Chapter 324: Funding!

Long before the coup began, Shimura Danzō had already told Uchiha Ren that he had prepared evidence of wrongdoing against Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tsunemaki Koharu, and Homura Mitokado.

After the coup ended, Shimura Danzō fell into the hands of the Konoha Military Police Force. The various Root bases were also sealed by the Military Police. With only a little maneuvering, Uchiha Ren managed to get his hands on the evidence Danzō had prepared against Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tsunemaki Koharu, and Homura Mitokado.

Hearing this, Namikaze Minato asked in some confusion, "Didn't you say before that this evidence wasn't suitable to be revealed at this particular moment?"

"Why are you planning to use it now?"

Uchiha Ren had mentioned the evidence to Namikaze Minato before. However, after discussing it, the two of them had agreed that the current moment was not suitable for using it to bring down Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others.

Among the evidence Shimura Danzō had collected was proof of how Tsunemaki Koharu and Homura Mitokado had abused their authority to divert village funds into the hands of the Sarutobi, Tsunemaki, and Mitokado clans.

For example, the Tsunemaki clan had deliberately driven up prices, while the Mitokado clan had supplied substandard goods, purchasing expired or low-quality materials at bargain prices and then selling them to the village for several times their normal value.

There was also evidence of how Hiruzen Sarutobi, in order to strengthen his control over the village, had eliminated people who posed a threat to his position under various pretexts.

For example, he had sent powerful elite shinobi of the Senju clan on missions they were certain to die on, sent gifted Senju children to undergo human experimentation, and orchestrated the downfall of Hatake Sakumo, ultimately causing his death.

That's right.

According to the evidence collected by Shimura Danzō, Hatake Sakumo had been killed because of Hiruzen Sarutobi.

After all, during the preceding decades, even though Shimura Danzō, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tsunemaki Koharu, and Homura Mitokado had occasionally disagreed over ideology, they had always stood on the same side.

Many of the things they had done had actually been carried out together.

Although Danzō had personally orchestrated the affair involving Hatake Sakumo, it could never have been executed so thoroughly and smoothly without Hiruzen Sarutobi's approval.

And since Danzō had prepared this evidence specifically to use against Hiruzen Sarutobi, he had naturally made sure to absolve himself and shift all the blame onto Hiruzen, Tsunemaki Koharu, and Homura Mitokado.

Unfortunately for Danzō, he no longer had any use for the evidence.

Uchiha Ren spread his hands.

"We don't have a choice. If we want to begin implementing our plans as quickly as possible, the first thing we need to ensure is that you inherit a stable Konoha."

"Although Shimura Danzō had spent decades building his influence within Konoha, his ruthless nature meant that his forces had always existed in a peculiar state, effectively operating independently of the village."

"So we had very few concerns about moving against him."

"But Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tsunemaki Koharu, and Homura Mitokado are different."

"Their influence extends throughout the entire village, and they have trusted subordinates in virtually every department."

"In that situation, it's difficult to say whether releasing all this evidence would actually bring them down. But it would certainly corner them and force them into a desperate counterattack."

"They would tear off the mask and fight us openly."

"Although we're not afraid of fighting them, and we would certainly win, doing so would inevitably inflict enormous damage on the village."

"If you inherit a shattered village, you'll have to spend a long time simply rebuilding and recovering, let alone advancing our plans."

"So we should take things slowly. Like boiling a frog in warm water. First seize power and cut away their support network. Then, when the time is right, deliver the decisive blow!"

After a pause, Uchiha Ren explained further:

"As for why I'm willing to use the evidence now... Heh. We may not be able to dump all of it on them at once, but we can selectively release some of it."

"For example, Tsunemaki Koharu and Homura Mitokado using public authority for private gain and misappropriating village funds."

"That matter can be made as serious—or as minor—as we want."

"We only need to expose a few suspicious transactions, then sit back and wait for them to prove their innocence."

"Although some of these matters are obvious at a glance, their accounts have been prepared very neatly. It won't be possible to investigate everything and determine the truth in a short period of time."

"Then we'll have the Oversight Department keep a close eye on them and control the pace of the investigation. That alone will be enough to keep them scrambling."

Namikaze Minato thought for a moment before asking:

"What about the Third Hokage? Although the Sarutobi clan was involved and acted with his tacit approval, the Third Hokage himself has supposedly been 'unaware' of this from beginning to end."

"This could keep Elder Tsunemaki occupied, and it could keep Elder Mitokado occupied, but it won't keep the Third Hokage occupied!"

Uchiha Ren shook his head.

"As long as we keep Tsunemaki Koharu and Homura Mitokado occupied, that's enough. If we push too hard, it might have the opposite effect."

"Besides, Hiruzen Sarutobi is currently only the head of the Education Department and the leader of the Mission Team. His ability to exert influence is far less than that of Tsunemaki Koharu and Homura Mitokado."

Namikaze Minato thought it over and nodded.

"That works. Let's do that for now."

After a brief pause, Namikaze Minato suddenly seemed to remember something.

"Right, there's one more thing. The situation in the Finance Department is even worse than we anticipated!"

"Those parasites have gone completely overboard. They're practically draining Konoha dry!"

"No wonder the Third Hokage was so eager to end the war earlier. It turns out the village simply didn't have the resources to continue fighting!"

A trace of anger burned in Namikaze Minato's eyes as he spoke grimly:

"The Finance Department currently has two billion ryō left, and you have another three billion ryō on your side."

"That sounds like a lot, but once we pay out compensation for the fallen, support allowances, and mission rewards, almost nothing will remain!"

"Without money, many of our plans will have to be delayed!"

Uchiha Ren took a deep breath. Although he was angry as well, he still reassured Minato.

"It's fine. I've already had Kado's shipping company raise fifty billion ryō in funding. There's no need to worry about money."

"Orochimaru's Research Department has already achieved some results. Fifty billion ryō will be enough for them to establish several production lines and manufacture a large batch of weapons."

"So our main problem right now is still to seize control of the village as quickly as possible."

Hearing this, Namikaze Minato visibly relaxed. He then asked curiously:

"They've already achieved results? Is it those firearms you mentioned before?"

Uchiha Ren smiled.

"Orochimaru and the others are much smarter than I expected. What they've developed isn't merely firearms. When the time comes, it'll definitely surprise you."

Namikaze Minato was filled with anticipation.

"Is that so? Then I'll look forward to seeing it."

Afterward, Uchiha Ren and Namikaze Minato continued discussing various other matters in detail.

They talked until nightfall, when Uzumaki Kushina, who had grown impatient waiting at home, personally came looking for Minato. Only then did the two finally end their conversation.

Meanwhile, on the other side of Konoha, the late-night discussion between the newly awakened Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tsunemaki Koharu, and Homura Mitokado had only just begun.

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