Chapter 68:
Inside the Police Force Chief's office, the Impure World Reincarnated Senju Hashirama had already used the Transformation Technique to disguise himself as an ordinary Konoha ninja.
Short brown hair, an unremarkable face — the only thing that hadn't changed were those deep, profound eyes.
Uchiha Sanpō took out a thick stack of documents and property lists from the drawer — the records of the massive wealth the four clans had taken when they left Konoha, complete with signatures.
He handed the documents to Hashirama, his voice low and restrained: "Lord First, please take a look at these. These are the property inventories and signed confirmation forms of the wealth the Sarutobi, Shimura, Koharu, and Mitokado clans took with them when they left Konoha."
Senju Hashirama accepted the documents. The moment his fingertips touched the paper, they felt slightly cold.
His gaze swept across the first page. Row after row of neatly arranged entries: Sarutobi clan — 37.36 billion ryō in cash. Koharu clan — 13.78 billion ryō in cash. Shimura clan — 19.53 billion ryō in cash. Mitokado clan — 12.98 billion ryō in cash. Total registered cash: 83.67 billion ryō.
The sheer amount was staggering.
Every single entry had a ninja's personal signature — bold and arrogant handwriting that seemed to mock everything.
Uchiha Sanpō walked to Hashirama's side. His slender finger pointed to one line: "This is the evidence of their betrayal of Konoha. Hiruzen Sarutobi alone registered 24.7 billion ryō in cash, 110,000 taels of gold, and 1.59 million taels of silver. However, through a bet, I took back 20 billion ryō from him. The rest, he took with him. All this money was embezzled from Konoha's public funds."
Senju Hashirama's brows gradually tightened. A vein throbbed visibly on his forehead.
When he flipped to the final page and saw the total figure, the temperature in the office seemed to drop several degrees.
"Why did you let those cancer clans leave? Wouldn't it have been simpler to execute them directly and take back Konoha's wealth?"
Senju Hashirama's voice was no longer gentle — it was filled with suppressed killing intent.
Uchiha Sanpō smiled bitterly and shook his head. He walked to the filing cabinet in the corner of the office and took out a thick casualty register.
"Lord First, do you know how much combat strength Konoha has left after the Third Great Ninja War?"
He opened the register. The densely packed names looked like ants: "12,597 ninjas dead. Only 6,652 remain. The Sarutobi, Shimura, Koharu, and Mitokado clans together have 3,556 ninjas — more than half of Konoha's current fighting force."
"If we had started a civil war at that time, Konoha Village would have been reduced to ruins. Even worse, spies from Kumogakure, Iwagakure, Kirigakure, and Sunagakure have been lurking in the Land of Fire, waiting for us to fall into internal chaos so they can invade again."
The office fell into brief silence.
Senju Hashirama walked to the window and looked at the distant Hokage Rock. Beside his own statue were the faceless carvings of the Second and Third Hokages.
He murmured in a low voice, exhaustion heavy in his tone: "No matter the era, war is never absent… If only I had agreed to Madara's plan back then… perhaps… the outcome would have been different."
Uchiha Sanpō returned to the desk and took out a set of design blueprints: "Today is not the time to discuss that, Lord First. Please look at this."
It was the new blueprint for Konoha Village. The words "Konoha Cloning Center" were clearly marked, along with detailed architectural structures and lists of medical equipment.
"After the war, over 2,000 ninjas were permanently disabled. Traditional medical ninjutsu cannot give them a new life. Through cloning technology research, we may be able to help them stand again."
Senju Hashirama carefully examined the blueprints. His expression gradually softened.
Uchiha Sanpō took out several more documents: "This is the construction plan for a cultural school, so children without chakra talent can also receive education. This is the construction plan for orphanages and nursing homes… But all of these require funding."
He pressed his finger heavily on the stack of property inventories: "And right now, that money is being used by those traitors to enjoy glory and wealth in the daimyō's residence!"
Senju Hashirama put down the blueprints. His gaze turned sharp: "What is your plan?"
At that moment, Uchiha Sanpō pointed out the window toward the main road: "Lord Hashirama, can you sense it? Tsunade has just finished work. Would you like to go see her?"
Senju Hashirama turned around abruptly. His powerful perception instantly locked onto the figure several hundred meters away.
Through the window, he saw a golden-haired woman walking across the street. Her white medical ninja coat fluttered in the wind, and the green crystal pendant on her chest sparkled under the sunlight.
On Hashirama's disguised face, genuine emotion surfaced: "Little Tsunade… she's all grown up now."
Uchiha Sanpō stood quietly to the side: "Tsunade has had a very hard time these past years… After her younger brother Rope Tree and her lover Kato Dan were killed… she left the village… spending her days with alcohol and gambling… Her luck at gambling was terrible, so she owed a mountain of debt and wandered everywhere…"
Senju Hashirama's hand unconsciously tightened. The wooden window frame creaked under his grip.
Uchiha Sanpō continued: "I only recently brought her back to the village. She is now Konoha's advisor elder and also serves as the head of the Medical Department… However, the wounds in her heart… still need time to heal…"
On the street, Tsunade suddenly stopped, as if sensing something. She looked up toward the window of the Police Force building.
Senju Hashirama instinctively took a step back, avoiding her line of sight.
Uchiha Sanpō, however, gave Tsunade an ambiguous wink and said softly: "Tsunade still misses you very much!"
Senju Hashirama took a deep breath. When he spoke again, his voice had turned ice-cold: "Take me to the daimyō's residence. I can't wait any longer to teach those bastards a lesson."
Uchiha Sanpō's expression became serious: "Lord Hashirama, we need a plan. The daimyō's residence is heavily guarded, and we must also consider the political consequences. If we launch a direct assault, it will give the four great nations an excuse, and it may very well trigger another war."
Senju Hashirama stopped. His brows furrowed tightly.
Uchiha Sanpō seized the opportunity and continued: "The four clans can be killed at any time, but right now we still need to use their strength. I suggest a covert operation — disguise our identities and infiltrate the daimyō's residence. Beat up all the ninjas from the four clans and take back the money they embezzled."
Outside the window, a dark cloud covered the sun, plunging the office into shadow.
Senju Hashirama thought for a moment, then finally nodded: "Do you have a specific plan?"
Uchiha Sanpō breathed a sigh of relief and quickly spread a map on the table: "During the Third Great Ninja War, Kirigakure and Sunagakure invaded deep into the Land of Fire and plundered seven cities, causing heavy losses to some nobles."
"As the saying goes, when the rabbit dies, the fox grieves. The daimyō recruited the Sarutobi, Shimura, Koharu, and Mitokado clans for two reasons: to check Konoha Village, and to protect the capital's safety. That's why he stationed the four clans in the southeast, southwest, northwest, and northeast corners of the daimyō's residence…"
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