Mitokado Homura brought up the issue of ninja bereavement compensation.
Regarding this matter, Konoha had in fact previously implemented related measures.
However, due to financial difficulties, the strength of those measures had not been particularly apparent; it could only be said that they were better than nothing.
"During the Second Shinobi World War, as well as in the past, among the ninjas who died fighting for the village and who still have family members alive, the total count is 2,015 people."
"For each individual, the village has set the bereavement compensation at one million ryō. Including redundancy in the calculation, this portion of the expenditure amounts to 2.2 billion ryō."
A thought stirred in Orochimaru's mind. These 2.2 billion, added to the 500 million, wouldn't that mean this sum of money would be completely spent?
It was not because he was cold-blooded. In his view, only by continuing to invest in research and reinvestment could Konoha obtain more sources of revenue.
And just as Orochimaru felt somewhat puzzled, Hiruzen spoke to explain: "The total amount of this bereavement compensation is 2.2 billion ryō. However, the village still needs to develop, so it has been decided that it will be paid to the families of the fallen ninjas on a monthly basis, with a certain amount of interest, over a period of five years."
"The total will be 2.5 billion ryō, divided over five years—an annual expenditure of 500 million ryō."
"In the future, the bereavement compensation system will continue to be maintained. Each year, 500 million ryō will be set aside as a dedicated savings pool for bereavement compensation. Together with the existing allocation, that will amount to 1 billion ryō."
Orochimaru's eyes lit up, and he nodded inwardly.
Paying it monthly was indeed more reasonable.
It could ease Konoha's short-term financial pressure while also avoiding systemic risk.
Moreover, for most surviving family members, a one-time lump-sum payment could in fact create risks.
Short-term squandering and lack of planning were objectively common phenomena. Paying it monthly was more conducive to safeguarding the families' livelihoods.
At this moment, the way Sakumo looked at Hiruzen could practically be described as fervent.
Just look—what had the Third-sama done?
Not only had he compensated the bereavement funds for ninjas who had died in past wars, he had even considered the interest when arranging monthly payments…
It was so generous that it was difficult to put into words…
The expressions of the other civilian ninja committee members were much the same as Sakumo's. They understood better than anyone the hardships of a ninja's life.
Although ninjas could earn money quickly, because of the high intensity of combat, the heavy consumption of ninja tools, and appetites that differed from ordinary people, they did not actually save much.
After deducting the necessary expenses for maintaining their bodies, relieving mental strain, and researching ninjutsu, the amount they could truly set aside was very small.
Even many tokubetsu jōnin found themselves strapped for cash; only top-tier jōnin could genuinely accumulate a meaningful sum in savings.
Hizashi's expression looked almost like that of a pilgrim as he stared fixedly at Hiruzen.
Compared with the main house, the Hokage was who knew how much better…
The main house also had money, but the main house generally did not let the branch family spend much of it, because they had their uses.
As for what those uses were, the branch family did not know either…
But when Hiruzen saw the ninjas wearing such expressions, his heart was filled with unusually deep emotion.
One million ryō—one could say it was a lot, and one could also say it was not.
A chūnin earning that much in a year was not difficult with a bit of effort.
For a tokubetsu jōnin, three million ryō a year was not excessive.
Jōnin were somewhat special by comparison.
It varied from person to person. There were the relatively few who made only a few million ryō, and there were also mission fanatics like Jiraiya and Orochimaru, for whom even twenty million ryō in a year was nothing to speak of.
If Hiruzen measured it by the standards of his previous life, this sum of money was pitifully small!
By the standards he was familiar with, dying in battle… would warrant at least fifteen to twenty years' worth of a one-time bereavement payment, and with long-term guarantees included, the total could be converted into the equivalent of thirty to forty-plus years of income… and that was without counting the various other subsidies.
Yet in the shinobi world, the mere fact that it amounted to a chūnin's annual income was already enough to leave these ninjas stunned.
Hiruzen was not a soft-hearted man.
But in this moment, with this scene before him, he truly felt that ninjas had lived bitter lives for far too long—after only the slightest taste of what it was like to be treated as a "person," their eyes immediately turned red.
Seeing that applause like a rising tide was about to surge again, Hiruzen immediately stopped it.
