Malphegor
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HSU: Ch. 92
🕑 Added 2024-12-22 22:35:23 +0000 UTCThe Uchiha clan's shortcomings are well-known in Konoha, and anyone who has had even a little interaction with them could list a few.
However, having dealt with this clan for decades, Hiruzen believed the Uchiha's flaw boiled down to just one thing: They couldn't sell a dream.
Or, put simply, their words were too grounded in reality—focusing solely on the present while neglecting the future.
In the Hokage's building, being able to articulate a vision for the future is a basic skill.
Yet, when the Uchiha communicated, they tended to be direct and matter-of-fact. If you forced them to talk about the future, they would create an honest plan—no exaggerations. If something couldn't be achieved, they would tell you outright, refusing to deceive.
But when someone spoke too realistically, it became hard to inspire hope in others.
Today, however, Fugaku made Hiruzen reevaluate the clan.
The Uchiha seem to have had an epiphany. In Fugaku's proposal, practicality and vision were seamlessly combined.
As for the logic of drawing external resources to benefit the village, Hiruzen had no objections.
The Land of Fire itself relied on its national strength to extract resources from its surrounding nations. Not every allied nation existed merely as a military buffer.
In the end, the Great Ninja Wars would inevitably escalate into state-driven conflicts, with major nations competing over the valuable resources provided by their allies. The Five Great Nations not only fought on the lands of smaller countries but also depended on these satellite states for manpower, materials, and wealth.
Fugaku's proposal would be immensely challenging to implement, requiring the full cooperation of both Konoha and the Fire Daimyō's government. Nevertheless, it was feasible.
And that was enough. In the Hokage's building, one had to have both practical skills and visionary thinking.
Stroking his beard, Hiruzen chuckled softly and leisurely took a puff from his pipe.
This year's Hokage Advisor election was shaping up to be very interesting. He hoped the Sarutobi clan would perform just as impressively.
On stage, Fugaku's speech continued. In the audience, listeners frequently asked questions, which he patiently answered.
"But how would this affect existing businesses?" a merchant called out.
"Think of it as investment in your future customers," Fugaku replied smoothly.
"What about those of us who can't afford to wait?" a civilian stood up.
"That's exactly why we need this system."
This was turning out to be a very successful speech. The previous two candidates had merely talked uninterrupted from start to finish.
That was how it had always been.
Fugaku's approach was entirely unprecedented.
Toward the end, some of the other candidates couldn't hold back and started asking questions themselves.
Shikaku asked the most questions. He no longer seemed to view this as a speech, unconsciously adopting the role of a strategist.
His questions were practical.
Fugaku was pleased. From Shikaku's attitude, he sensed strong approval. Shikaku wasn't nitpicking—he was earnestly discussing the feasibility of Fugaku's plan.
"Fugaku, how do you plan to establish the standards for distributing welfare?"
"It will be limited to production behaviors that directly benefit the village and to encouraging public transport usage. For instance, transportation subsidies could reduce ticket prices, and production activities could be supported through interest-free or low-interest loans."
"But merchants aim to make a profit. How do you persuade them to lend money to villagers without profit?"
"That involves a more complex mechanism. Shikaku, you can think of it as an embedded component of the long-term products they purchase. The funds would be locked in and not retrievable until the agreed term ends."
"How would you ensure the operator acts without self-interest?"
"First, this welfare is limited to eligible villagers, so its scale is small. Second, the village and operators co-manage the system, with the village overseeing operations. If someone attempts to exploit it... well, we're not merchants. We're ninja, and we have our own methods."
"Interesting way to phrase surveillance," Shikaku noted with a slight smile.
"Monitoring ensures compliance," Fugaku responded evenly.
"Alright… I won't ask what methods those are. What are the eligibility criteria?"
"First, you must hold Konoha citizenship. Then, you must be a producer. Eligible activities include agriculture and handicrafts. Subsidy rates will vary depending on specific products."
"So only production activities, not commercial ones?" Shikaku pointed out what he saw as a significant flaw in the plan.
This essentially excluded the village's interest groups.
Though the idea had moral merit, ninja clans rarely pursued ideas based solely on reputation. How did the Uchiha convince the Hyuga and Inuzuka? How did this proposal pass internal scrutiny within the Uchiha clan itself?
"Commercial activities yield stable profits. Since the village imposes no taxes, how could we subsidize them?" Fugaku countered with a question before continuing, "Agriculture is vulnerable to external factors leading to poor or failed harvests, while basic industrial workers often have limited earning potential. Without help, it's difficult for them to achieve true prosperity. The village must assist them."
