Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the proposal, his expression gradually turning strange.
Danzo and Koharu Utatane leaned in to take a look, their expressions mirroring his. It was as if they had just read the most ludicrous joke. Koharu even made no effort to hide her disdainful smirk.
Finally, after finishing the proposal, Sarutobi Hiruzen raised his head and looked at Haruto Saito, his tone peculiar. "You want to establish a money-lending institution?"
"A bank," Haruto corrected.
"The terminology doesn't matter; it's essentially the same thing, isn't it?"
"Similar, but a bank has a more comprehensive set of functions. For example, loans—currently, Konoha's moneylenders do not offer loans to private individuals. The bank I intend to establish will, though at a higher interest rate..."
"You also want to attract deposits?" Sarutobi Hiruzen cut to the core of the issue.
"Exactly!" Haruto nodded.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression grew even stranger, as if he wanted to laugh but restrained himself.
"Do you seriously think people will entrust their money to your bank?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked bluntly. "Why would they trust you? Even Konoha itself does not have such credibility. Konoha's financial institutions operate under the financial backing of the Land of Fire's Daimyo. Essentially, the entire nation guarantees its security."
"Does Konoha's moneylender offer interest?"
"No, but it guarantees the safety of the deposits."
"My bank offers interest."
"You believe that mere interest payments will convince people to deposit their money with you?"
"Why not?" Haruto countered.
Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a helpless chuckle and shook his head, feeling that it was impossible to reason with Haruto.
Haruto felt the same way.
He did not wish to reveal his entire strategy. If he explained everything and Sarutobi Hiruzen realized the massive profits involved, wouldn't he demand a share?
The essence of Haruto's plan was simple: he was borrowing from the public.
For example, if a Konoha merchant had ten million ryo sitting idle, Haruto would borrow it and offer a 5% annual interest—meaning the merchant would earn 500,000 ryo a year. Would the merchant agree to lend?
Maybe not.
But maybe he would.
After all, Haruto was a direct disciple of the Hokage, and everyone knew he was wealthy beyond imagination. Would he really default on the debt?
Even in the worst-case scenario—rumors spreading that Haruto was going bankrupt—he had enough fixed assets to assuage concerns.
Most of the eight districts surrounding the Commerce Department building belonged to Haruto. As long as people knew he owned valuable real estate, why would they worry about him going bankrupt?
This was only the first step in Haruto's grand vision. He was determined to unify the financial system of the ninja world.
"He truly doesn't understand finance," Koharu muttered.
"He will fail," Danzo added quietly.
"You two have no objections?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked.
Koharu and Danzo had no reason to oppose. They saw no way for Haruto to succeed. Moreover, Konoha could benefit from this experiment by securing loans in the process.
After some whispered discussion, Sarutobi Hiruzen turned to Haruto and said, "I approve."
"Hmm…" Haruto responded with a neutral hum, glancing at Koharu before addressing Sarutobi Hiruzen. "Sensei, you're aware of the Commerce Department's benefits package, right? What do you think?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned.
Haruto was pressuring him again.
"This benefits package seems excessive," Sarutobi Hiruzen argued. "I acknowledge your contributions, and it's admirable that you're looking out for your subordinates, but this level of disparity will cause problems. Other departments will not be pleased. How am I supposed to justify the fact that the Commerce Department's salaries are three to four times higher than theirs? If I approve this, how do I maintain fairness?"
For once, Sarutobi Hiruzen was making a reasonable argument.
"Sensei, this isn't just about benefits," Haruto reasoned. "I have no choice. You know that while the Commerce Department's revenue cannot compare to the Mission Department's, the latter's income is straightforward—it's directly deducted, leaving no room for manipulation. The Commerce Department, on the other hand, deals with taxes, an area rife with loopholes, tax evasion, and even corruption. These problems have already begun to surface… Commerce is inherently complex."
"And how does this connect to your benefits plan?" Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned. He was well aware of these issues, but he considered them unavoidable and relatively minor.
"It's directly related. Why do people exploit their power? Why do they take bribes and make illicit deals? Because of money. The financial losses Konoha suffers due to such behavior are incalculable. So..."
Haruto laid out his philosophy.
In four words: **High salaries to prevent corruption!**
His plan was to make the Commerce Department the highest-paid and most strictly regulated institution in Konoha. This, in turn, would foster a healthier commercial environment. In reality, though Konoha would be paying its Commerce Department personnel more, the village would ultimately lose far less revenue due to corruption.
Once again, Sarutobi Hiruzen was persuaded.
Even Koharu found no argument against it.
Haruto's ideas were always innovative, always ahead of their time, making them difficult to refute. He had also considered establishing a separate disciplinary unit but decided against it—better to keep everything under the Commerce Department's control.
---
**Konoha Year 33, February 1st**
The **First Private Bank of the Ninja World** was officially established in Konoha. Entirely funded by Haruto Saito, the bank offered collateral-based loans and high-interest savings accounts. The news spread quickly, causing an uproar.
Haruto was at it again!
Though this was technically a private venture, its potential impact on Konoha—and even the Fire Nation's financial system—was undeniable.
Still, no one believed he would succeed.
The public reaction was one of skepticism and ridicule. The prevailing sentiment was the same as Sarutobi Hiruzen's: why would people deposit their money in Haruto's bank? Without sufficient deposits, bankruptcy was inevitable.
That afternoon, as the news spread, Sarutobi Hiruzen personally visited the **First Private Bank of the Ninja World**, located in a seven-story building next to the Commerce Department.
Representing Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen took out a one-billion-ryo loan from Haruto's bank.
In reality, Haruto had already given the money the previous day—this was just a publicity stunt to boost confidence in the bank.
Later that day, Haruto, in his capacity as Commerce Minister, issued two new regulations:
1. Gambling was now **legal**.
2. Casinos, entertainment districts, and brothels were to be **relocated** to a specific area designated by the Commerce Department.
Haruto once again leveraged his power for personal gain—he owned all the property in the designated district. Businesses could only operate there, forcing them to rent or purchase property from him.
Those who refused to move or attempted to operate illegally? **Shut down immediately.**
It was a shameless power play.