"To calm the dissatisfaction of the victims' families, this compensation is at the maximum standard," Touhuan said calmly. "The Security Department made this choice because they were afraid the impact of this incident would get worse."
"After all, the time this case was hidden and the number of people involved were far more than we expected. If we cannot give the victims a satisfactory answer, it will greatly affect the village's stability," Touhuan said. "The Security Department has recorded every single expense; please check it, Third Hokage."
Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up the ledger, glanced at it briefly, and then put it down. This ledger, made by professionals and obtained by Touhuan from Gatō, was flawless to him.
However, he knew that compensating the victims alone would not cost this much. But now that the Security Department had distributed the money, he knew that given the current situation, this seemed to be the only choice.
Coupled with the subtle threat in Touhuan's words, Hiruzen Sarutobi could only nod, "Touhuan, you've thought this through carefully." He
then signed the report.
After signing, Hiruzen looked up at Touhuan and casually asked, "Touhuan, how is the Security Department's investigation of the two advisors going?"
"Hokage-sama, the Security Department has found that the two former advisors have no connection to the kidnapping of village comrades with Orochimaru," Touhuan said. "However, during the Security Department's questioning of the thugs involved in the last coup, many said the two former advisors were the masterminds. The Security Department is still checking if the two former advisors worked with forces outside the village."
Touhuan's words immediately ended Hiruzen Sarutobi's wish to clear his two old teammates.
After a long pause, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally said, "While the two former advisors made a mistake here, they have still served the village well over the years, even if they haven't done anything especially great. The Security Department should be more careful in its methods."
Touhuan nodded with a half-smile, and Hiruzen Sarutobi, seeing this, said nothing more.
Having finished his business, Touhuan led his men out of the Hokage's office.
As he left, Touhuan deliberately walked proudly through the main entrance, and the Jonin members he met along the way greeted him with smiles.
The masked Anbu members, though bound by the rule not to show their identities in public, didn't greet Touhuan, but still nodded in acknowledgment.
This scene made Jiraiya, who had been watching since Touhuan entered the Hokage Building, sigh inwardly.
Just then, Itachi arrived at the Hokage Building, coming face to face with the Security Department group.
The Uchiha clan members behind Touhuan immediately changed expressions upon seeing Itachi. Itachi's decision to use the clan's name was no secret, especially after learning yesterday that he had become Anbu captain without telling the clan. In the clan's view, Itachi's actions were like treason. Some radical elders even asked Touhuan to deal with this traitor immediately, but Touhuan stopped them.
As Itachi and Touhuan passed each other, neither spoke.
"Hey, Itachi," Touhuan called out first, turning back after they passed.
Itachi turned to see Touhuan approaching with a smile.
"Congratulations," Touhuan said.
"Congratulations?" Itachi frowned slightly.
"Yes, congratulations on becoming Anbu captain. Elder Fugaku was very happy when he heard. But Itachi, didn't you tell the clan about something so important? The clan only found out at the very end," Touhuan said with a smile. Itachi,seeing the curious eyes of the Anbu and Jonin around him, knew he had to distance himself from Touhuan here. Otherwise, if others thought he was an Anbu captain, he'd be finished.
"Captain Touhuan, you taught me to use titles when working," Itachi said seriously.
"Don't be so serious, Captain Itachi. I think you have a misunderstanding about me. But we're all ninjas of the village, and from the same clan. Wouldn't it be better to just talk things out?" Touhuan said with a casual smile.
"Captain Touhuan, you're joking. What misunderstanding could there be between us?" Itachi said expressionless.
"Itachi, I just want to get closer to you. After all, we share the same clan blood. If you stand on my side, you can help the village more, right?"
Hearing this, Itachi was about to speak, but Touhuan whispered in his ear, "Itachi, think carefully before you answer. This is your last chance."
Itachi turned his head, but Touhuan still smiled. After a moment of silence, he frowned and said, "I don't understand what Captain Touhuan is talking about. Aren't Konoha ninjas always on the same side?"
"Is that so?" Touhuan smiled.
"Sorry, I have official duties. Goodbye." After saying this, Itachi left without looking back.
"Clan leader, should we..." At this moment, Tetsuru, the captain of the Security Team, who had been by Touhuan's side, came closer, watching Itachi leave, his voice full of killing intent.
"Let's go, forget him. I've given him many chances. I can explain things to Elder Fugaku and Shisui." Touhuan sneered. He had already expected Itachi's reaction. The only reason he stopped him was to respect Shisui and Fugaku, who were loyal to him.
The scene inside the Hokage Building quickly spread among the ninja clans and Jonin. Itachi's almost open declaration of breaking with the clan finally removed Hiruzen Sarutobi's last doubts. However, some Anbu members who were already a little unhappy with Itachi as their captain, but were polite to him out of respect for Touhuan, stopped pretending. During this time, Itachi also found that apart from the Ino-Shika-Cho clan ninjas who followed his orders, the others mostly did their tasks casually.
Meanwhile, under Touhuan's big banquets and obvious financial influence, the Anbu and Jonin ninja relationship with Touhuan became closer. The Isshin-kai, previously hidden, was now fully exposed. The Anbu, following secrecy rules, did not go too far, but many Jonin, including commoners and ninjas from smaller clans, openly said they were part of the Isshin-kai when not on missions.
This situation made Hiruzen Sarutobi feel helpless. He was the Hokage, but could not control what the ninjas did after work. They were just attending banquets, and Touhuan, the host, always toasted the Will of Fire first. Hiruzen knew he could not delay any longer.
Soon, a letter nominating the Fifth Hokage was sent to the Land of Fire capital. He planned to act quickly, securing Jiraiya's position as Fifth Hokage first.
The news that the village would elect a Fifth Hokage quickly spread.
"Have you heard? The village is about to elect a Fifth Hokage."
"I know, it seems the Third Hokage will nominate Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin."
"What does it matter who becomes Hokage?"
"You never know. I heard Jiraiya and the Uchiha clan head don't get along. If he takes office, he might limit the Security Forces, and maybe even help those of us beaten by them last time."
"Really?" A villager beaten during martial law for hiding thugs who attacked the Security Forces said excitedly, "Then we'll have to support Jiraiya!"
Similar rumors spread, and soon people said Jiraiya was about to become Fifth Hokage, and the Security Forces' good days were over.
This rumor made the villagers, who had been careful after martial law, become defiant again, and the Security Department received more complaints.
"Is the old man not even going to act anymore?" Touhuan sneered as he put a complaint letter he just read into the shredder.
"At first, I was going to give him some dignity, but now, since he doesn't want dignity, I'll give him dignity." Touhuan went to the window, made hand signs, and summoned a ninja hawk. He sealed a secret letter in a scroll on the hawk's leg using a special technique, then patted the hawk's head.
The hawk cried and flew east of the village.
After that, Touhuan returned to his desk and calmly set up the tea. After brewing a cup, he looked at the calendar on his desk.
Konoha Year 56, December 10th.
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(End of this chapter)