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  “Lord Fourth Hokage, Gojo Kaigetsu rep as ordered.”

  Gojo Kaigetsu arrived at the Hokage Tower’s meeting room, hands csped behind his back, posture ramrod straight, striding fidently into the chamber.

  The rustling of his bck attire against itself gradually silehe heated discussions within.

  This meeting was clearly of a higher caliber than any previous one. Heads of all Konoha s, rge and small, as well as leaders of various vilge administrative departments, had been summoo participate in this symposium.

  It was a symposium oure dire of Konoha, and simultaneously, a "shareholders' meeting."

  In Gojo Kaigetsu’s view, Konoha was like a rge corporation. The Senju and Uchiha s were the two major shareholders, while the other s, big and small, were the minor shareholders.

  Today's symposium was akin to disclosing the corporation’s financial report, instilling fiden these minor shareholders and encing them to increase their iment in Konoha.

  The news of the [Administration]'s achievement of the greatest victory sihe Third Shinobi World War had already spread throughout the heads of Konoha.

  Those boxes filled with sealed scrolls taiacks of cash. Putting aside the exact amount, the visual impact was undeniable.

  Then there were the throngs of outsiders lined up outside Konoha’s gates, clutg their Konoha Green Cards, eager to ehe vilge.

  Even the vilgers who usually felt the least sense of belonging to Konoha couldn’t help but puff out their chests with pride at this sight.

  Just look at the awestruck expressions on the faces of those bumpkins from the Land of Water! Everything in Konoha was oo them, the Konoha natives!

  While the impact of "Iki" might be i and intangible, the millions of ryō and the thousands of "newers" were undeniable proof of their success.

  Gojo Kaigetsu’s political prestige had reached the pinnacle of his career.

  Fugaku Uchiha was the first to react.

  He immediately rose, a cordial smile on his face, and pulled out the first chair to Minato’s left fojo Kaigetsu.

  Although he was still unaware of the specifics of the operation, his eldest son, Itachi, and Shisui Uchiha had reported learning a great deal from Gojo Kaigetsu.

  As far as Fugaku was ed, this only deepened his debt of gratitude to the advisor.

  Fugaku’s attitude and as veyed the utmost respect.

  The heads of several smaller s exged ghey knew Advisojo had a good retionship with the Uchiha , but they hadn't expected it to be this good… good enough for the head to personally pull out a chair for him.

  It almost seemed as though the Uchiha were deferring to Gojo Kaigetsu.

  “Kaigetsu-kun, you’ve worked hard on this operation.” Minato Namikaze was the sed to react.

  In the eyes of outsiders, Gojo Kaigetsu was undoubtedly a staunch supporter of the Fourth Hokage. And in Minato’s heart, their retionship might not be described as "two peas in a pod," but they were certainly close allies.

  The Kirigakure Freedom Operation had beeed fwlessly.

  They had carved out a sizable k from the Land of Water without bloodshed and without even sending a single ninja into their territory.

  Now, even without the jointly drafted operation statement, they held the high ground in the court of public opinion.

  They, Konoha, weren’t invading the Land of Water; they were saving the suffering masses!

  Praise Konoha!

  The representatives preseed in appuse, while Danzo Shimura, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane, seated opposite Gojo Kaigetsu, wrim expressions.

  They, too, might have wished for Konoha’s prosperity, but certainly not uhe leadership of their political rivals.

  Danzo narrowed his eyes, silent, seemingly plotting something.

  “Shikaku Nara will now present a detailed report on this operation.” Seeing that everyone on the invitation list had arrived, Minato decred the official e of the first Konoha Representatives Assembly during his tenure.

  Ihe "First Konoha Representatives Assembly" was a name proposed by Gojo Kaigetsu himself.

  It aimed tthen Konoha’s overall unity and, more importantly, to get these wealthy s to tribute financially.

  Just sider the Nara , famous for their deer. Since Konoha’s founding, they had been selling their o the entire shinobi world. Imagihe wealth they had accumuted! And then there were the Yamanaka, Akimichi, Hyuga…

  Now, with the Hokage’s authority firmly established, but the vilge coffers running low, it was time for these rge s to tribute their share.

  Shikaku Nara, unaware of being targeted by Gojo Kaigetsu, rose slowly as the representative:

  “During the Kirigakure Freedom Operation, Konoha, through the Green Card system proposed by Advisojo, ext… collected 762 million ryō in cash from the refugees of the Land of Water.”

