On the surface, it seemed as if he was helping Konoha analyze the situation, but in reality, he was just talking in circles.
Ultimately, his message boiled down to two points:
The Uchiha and Kumogakure have formed an alliance, so we cannot allow Iwagakure to go and bully our new partner.
The assembled elders exchanged glances before turning their gazes in unison toward the Third Hokage.
The Third Hokage mulled it over for a moment.
Kawasaki's interception of the Iwagakure forces was already a fact. Furthermore, since this was his first time speaking at a council meeting, the Third Hokage found it difficult to directly refute him.
"The situation with Kumogakure and Kirigakure is still unclear. We will decide on our next course of action after the Cloud's main army makes landfall."
Kawasaki subsequently took his seat.
For the remainder of the meeting, the other elders voiced their opinions on the impending war.
Koharu Utatane, who was in charge of medical affairs, suggested stockpiling more medical supplies for emergencies.
The Hyuga Captain of the Guard considered personnel deployments and adjustments to the village barrier's operation during wartime.
In short, everyone was focused on mobilizing for war.
Kawasaki did not rise to speak again. He knew in his heart that this war would not drag on for long.
He had come today with an entirely different agenda.
Finally, the long half-hour dragged to a close.
It was time for the free proposal session.
This was typically when the various powers in the village exchanged favors and brokered deals.
Kawasaki had been waiting for this moment for a long time. He shot to his feet.
All eyes in the room focused on him.
Kawasaki took a small notebook from his robes and spoke.
"I propose that the Nara clan's deer pens be doubled in size. By raising more deer, they can provide Konoha with a greater supply of deer antlers."
The current head of the Nara clan was Shikaku, but he was not the elder present at the meeting.
Instead, it was the old patriarch of the Nara clan, a man named Shikago.
Shikago was advanced in age, with a hairstyle similar to Shikamaru's and Shikaku's, though his temples were streaked with white.
The Nara were one of the founding clans who joined Konoha at the very beginning of the Land of Fire's establishment.
They typically maintained a low profile, and their members were known for their exceptionally high intellect.
Their clan duties were clearly defined, so they rarely needed to speak during Konoha's council meetings.
Shikago, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them upon hearing this.
He spoke in a slow, deliberate tone.
"The village's current supply of deer antlers is sufficient. A sudden expansion of the deer pens would incur unnecessary expenses."
Kawasaki nodded.
"As newcomers to Konoha's high council, the Uchiha wish to do something tangible for the village."
"Therefore..."
..
Inside the Konoha high council chamber.
"Thus, we are willing to fund the expansion of the Nara clan's deer pens."
"Once the expansion is complete, we only hope that the Nara will give the Uchiha clan priority access to a portion of their medicinal supplies in the future."
The elders murmured amongst themselves. Expanding the deer pens was no small matter.
It would require more manpower and more resources, such as feed.
The Nara clan had raised deer for generations. Their antlers and related medicinal products were an indispensable part of Konoha's medical system.
It was this role that kept the medical system functioning and ensured the Nara clan's position in Konoha was as solid as a mountain.
No one had expected the Uchiha to propose such an investment right after joining the council.
And the only condition in return was priority supply—it was practically a handout.
It was like telling a fruit vendor you would pay to double the size of their shop, and all they had to do in return was sell you fruit first.
Shikago narrowed his eyes and glanced at the Third Hokage.
The Third Hokage hadn't anticipated this move from Kawasaki either and frowned.
Shikago's voice remained steady. "This is a significant matter. I must return to my clan and discuss it with them."
Kawasaki was unbothered by Shikago's delaying tactic.
He made a checkmark in his notebook and continued, "The Uchiha clan is willing to sponsor the Akimichi clan to enhance their research and development of their secret pills."
"The goal would be to make them usable by regular ninja, thereby reducing the probability of casualties..."
"The Uchiha clan is willing to sponsor the Yamanaka clan to strengthen the research and application of their secret jutsu, better serving the village in combat..."
