Chapter 87: Konoha F4 Worries About Money
But Danzo was unconcerned, saying with a hint of disdain, "This Daimyo is disobedient. At worst, we'll just replace him."
"Bastard! Danzo! Do you know what you're saying? Are you trying to make an enemy of the entire Ninja World?"
Actually, the political system of the Hokage world is a bit chaotic.
A group of powerful Ninja actually have to obey the Daimyo's rule, and every year they have to beg the Daimyo for funds. This setting is truly baffling.
Utatane Koharu also quickly told Danzo, "Danzo, don't say such things again. If it gets out, the entire Konoha won't have a good day."
Homura Mitokado tapped the table and said, "We've strayed from the topic! Let's get back to Minato and Kushina's inheritance!"
After Mitokado finished, he looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi and said, "Those two streets of Kushina's back then were all taken by the Sarutobi Clan. Each of us received three hundred and fifty million ryo, and the rest was invested in Konoha's construction."
Utatane Koharu also nodded in agreement, "That's right, Hiruzen! The three of us received one billion and fifty million ryo. We can return that, but what about the rest? Where do we get the money that was invested in Konoha's construction? And what about the rent from those two streets? Should the shops on those two streets also be returned?"
The questions Utatane Koharu raised were indeed facts. After the Nine-Tails Rampage, rebuilding Konoha alone cost three hundred million ryo. Adding the money taken by Utatane Koharu, Homura Mitokado, and Danzo Shimura, the total comes to one billion three hundred and fifty million. This doesn't even include the rent from the shops over the past fourteen years and other expenses, which would add up to at least two billion ryo.
Uzumaki Kushina had brought the entire Uzumaki Clan's inheritance to Konoha. Even two billion ryo is an understatement; if you calculate it precisely, thirty billion ryo might not even be enough.
Originally, Hiruzen Sarutobi's plan was to plunder Gato and then add a little more, which would amount to about one billion seven or eight hundred million ryo. Although this wouldn't be enough for Kushina and Minato Namikaze's entire inheritance, it would be enough to give Naruto an explanation.
If others still had objections, they could simply say that a portion was spent during Konoha's reconstruction and would be slowly repaid to Uzumaki Naruto in the future, thus making it complete.
But now all the plans have been disrupted. If they were to take out these two billion ryo, their four great clans would suffer greatly.
Especially the Sarutobi Clan. Ever since Hiruzen Sarutobi became Hokage, they have hardly undertaken any dangerous missions, so their Ninjapopulation has skyrocketed. There are at least three thousand unregistered Ninja, not to mention the registered ones.
The Mitokado and Utatane clans are even more so. Even if there aren't three thousand unregistered Ninja, there are at least two thousand. Rashly taking out a large sum of money would definitely affect the two clans' businesses, and then the food, clothing, and daily expenses of these people would become a huge problem.
The four sat in silence until dark, still unable to come up with any solution.
Just then, Jiraiya pushed open the window and looked at the four, saying, "How much money can you all come up with now? Don't hold anything back. If I find out, don't blame me for being merciless."
Upon hearing Jiraiya's words, the four of them all looked displeased. Utatane Koharu, Homura Mitokado, and Danzo Shimura all looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi to see how he would respond.
Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at his three old friends and said calmly, "The rent from those two streets over more than ten years is about four hundred million ryo. The Sarutobi Clan can still come up with this money, and transferring the shops to Naruto's name is also not a problem. In the future, we can just pay Naruto the rent annually."
Although Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke of shop rent, everyone understood the underlying meaning. Hiruzen Sarutobi simply didn't want to lose face.
Utatane Koharu, Homura Mitokado, and Danzo Shimura all looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi in disbelief after hearing his answer.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was completely playing hardball. If the Sarutobi Clan were to take out four hundred million, they wouldn't be able to think about development for three to five years. Just recovering their vitality would be good enough.
Jiraiya nodded after hearing this and looked at Utatane Koharu and the other three.
"What about you? Don't try to fool me! If I'm not satisfied, I will investigate thoroughly. If I find anything else then, I won't be so easy to talk to."
Danzo Shimura said with a gloomy face, "All the inheritance I received was spent on Root. Now Root can at most come up with one hundred and fifty million ryo. Any more than that, not a single ryo can be taken out."
"Danzo, don't make me investigate!"
"Jiraiya! This Old Man has a clear conscience, and what I said is true. Everything I do is for Konoha."
"So, the remaining two hundred million ryo, you intend to default on it?"
"This Old Man has never said he would default. The money this Old Man took was all spent on Root, so naturally, the Village should cover these expenses."
What Danzo said was indeed faultless. He had indeed spent all the money on Root, but how much the Ninja he trained did for Konoha was unknown.
In fact, all five people present knew that Danzo Shimura's Root ninja only obeyed Danzo Shimuraalone; they were entirely Danzo Shimura's private army. However, his Root was also approved by the Hokage, so there was really nothing they could do about Danzo Shimura.
Seeing that Danzo Shimura and Hiruzen Sarutobihad both settled the inheritance matter,
Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu became anxious.
If they really had to come up with three hundred and fifty million ryo, their clans would truly be ruined.
Jiraiya, unable to do anything about Danzo, could only look at Hiruzen Sarutobi and say, "Since Danzo says the money was all spent on the Village, then let the Village pay for it! Old Man, you have no objection, right?"
"If the Village takes out two hundred million ryonow, there won't be any money to pay the Ninja for their missions tomorrow."
Jiraiya was amused by this.
"Teacher, you really play your cards well! I'm not getting involved in this!"
With that, Jiraiya was about to turn and leave.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't let Jiraiya just walk away like that.
"Wait! I still have something to ask you."
Jiraiya paused his steps and turned to look at Hiruzen Sarutobi, saying, "Ask away?"
"Does Naruto know everything?"
Jiraiya was silent for a while before saying, "I don't know exactly how much he knows, but he definitely knows a lot."
"Who told Naruto? Do you know? I investigated secretly, and no one mentioned his background to Naruto. How did he find out?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's meaning was simple: Since no one in the Village told Naruto about his background, then who did? Could it be a spy from another Ninja Village? If there was a spy, was Naruto instigated? If he was instigated, should Naruto be arrested? Then they wouldn't have to worry about how to repay the nearly two billion ryo.