Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 464 Leisurely

Obito gripped the corner of the canvas tightly in his hand, straining with all his might.

A silver-white figure silently leaped down from the treetop and landed precisely beside Obito.

Kakashi didn't even glance at Obito's predicament. He walked straight to the pit spikes, lightly tapped the damp soil with his toes, and the soil instantly loosened.

He gripped the ring of the ground nail with one hand, and with a flick of his wrist, the metal nail, deeply embedded in the ground, was easily pulled out, as if he were simply pulling a chopstick out of tofu.

"Too slow."

Kakashi threw the soil-covered ground spikes to Obito.

"By the time you finish rolling it all by yourself, the rest of the group will have already finished lunch."

Obito hurriedly caught it, then retorted loudly, "I'm just protecting the village's public property! What do you know?!"

Not far away, the three members of the Akatsuki squad, who had already packed their bags, were quietly watching this scene.

Yahiko turned around and said to Nagato in a low voice, "The way Class 7 expresses their feelings is really... passionate."

Nagato stood there quietly, his soft red hair fluttering in the forest breeze. His deep eyes reflected the two bickering figures, and he replied softly, "But they trust each other."

"That's true~~"

Just then, the curtain of the main tent was lifted, and Minato Namikaze walked out.

In an instant, all the noise and movement in the entire camp came to a standstill.

All eyes, whether laughing, busy, or on guard, were fixed on their young commander.

The clear and steady sound of the water gate pierced through the wind and rustling leaves in the forest.

"All troops, move out!"

In an instant, hundreds of figures, like ghosts blending into the forest, silently leaped up, transforming into a black torrent that surged into the distance.

The wet, sticky mud posed no obstacle to them.

……

At the same moment, thousands of miles away.

The restroom in the corner of the first floor of the Konoha Building.

Time was stretched into a viscous thread within the narrow cubicle.

Twenty minutes was enough for Danzo's legs to go from a tingling, needle-like numbness to complete numbness.

He held onto the cold partition, trying to stand up using the strength of his arms.

Failed.

Just five centimeters from the toilet seat, that familiar, thunderous rumbling of my intestines sounded again, bringing with it a terrifying warning of an impending torrent.

He slumped back down with a thud.

This small space has become a foul-smelling cage from which he cannot escape.

"Hatagi... Sakumo..."

Danzo gritted his teeth and squeezed out the name from between them, each word dripping with coldness.

"You just wait."

He closed his eyes, forcing himself to think calmly amidst the physical torment.

Since we lost out on the budget request today, we must make up for it elsewhere.

If the funding for the Namakawa Reservoir is cut, Orochimaru's research funding will be severely strained.

That is absolutely impossible.

The forbidden technique blueprints left behind by the second generation master require an endless amount of money to be filled, whether for restoration or transformation into village technology.

Danzo's thoughts raced.

He can access Root's hidden funds.

Although Hiruzen limited Root's budget sources, the Shimura clan's business revenue more than tripled with the prosperity of Konoha's commercial district.

Correct.

Use this money to fill the initial gaps in the project.

Once the reservoir dam is completed, more than half of the village's land irrigation and commercial facilities water supply will rely on this system.

At that time, the village's financial resources will flow back to the construction department he leads.

Just as he was conceiving his grand plan, he heard footsteps and hushed conversations outside the door.

There are two dark areas.

"Why is Lord Danzo nowhere to be seen today? He should have been inspecting the construction site by now at this time."

"Who knows, maybe he's up all night drawing blueprints again. But I just delivered some documents to the Hokage and saw Sakumo-sama inside, grinning from ear to ear."

"Really? Could it be... the budget has been approved again?"

"It's pretty much true. After all, the farm solved most of our wartime food rations problem; its contribution speaks for itself."

"Poor Lord Danzo..."

The sound of footsteps and the flushing of water gradually faded into the distance.

Inside the cubicle, Danzo's hands were clenched into fists, his nails digging deep into his palms, leaving red marks, and his knuckles cracking like popping beans.

Outrageous!

When I get out of here, I'll make sure Hiruzen sends those two bastards to clean up the newly built main sewer pipes! Let them experience the taste of sludge!

The anger in my mind triggered another bout of intense physical pain.

Danzo closed his eyes, and amidst unspeakable pain and humiliation, continued to lay out his grand blueprint in his mind.

Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office on the top floor of the building.

Hiruzen Sarutobi pushed the allocation document, stamped with a bright red seal, toward Sakumo Hatake, who was standing ramrod straight in front of him.

"The expansion funds for the constant temperature barrier have been approved for you."

Hiruzen picked up the pipe on the table, but didn't light it; he just unconsciously twirled it between his fingers.

"In addition, the Akimichi clan's meat processing plant also needs to speed up its progress."

Sakumo solemnly accepted the document with both hands and carefully placed it into the ninja tool pouch in his arms, his movements meticulous.

"Please rest assured, Hokage, Konoha's food self-sufficiency and processing capabilities will be further enhanced by the end of the year."

"Oh?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his eyelids and asked casually, "Danzo didn't come with you?"

"Lord Danzo is concerned about the long-term development of the village, and he must be checking data on the front line of the construction site right now."

Shuo Mao remained expressionless, speaking in a calm tone as if he were reporting on the weather.

Hiruzen glanced at Sakumo without making a sound.

This sixth brother is becoming more and more skilled and less and less subtle in his methods of swindling people.

Just over half an hour ago, Danzo rushed into the first-floor restroom like a gust of wind and hasn't come out yet.

The small bamboo basket that Sakumo brought this morning was missing a few of the digestive fruits that he had specially shown off, which were said to be cultivated with Orochimaru's help and had extremely potent medicinal effects.

Hiruzen was secretly pleased to see these two powerful figures in the village sabotaging each other and vying for the budget within the rules.

If they were inseparable and had no competition, then he, as the Hokage, would truly have sleepless nights.

"Go." Hiruzen waved his hand.

"Yes."

Shuo Mao bowed and turned to leave the office.

The heavy wooden door was gently closed.

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his chair to face the huge floor-to-ceiling window.

Outside the window, sunlight and cloud shadows flowed alternately across the land of Konoha, the framework of high-rise buildings was rising from the ground, and the planned rail transit lines, like the veins of a giant dragon, crisscrossed the village.

On the front lines are the golden generation led by Minato; they are the sharp scalpels that sever the cycle.

Behind them were Danzo and Sakumo, their fierce competition a powerful pulse that resonated throughout the village.

Underground reside the three legendary sages: the First Generation, the Second Generation, and Madara, who are providing unparalleled technological support for this new era.

All the subplots in the script, under his will, slowly converge towards that ultimate, perfect ending without tragedy.

A barely perceptible smile appeared on Hiruzen's lips.

This is the Konoha he wanted.

He picked up the already cooled tea on the table and drank it all in one gulp.

The slightly bitter tea glides down the throat, and after it fades, a lingering sweetness spreads across the tip of the tongue.

Alright, as the biggest contractor in Konoha, it's time to personally approve today's reports.