He hesitated here and pulled out a small notebook, flipping to the relevant section.
"Moreover, increasing the wealth of this segment of villagers inherently supports commercial enterprises. The village should support commerce not through subsidies but by facilitating access to various forms of short-term funds for eligible business organizations and individuals. Of course, certain fees would apply, and fund usage must be monitored to ensure compliance."
Closing the notebook, he summarized in a clear voice:
"Rules are essential for stability. The village must not only protect its people but also pay attention to their income levels. Reasonable regulation of income distribution is the path to shared prosperity."
"You've prepared thoroughly."
"Not at all. Most of it is Masashi's idea."
"So modest," Shikaku chuckled. "I've finished my questions."
"You're too kind," Fugaku replied with a slight smile, scanning the room. "Does anyone else have questions?"
"I do," Tazuna spoke up.
He had remained silent throughout, listening intently.
It wasn't that he lacked material to discredit Fugaku; rather, he realized that Fugaku's speech had rendered his prepared criticisms obsolete.
Some allegations were baseless to begin with—forced criticisms with no real foundation. After all, even if the Uchiha were known for lending at high interest rates, they only extended credit to those they deemed wealthy or influential.
Exploiting ordinary families? Never.
Preying on the poor? Impossible. If anyone dared to misuse the Uchiha name for such actions…
The Uchiha weren't good at playing the sympathetic friend, but they excelled at sending people "home for the holidays."
Now, the Uchiha were even planning to financially support ordinary villagers.
Calling this "lending" seemed a stretch—those interest rates were purely symbolic and couldn't even cover the costs of gathering the funds. They were losing money to earn goodwill.
By the time Fugaku finished speaking, Tazuna's script was effectively useless. He deeply regretted allowing Fugaku to go first.
The Uchiha turned his head to look at Tazuna.
"Tazuna, what is your question?"
"To achieve what you are proposing, wouldn't it bring endless trouble to the village?" Tazuna asked.
This question wasn't entirely aimed at criticizing Fugaku; it was a genuine concern of his.
"To implement these plans you've described would require a large sum of money. The only entities capable of providing such funding would be the nobles or major ninja clans. If the costs can't be recouped, revoking the policy would be a minor issue compared to the countless enemies the village might face."
"We certainly have corresponding measures to prevent such problems. I think you've misunderstood. The core purpose of this plan isn't to simply amass funds but to channel idle and dispersed resources to those who need them most to maximize efficiency."
He gazed at the Sarutobi clan leader, and an inexplicable sense of superiority emerged within him.
This feeling was exhilarating. Was this how Masashi had looked at him back then?
However, his expression remained gentle and friendly. Years of clan leadership had taught him the value of a composed facade.
"We ninja handle all sorts of tasks, and intelligence gathering is something we excel at. Historically, our relationship with the Land of Fire has been limited to a militaristic mercenary arrangement in the interest of national defense. But ninjas aren't solely useful in times of war."
"For example, our genin don't just fight for the nation; they also take on commissions from villagers and citizens outside the village to solve everyday problems. This is no different."
Tazuna frowned slightly. "I'm not sure I follow the connection."
"Then let me explain how our current system works," Fugaku said, shifting to address Tazuna's confusion directly. "The Five Great Nations already use paper currency issued by the daimyō's office. The system exists, but it's inefficient."
"Inefficient how?" Tazuna asked, leaning forward slightly.
"Consider the grassroots level," Fugaku replied. "Private lending is the only option available to most people, and it has no official regulation. Who do you think controls most of the wealth?"
"The nobles and ninja clans," Tazuna answered, his brow furrowing.
"Exactly. And while lending between ninja clans is straightforward enough, what happens when nobles want to lend money?" Fugaku's eyes fixed on him. "They have to hire ninja to investigate potential borrowers. The costs become astronomical."
"But surely there must be some successful transactions?"
Fugaku shook his head. "The risks and costs are too high. Ordinary people can't afford to borrow, and nobles won't lend freely. Do you know what this means?" He paused. "Vast amounts of wealth sit idle, unused. The daimyō's office is constantly troubled by this—they can see these idle resources but can't forcibly compel nobles to contribute their wealth."
"And this affects everyone," Tazuna said.
