Hokage's Office.
Four men and one woman—five veteran officials—crowded around the tea table, staring seriously at a crystal ball.
"Hiruzen, what do you think?"
Koharu Utatane was the first to speak. She managed part of the village's finances and had a particularly keen sense for money matters. In her eyes, this insurance scheme was practically tailor-made for Konoha's treasury—a golden goose that could produce endless wealth.
At her words, Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head, his gaze drifting toward the door.
"Let's wait. I've already sent someone to the Hyūga clan. Let's see what their clan head has to say first."
Just as he finished speaking, rhythmic knocking echoed from the door.
Hiruzen called out his permission.
The Hyūga clan head, who had just been at home, entered politely.
"Lord Third, you summoned me?"
As he spoke, his eyes swept over the crystal ball on the table, his white pupils pausing momentarily.
It seemed Hiruzen already knew about this matter. Sigh—looks like I can't leave these four old foxes out of the loop.
While he quickly calculated his next moves, Hiruzen spoke slowly.
"Sakuhō Rinjin just came to see you."
The Hyūga clan head nodded openly, making no attempt to hide it.
Seeing this, Hiruzen's expression gradually grew stern, and the atmospheric pressure in the office dropped accordingly.
The old fox was starting to put on airs.
Honestly, his remaining rationality told him: Forget this damned insurance immediately and warn everyone never to mention it again.
But! He was only the Third Hokage, not the First or Second—he didn't have that kind of absolute authority. Moreover, everyone in the office except Danzō Shimura, who sat far away, had traces of desire gleaming in their eyes.
Even he himself had to admit—he was tempted.
This damned insurance was just too enticing.
If operated well, it could not only help the village accumulate wealth, but also provide better assistance to disaster-stricken families, indirectly promoting village equality.
Damn it! How does that guy's brain even work?!
Hiruzen could confirm with one hundred percent certainty that Rinjin had definitely dug a trap somewhere, but he couldn't figure out where it was.
This made Hiruzen extremely frustrated.
Actually, he'd known about Uzumaki Tengen and Uzumaki Meichū entering Konoha from the moment they arrived. But he'd only assigned people to watch them, taking no other action.
After all, while he pulled strings behind the scenes, he was unwilling to openly break with Rinjin. That guy had the ability to flip the table entirely!
While Hiruzen wrestled with various concerns, the Hyūga clan head spoke up hesitantly.
"Lord Third, Rinjin-kun did come to see me, and we discussed some private matters. Is there something you need?"
The clan head's tone was humble, but his meaning was quite direct: I know you used that crystal ball to spy on me, but I'm pretending not to notice! So if you don't want to get involved in this insurance business, just stay out of it.
The Third Hokage might be the highest authority on paper, but for a prestigious clan like the Hyūga, their relationship wasn't strictly hierarchical.
Looking at the outwardly humble Hyūga, Hiruzen forcefully suppressed that unsettling feeling of stepping on cotton and spoke slowly:
"Nothing major. The Akimichi clan head was complaining to me recently about how difficult business has become in the village. I thought I'd ask if you had any good ideas."
After speaking, Hiruzen discreetly glanced at Nara Shikajika nearby.
Shikajika immediately understood, instantly putting on a troubled expression and pressing his hand to his forehead.
"That guy's been nagging in my ear forever too, saying his family's broke and the kids are starving! Nearly drove me to death! I immediately gave him ten pounds of deer antler and one pound of ginseng, told him to go home and make deer antler ginseng beef hotpot for little Chōza."
Everyone present immediately started complaining internally. Shikajika was another shameless character—spouting complete nonsense without missing a beat.
Looking at these two shameless old men, the Hyūga clan head sighed helplessly.
Hiruzen was shameless, but Nara Shikajika was even worse. Couldn't they come up with a proper excuse? Nobody was rushing them! What bullshit deer antler ginseng beef hotpot—trying to cause nosebleeds from overconsumption?!
Shaking his head internally, the Hyūga clan head sighed again and recounted his conversation with Rinjin word by word.
As he spoke, everyone in the office began breathing more rapidly.
Although they'd all huddled around Hiruzen's crystal ball watching the scene, the crystal ball didn't come with audio—they could only guess what was said based on lip movements.
Guessing naturally couldn't be as clear and detailed as hearing it from the person involved.
After quite a while, the Hyūga clan head finished describing Rinjin's visit and part of his own thought process.
For a moment, the Hokage's office fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.
Hiruzen sat in the Hokage's chair, eyes fixed on the desktop, calculating in his mind.
Did Rinjin come up with this idea just to make a little money from property damage insurance?
Impossible.
Obviously, a man whom Tobirama Senju had called "cunning as a fox" couldn't possibly have such limited schemes!
So what was he really after?
After thinking it over repeatedly, Hiruzen felt his head swelling like a bucket, utterly unsettled.
Since Rinjin said insurance was gambling, why not just keep him off the gambling table entirely! After all, if you can't get to the table, you can't pull any tricks, right?!
After gritting his teeth and pondering for a long time, Hiruzen finally spoke:
"This matter is of great importance! If something goes wrong, the Hyūga clan alone absolutely cannot bear this kind of risk."
What kind of risk? Isn't the house supposed to take everything?!
The Hyūga clan head really wanted to say this, but swallowed the words when they reached his lips.
At the same time, Hiruzen continued:
"In my view, this matter's risk requires at least more than half of Konoha's major clans to join forces to handle it! What do you all think?"
Hearing this, Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, Nara Shikajika, and others all nodded in agreement.
Everyone here was smart—Hiruzen had made his point clear. How could they not want a piece of the action?
Just then, Hiruzen looked toward Danzō Shimura, who was dozing on the office sofa.
"Danzō, what do you think?"
Danzō, who had been feigning sleep, opened his eyes with a drowsy expression, responding sluggishly:
"Is the meeting over?"
Seeing this, Hiruzen first felt pleased, then sighed quietly.
Danzō's getting old too!
However, since you're sleeping through meetings, don't blame your old comrade for not looking out for the Shimura clan!
"It's not over, but you look tired. Go home and rest. Old classmate, take care of your health!"
Danzō nodded drowsily, grabbed his cane, greeted everyone, and shuffled out of the Hokage's office.
The moment he closed the door, his eyes instantly became sharp and clear, snorting coldly in his heart.
Too young, too simple!
All I can say is: every single one of you has been played by that bastard too few times! You never learn!
What kind of person is Sakuhō Rinjin? He's got more schemes than a honeycomb has holes!
Thinking of this, Danzō suddenly frowned, struck by an idea.
"Someone come here," he called in a low voice.
In the Hokage building corridor, a masked Root member instantly appeared at Danzō's side.
"Sir, your orders."
Danzō stopped walking, leaned close to the Root member's ear, and whispered extremely quietly:
"Go to 66 Mingcha Street and deliver a message—tell him to meet me at Base Sixteen outside the village tonight!"
The Root member nodded almost imperceptibly, then instantly vanished.
Watching his subordinate disappear, Danzō cackled internally.
I really am a genius!
Bet on both sides, accumulate strength, and strive to inherit the position as soon as possible.
After all, who wants to be crown prince for forty years?!
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
The story isn't over...
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