"The Uchiha clan is also willing to sponsor..."
Kawasaki rattled off a list of two or three dozen clan names in one breath.
Aside from the major clans like Sarutobi, Shimura, Utatane, and Mitokado, he had named every other prominent clan in Konoha.
He didn't mention the Hyuga, as he had already sent them a gift in advance.
The Aburame clan received funding to raise their insects.
The Inuzuka clan received funding to raise their ninja hounds.
Even the Yuhi clan, which had only Kurenai left, received a sponsorship under the pretext of researching genjutsu.
The Hatake clan, despite being a single line of succession, also received funds for the purpose of researching swordsmanship.
In essence, Kawasaki was throwing money around like it was nothing.
His extravagance was staggering. The investment projects he listed would easily total in the billions.
The various ninja clans were stunned by Kawasaki's sheer wealth.
They all began to wonder just how much the Uchiha had earned over the years.
The Third Hokage's heart was filled with a mix of emotions. He had once considered the possibility that the Uchiha might use a roundabout strategy to win over the other Konoha clans after making their fortune.
He never imagined they would be so direct, so crude—simply smashing them with money.
After finishing his list, Kawasaki concluded, "We hope that this humble contribution from the Uchiha clan can add to the prosperity of Konoha."
All eyes immediately shifted back to the Third Hokage, waiting to see how he would respond.
The Third Hokage and his two advisors, Koharu and Homura, had ashen faces.
Kawasaki's actions were indeed beneficial to Konoha, but why had he so pointedly ignored their four clans?
Did their clans not need money for development?
Especially money that was being given away for free.
But the money belonged to the Uchiha. They could give it to whomever they pleased. Saying anything now would only invite embarrassment.
Likewise, if the Third Hokage were to prevent the other clans from accepting the Uchiha's investment, he would surely face their discontent.
The Uchiha were essentially giving them a handout without harming Konoha's interests. On what grounds could he deny them?
The Third Hokage gripped his pipe tightly, grinding his teeth as he spoke.
"Since the Uchiha clan has expressed such goodwill, I will thank you on behalf of all the clans of Konoha."
Though he spoke words of gratitude, his tone was utterly devoid of it.
Kawasaki didn't care. It was an obvious strategy. Could the Third Hokage really stop others from getting rich?
The remainder of the meeting devolved into a lengthy and tedious affair.
Everyone's mind was elsewhere. Compared to the trivial matters on the agenda, they were far more interested in the details of the Uchiha's investments.
Seeing this, the Third Hokage grew anxious but had no choice but to declare the meeting adjourned.
Kawasaki had not mentioned a single clan that was firmly in the Third Hokage's camp.
Clans like the Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka, while part of the Hokage's system, had no direct conflict with the Uchiha. Kawasaki had included all of them on his sponsorship list.
The moment the Third Hokage left the council room, the heads of the various ninja clans immediately surrounded Kawasaki.
The larger clans with close ties to the Third Hokage still spoke of needing to consider and discuss the offer.
But the smaller clans on the verge of decline couldn't afford to be so reserved.
These clans, having fallen into decay for various reasons, were all desperately short on funds.
After all, raising a ninja was first and foremost a matter of resources, with talent being secondary.
The cost of ninja tools alone was enormous.
As for rare talismans, those were luxuries only the wealthy could afford.
Otherwise, the payment from a completed mission might not even cover the cost of the talismans used.
Learning ninjutsu was just as expensive.
Smaller clans had limited jutsu in their lineage, with no guarantee that every technique would suit the younger generation.
What could they do? They had to buy scrolls and pay people to teach them.
Some incredibly difficult jutsu couldn't be mastered just by reading a scroll.
You had to open your wallet and hire a master to teach you step-by-step.
A genius who could grasp a jutsu instantly was exceedingly rare.
The gap between a genius and an ordinary person was anything but small.