Chapter 231: This Is My Ninja Way
The next day, Jiraiya brought his entourage to formally meet Lord Sora Tani, expressing willingness to relinquish the Hokage title. Henceforth, all Konoha shinobi would pledge loyalty to the daimyo and follow his commands.
"As it should be!" Lord Sora Tani waved his folding fan, nodding with satisfaction.
"Under the daimyo's leadership, Konoha Village and the Land of Fire will only grow stronger—never declining to such a pitiful state."
"Rest assured, I'll write to the capital immediately. Resources will flow here in endless supply."
"Oh, that's wonderful!" The moment Jiraiya heard about incoming resources, any lingering reluctance evaporated completely.
After finalizing arrangements, they immediately held the ceremonial transfer, officially announcing it throughout the shinobi world and neighboring nations.
Once all formalities concluded, Tenzuki-jonin hurried forward with ingratiating enthusiasm.
"Lord Sora Tani, Konoha Village has many beautiful sights and delicious cuisine. Would you honor us by sampling them?"
Lord Sora Tani accepted with a smile, casually gesturing to Kazuma behind him while addressing Jiraiya: "When I'm unavailable, bring matters to Kazuma."
"Starting today, all village affairs fall under Kazuma's jurisdiction."
"Understood." Jiraiya agreed, seeing Lord Sora Tani off before coordinating with Kazuma.
Jiraiya first presented all village reconstruction plans for Kazuma's review.
Initially, Kazuma worried Jiraiya might be concealing tricks, but after asking various questions that Jiraiya answered thoroughly—complicated ones deferred to Shikaku Nara—he found no deception whatsoever.
After completing his inspection, Kazuma relaxed and began working cooperatively with Jiraiya on village reconstruction.
Between the ten billion ryo Jiraiya had "fundraised" and various supplies from the daimyo, Konoha Village suddenly found itself flush with resources.
Under this massive investment, Konoha entered a rapid recovery phase. Buildings rose from the ground. Shops opened their doors consecutively.
The village's appearance changed daily, quickly regaining vitality and vigor, recovering fragments of its former prosperity.
But good times never last. Before long, once resources were depleted, the village's recovery immediately slowed.
Jiraiya employed his previous strategy again, convening another jonin assembly.
As the meeting opened, Jiraiya excitedly addressed everyone:
"My friends, Konoha Village's recovery is visible to all—remarkably obvious."
"This is entirely thanks to everyone's support!"
"However, we now face a situation—we've run out of money again."
"I've gathered everyone because I'm hoping we can repeat our previous success. Through collective effort and enthusiastic donations, we'll use those funds to rebuild our village."
Jiraiya had expected more contributions this time. Previously, when the village showed no results, they'd still donated generously. Now that recovery was evident and each clan probably had income flowing again, surely donations would increase!
Who knew that the moment he finished speaking, everyone would immediately cry poverty.
"Lord Jiraiya, you don't understand our situation!"
"The Tenzuki clan has been escorting Lord Sora Tani on tours, sampling fine food and wine, preparing elaborate gifts—the expenses are astronomical! We genuinely have nothing left to contribute."
"Yes, yes! The Mizuto clan has also spent heavily entertaining Lord Sora Tani. We truly have no funds remaining."
Jiraiya stared dumbly at this group who'd previously "donated enthusiastically" but now made excuse after excuse, completely unable to comprehend how things had deteriorated so drastically.
Were these the same trusted village comrades from his memory? Why did they suddenly feel so alien?
Seeing Jiraiya's expression darken, Mizuto-jonin hastily backtracked:
"However, since Lord Jiraiya asks, and it's for the village's benefit, even if our coffers are completely empty, we must still donate something."
Jiraiya's expression eased slightly. But before he could feel relieved, he heard Mizuto-jonin continue:
"We'll donate... one hundred thousand ryo!"
"What?" Jiraiya's eyes nearly popped from their sockets. "Only one hundred thousand?"
"Um, Lord Jiraiya, are there minimum donation requirements?" Mizuto-jonin asked with exaggerated confusion.
"No..." Jiraiya's words caught in his throat. He could only shake his head: "No minimum standards. Any amount is completely voluntary."
"Then there's no problem."
Following Mizuto-jonin's "exemplary leadership," other clans donated as well—one hundred thousand here, eighty thousand there.
After everyone finished, the total barely reached thirty million ryo.
Jiraiya's face went wooden, heart aching, but he could only swallow his bitter disappointment like broken teeth mixed with blood, watching these clans depart after their pittance donations.
"Damn it!" Jiraiya slammed his fist down, pulverizing the desk. "How did things become like this?"
Shikaku Nara sighed, crouching to carefully collect the desk fragments while explaining:
"Lord Hokage, I warned you before—these people respect power, not virtue. They won't appreciate your mercy."
"With this crowd, you must strike when striking is needed. When ruthlessness is required, you cannot show weakness."
"You're the Hokage. As long as you find proper justification, you can do whatever you want to them—just stop short of killing."
Jiraiya paced anxiously, ultimately refusing to accept such methods.
"No. I cannot become the kind of politician Teacher Hiruzen was. I'll solve problems my own way."
"This is my ninja way!"
"Shikaku, draft a document for me. Since they refuse donations, I'll return to my previous approach—making all clans share reconstruction costs equally."
"Sigh... very well!" Shikaku Nara sighed again, abandoning further persuasion to obediently draft the document.
Jiraiya immediately took the document to Kazuma for approval and distribution.
But once again, unexpected complications arose.
"What do you mean they're all sick?"
Jiraiya glared at the ANBU before him, face full of suspicious alarm.
"Has some epidemic struck the village?"
"How are so many people falling ill simultaneously?"
"Could enemies have poisoned them somehow?"
"Rest assured, Lord Hokage—no enemies are involved."
Shikaku Nara waved the ANBU away before explaining:
"They're simply engaging in passive resistance."
"For policies benefiting them, they rush to implement immediately."
"But anything disadvantageous? They use such excuses to delay and drag their feet."