Haru went on with his long speech for a full twenty minutes without even realizing how long he had been talking.
"So for Konoha's development, we must be willing to make some sacrifices ourselves."
The moment Haru finished that last line, everyone in the room perked up. Everything he had said before was basically padding, just the lead-up to the real issue. What came now was the important part.
"Every clan has sacrificed many of its people for Konoha. The compensation for their families must be paid immediately. That money cannot be delayed."
"However, for Konoha's future development, I believe the rest of the debts Konoha owes your clans can wait a little longer."
That single sentence made the expressions of the leaders from every ninja clan change.
So he wanted to keep delaying payment?
This was directly provoking the interests of every ninja clan in Konoha!
"Don't worry. Every bit of what Konoha owes you will be repaid in full."
"It's just that we can't pay it all off at once. I have a proposal. We can repay it in installments."
"We'll pay off thirty percent immediately. The remaining seventy percent will be repaid over five to ten years, depending on the situation. Interest will be paid according to standard bank lending rates."
"What do you all think?"
Every clan leader was cursing in their hearts.
What did they think?
Of course they thought it was terrible.
They had already lived poor lives for so long. Now that the money had finally arrived, he still wanted to drag it out further? Did he think they were invisible?
"As the head of the Uchiha clan, I am the first to support this plan."
Haru symbolically raised his hand, then swept his gaze across the room.
Mm. Every single person was looking at him with obvious dissatisfaction, but that was fine.
Haru felt he could handle it. His strength spoke for itself. He did not believe anyone would overestimate themselves enough to jump out and oppose him directly.
"Clan Head Hyuga, take a stand."
Haru looked at Hyuga Takuma with a smile and gave him a glance. You're my ally, aren't you? At a time like this, shouldn't you step up and support me?
"Ah, this..."
Takuma looked like he wanted to cry.
He very much wanted to say no, but Haru's meaning was already crystal clear.
If you were an ally, then now was the time to stand up and take the hit.
Takuma could easily imagine what the future of the Hyuga clan would look like if he stabbed Haru in the back at such a crucial moment. They would definitely be targeted.
The eyes of the entire room focused on him, all waiting for Takuma to stand up and say those three words: "I don't agree."
But Haru understood the Hyuga clan well. They would never be the first bird to stick its head out.
If they had that kind of backbone, they would not once have sacrificed the clan head's younger brother to calm Kumogakure's anger.
What Haru found most humiliating was that the whole thing had happened in self-defense.
"I agree."
Takuma forced out those two words with difficulty, feeling as if all the strength had drained from his body.
"Good!"
"Truly admirable!"
"Everyone, let's applaud Clan Head Hyuga!"
Haru took the lead in clapping. The other clan leaders looked as if they had swallowed flies, but they could only clap along.
When the leader clapped, and you kept your hands still, did you still want to keep your job?
One down.
Haru turned his eyes toward Senju Toma.
"Clan Head Senju, the Senju and Uchiha clans founded Konoha together, so naturally you understand Konoha's difficulties better than anyone. At a time like this, it is exactly when the Will of Fire should shine."
"I believe that as the pillar of the Senju clan, Senju Toma and the Senju clan..."
Haru went on for several more paragraphs in one breath, piling one flattering title after another onto Toma and the Senju clan.
"So, Clan Head Senju, what is your opinion?"
Toma was numb.
Haru had already blocked every road. The stack of hats he had piled onto him was practically taller than Toma himself by now. Did Toma still have any way to say no?
He simply could not say it.
The Senju clan had always claimed to be Konoha's orthodox core, the inheritors of the Will of Fire. If they faltered now, then politically they would no longer be able to stand straight.
"I agree."
After struggling internally for a while, Toma still gave in. He really wanted to say no. He was badly short on money right now, and restarting the Hashirama Cell experiments would require an astronomical sum, possibly hundreds of millions of ryo.
But in the end, Toma still yielded.
Political position was more important than money. It was the very foundation of the Senju clan's survival in Konoha.
Another one settled.
Haru felt delighted inside. The three great bloodline noble clans of Konoha had already taken the lead in declaring their positions, so the rest would be much easier.
"Clan Head Nara, the Ino-Shika-Cho clans have always advanced and retreated together. What is your opinion?"
Haru looked at Nara Shikaru. He intended to use this man heavily in the future, so this was a good chance to test him and see whether he understood the situation.
Shikaru had already seen the trend clearly.
The momentum was with Haru. To go against that momentum was to walk straight into death.
So he might as well be decisive. Shikaru answered almost instantly, without the slightest hesitation.
"For Konoha, our three clans naturally agree."
"Very good."
Haru praised him, highly satisfied with how tactful Shikaru had been.
"And what about the rest of you?"
"Who supports it, and who opposes it?"
Haru could not be bothered to question each person one by one, so he directly asked everyone else at once.
"If you disagree, you may say so. Every clan has its own difficulties. As a clan head myself, I understand that maintaining a clan is no easy matter."
Haru wanted to make the whole thing look a little better, so he even added an extra line for appearance's sake.
So infuriating!
They really wanted to beat Haru up.
The remaining clan leaders were full of resentment. He had already placed the knife on their necks, yet was still smiling and asking whether they were satisfied.
Was that something a human being would do?
Unfortunately, that was a dream they were destined never to realize in this lifetime.
"I agree."
"I agree."
"I agree."
"..."
One pleasant voice after another rose in approval, greatly pleasing Haru.
"Good. This proposal passes unanimously!"
"As expected, everyone here is a pillar of Konoha. Every one of you has fully understood the spirit of the Will of Fire."
"Everything is for Konoha!"
Haru was becoming more and more fluent in official talk, and his slogans were growing louder and louder. He had caught the disease, the disease of leadership had infected him.
"Today's meeting has concluded successfully. Everyone, applaud!"
Haru was the first to stand and clap. Everyone else also sprang to their feet and applauded, tears even shimmering in their eyes, as if they had been moved by the spirit of today's meeting.
Of course not.
Those were tears of pain. Their clans were about to go back to living hard lives again.
But Haru was in a very good mood. After the meeting ended, everyone went their separate ways, while Haru returned to his little nest.
Faye and Lynn had already prepared lunch and were waiting for him at home. Haru ate three huge bowls of it.
After the meal, Haru felt that today had gone so well that he ought to do something to celebrate. He still had not used his ten draw chances yet, so he might as well make the draw on such a good day.
Haru shut himself alone inside the room and, as usual, started with a prayer.
"Buddha, Guanyin Bodhisattva, Jade Emperor, Jesus..."
"Please let me draw gold!"
(End of Chapter)
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