Chapter 227: You Don't Need to Outrun the Bear
"Sigh, politics!" Jiraiya sighed deeply, extraordinarily resistant to those two words.
After hesitating for a long while, he asked uncertainly:
"Is there really no other way to obtain funding for village reconstruction besides this method?"
"Can't all the families in the village work together, pooling our resources—everyone contributing what they can, brick by brick, jointly contributing to the village's reconstruction?"
Shikaku Nara's heart skipped a beat, terrified that Jiraiya would revert to his old ways—forcing all the clans to collectively sacrifice. He quickly changed the subject:
"Other methods certainly exist."
"Compared to the major clans, those nobles are actually far wealthier!"
"The Third Hokage understood this, which is why he sought the daimyo's support."
"The daimyo's messenger wasn't actually invited by the clans. Originally, this messenger was sent by the daimyo to deliver supplies."
"Of course, the conditions the Third Hokage agreed to must be fulfilled. Otherwise, those nobles providing resources won't agree."
"The daimyo also needs justification to appease those nobles."
"What?" Jiraiya immediately exploded. "You're really planning to abolish the Hokage position?"
"Well..." Facing Jiraiya's overwhelming presence, Shikaku Nara felt his breathing quicken. He quickly waved his hands in explanation:
"This was actually all planned by the Third Hokage long ago."
"Whether or not he had the title, it wouldn't affect the Third Hokage's control over village affairs."
"But who could have known the Third Hokage would be assassinated by enemies!"
"Now that it's shifted to you, Lord Jiraiya, your relationship with the clans has become somewhat strained—"
Shikaku Nara stopped there, not needing to continue. Jiraiya understood everything.
He naturally knew how skilled his teacher was at political maneuvering. He completely believed that under his teacher's control, those clans would obediently comply without daring to utter a word of complaint.
But after Hiruzen Sarutobi's death, all that fell apart. What was originally a minor issue had now become a major headache for him.
Seeing Jiraiya growing agitated, Shikaku Nara advised:
"It's precisely because I considered this problem that I urged Lord Hokage to move against these disobedient clans."
"On one hand, make an example of them—give these clans a good thrashing so they'll obediently follow Lord Hokage's orders in the future."
"On the other hand, after obtaining large amounts of gold and resources, we won't be so dependent on support from the daimyo and nobles, allowing the village to retain more autonomy."
"In fact, if Lord Hokage strikes hard enough, we could completely self-fund and return the nobles' support."
"Once the village has money, our backbone will be strong. Then we naturally won't need to heed the nobles' complaints, and the conditions the Third Hokage promised naturally won't count either."
After hearing all this, Jiraiya sat cross-legged on the floor, hands pressed on his knees, staring fixedly at the ground before him, somewhat dazed, unable to decide how to handle this matter.
Shikaku Nara knew Jiraiya's character. He didn't disturb his contemplation, simply waiting quietly beside him for Jiraiya to make his decision.
In another part of the village, the group of betrayed clan jonin gathered together to discuss countermeasures.
One jonin sat in the lead position hosting the meeting, raising the topic first.
"We were set up this time, committing such a grave error. I fear the village won't let us off easily—they'll probably force us to pay dearly. Everyone share your thoughts on how to respond."
"What's there to discuss? You planning to rebel or something?" One jonin said with a dark expression, pointing at the meeting host and snapping irritably.
"I said it before—the Nara family can't be trusted. They're full of schemes. But you insisted the Nara family also suffered heavy losses, that they definitely disapproved of the new Hokage's methods too. You had to play vanguard for them."
"How about now?"
"Regretting it?"
The rebuked jonin looked thoroughly depressed but still couldn't help explaining:
"Mizuto-jonin, you can't blame this entirely on me!"
"Originally we agreed—one group would play bad cop, one would play good cop. We'd use hardline tactics, they'd use soft tactics. Combining both would be more effective!"
"Who knew they'd sell us out?"
"This was unanimously agreed upon by everyone. How can you pin it all on me?"
This meeting host clearly had considerable prestige among the group. As soon as he spoke, people immediately stepped forward to smooth things over and speak on his behalf.
"This is really all those bastards from the Nara family causing trouble. You can't blame Tenbō-jonin."
"Exactly! Those Nara family members are the real scum. We were all deceived by them."
"We were too trusting, too naive, believing others' words so easily—that's why we're in this crisis today."
"Actually, even now I don't understand—what benefit does betraying us bring the Nara family?"
"Don't tell me they're really so selfless, wanting to use their private wealth to revive the village?"
"Even if they wanted to, they could just use their own family assets. Why frame us?"
Everyone discussed this back and forth for quite a while until finally someone slapped their thigh in sudden realization:
"I understand now!"
"Village reconstruction must require a specific total amount of gold and resources. If we provide more, their families naturally provide less!"
Everyone in this room was sharp. Hearing this explanation, they all immediately understood.
"Ah, that must be it!"
"I knew it—those Nara bastards have no public spirit whatsoever!"
"They clearly just pushed us into the pit so their family could climb up by stepping on us!"
"Those bastards have such black hearts!"
This immediately resonated with many, who began cursing the Nara family's treachery.
For a time, the room was filled with profanity—all sorts of greetings directed at eighteen generations of Nara ancestors.
After a long while, someone finally sighed and steered the conversation back.
"The situation has already occurred. Cursing won't solve the problem. Everyone should discuss response strategies!"
"Hmph, what response strategies can there be?" Mizuto-jonin said despondently.
"We've lost moral justification, been betrayed by our clan allies, and lost the fight. What options do we have?"
"We can only accept our punishment. What else can we do?"
"All I can hope for now is that this new Lord Hokage isn't too ruthless and will show mercy, letting us off."
But his wishful thinking was quickly dispelled by someone nearby.
"Hehe, rest assured—even if Lord Jiraiya is kind-hearted, he has that troublesome Shikaku Nara beside him!"
"That bastard will definitely remind Lord Jiraiya!"
With this statement, everyone's hatred for the Nara clan intensified even further.
After another round of angry cursing, Mizuto-jonin prayed sincerely:
"I pray Lord Jiraiya will at least leave our families some foundation, giving us a chance to rise again."
His despondent words immediately elicited sighs from everyone.