Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its character belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 53: Conspiracy
---Hokage POV---
This time, Hokage not only invited the elders which is Danzo, Koharu and Homura but even representatives from other clans to attend the meeting, but not all of them only few people like Nara, Akimichi and Yamanaka to sit on a meeting.
"We received a letter from the Daimyo demanding that the Uzumaki Clan be stopped from selling their scrolls," Hiruzen announced as the meeting began.
"Scrolls?" Danzo repeated.
"Yes," Hiruzen answered. "Their Fire Stove Scroll has made it difficult for many nobles to survive."
"Hokage-sama, could you read the letter to us?" requested Nara Shikajin.
Hiruzen nodded and unfurled the document.
To the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen,
I write to you with grave concern regarding the recent developments involving the Uzumaki Clan within your village. Reports have reached me that they have begun the widespread production and distribution of the Fire Stove Sealing Scroll, a product which has swiftly rendered obsolete the long-standing trade of coal and firewood across the Land of Fire.
As you are no doubt aware, many noble houses and merchant families have, for generations, sustained themselves through this industry. With the sudden rise of these sealing scrolls, their businesses have collapsed in a matter of weeks. Already I am besieged by petitioners, landed families and merchants alike, demanding restitution, citing losses so great that bankruptcy looms over them.
I cannot ignore such turmoil among the nobility, for their influence and wealth are tied directly to the stability of my court and by extension, the governance of this land. It is troubling that this innovation, while clever and efficient, has been introduced without regulation or consultation with the Daimyo office. Worse still, I am informed that by prior agreements between Konoha and the clans, the scrolls are exempt from taxation due to their classification as military tools. This has left the crown unable to offset its losses or to aid those ruined by this sudden change.
Hokage-dono, I must ask you directly, what measures do you intend to take to correct this imbalance? I cannot allow a single clan, no matter their merits, to hold such unchecked monopoly over an industry so vital to the livelihood of my people. If nothing is done, unrest among the nobility may spread into discontent against the throne itself, something neither of us can afford.
I urge you to act with haste. Consider restricting distribution, imposing limits or negotiating with the Uzumaki Clan to ensure their scrolls are properly integrated into the economy without destroying the old order entirely. I trust that as Hokage you will recognize the seriousness of this matter and propose a solution before these grievances deepen into something far more dangerous.
I await your swift response.
With authority and expectation,
[36th Daimyo Rengoku]
Daimyo of the Land of Fire
P/S: I don't think crown is suitable word because it sound so western and don't blame me for using Rengoku.
Danzo mouth curled into a small smirk as he listened, the rest of the clan leader wore more troubled expressions.
"What do you think, Shikajin?" Hiruzen asked.
"It is troublesome," Shikajin admitted. "If we abruptly ban the sale of the Fire Stove Scroll, the shock will ripple through the village economy. The scroll has genuinely reduced health hazards, after the sale there is no report that the people died from coal smoke poisoning and it has practical uses for shinobi in the field. Many civilians and shinobi benefit from it."
Shikajin had no ready solution to soften the blow. He looked to the Hokage and the others for direction.
"Let's levy a tax on the scrolls," Danzo suggested bluntly.
"How would you enforce it if they invoke the Pact of Guardianship?" Hiruzen asked. "That pact explicitly exempts military equipment, kunai, scrolls and the like from taxation."
"What exactly does the Pact say?" Danzo pressed.
Hiruzen sighed. "The Pact of Guardianship established obligations between Konoha and the Daimyo since the first Hokage reign. The Daimyo pays money and supports the village in wartime and also peace time, it also include certain military items are untaxed. If the fire scrolls are classified as military tools, then the Daimyo can't simply tax them unilaterally. Raiken appears to know this, he never registered his sales with the tax office."
"Then change the pact, remove scrolls from the military classification," Danzo proposed.
"To alter the Pact would require unanimous agreement," Hiruzen replied. "All four parties must consent to this, the Daimyo, the Hokage, the Senju patriarch, and the Uchiha patriarch which are now changed to Matriarch. Lady Mito might agree, but convincing the Uchiha to alter the pact will be difficult, especially now that they and the Uzumaki are allied by marriage."
Danzo expression hardened as he tried to press his advantage. "We must try, otherwise the Daimyo could cut funding. Can you face the consequences if supplies and money are reduced?"
"Konoha cannot ignore the political cost either," Koharu observed. "The Uchiha and Uzumaki are now allied. Forcing them would risk greater unrest."
"Hokage sama," Shikajin said quietly, "we should meet the Daimyo. Hear him out before dismissing his demands. If we refuse without consultation, he'll assume disrespect and escalate. Better to negotiate terms that protect both the nobles and the innovation."
Hiruzen considered this. It was to preserve the lives and livelihoods of common people and nobles while also recognizing that technological (and fuinjutsu) progress could not simply be rolled back overnight.
"The coal is sold by nobles and the firewood are sold by civillian," Homura interjected, "what about the villagers who used to sell firewood? What are their response."
"Raiken already solve that problem," Hiruzen replied. "He offered alternative employment for many who relied on firewood. The Uzumaki have taken steps to employ affected families in their workshops."
The room fell quiet for a moment as everyone are thinking the solution to this problem. They first need to negotiate with the Daimyo, consider a temporary levy or subsidy, and, perhaps most importantly they can change the term in pact of guardianship.
"I will meet with the Daimyo," Hiruzen announced. "But I ask all of you, think of the solution properly. We need Uzumaki Clan and if we forced them to pay tax without them agree. They might left Konoha and live in Mount Myoboku."
Once again Danzo frowned, he now knows that Mount Myoboku are willing to host Uzumaki to live there even after they came to Konoha.
He also had summon and he knew without the summon permission, it is almost impossible to enter there. So Uzumaki would become even safer than living in Konoha.
Author Notes: To read advanced chapter you can go to my patreon.
Chapter 81: Brothel Collapsed
Chapter 82: Victim
Chapter 83: Corruption
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