Marvel: Trading with Worlds

"But, Third Hokage, if I remember correctly? Didn't the Fire Nation win at that time?" the Daimyo asked with a slight frown. His question immediately caught the attention of many ninjas.

That's right, we're paying compensation for a victory? It wasn't as if they had lost the battle—was Sand Shinobi still a threat on the battlefield? 

Even the Magnet Style bloodline users had been captured. Now, those prisoners were released, compensation was paid, and a large amount of supplies had been given away.

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a wave of anger rising within him as he met the angry stares of many in the room. He silently cursed the Daimyo for being so talkative.

"Then—"

"Hiruzen, you don't need to cover for me anymore. Everyone, this is my suggestion," Mitokado Homura said with a serious expression. "At the time, ninja troops had to be dispatched to other battlefields. To end the war as soon as possible and prevent a counterattack by Sand Shinobi, I suggest that Hiruzen exchange a small profit for Sand Shinobi's support."

Mitokado Homura's face softened as he continued, acknowledging the success of the rescue mission. He had been impressed by Sarutobi Hiruzen's actions and how he had taken responsibility for his companions.

Although Mitokado Homura's suggestion seemed reasonable, it was far from flawless. The ninjas transferred back at that time weren't immediately sent back to the battlefield, and there was no imminent crisis on the other two fronts. 

Furthermore, the peace agreement with Rock Shinobi meant that after the war, Konoha had to "compensate" two villages, despite winning three.

One person—Mitokado Homura—was not enough to quench the fury of Konoha's ninjas.

"The material compensation for Sand Shinobi didn't use the village's funds; it was almost all paid for by Hiruzen himself."

Just as many ninjas were still dissatisfied, Utatane Koharu suddenly stood up, holding a ledger. She flipped it open to a particular page and continued, "As for the funds allocated to Konoha Village by the Daimyo's office, every use is recorded. There has never been any large-scale misappropriation."

Utatane Koharu's words helped restore the Third Hokage's image in the minds of the Jōnin. This kind of dedication to Konoha's cause, willing to bear the cost to prevent war from spreading, was in line with the Will of Fire.

At that moment, Nara Shikaku spoke up, "If that's the case, then Master Hokage is not at fault."

But before Nara Shikaku could finish, Kain interrupted him with a smile. If they were allowed to continue, Sarutobi Hiruzen would be presented as a saint. 

This method of whitewashing didn't feel like something Sarutobi Hiruzen would have come up with; it felt more like a strategy from the Nara family.

"Sorry to interrupt," Kain said, "but I'm a little curious about that ledger Utatane Koharu has. Since she doesn't mind others looking at it, I assume there's nothing confidential in it."

As Kain spoke, Utatane Koharu suddenly dropped the ledger from her hand, and it flew toward Kain. 

Most of the people in the room didn't react to this sudden shift, but a few ninjas who noticed the ledger floating in the air had no way to stop it, given the setting of the conference room.

The technique release could be interrupted by a thrown Flying Thunder God Kunai, but—

"Secret Technique: Shadow Tentacle!"

Nara Shikaku reacted quickly. Realizing that the ledger was heading toward Kain, he immediately used his shadow jutsu to prevent him from taking it. 

Although Utatane Koharu had assured that the ledger was free of flaws, they couldn't afford to be passive if something went wrong.

"what are you going to do in the meeting room?"

After Nara heard the hoarse voice, he subconsciously stopped the ninjutsu in his hand. Once he stopped the jutsu, the boa constrictor wrapped around his body slowly withdrew its mouth.

"You!"

Yamanaka Haiichi and Akamichi Choza shouted worriedly. Orochimaru's technique was too fast— even though they were right next to Nara Shikaku, they couldn't react in time.

"Sorry, I was the one being rude, Lord Orochimaru."

Nara Shikaku spoke slowly, then withdrew the shadow technique. As the shadow technique disappeared, the python on his body slowly crawled back, disappearing into Orochimaru's sleeve.

Orochimaru, with a smile on his lips, said to Nara, "It's okay. I believe Sarutobi sensei won't mind such a small matter."

Though the scene had been brief, it opened the eyes of many ninjas in the room—especially to Orochimaru's strength. 

Even the patriarch of the Nara clan couldn't hide it. Apart from the Jōnin in the house, even Jiraiya and Tsunade gave Orochimaru a sidelong glance.

Compared to Jiraiya's serious expression, Tsunade thought about the Extremis virus serum. She guessed that Orochimaru had already used it, though she had never seen him use the Wood Style bloodline ability.

" There are a few discrepancies in what I know. It seems that Konoha's finance department may have made an error in their accounting," Kain's words drew everyone's attention to him. 

Nara's heart sank after hearing Kain's statement—the very thing he had feared was now happening.

"It clearly cost 40 million ryo to hire 50 ninjas from Other Ninja Village, but 80 million ryo is recorded here. Then, 50 million ryo for Taki Ninja Village is noted, but 90 million ryo is recorded in the ledger. It seems these figures are for a task entrusted by the newspaper office from both ninja villages."

"Hey, look at this—I found something interesting: 110 million ryo spent buying medicines from the Kain Chamber of Commerce. But I remember only 70 million ryo of revenue from the 'Entire Fire Nation' at the time. Really interesting numbers, huh?"

Every time Kain revealed a piece of data, he presented the corresponding evidence. His actions were like a knife frozen in ice, directly piercing Utatane Koharu's heart. 

She trembled slightly at the sight.

….

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