A moment of silence!
Everyone was too intimidated by Haruto Saito to speak. Hyuga Raiyo lowered his gaze, seemingly admitting defeat, not daring to stand up again. However, Haruto Saito could see that Raiyo's attitude toward him had turned into extreme hostility!
His younger brother, the branch family leader Hyuga Raita, already harbored the same level of hostility toward Haruto Saito. Now, Raiyo did as well!
Of course, it wasn't just about today's events!
This was the result of accumulated resentment!
The Hyuga clan was well aware that their lost secret technique was in Haruto Saito's hands! When they first discovered this, the fact that Haruto Saito had mastered space-time storage ninjutsu was still unknown to others. But now, it was common knowledge!
"So, regarding the impeachment of Haruto Saito for abuse of power, does anyone have anything else to say?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked calmly.
"I do!" Koharu Utatane immediately responded, turning to Haruto Saito. "Haruto Saito, I just have one question for you!"
"Lady Koharu, please go ahead," Haruto Saito replied indifferently.
"Have you paid your taxes?" Koharu Utatane stared into Haruto Saito's eyes. "Over the past six months, you've amassed immense wealth in Konoha. However, after investigating, I found that you've only paid tens of millions of ryo in income tax… Have you properly reported your taxes?"
This was Koharu Utatane's trump card!
She knew that impeaching Haruto Saito wouldn't be easy, so she had prepared this ultimate move to seal the deal!
If Haruto Saito had indeed evaded taxes, then he would be dismissed, investigated, and have his illegal earnings confiscated!
"Lady Koharu, my businesses are legitimate, and of course, I have reported my taxes!" Haruto Saito smirked subtly. "Tens of millions of ryo—is that considered little?"
"Very little!" Koharu Utatane's tone grew heavier. "Compared to your earnings, the taxes you've paid are insignificant!"
"Are you suggesting that I have committed tax evasion?"
"What else?"
"Alright!" Haruto Saito suddenly stood up. "Lady Koharu, and everyone present, please wait for a moment! I will head to the Ministry of Commerce to retrieve the documents and be right back…" With that, he disappeared into thin air!
Koharu Utatane smirked coldly. She had thoroughly checked Haruto Saito's tax records, and his tax evasion was outrageous! He had underpaid at least two hundred million ryo in taxes!
Haruto Saito was doomed!
...
After leaving the Hokage building, Haruto Saito did not go straight to the Ministry of Commerce. Instead, he went to Tsunade's residence!
In the main hall.
Tsunade had sticky notes all over her face, holding a deck of cards, gritting her teeth as she glared at her two playing companions—Jiraiya and Orochimaru!
Whoosh!
Haruto Saito suddenly appeared out of thin air!
"Stop playing, it's time for you all to make an appearance!" Haruto Saito spoke quickly.
...
Shortly after, Haruto Saito reappeared in the Hokage building's conference room, throwing a scroll to Koharu Utatane.
Koharu Utatane smirked coldly as she picked up the scroll and quickly reviewed it… But soon, her expression changed, because this was a tax report that Haruto Saito had long prepared, clearly detailing extensive tax exemptions…
Haruto Saito sneered at Koharu Utatane!
She was so foolish!
Did she not realize who had written the current tax regulations?
Haruto Saito had not evaded taxes but had engaged in legal tax avoidance! According to the tax laws he had drafted, businesses that provided employment opportunities, stimulated the economy, led industries in excess taxation, or conducted taxed transactions with other sectors were eligible for tax reductions!
As Koharu Utatane read through the scroll, her shock grew!
Just the employment opportunities alone had reduced Haruto Saito's tax liability by sixty million ryo…
"Lady Koharu, do you have any other concerns?" Haruto Saito asked with a faint smile.
Koharu Utatane abruptly looked up at Haruto Saito, gritting her teeth before finally speaking: "You're shameless!"
She didn't even know how to refute him! From a legal standpoint, there was no issue with Haruto Saito's taxes, and the tax reduction policy wasn't exclusive to him—everyone could benefit from it.
Thus, she found it difficult to attack him on this matter, especially since she had been involved in drafting those regulations in the first place!
"Lady Tsunade, no, don't go in!"
"Lady Tsunade! Don't fight!"
Suddenly, loud commotions erupted outside the room.
Then—
Bang!
The doors were forcefully pushed open! Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru stormed into the meeting room, with Tsunade looking furious as she shouted, "I heard someone wants to impeach Haruto Saito? Let me see who! And confiscate assets? Does that mean ours too? We risk our lives for Konoha, and now you're jealous of our earnings?"
Koharu Utatane and those supporting the impeachment were all dumbfounded!
Why was Tsunade here?
Wasn't she supposed to be on a mission?
Koharu Utatane had calculated Tsunade's influence and had deliberately chosen the second day after Tsunade's departure to launch the impeachment. The goal was to avoid Tsunade and deal with Haruto Saito in one go, ensuring that once the decision was made, Tsunade's return wouldn't change anything!
But Tsunade had miraculously appeared!
Of course… it was because Haruto Saito had known in advance about his impeachment and had prevented Tsunade from leaving!
On the eve of the impeachment, Koharu Utatane had been reaching out to people—some had agreed to support her, while others remained silent. However, Koharu Utatane had been betrayed. The one who informed Haruto Saito was none other than Uchiha Tokugawa!
Thus, Haruto Saito had already prepared himself!
Koharu Utatane had her trump card.
Haruto Saito had his as well!
Bringing in Tsunade was his trump card!
He wanted to see who had the audacity to target the industries of the Third Hokage's four direct disciples!
"You didn't go on the mission?" Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned at Tsunade.
"I forgot something and came back to get it!" Tsunade replied.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face twitched slightly. He obviously didn't believe Tsunade's excuse, but he also didn't want to argue about it. The missions assigned to them were highly dangerous and long-term, so leaving a day early or late wouldn't make much difference.
Many seats around the conference table were still empty—not all of Konoha's leadership was present. Many were away on missions, such as White Fang, the Anbu captain, and several battalion commanders.
Tsunade and the others walked in and sat down directly!
"Go on, continue!" Tsunade crossed her arms. "I want to see who's impeaching Haruto Saito and who wants to take our industries?"
"We're so pitiful!" Jiraiya sighed dramatically. "We risk our lives on the frontlines, and now people are eyeing our money…"
"Hmph!" Orochimaru snorted coldly.
The room fell into a dead silence!
At this moment, Koharu Utatane was in an extremely difficult position!
She had initially intended only to impeach Haruto Saito and confiscate his wealth. However, because Haruto Saito's assets were partially tied to Tsunade and the others, she couldn't just target him alone—it wouldn't make sense. But taking action against all four of them…
Many people in the room were now nervous!
Who knew which of the Hokage's four disciples might become the next Hokage? They were all highly talented!
Offending all four at once…
Ten minutes later.
"Meeting adjourned!" Sarutobi Hiruzen knocked on the table calmly.
The impeachment ended with no resolution.
From now on, unless Haruto Saito made another major mistake, it would be nearly impossible to impeach him!