"Regarding this bereavement compensation, the village will convert part of it into missions. It will have some ninjas regularly conduct home visits, offering help and resolving the practical difficulties in their day-to-day lives."
"This money will be paid to the ninjas carrying out the missions, but the amount will be somewhat less than what they would earn for missions outside the village."
Hizashi was dumbfounded.
Meaning, the village was going to pay ninjas money, and then have them go visit the families of fallen ninjas?
Wasn't that a bit too… humane!
"Hokage-sama, I think this is an obligation every Konoha shinobi ought to bear…" Hizashi said, raising his hand.
"There's no need to take up more of the village's funds!"
The "Konoha committee" members looked at Hizashi in surprise.
In fact, quite a few people had the same thought.
All at once, being surrounded by this "humaneness" made these ninjas—whose tool-minded thinking ran deep—feel, in an instant, that they "didn't deserve it."
But saying it out loud would really give people something to gossip about. After all, wasn't this just asking others to work for free?
No matter how nice the label sounded, that was the essence of it.
But Hizashi did not care. In a certain sense, his thinking was somewhat close to Danzō's… perhaps even more extreme, because he had no desire to become Hokage.
How others viewed him was something Hizashi could not have cared less about.
He thought only of Hiruzen.
Even if he were condemned by thousands, so long as Hiruzen still trusted him… then the wall around Hizashi's heart would not loosen in the slightest—hard as steel!
Hiruzen shook his head with a faint laugh.
He had just been lamenting in his heart that ninjas had grown accustomed to bitter lives, and now here was one who was unaccustomed to being treated differently.
"Hizashi, I understand your thinking. You are considering the overall interests of the village."
"I will say a few words for Hizashi. In the Anbu, Hizashi has long worked day and night on the village's security…"
"Those who serve alongside him in the Anbu also praise him as a shinobi who possesses the Will of Fire. His proposal comes from public spirit. Please do not harbor unnecessary misunderstandings."
That was how Hiruzen put it.
Hizashi could serve as a minister loyal only to the Hokage—unconcerned with factions or others' opinions, speaking frankly even on sensitive matters.
But as Hokage, Hiruzen had to protect those whose hearts were aligned with his.
Otherwise, how could he act as the "big brother"?
As Hiruzen spoke, he slightly tilted his head toward Danzō.
Although Danzō felt somewhat awkward inside, he immediately spoke nonetheless:
"Hizashi, as Hiruzen… as the Third Hokage said, has done very well in the Anbu."
It was a fact that Hizashi's work was excellent.
But in truth, Danzō's thinking was close to Hizashi's. He also felt there was no need to "favor" the ninjas so much.
Giving them a little was more than enough!
Yet for some reason, the moment Hiruzen moved, it was as if he were being controlled… and he had followed up on his words almost involuntarily.
Danzō warned himself inwardly that he could not be like this next time; next time, he would have to find fault…
What irritated him most, however, was the way Orochimaru was staring at him.
Just now, when he had subconsciously called him Hiruzen, Orochimaru's eyes had suddenly lit up.
If he had not immediately corrected himself to address him as the Third, Orochimaru would probably have leapt up at once to accuse him…
What an obstruction of a fellow!
Obsessed with these trivial details, completely failing to understand the bond between him and Hiruzen…
"Hizashi, the burdens on ninjas are already heavy."
"Visiting fallen comrades and their families is indeed a duty that ought to be fulfilled, but it also takes up time that could be spent on missions. Therefore, the village must provide some subsidy so that this care can be sustained over the long term."
"To speak frankly, I am not satisfied with the amount of this bereavement compensation."
"But there is no helping it. The village's main priority now must still be development. Yet I promise everyone that I will not leave a single Konoha shinobi behind…"
Hizashi's heart thumped—
This was the Hokage he had resolved to follow for the rest of his life…
Fearing he might be misunderstood, he had even brought Danzō in to vouch for him…
Hizashi felt a kind of burning heat surge through his entire body, as though he wanted to do something for Hiruzen immediately.
One could say that even if Hiruzen were to order him to fight Hyūga Tenzō to the death…
Hizashi would not ask the reason, but would throw a punch directly.
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