"Regarding Konoha's financial strain, I have a proposal!"
"It's a bit complicated—this room isn't even enough to write it all out…"
"So I'll just explain the general idea."
Uchiha Ren laid out his thoughts in one breath.
The previously noisy meeting room—
Fell into dead silence.
…What the hell did they just hear?
It sounded—
Absurd.
Unbelievable.
Even outrageous.
The people present couldn't help but recall everything Ren had done since becoming Hokage.
First, he had cut into the clans—
Forcefully prying resources out of them to feed Konoha.
That alone had already caused widespread dissatisfaction.
Then there were rumors—
That he had accepted gifts from the Daimyō.
Twin girls.
And now—
This.
A childish, almost deranged proposal.
This man…
Did not look like a proper ruler.
Futures?
They had never even heard of it.
Reliable?
Of course not.
These clan heads and elders had spent their entire lives as shinobi.
Their worldview was simple—
Take missions.
Earn rewards.
Repeat.
Anything outside that system—
Was instinctively rejected.
Especially something this unfamiliar.
Especially something this risky.
Iron prices rising was obvious.
Anyone could see it.
But buying low and selling high—
What if the war escalated uncontrollably?
What if they couldn't buy back supplies?
This wasn't a gamble.
This was Konoha's survival.
Silence spread.
No one spoke.
No one wanted to be the first to challenge the Hokage directly.
"Enough!"
A sharp voice shattered the tension.
Mito Uzumaki.
Her eyes were cold.
"Wood Release isn't your toy—"
"Konoha isn't your toy either!"
"This so-called 'futures'—no one has even heard of it!"
"Whether it makes money is irrelevant!"
"Konoha's priority is war!"
"Shinobi exist to complete missions—not to play merchant games!"
Her voice rose, unrelenting.
"You are the Third Hokage!"
"Act like it!"
"Your entire plan is nothing but fantasy!"
Not a shred of restraint.
Not a hint of courtesy.
Ren's face darkened slightly.
…No face given at all.
But—
He didn't get angry.
Because she wasn't wrong.
Mito acted for Konoha.
She didn't know the future.
Didn't know this war would collapse into nothing.
Even if he explained—
No one would believe him.
Still—
He was Hokage.
If he backed down now—
What authority would he have left?
"Uchiha Tomita."
Ren's voice turned cold.
"Escort Mito-sama out."
The room froze.
Tomita hesitated.
He didn't support this plan either.
If anything—
He hoped Mito could stop Ren.
"…Clan Head—"
"Silence!"
Ren's gaze turned icy.
"In official matters—address me properly."
"Call me Hokage."
"Execute the order."
The pressure—
Immediate.
Crushing.
"…Yes."
"Hokage-sama."
Tomita bowed his head.
He signaled.
ANBU appeared.
They stepped forward.
"Mito-sama… forgive us."
And then—
They moved.
Mito was restrained.
Escorted.
Forced out.
"Uchiha Ren—you're pushing Konoha to its death!"
"You will regret this!"
Her voice echoed as she was dragged away.
But Ren didn't waver.
"Enough, Mito Uzumaki."
"I am the Hokage."
The words left his mouth naturally.
Effortlessly.
And then—
A strange realization hit him.
…Damn.
I've become Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Ren rubbed his forehead.
Was this fate?
Some kind of narrative correction?
Ridiculous.
He pushed the thought aside.
Anyone who stood in his way—
Was an obstacle.
And right now—
He didn't care about risks.
He needed money.
Desperately.
What was the point of envying the Daimyō?
He would surpass them.
Become richer than all of them.
This constant struggle for funds—
He was done with it.
Fortune favored the bold.
And this—
Was a guaranteed win.
The moment Mito was gone—
Ren's gaze swept the room.
Cold.
Pressing.
"Any objections?"
Silence.
No one dared speak.
They had seen what happened to Mito.
They didn't have her status.
Opposing him—
Could mean disappearing into ANBU custody.
"Good."
"Then it's decided."
"Konoha will prepare for war."
"And execute the futures plan simultaneously."
"Combat preparations proceed as usual."
"Tomita—mobilization is your responsibility."
"Keep it secret. I have other uses for it."
"Nara Shikaku —assist me with the financial plan."
"This meeting is classified."
"No one speaks of it."
Orders fell one after another.
Absolute.
In wartime—
The Hokage's words were law.
"Dismissed."
The meeting ended.
Under a heavy shadow.
Everyone left—
Burdened.
By war.
By cost.
And by that absurd, impossible plan.
…Konoha was doomed.
Senju Compound.
Senju Toma returned to his room.
Humming.
In a good mood.
Outwardly—
He had been furious.
But inside?
He was delighted.
Because he knew—
Mito was right.
Ren's plan?
Garbage.
Complete nonsense.
And when it failed—
He would strike.
Unite the clans.
Impeach Ren.
Drag him down from the Hokage seat.
No matter how strong Ren was—
He couldn't fight all of Konoha.
That was impossible.
The Uchiha—
Were still just brutes.
In the end.
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