  “These funds have been sealed and stored ireasury.”

  “The Green Card holders sist of:”

  “Thirty-nine Genin specializing in Water Release, five in, one hundred and ten skilled workers and artisans, three stific researchers, and over a thousand carefully vetted civilians.”

  Shikaku presehe missio. Undeniably, the Kirigakure Freedom Operation had yielded remarkable results.

  The reward for an S-rank mission typically started at one huhousand to one million ryō.

  A single Kirigakure Freedom Operation had geed the equivalent of six hundred S-rank missions-an astounding figure, exceeding the annual ine of many smaller s.

  Of course, mission rank and difficulty couldn't be directly equated with moary rewards.

  Operations like the Kirigakure Freedom Operation, which resulted in no bloodshed and filled the vilge coffers, were rare and depended on the perfect vergence of timing, location, and people.

  Kirigakure had beeing the waters, and Konoha had essentially ridden their coattails to success.

  A plete victory!

  “These Green Card-holding refugees have been dispersed and housed in newly structed temporary housing throughout Konoha. We’ve also deployed Military Police Force members to increase patrols and requested the Hyuga to duct stricter entry iions.”

  Upon hearing this, Fugaku Uchiha and Hiashi Hyuga, seated on the left side of the table, rose and nodded in aowledgment, further solidifying their presence before the assembled s.

  The sudden influx of fn refugees would undoubtedly increase the burden on the Military Police Ford entry iions.

  However, for the revitalized Uchiha and the self-procimed stro of Konoha, the Hyuga, this was no major issue.

  The younger members of the Uchiha were cm to repay Advisojo’s kindness. Participating in patrols was hardly a burden.

  As for the Hyuga, it went without saying. Using the Byakugan didn’t e chakra; it simply meant more work for the branch family members.

  “Remarkable results…”

  “Kirigakure was already poor enough, and now Konoha has fleeced them for a fortuhout bloodshed. Tsk tsk!”

  “Don’t celebrate too soon. Knowing Kirigakure’s temperament, they’re likely to retaliate against Konoha.”

  “We must be fully prepared for Kirigakure’s potential backsh.”

  “…”

  Gojo Kaigetsu rose slowly, pg his hands oher side of the table. “Ahem, allow me to say a few words about the allocation of resources~”

  The rising murmur in the meeting hall subsided once more.

  “There are quite a few merts among these Green Card civilians. The person in charge of the new ercial district should haheir iion, ensuring fair treatment equal to that of Konoha vilgers.”

  “Aive news reag my ears… will be sidered a disrespect to this advisor.”

  “The arras for the retired shinobi remain the same. Those willing to return to active duty exge their old headbands for Konoha headbands aer. Those unwilling seek other professions within the bounds of Konoha w. heads, if you have any openings for Water Release ninjas in your businesses or industries, feel free to hire them.”

  “The three stific researchers will be transferred to the researstitute I established.”

  “As for the 760 million ryō… 60 million will be distributed as rewards for this operation based o. 200 million will be allocated to Konoha’s suburban development fuablishing a new ninja training ground, a special training facility for the Academy, and the sed phase of the in single apartments…”

  “The remaining 500 million will be ied in the ons factory, expanding produ lines and increasing the output of shuriken, kunai, and explosive tags.”

  “Who agrees? Who opposes?”

  Ninja discussions were straightforward and effit, quickly dividing the spoils of their bloodless victory over Kirigakure.

  The representatives readily agreed with the first few points, all of which beed the vilge’s eic development.

  However, when it came to the final point, some representatives, leaning towards the policies of the Third Hokage’s era, showed hesitation.

  “I disagree.” Homura Mitokado stepped forward, adjusting his gsses. “Iing 500 million ryō at oo expand military produ, do you realize what kind of rea this will provoke from other vilges?”

  “Young people are impetuous and ck fht.” Homura casually remarked before presenting his viewpoint. “The shinobi world has just emerged from the Third Shinobi World War. The vilges are still in a state of cold war, mutual suspi, and occasional skirmishes.”

  “Currently, a delicate bance is maintained. Although flicts exist, no vilge has actively encroached upon another’s territory.”

  “The First Shinobi World War erupted ih year of Konoha, triggered by the death of the First Hokage, which emboldened certain ambitious individuals in the shinobi world. The Sed Shinobi World War broke out ih year, driven by the ambitions of warmongers in various vilges. The Third Shinobi World War began ih year…”

  “The situation has only retly stabilized, and the vilge is finally entering a period of recovery. Expanding Konoha’s military budget will undoubtedly provoke other vilges, disrupting this hard-won peace. It could even bee the catalyst for the Fourth Shinobi World War!”

