"The Uchiha have been far too active lately. They need to be restrained."
Koharu finally spoke, her tone no less sharp than Homura's.
Homura stood to lose plenty.
But so did she.
Out of the thirty billion ryō allocated this time, after pensions, disability compensation, and emergency relief, there would still have been close to twenty billion left for reconstruction and development.
And who decided how Konoha would be rebuilt?
Who approved which contractors repaired the homes destroyed by the Kumogakure envoy incident?
Who signed off on medical supply requisitions for thousands of wounded?
They did.
A simple administrative order selecting "approved construction teams" could legally route vast sums toward the Sarutobi, Mitokado, and Utatane families.
Medical procurement? Same method.
Documentation.
Approval stamps.
Internal circulation.
All clean on paper.
They had done it countless times.
The entire chain of command was their own people.
Minimal risk.
Maximum benefit.
But now—
The money was in Uchiha hands.
And that meant distribution would no longer be theirs to dictate.
"The Uchiha must indeed be restrained," Hiruzen said slowly, exhaling a cloud of smoke, "but not now."
"Do not forget—Kikyōzan cost us another five thousand casualties."
"If pensions fail to reach the families, we will face unrest."
"Even if we move against the Uchiha, it must be after they release those thirty billion ryō."
Homura gave a cold snort.
"That's simple."
"We just make it public that the Daimyō transferred the funds directly to the Uchiha."
"Then we present the expense ledger in front of everyone and slap it down before Uchiha Jin."
"Let's see if they dare swallow thirty billion outright."
Koharu nodded sharply.
"We don't even need to reveal the exact figure."
"We inflate it in rumor."
"We expand the projected budget."
"When they can't produce the money, we'll see how they step down."
Their positions were aggressive.
Because this was personal.
Hiruzen frowned.
"Calm yourselves."
"The Uchiha of today are not the Uchiha of the past."
"Such crude tactics could backfire."
"Have you forgotten what happened the last time we weaponized rumors?"
"And they now have an exit path."
"If they flip the table, they could relocate to the Daimyō's court."
"Imagine Konoha's reputation then."
"And the village has just endured a major war."
"Internally unstable. Externally uncertain."
"This is not the moment."
Hiruzen was thinking further ahead.
The Uchiha were no longer cornered.
If he struck and failed to finish them in one blow—
The consequences would spiral beyond control.
Homura was unwilling to let it go.
"If they cement this distribution authority through the pension process, reclaiming it later will be far more difficult."
He was right.
It is always easiest to stop something before it begins.
Second easiest—at its beginning.
Now?
The funds were already transferred.
But the news had not yet spread.
Which meant—
The matter was only halfway complete.
If the Uchiha began distributing the money and formed a new bloc of beneficiaries—
Opposition would no longer mean confronting one clan.
It would mean confronting an entire network of shared interests.
And five thousand families awaiting compensation?
That was political gold.
Hiruzen fell silent, thinking.
Then he turned his gaze to Danzo.
"Danzo."
"You are the specialist when it comes to dealing with the Uchiha."
"What do you think?"
It was not just a request for advice.
It was a test.
Danzo's silence until now had been… unusual.
He had only briefly criticized the Daimyō earlier.
Then nothing.
That alone was suspicious.
Danzo's brows slowly relaxed.
"I believe," he said calmly, "that discussing how to deal with the Uchiha is premature."
"What matters first is understanding their position."
"If their demands are not excessive… there may be no need for drastic measures."
The room went still.
The words themselves were reasonable.
But from Danzo?
It sounded wrong.
Danzo, who had built his career opposing the Uchiha.
Danzo, who had advocated suppression at every turn.
Yet now—
Restraint?
But Danzo was thinking only of one thing:
The agreement he had made with Uchiha Jin.
Was it still valid?
If yes—
Then allowing the Uchiha to hold the funds might even benefit him.
If no—
Then he could not allow them to control such wealth.
Until he clarified that—
He would stall.
Hiruzen studied him carefully.
He had already guessed.
Danzo likely had a private arrangement with the Uchiha.
And that unsettled him.
Because he too had sent Minato to negotiate with Jin.
An initial understanding had been reached.
Minato and Danzo were rivals for the Fourth Hokage seat.
So what was the Uchiha doing?
Securing leverage from both candidates?
Betting on both sides?
Hiruzen's eyes darkened faintly.
Clever.
Very clever.
After a long pause, he spoke:
"Very well."
"We will first ascertain the Uchiha's intentions."
"The war at the front is not yet concluded."
"There is no need to rush this."
The matter was shelved.
For now.
But the game had changed.
Money.
Power.
The Daimyō.
The Hokage election.
And the Uchiha standing in the middle—
Smiling.
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