power.

They had long ago completely tied their clan to Konoha.

Whether it's the economy, ninjutsu reserves, or the organization of ninjas, everything is within the framework of Konoha.

What if they want to run now?

Where are you going?

Go to other ninja villages?

Would the Hidden Cloud Village let these living intelligence databases go?

Will Onoki from Iwagakure be kind enough to take them in?

I'm afraid they've only just stepped out of the border of the Land of Fire.

They would be devoured alive by the various ninja villages, and their corpses would even be used for research.

They had nowhere to retreat.

The only option is to stay in Konoha.

But he remained in Konoha.

Chiba is heaven.

Chiba is a god.

If Chiba wanted to deal with them, he wouldn't even need to lift a finger.

He only needs to manipulate the task allocation.

For example, S-rank missions with extremely high difficulty ratings and extremely high mortality rates are specifically assigned to the ninjas of these few families.

Within three years.

All four families will be wiped out.

This is the power of the Hokage.

Reasonable and legal means of murder.

They used to deal with those disobedient troublemakers in the same way.

For example, Hatake Sakumo.

Now, the knife is hanging over their own necks.

Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't negotiating terms.

He's paying money to save his life!

They used their embezzled wealth to buy a way out for these families.

I've figured that out.

Xiaochun stopped calling out when she changed dorm rooms.

Mitokado Yan didn't mention anything about Konoha's greater good anymore.

The two of them deflated like punctured balloons, their bodies drenched in cold sweat, and they didn't even dare to look at Chiba.

"this one?"

"Can."

A hint of mockery flashed in Chiba's eyes.

He thought Hiruzen Sarutobi would make some unreasonable demands.

All they wanted was a way to survive.

What a pity.

Having lost the halo of Hokage, he shed his hypocritical facade.

This old man, who was touted as a hero, was nothing more than a dying old man clinging to life for his family.

just.

He underestimated Chiba.

Chiba never intended to destroy them.

Once he becomes Hokage, he will have absolute power.

How he decides to manipulate these families is entirely up to him.

Keeping them around serves as a good target, a warning to other families with ulterior motives.

Chiba stood up.

A terrifying aura belonging to the late stage of the Super Shadow level instantly swept through the entire conference room.

The air seemed to freeze at that moment.

The teacup on the table vibrated slightly.

"I will have Nara Shikaku audit the accounts."

"Eighty percent of the property of each of the four major families was confiscated by the state."

Within a month.

"I want to see these things."

"One penny less."

"I will kill ten people from your family."

"If you shortchange me by one hundred taels, I will exterminate your entire clan."

"Did you understand?"

Chiba stood up.

The terrifying aura of a late-stage super-movie level expert instantly swept through the entire conference room.

The air seemed to freeze at that moment.

The teacup on the table trembled slightly.

"clear."

Hiruzen Sarutobi closed his eyes and nodded heavily.

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado nodded repeatedly, showing no trace of their advisory airs.

Chiba couldn't be bothered to look at those disgusting old geezers anymore.

He turned and strode towards the door of the conference room.

"Bang."

The door was pushed open, then slammed shut again.

Chiba's footsteps gradually faded away in the corridor.

The three people in the conference room seemed to come back to life, panting heavily.

"Hiruzen..."

"Do we... really have to vomit all that stuff out?"

Xiaochun, who had just switched dorm rooms, stared blankly at the ceiling.

She still harbored a sliver of hope.

Perhaps we can hide some of them?

Perhaps they could falsify the accounts?

Hiruzen Sarutobi opened his eyes, his gaze filled with exhaustion and dejection.

He turned his head and looked at his old comrade-in-arms with whom he had worked for decades.

"Koharu."

"Don't you understand?"

"That wasn't a discussion, that was an order."

He sent Nara Shikaku to audit the accounts.

"With Nara Shikaku's brain, do you think we can fool him by falsifying accounts?"

"Nara Shikaku pretended to be stupid before because we had power."

"Now."

"Power is in the hands of that monster."

"Nara Shikaku will investigate us thoroughly so he can curry favor with his new master!"

"..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was hoarse.

He couldn't think of any way to break the deadlock.

Obeying orders obediently is their only chance to survive.

Xiaochun shivered as she turned to her new room.

She recalled Nara Shikaku's seemingly languid but actually extremely shrewd eyes.

It's definitely impossible to fool that guy.

"Hiruzen".

"Do you really believe him?"

"What if he takes the things and then turns on you?"

What if they secretly order someone to wipe us out?

Mitokado lowered his voice.

He served as a high-ranking official in Konoha for decades, witnessing all sorts of conspiracies and schemes.

Promises, on the other hand, have never been truly binding.

Danzo had gone back on his word more than once.

They acquiesced on it more than once.

Chiba, why would you keep your promise?

"Yan."

"You underestimate him."

"You're overestimating ourselves."

"He's not a useless person like Danzo who only knows how to assassinate."

"His style is even more domineering than Hashirama Senju's."

"Even more arrogant than Madara Uchiha!"

"That arrogance of disregarding all rules is ingrained in their bones."

"People like that wouldn't stoop to lying."

"Since he promised not to target us, he won't stab us in the back."

"Because in his eyes."

"We don't even have the right to make him draw his sword."

Hearing Mitokado's question.

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly laughed.

Laughter echoed in the conference room, sounding extremely desolate.

This is the cruelest truth.

It's not because of kindness.

It's not because of disdain.

Would an elephant care whether an ant harbors resentment?

Just step over it.