A few days later.
Hokage Building, conference room.
Hiruzen sat in the main seat, with Danzō close beside him.
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura were also on the main platform, but positioned at the two sides.
This also symbolized the current power structure of Konoha.
The list of twenty names was composed as follows.
First were the major ninja clans.
Uchiha Isshin and Fugaku, Hyūga Tenzō and Hizashi.
The heads of the Aburame, Inuzuka, Kurama, and the three families of the Ino–Shika–Chō.
Altogether, ten people.
It was worth mentioning that Akimichi Torifu had formally returned from retirement and was listed as a "Konoha Committee Member."
Next were Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya. As Hiruzen's disciples, they were naturally included as well.
After that came Hiruko, Hatake Sakumo, Maruboshi Kōsuke, Yūhi Shinku, Shirakumo Hayama, and others, seven in total.
Although among these seven some were, in theory, also clan ninja, due to sparse family lines, stance, and inclination, they were regarded as representing civilian ninja.
This arrangement perhaps still had some unreasonable aspects.
But after compromises from all sides, it was already a relatively good result.
Hiruzen swept his gaze across them.
Among the "Konoha Committee Members" below the platform, not one lacked a smile from the heart.
Even Uchiha Isshin, that old fox, slightly straightened his chest.
Interestingly, because it had been deliberately emphasized that the "Konoha Committee Members" had no order of precedence, differing only in division of labor…
Hiruzen had not arranged seating order and allowed them to choose freely.
Though somewhat messy, it clearly revealed the so-called "factions."
Orochimaru and the other two sat together with Hiruko, obviously of the same circle, chatting quite pleasantly…
The major clans also sat together, such as the Ino–Shika–Chō, Kurama, Aburame, and Inuzuka.
Hyūga Tenzō and Uchiha Isshin sat next to each other, while Fugaku at the side cast a somewhat envious glance at the other clans, seemingly unwilling to sit together with those two old men.
One interesting detail was that Hizashi sat together with Sakumo and the others representing civilian ninja, as "Konoha Committee Members."
And when Tenzō saw Hiruzen's gaze sweep over, he subtly blinked quickly.
The meaning he wanted to convey was: "I'm just putting on a show with him!"
Hiruzen smiled. He did not mind such things.
Clans specializing in dōjutsu naturally had some shared topics. Between ninja, differences in background, interests, and stance would inevitably produce tendencies in friendship. That was entirely normal.
If everything appeared perfectly uniform and harmonious, that would instead run counter to human nature—and would be something he, as Hokage, needed to be wary of.
But that said, if they formed secret alliances behind Hiruzen's back, then they could wait for the iron fist…
"First, congratulations to all of you on being selected as Konoha Committee Members…" Hiruzen said with a smile as he looked at everyone.
The "Konoha Committee Members" returned sincere smiles toward the Hokage, but all of them were slightly restrained.
How should they respond to the Hokage-sama?
If everyone spoke at once, turning it into a mess of overlapping voices, that would hardly be proper.
A glint flashed through Orochimaru's eyes, and he spoke in a deep voice: "Thank you, Hokage-sama, for your trust in us!"
With him saying it that way, the wording was also considered appropriate.
The others immediately and naturally followed, loudly repeating it in unison.
And although the ranking was said to be without order, doing it like this instead made Orochimaru look like the one taking the lead.
In truth, even without an official ranking, how could there really be no hierarchy?
In Konoha's taverns, back when the village had not yet refined the jōnin system,
many ninja had already, on their own, stratified and ranked people based on various factors.
Up-and-coming jōnin, old-guard jōnin, elite jōnin—there were all kinds of labels…
And Orochimaru was, by common acknowledgment, the foremost among the current "Konoha Committee Members."
Hiruzen's top disciple; the one in charge of ninjutsu research and development; someone who had taken part in various operations; and someone who also had a large following within Konoha…
Orochimaru smiled faintly.
But Danzō felt a bit stifled inside, sensing a trace of threat: 'As expected of Hiruzen's disciple—he really does have some skill…'
But when he thought of the great merit he would achieve in the future by subduing the Uchiha, Danzō felt relieved instead.
Who could compare with him!
Only Hiruzen himself, coming in person, could still keep him down a notch…
As for everyone else, in his eyes they were not worth a sneer!
"As for the specific division of duties, Koharu and Homura have already briefed you…"
"From now on, all of you must actively participate in village affairs, discover the village's shortcomings, and correct them."
Hiruzen continued: "Today's agenda is the direction in which funds for village construction will be used."
"Relying on Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya's connections to the Three Sage Regions, with Tsunade and Orochimaru's techniques as the core, supplemented by products developed by the Nara and Akimichi clans, these have become widely popular within the Land of Fire."
