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This was a tactic the Third Hokage had employed many times before—only in the past, it had been used against other clans. This time, however, it was directed at his own clan.
But he had no choice.
Setting aside the reckless behavior of his clansmen, the village's finances were tight, and there simply wasn't enough money to compensate the Sarutobi clan adequately.
This was a measure of last resort.
"Let me say this one last time—do not provoke the Uchiha clan. We may not be like the Shimura clan, bowing and scraping before them, but there's no need for us to clash with them either. Remember, you may look down on the Uchiha, but you must acknowledge that they are a formidable force now. Most importantly, do not provoke Kazuki. If anyone crosses him, not only will you be in deep trouble, but you'll drag the entire clan down with you. At that point, you'll become the clan's greatest sinner!"
Some things had to be exaggerated, or else people wouldn't take them seriously.
The Sarutobi clan wasn't afraid of the Uchiha, nor would they grovel like the Shimura. But they also couldn't afford to provoke the Uchiha lightly. The best course was to mind their own business—you walk your path, I'll walk mine.
Provoking the Uchiha clan was one thing, but provoking Kazuki was an entirely different matter.
The former would only create tension between the Sarutobi and Uchiha, but both sides would exercise restraint. At worst, they'd glare at each other before letting things fizzle out—neither side wanted to escalate the conflict.
If things did escalate and reached the Hokage's office, even Tsunade would lose face.
But if they offended the latter… even the slightest retaliation would give the Sarutobi clan a massive headache.
And just like that, the dissatisfaction and resentment within the Sarutobi clan were successfully quelled.
The Third Hokage had used some underhanded methods on his own clansmen. Though the means weren't exactly honorable, the result was satisfactory.
The Sarutobi clan had finally settled down, no longer daring to stir up trouble.
---
"Just as you predicted—the old man used the past incidents as leverage, threw a fit, and the Sarutobi clan obediently accepted the minimum compensation and bereavement payments."
Tsunade leaned back in her chair, feeling a bit like a failure.
"I bet he also sternly warned his clansmen not to provoke me, afraid I'd hold a grudge and start suppressing the Sarutobi clan at every turn."
Kazuki could see right through the Third Hokage's schemes. That old fox had never been a saint.
"And have you not been targeting them?" Tsunade rolled her eyes.
Looking at recent events in the village, the Sarutobi and Shimura clans had been completely excluded from any involvement. Kazuki had deliberately left them out, refusing to let them participate.
Yet Tsunade couldn't even criticize him for it—because Kazuki handled everything flawlessly. If she tried to nitpick, she might as well brace herself for his nagging/lecture.
"I wouldn't call it targeting. I just didn't include them. I may not be as petty as the Third or Danzō, but that doesn't mean I'll go out of my way to do favors for people I dislike. Not bringing them along is already lenient. If I weren't worried about making things difficult for you, I'd have a hundred ways to make their lives miserable."
Everyone had their dirty tricks when it came to dealing with enemies.
Kazuki wasn't boasting—if he really unleashed his bag of underhanded tactics, the Sarutobi clan would be on their knees, crying for mercy.
"Well, as long as you know where to draw the line."
As long as Kazuki didn't actively target the Sarutobi or Shimura clans, Tsunade wouldn't interfere with this indirect form of retaliation. As long as village affairs were handled properly, she couldn't care less.
If it were her, she wouldn't be handing out benefits to people she disliked either.
People were only human, after all.
'You treated me poorly, and I haven't forgotten. The fact that I haven't retaliated harshly is already me being considerate of the bigger picture. And you still expect me to do you favors? Dream on!'
Since the bereavement payments and subsidies were distributed at the minimum standard, the Finance Department saved a considerable amount of money.
At the end of the day, it was the Sarutobi clan taking the loss. The Third Hokage had already smoothed things over, so Tsunade saw no reason to intervene.
As long as no one came asking her for money, that was help enough.
"But this will cause unrest within the Sarutobi clan."
Every action had its drawbacks—nothing could be executed perfectly. The Sarutobi situation was no exception.
Though it saved money and kept them in line for now, given enough time, small issues were bound to arise.
"Want a solution?"
Kazuki raised an eyebrow with a smirk. "I've got an idea, but I wonder what's in it for me?"
Tsunade's eyes lit up—before narrowing dangerously.
"You still want rewards from me? How about I drag Shizune along to warm your bed tonight?"
"Cough… let's not go that far. You alone are enough."
That was a joke he couldn't afford to take lightly. Tsunade and Shizune's relationship was almost like mother and daughter. If he dared lay a finger on Shizune, Tsunade would beat him to a pulp.
"Then why are you asking for rewards?"
Tsunade clenched her fists, rising from her seat.
"Need me to loosen your bones for you?"
"Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing."
Tsunade's temper was beyond fixing. Kazuki sighed and spread his hands.
"Find a time to discuss it with the Third. Pick a few Sarutobi clansmen who are good at playing the victim, then take them to the Daimyō's court for a little performance."
"Wouldn't that be a bit too…"
Tsunade's expression turned strange, almost feeling sorry for the Daimyō.
How many times had she gone to him for money since becoming Hokage?
At this rate, would she bankrupt him?
…No, the Daimyō's wealth wasn't so easily depleted. Compared to his own extravagant spending, what he allocated to Konoha was pocket change.
"Playing the victim."
Kazuki raised a finger, grinning.
"Don't underestimate the satisfaction of those in power. The Daimyō dislikes the Third. If you bring the Sarutobi to his court to weep about their hardships, it'll be as if the Third himself is groveling. The Daimyō's ego will be stroked, and he'll happily open his wallet."
"..."
It didn't sound very reliable.
"If you don't believe me, then stay poor. It's not like I'm the one managing the finances."
Kazuki shrugged indifferently.
Believe it or not—it wasn't his problem.
But the moment money was mentioned, Tsunade's expression turned deadly serious.
"Since you put it that way… as Hokage, I suppose I have no choice but to make a trip for the sake of the Sarutobi's subsidies and bereavement funds. I'll go talk to the old man right away."
Though this approach was a bit humiliating for the Sarutobi, Tsunade was confident the Third would agree.
Because when weighed against money, dignity was meaningless.
If shedding a little pride meant bringing back stacks of cash, the Third Hokage would gladly throw his dignity away.
The more money they secured, the easier life would be for the Sarutobi clan.
*****
Author's Note: Don't ask about unresolved plot holes—just think about how long the Third was in power and how much Danzō siphoned off each year.