Obviously, he wanted to compensate for the reduction in funding and missions from the Daimyo, who preferred to hire cheaper shinobi from neighboring Konoha.
Against the backdrop of such news, one could only rejoice that the ruling Kumo clan was related to the Daimyo and served as a guarantor of the current regime's power in the country, despite the fact that some influential aristocrats were not averse to sitting their asses on the throne.
The shinobi regularly visit them, after which the rest quiet down for a few years. Of course, it would be better to cut out the questionable elements at the root, but ambitious personalities keep the ruler in shape and remind him who is worth sticking with, which is why Kumogakure has never had any problems with financing.
With a mocking snort, the blond man perked up and put his thoughts about politics aside, turning his attention to the task at hand.
Glancing at the stacks of paper on the table that needed to be sorted by the end of the day, Ai Sr. grimaced but reached for the next scroll, immersing himself in reading, while with his other hand he picked up a heavy dumbbell lying under the table and began to pump iron.
Sometimes he hated this part of his job, and a little exercise helped to alleviate the exhausting monotony of sorting through documents.
***
"I didn't think the Uchiha were capable of this," the head of the Yamanaka clan said thoughtfully, tapping his fingers on the table as he addressed his friends who had gathered for another meeting of the clan heads, referred to as "strategic discussions," in a separate room of the Akamichi main restaurant.
"Don't be fooled by the red-eyed ones' tough exterior," Shenesu shook his head. "When necessary, they are quite capable of finding diplomatic approaches and reaching agreements that take into account the interests of the other clans."
"Yes, we've noticed," muttered Chouji with his mouth full, without thinking to stop devouring everything around him. "I never thought I'd see the Uchiha elder joking and smiling, rather than suffering from days of constipation with the corresponding expression on his face.
"Yeah, but their money, technology, small concessions with future support, and officer positions in the police will come in handy for our clans," Inoda nodded in agreement, "even if it meant giving up the fight for the position of Anbu commander. Ne, supporting the red-eyed ones, I wonder what did they offer Hyuga and Inuzuka for their help?
"It doesn't matter, we're not out of the game anyway — one of the two deputies will be Nara," Shenesu said meaningfully, and that would make it possible to keep track of what was happening in the organization and keep Uchiha in sight.
"Do we already know who Todoroki-san plans to appoint to this position?" Inoda asked his friend, pausing for a couple of minutes to take a sip of sake.
"There are persistent rumors that it will be Shigeru Uchiha, who performed well in the last war and is among the ten strongest shinobi in the clan after it," even if he is at the bottom of the list, he has shown good leadership and organizational skills," Nara said and shrugged. "I don't know him personally, but many people speak very highly of him.
I've got more interesting stuff on patreon (+ 200 chapter)
patreon.com/Chill76