After Homura Mitokado left, Uchiha Ren turned his gaze toward Shimura Danzō, who showed no intention of getting up.
"Elder Danzō," Ren said calmly, "do you still have business with me?"
Danzō narrowed his single eye.
"Uchiha Ren, regarding the Daimyō's subsidy funds, you should give me an explanation."
Ren feigned confusion.
"Explanation? What explanation? Is there some problem with the subsidy funds?"
Danzō snorted coldly.
"Uchiha Ren, there are only the two of us here now. There's no need to play tricks."
"According to our previous agreement, once Hiruzen Sarutobi was killed, the subsidy funds from the Fire Daimyō's court would be divided between us."
"Your Uchiha clan would take thirty-five percent, and I would take sixty-five percent."
"But now your clan has taken all of the funds for yourselves."
"What exactly are you planning?"
"Does our agreement still stand?"
Danzō spoke directly without beating around the bush.
At this point, he needed a clear answer from the Uchiha clan.
Ren smiled slightly.
"Our agreement was indeed like that."
"But… Hiruzen Sarutobi isn't dead, is he?"
"If the Uchiha clan hadn't secured the subsidy funds in advance, do you really think you could have snatched them from Hiruzen's hands?"
Danzō frowned.
Ren continued calmly:
"Besides, even though the Uchiha clan obtained the three billion ryō subsidy from the Daimyō, with so many eyes watching us it's impossible for us to swallow the entire sum."
He leaned back in his chair.
"How much we ultimately get will still depend on the authority of the next Hokage."
"After all, the Uchiha clan still intends to live in Konoha."
Hearing this, Danzō's expression softened slightly.
Ren's explanation made sense.
If the money had been seized secretly, the Uchiha clan might have been able to keep everything.
But this subsidy had been openly granted by the Fire Daimyō through official channels.
There was no way the Uchiha clan could swallow it all.
How much they could actually obtain would depend heavily on who became the Fourth Hokage.
That meant the Uchiha clan naturally had a strong incentive to support someone they had already reached an agreement with.
Namely—Danzō himself.
Ren added calmly:
"So please don't worry, Elder Danzō. Our agreement still stands."
"The Uchiha clan will only take thirty-five percent of the subsidy funds."
"The remaining portion will still be distributed by the Fourth Hokage."
Danzō's expression improved considerably.
For the moment, it seemed the Uchiha clan could still be trusted.
After thinking for a moment, he said slowly:
"We are now tied together on the same rope."
"But the way your clan handled this matter makes it difficult for me to feel completely at ease."
"I need a token of allegiance from the Uchiha clan."
Ren's eyes flickered.
"And what would that be?"
Danzō spoke in a deep voice:
"Tomorrow's Jōnin Council meeting will primarily be about nominating candidates for the Fourth Hokage."
"I want the Uchiha clan to nominate me."
If the Uchiha clan openly recommended him at the meeting, it would mean they had publicly chosen his side.
Once that happened, there would be no turning back for them.
Ren frowned slightly.
"Are you certain you want to do that?"
"You should know that Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze are also trying to establish contact with the Uchiha clan."
"If we do this, it would be equivalent to laying our cards on the table."
"It would completely destroy the last bit of hope Hiruzen still holds."
Danzō snorted coldly.
"You already stripped Hiruzen of his Acting Hokage status today."
"How is that any different from revealing your hand?"
Ren shook his head.
"There's still a difference."
"What I did today only made Hiruzen believe that I was acting for the sake of the three billion ryō subsidy."
"I didn't support him, but I didn't openly support you either."
"In the eyes of a seasoned politician like Hiruzen, the Uchiha clan is still negotiable."
"If we openly support you tomorrow, however…"
"Then that final illusion will disappear."
"And he will begin preparing countermeasures."
Danzō waved his hand dismissively.
"That doesn't matter."
"Without the identity of Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi is no longer a threat to me."
He paused before continuing with a faintly excited tone.
"On the contrary… I'm actually looking forward to tomorrow's meeting."
Just imagining how he would publicly humiliate Hiruzen at the Jōnin Council made Danzō tremble with excitement.
Seeing his reaction, Ren smiled faintly.
"Very well."
"Since Elder Danzō insists…"
"Tomorrow, the Uchiha clan will nominate you as a candidate for the Fourth Hokage."
Danzō's eyes gleamed.
"Excellent."
"Captain Ren, you can rest assured."
"If I become the Fourth Hokage, the matter of the subsidy funds will naturally be settled."
"And the position of Konoha Elder will be arranged for the Uchiha clan immediately."
Ren chuckled lightly.
"Then I'll thank Elder Danzō in advance."
Danzō waved his hand.
"This is merely mutual benefit."
"That's all for today."
"I still have matters to attend to."
With that, he stood up.
Ren personally escorted him all the way to the entrance of the Konoha Military Police headquarters, showing a completely different attitude from when he dealt with Homura earlier.
After watching Danzō leave, the smile on Ren's face slowly faded.
His eyes flickered coldly.
To destroy someone, you must first drive them mad.
Danzō still wasn't crazy enough.
He needed one more push.
Let Danzō and Hiruzen tear into each other like rabid dogs.
Ren would simply sit back and watch.
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