"Honestly, just sign this application. I'll cover all the expenses of the Health Department."
Aburame Shiken said boldly.
Namizake Minato seemed tempted.
"No, Minato, how can a Hokage be swayed by money?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately stepped forward to stop him.
Hmph, you wicked Aburame—so you've finally shown your true colors. Trying to corrupt Konoha's Hokage with money? Keep dreaming.
Namizake Minato straightened his expression.
That's right. I'm the Fourth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village. Even if it's my longtime friend Aburame Shiken, everything must follow the rules.
Sarutobi Hiyasu nodded in satisfaction.
"Oh, Ryoha and I are planning to apply to open a large heavy-transport business, and we also want to establish a big comprehensive supermarket in Konoha. What procedures do we need? We'll prepare everything."
"Transport? Doesn't Inuzuka Logistics already exist? And what's a supermarket?"
Minato asked.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, however, was extremely wary.
A transport business must be thoroughly investigated. They're definitely stockpiling large amounts of ninja supplies. The wicked Inuzuka clan—is it planning a rebellion? This cannot be taken lightly.
Inuzuka Ryoha said, "Exactly. Minato, you know we used to only deliver valuable goods, but how many valuable items are there in the ninja world? And you know the situation with our clan's ninja dogs—if we don't expand our business, even the dogs won't be able to afford food."
Minato nodded. That made sense. Ever since becoming Hokage, he had deeply felt the pain of having no money.
"Wait, Ryoha. Didn't you use sealing scrolls for deliveries before? That didn't stop you from transporting heavy goods."
"Minato, do you know how much a sealing scroll costs? And those big merchants restock once and sell for at least half a year. Our clan has so many people and so many ninja dogs—one job won't last us half a year. But if we… oh right, Shiken, what were we planning again?"
Aburame Shiken rolled his eyes.
If you don't know anything, don't force the conversation.
"The new business will be called Inuzuka Heavy Delivery. It'll specialize in transporting large quantities of low-cost goods—like tons of sand, tons of water, tons of stone."
"Can that even make money?"
"It depends on demand. For example, transporting potable water to the Land of Wind for sale."
Selling drinking water in the desert.
"Damn, Minato, hurry and check what requirements are needed—we'll apply immediately!"
Inuzuka Ryoha's eyes shone brightly, filled with a hunger for money.
"Uh…"
"Konoha can approve the application, but Konoha must take half the shares."
Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly interjected.
Honestly, anyone could tell how profitable selling water in the desert would be.
From then on, Konoha would never lack money again.
Aburame Shiken looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen as if he were an idiot.
Inuzuka Ryoha stared at him with killing intent—cutting off someone's source of wealth was like killing their parents. This grudge was irreconcilable.
Sarutobi Hiruzen ignored their glares.
The initiative is in our hands. As long as we don't agree, you have no legitimate grounds.
Ah, the taste of power is as wonderful as ever.
"Then forget it. We don't need a title. Ryoha, let's just do it secretly."
"Alright."
The two turned to leave.
Sarutobi Hiruzen panicked. Wait—this could be negotiated! Ask for a high price and settle for less, don't you understand? How can you just flip the table like this?
"No, Konoha won't allow you to do that."
"We're not doing anything. We're just talking big—what's wrong with that? If you want to accuse us, bring evidence. Ryoha, go study the routes."
"Got it."
After they left—
"This is lawless—absolutely lawless! Minato, you must punish them."
"How? Third Hokage-sama, do you have any evidence?"
Uh…
Sarutobi Hiruzen was at a loss for words. Talking big clearly wasn't a crime.
So, should they send people to investigate?
Who—Root?
Or let the Police Force handle it?
"Oh right, Minato. You could have Shikaku help you with those tasks. I heard there's no war lately—the advisory department must be quite idle."
Aburame Shiken suddenly came back to add.
Nara Shikaku: Damn it, someone just stabbed me in the back.
(According to the original story, even Shizune can help Tsunade handle documents. There's no reason Shikaku can't, right? Shikaku: Believe me, I really can't—believe me!!)
Minato's expression gradually brightened.
That's right—the head of the advisory department assisting the Hokage with administrative work is perfectly reasonable.
Nara Shikaku: I'm doomed.
After Aburame Shiken and Inuzuka Ryoha left together—
"Shiken, are we really going to do it secretly? Isn't that a bit disrespectful to Minato?"
"Let's go eat barbecue. Minato will be there soon."
Inuzuka Ryoha: ??? Do you two have some kind of secret code I don't know about? I was right there just now and didn't notice anything.
...
Akimichi Barbecue Restaurant.
A small private room.
Aburame Shiken and Inuzuka Ryoha sat inside.
Shiken took out a communication bug.
"Barbecue. Come quickly."
Inuzuka Ryoha: Damn it, what a waste of my brainpower.
Minato received the message, his expression turning serious.
"Sensei, sorry—I have urgent matters. I'll step out for a moment. Please inform Shikaku to report to work tomorrow."
With that, Minato vanished before Sarutobi Hiruzen could even finish saying "Alright."
"Hokage… always so busy."
...
On the other side—
"Ah, so good, so good."
"Give me that."
"Stop grabbing!"
The moment Minato appeared, he began wolfing down food.
"Minato, how long has it been since you last ate?"
Inuzuka Ryoha asked.
He felt even his clan's ninja dogs ate more gracefully than Minato.
"Waaah—you have no idea how miserable I've been! Three days—three whole days! I haven't left the office once. Third has been sitting there supervising me the whole time—I didn't dare stop for even a moment!"
Minato cried with snot and tears.
If he'd known being Hokage was this exhausting, he would've rather kept delivering takeout.
"Cheers."
"Cheers."
Aburame Shiken and Inuzuka Ryoha raised their cups to him.
Sure enough, not becoming Hokage was the wisest decision.
"So that's why you should bring in Shikaku. He's your direct subordinate—he doesn't even have the right to refuse. With his brain, he'll definitely do it better and faster than you. Why make things harder for yourself?"
Aburame Shiken couldn't understand it. The Nara clan's value wasn't limited to the battlefield—intelligence was useful everywhere.
"Exactly, exactly."
Inuzuka Ryoha chimed in. When there's a problem, you go to smart people. If you rack your brain and still can't solve it, only ending up with a headache, what's the point?
Nara Shikaku: This is bad… it's not just me—they've set their sights on our entire clan.
Minato smiled awkwardly.
He had just become Hokage—dumping all the work onto Shikaku felt a bit shameless.
Nara Shikaku: If you feel shameless, then just say "no"! Is it that hard to say one word?
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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