Hokage Building, Hokage's Office!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two figures appeared simultaneously in front of the desk—White Fang and Haruto Saito!
"Sensei, you called for me!" Haruto said, glancing at Sarutobi Hiruzen's side, where Danzo stood.
Sarutobi usually met with Haruto alone. It was rare for Danzo to be present as well, which meant that this was an important matter.
"Haruto, take a look at this!" Sarutobi Hiruzen tossed a scroll to him.
Haruto picked it up and quickly scanned through it.
To his surprise, this wasn't a mission briefing but a financial report from the Treasury Department. It detailed the total revenue of Konoha over the past three months, including tax income and grants from the Daimyo's office, as well as the military expenditures.
In summary, Konoha's financial situation was severely imbalanced.
The fiscal deficit was enormous!
"Sensei, what is this supposed to mean?" Haruto asked after reading through the report. If the Treasury Minister weren't Mitokado Homura, he would have suspected that Sarutobi Hiruzen was planning to transfer him there to sort out the finances.
"The next installment of funds from the Daimyo's office will arrive in half a month," Sarutobi said, slowly tapping his fingers on the desk. "Meanwhile, the First and Second Frontline Corps need immediate funding to procure military supplies."
Haruto suddenly had a bad feeling.
"So?" he asked cautiously.
"Haruto!" Sarutobi stood up, placing his hands behind his back as he walked around his desk. "The war situation is tense, and military funds must not be compromised. Otherwise, morale will collapse. Haruto, as a Konoha ninja, I'm sure you wouldn't want to see our soldiers suffer unnecessary casualties due to a lack of equipment and medical supplies, right?"
"Just say it straight, Sensei!" Haruto sighed. He already knew where this was going.
"Lend Konoha one billion ryo. We will repay you in two months!" Sarutobi said seriously, staring at Haruto.
"Lending money isn't an issue. I trust Konoha wouldn't default on the debt," Haruto said. "However! My funds are all tied up in investments. If Konoha borrows the money, there should be interest, right?"
"Of course, we'll pay you interest!" Sarutobi assured.
"Then there's no problem!"
"Good!" Sarutobi patted Haruto on the shoulder. "Your contributions to Konoha will not be forgotten!"
"Sensei, I'm not done speaking!" Haruto quickly added.
"What?" Sarutobi frowned. He could tell Haruto was about to make a demand.
"I have an idea!" Haruto paused for a moment before continuing. "Maybe..."
"What is it?" Sarutobi urged.
"It's a bit complicated. Sensei, give me a moment. I'll be back shortly!" Haruto said, disappearing in a flash.
Sarutobi's face stiffened, then he sighed and sat back down. He had to wait—after all, he was the one asking for money. Haruto was in control here.
Not long after…
Boom!
The door to the Hokage's office was slammed open. Koharu Utatane stormed in, fuming.
"Hiruzen, Haruto has gone too far! I want to impeach him!" she yelled angrily.
"What's wrong?" Sarutobi frowned.
"See for yourself!" Koharu threw a payroll report onto the desk.
Sarutobi picked it up, and Danzo, who had remained in the room, also leaned over to take a look. His brows furrowed as well—the numbers were alarming. Haruto's monthly salary as Minister of Commerce was higher than the Hokage's!
"What's going on?" Sarutobi asked.
"It's the benefits!" Koharu said furiously, summarizing the situation. "If this continues, the Commerce Department will be overspending by six million ryo every month—that's over seventy million ryo a year! This is unacceptable! Even if we reward Haruto with a one-time ten-million-ryo bonus, these excessive benefits must be abolished!"
Sarutobi's eyelids twitched—this was indeed outrageous!
But he was in a tough spot.
If he outright rejected this, Haruto would surely retaliate and refuse to lend money. Given Haruto's personality, he wouldn't hesitate to say no.
And Sarutobi couldn't do anything about it.
"I understand," Sarutobi said calmly. "I'll discuss it with Haruto."
Koharu sensed something was off—Sarutobi's tone was dismissive, as if he wasn't entirely opposed to the idea.
"Hiruzen! What's there to discuss?" she slammed the table. "You're too lenient with him! If this continues, Haruto will become even more lawless!"
Sarutobi had a headache.
"Koharu," Danzo spoke up. "These benefits are indeed problematic, but Konoha has a more urgent issue. Mitokado Homura was here earlier with a financial report—you should take a look."
Danzo gestured to the report on the desk.
Once Koharu finished reading, Danzo explained Konoha's urgent need for funding and how borrowing from Haruto was the simplest solution. Otherwise, they would have to delay salary payments across departments, which would cause dissatisfaction and internal problems.
Borrowing was the easiest and cleanest solution!
Moreover, repayment wasn't an issue since the Daimyo's office would soon provide funds.
Koharu's focus shifted instantly.
She had come to complain about Haruto, but after hearing Danzo's explanation, her attention turned to the necessity of military funding. She engaged in a serious discussion with Danzo and Sarutobi.
Half an hour later…
Whoosh!
Haruto reappeared in the office. "Sensei, I'm back!" He immediately noticed Koharu and knew exactly why she was there.
"Hmph!" Koharu snorted coldly upon seeing him.
Haruto ignored her.
"What took you so long? What exactly do you want to propose?" Sarutobi asked impatiently.
"Here, Sensei, take a look!" Haruto handed him a scroll. "I just returned to the Commerce Department to draft this!"
Sarutobi opened it and scanned through it quickly.
It was a proposal.
Titled: "Plan to Establish Konoha's First Private Bank."
Simply put, Haruto wanted to establish a bank. He had already named it—"Shinobi World's First Bank." The name was bold, but since there was no existing banking system in the shinobi world—only traditional moneylenders—he could call it whatever he wanted.
At the end of the proposal, Haruto stated clearly that if Sarutobi approved the bank's establishment, he would loan Konoha one billion ryo through the bank.
In other words, if Sarutobi didn't approve it, Haruto wouldn't lend the money!
A blatant ultimatum!