  “Gojo Kaigetsu, do you io plunge Konoha into another four-vilge siege?”

  “If that is your iion, I will never agree to your policy.” Homura cluded his argument.

  Generally, a vilge’s military budget was a fixed amount.

  It primarily sisted of funds from t missions, donations from warm s, various vilge taxes, and, most importantly, allocations from the Land’s Daimyo.

  These figures couldn’t be hidden. Think tanks and intelligence agencies in each vilge would do their best to gather relevant information aimate the approximate figures.

  Peacetime military budgets were signifitly smaller than wartime budgets.

  They also served as indicators for assessing war threats. If a vilge suddenly announced an increase in its annual or quarterly military budget, other vilges would start to sider the possibility of war.

  Ninjas.

  Even training a single Genin typically took ht years, from birth to graduation from the Academy. And what was the cost of an explosive tag that could create a trap and take a Genin's life?

  The answer was the cost of raw materials and the sustenance required to maintain a worker's basic life funs.

  An increase in the military budget, to some exteed to an increase in the number of ninjas-a figure that threatened peace.

  “The sound of an explosive tag is worth a thousand ryō.” This was y saying.

  From there, a long and unbreakable of suspi would form, ultimately leading to aion of flid a reshuffling of power in the shinobi world.

  The history of the shinobi world was like a mirror. Sihe Sed Shinobi World War, the Five Great Vilges had gained enough experieo uand the potential for war based on ges in military budgets.

  Konoha had always maintaihe highest military budget. During the peak of the Third War, it had even surpassed the bined budgets of the other four vilges.

  Of course, a vilge's strength and threat couldn't be solely determined by its military budget. It was simply an important risk assessment indicator.

  Now, with the war just ended, all vilges were attempting to achieve a peaceful sensus. At least on the surface, they were tacitly redug their military budgets, allog funds towards post-war restru and ninja relief…

  Yet, Gojo Kaigetsu, defying on sense, roposing to increase the military budget and expand military produ lines just one year after the war’s end. This would undoubtedly provoke the other four vilges, whose nerves were as sensitive as… well, very sensitive.

  In areme sario, Konoha could bee a target, once again fag a siege from the four other vilges.

  “Do you io create the legend of the fastest war in shinobi history aroy Konoha?”

  Every word ointed accusation.

  The ral s began to pte Homura’s words, sidering the likelihood of war following a military budget increase.

  Danzo Shimura, who had kept his eyes narrowed, finally opehem. He tapped his staff, simir to that of ōnoki, against the ground, slowly and deliberately.

  “I agree with Advisor Mitokado.”

  “Let’s set aside other vilges and focus on Kirigakure, the vilge most affected by this operation.”

  “Sihe Sed Hokage’s era, I have been responsible for the vilge’s fn intelligehering. It be said that no one in Konoha uands Kirigakure and the Mizukage better than I do.”

  “Kirigakure is known as the Vilge of the Bloody Mist. Having ehe Bloody Mist era uwo Mizukage, they are ruthless to their own people and even more ruthless towards outsiders.”

  “Bound by the retly signed peace treaty, Kirigakure might choose to swallow their pride and endure, fearing Konoha’s power. But using the furacted from the Land of Water to increase Konoha’s military budget will undoubtedly provoke those lunatics…”

  “Heh, knowing Kirigakure and the Mizukage as I do, they will undoubtedly set aside Kumogakure aaliate against Konoha without hesitation.”

  “I know the advisors of Kumogakure. They are wise elders. If it were them, they would never miss su opportunity. They would rise amidst the chaos!”

  “Whether it be f an alliah Kirigakure to wage war against Konoha, or establishing temporary bases like we did takure…”

  “The sequences, I believe, are clear to everyone.”

  The opinions in the Hokage’s meeting room were now divided. Following Homura and Danzo’s speeches, the waveriral fa seemed to have found their stance.

  Doing nothing would undoubtedly maintaiatus quo and allow for joint development with other vilges. But taking a would undoubtedly increase the risk of war.

  Konoha was currently enjoying a period of peace, the most peaceful time sihe end of the war. Those ninjas fortunate enough to survive the meat grinder of war could finally savor the tranquility.

  War could happen! But absolutely not now! As for when… well, just not now!

  This military budget… could not be increased!

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