"Precisely. Look at what's happening now—the daimyō's office is forced to allocate significant funds annually just to maintain social stability. They're funding infrastructure projects to provide jobs for the starving lower classes. They've even implemented child-rearing allowances to prevent impoverished families from abandoning their children."
"That's where Konoha comes in," Fugaku continued. "With our military leverage and intelligence networks, we can facilitate these transactions safely."
"And if some loans default?" someone asked.
"Even in the worst case, any compensation would be negligible compared to our total revenue. It's a guaranteed win."
The more Fugaku elaborated, the graver the expressions of the four high-ranking officials in the Hokage Office became. They understood the implications all too well.
Having successfully transitioned to an operational model and built a solid reputation, the Uchiha clan would hold an absolutely dominant position under this plan, one that no other could replace.
The reality was clear—if the Hokage Office intended to implement this plan, Fugaku would have to enter the Hokage Office. He would have to become the Hokage Advisor.
"But the current situation..." Tazuna began hesitantly.
"Let me be frank about our current reality," Fugaku cut in. "Repeated invasions have weakened the Land of Fire's ability to exploit neighboring countries. Meanwhile, Kumo, after initiating two wars, grows stronger."
He stood, pacing slowly as he continued. "Local officials are overwhelmed with work. And while the Land of Fire remains the most powerful nation, its ability to fund our village has weakened significantly."
"And Kumo?" someone asked.
"Their development follows a different path entirely. Their financial power grows while ours diminishes." Fugaku's gaze swept the place. "The choice is simple: either we work together for mutual benefit, or everyone suffers as we continue this internal competition."
The Uchiha clan had laid out the choices clearly: there were only two options. The Hokage Office couldn't reject this - to sustain a military organization of Konoha's scale, financial power was paramount.
"So you're saying..." Tazuna started.
"I'm saying that without proper funding, we'll lose half our military strength within a decade. Is that what we want for Konoha?"
In the original timeline, Kumo became the wealthiest village in the ninja world within a decade or so. It boasted strong internal cohesion and military power, while Konoha's forces shrank to half their peak strength. The village's strategy grew conservative, plagued by internal issues.
The Uchiha clan massacre was one of the worst outcomes of Konoha's declining finances, reduced military power, and intensified internal competition.
In this timeline, such a tragedy wouldn't occur, but if the Hokage Office still intended to exclude the Uchiha, the inevitable consequence would be a shrinking military.
A weakened Konoha was unacceptable to Minato.
He had grown up during Konoha's golden era, a time of flourishing prosperity.
It was also intolerable to the other ninja clans. That would render all past sacrifices meaningless.
Lives would have been lost in vain.
When Fugaku laid this grim reality before everyone, the balance of opinions began to shift.
No one remembered they were here to observe anymore.
Tazuna, in particular, was speechless.
At this point, anything he said would be a joke.
If the Sarutobi fell, Konoha might survive. But if Konoha fell, the Sarutobi would surely perish. There was no point in taking a desperate gamble now.
Fugaku wasn't just presenting a choice to the Hokage Office; he was also presenting one to the Sarutobi clan.
The solution was in front of them—would they keep competing?
Tazuna was numb, feeling extremely conflicted.
"Do you have any further questions?" Fugaku asked again.
"I…" Tazuna opened his mouth but couldn't find the words.
He looked around. Everyone was staring at him.
In their eyes, he saw traces of impatience, as if they were silently asking, "Are you stupid or just malicious?"
"Finally, he sees reason," a clan member whispered.
What truly crushed him was that some of these gazes came from members of the Sarutobi clan itself.
The Sarutobi clan included many ordinary individuals who fell into the category of "villagers."
"I have no further questions…" Tazuna lowered his head. "However, I support Shikaku's governance plan."
What a troublesome position to put me in, Shikaku thought, barely suppressing a sigh.
"Tazuna," Minato suddenly spoke. "You may prepare your speech."
"No, Hokage-sama, I withdraw," Tazuna muttered.
He felt Hiruzen's gaze upon him, filled with disappointment.
But he was powerless.
The two sides weren't even in the same league; he didn't even qualify to fight anymore.
"I see. Understood…" Minato turned to Hiruzen. "Sandaime-sama, what do you think?"
Hiruzen took a puff of his pipe and withdrew his gaze from Tazuna.
Tazuna truly wasn't suited for this sort of thing… At least, in the end, he didn't go overboard.
"I believe we should proceed with the voting."
Comments
Malphegor
Don't forget one of the warnings for HSU: politics... If you don't like it, this arc won't be your cup of tea