"With the assistance of the aides and advisors, I reached a deep cooperation with the Daimyō, and obtained approximately 3.2 billion ryō in funding."
"This sum will come every year, and the amount will gradually increase."
"With this money, it's unrealistic to solve Konoha's problems all at once—but we still have to put up a framework first."
Those whose names had been mentioned by Hiruzen all smiled faintly.
This was, invisibly, giving them credit.
Quite a few "Konoha Committee Members" who had not participated were deeply shocked…
They had originally thought that after the village gave them positions, the next step would be to ask something of them…
This was not resentment, but what ought to happen.
Yet unexpectedly, before anything was asked of them, such a large piece of cake had already fallen into their laps…
And judging from the Hokage's meaning, this was only the beginning?
How much more money would be poured into Konoha in the future!
Moreover, from the Hokage-sama's tone, he was not even very satisfied yet? Only preliminary?
"Koharu, you speak." Hiruzen took out his pipe and unhurriedly packed tobacco into it, observing the expressions of the "Konoha Committee Members."
Koharu nodded, held a document, and began: "According to the Third's instructions, Homura and I led the Administrative Department in counting the number of families without active-duty ninja…"
"This group mainly consists of orphans and ninja families without able-bodied adults. Because of war or missions, they lost the pillar of their households. Their lives are very tight, and many still have loans."
"The number is nine hundred and forty-three; for redundancy, it is temporarily set at one thousand."
"The per capita subsidy is set at five hundred thousand ryō per year. For orphan families, it will continue until a genin appears; for those without children and ninja who lost mission capability due to war, there is no time limit."
"This allocation will require five hundred million in funding."
The figure of five hundred thousand ryō had been calculated; it was close to what a genin could provide in supporting a family.
For chūnin and jōnin, this amount did not even match the costs of training and ninja tools, but for the elderly and children, it was enough to let them live with far more dignity.
"Those Konoha ninja who died on the battlefield gave their lives to protect their home…"
"Now that the village has some money, their parents and children should live with dignity, and the resources for their training should be somewhat more sufficient."
Hiruzen swept his gaze across everyone. "Does anyone have objections to this item?"
At this moment, even Danzō kept his mouth tightly shut, afraid that others might have even the slightest misunderstanding.
A moment later, applause like a rising tide surged through the conference room.
Sakumo clapped with particular force.
He naturally did not lack this money, but he particularly liked such humane measures.
They allowed ninja to feel that they were people, not tools…
Being able to participate in such construction brought Sakumo immense spiritual satisfaction.
He thought of how Kakashi had once told him that he had a close friend named Uchiha Obito. Though born into the Uchiha, his family circumstances were not good.
Most of the previous generation's assets had been used to purchase ninja tools and had been exhausted on the battlefield.
Yet there was still a grandmother at home…
Though he usually acted carefree and unconcerned, Kakashi could see the embarrassment buried deep within Obito.
Sakumo had even considered whether he should provide some assistance to that Uchiha.
But he worried about hurting the child's self-esteem, and moreover, the situation of the Uchiha Clan was quite sensitive…
Now it was good—Hokage-sama had stepped in! That child should be very happy…
Hiruzen raised his hand, yet the applause simply would not stop…
Similar measures might have existed before—for example, clans would to some extent assist the widowed and orphaned.
But never had any hidden village established such a clear system with such intensity!
"Enough…" Only when Hiruzen spoke did the applause gradually subside.
"This is what the Konoha ninja who gave their lives for the village deserve! It is also what I, as Hokage, ought to do…"
As he spoke, Hiruzen deliberately emphasized Konoha.
"Where Konoha's leaves dance, the fire also burns without end."
"The warriors exhausted the flame of their lives for Konoha. Now that the village is somewhat more prosperous, this light and heat should rightfully warm their parents and children."
"Then this item passes, if there are no objections."
Danzō looked at the fervent gazes of the "Konoha Committee Members." Even Uchiha Isshin, that old fellow, seemed to clap a few times in genuine sincerity.
A trace of desolation stirred in his heart.
Although Hiruzen had indeed done fairly well…
From now on, between the Hokage and the Hokage's advisor—who in his mind barely counted as being on the same level—there would no longer be any possibility of their prestige within the village being comparable.
"Homura, the next agenda item."
Homura nodded, a faint smile in his heart.
He had keenly noticed a small detail.
Koharu was truly shrewd…
In the past, when she spoke, she seldom mentioned Hiruzen first. Now she never forgot to do so.
"According to the Third's instructions…" Homura spoke in the same manner.
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