Chapter 484: The Cloud Ninja Village’s Wish Is Really Unrealistic

Speaking of this, Tsunade felt a lot better.

Although the massive deficit left by the Third Hokage still hadn't been fully resolved, the village's finances were now in much better shape. It was no longer as desperate as when she first became Hokage, struggling to allocate resources efficiently.

At that time, even dividing funds into two portions wasn't enough. It was an uncomfortable situation.

Shinki's contributions to the improvement were significant.

Of course, part of the credit also went to the benevolent Daimyo.

However, if the Daimyo would stop calling her "Little Tsunade," Tsunade felt she could respect him even more.

The nickname had been fine when she was a child, but now that she was an adult, it felt awkward and uncomfortable. Whenever he called her that, she felt like curling up her toes in embarrassment.

Shinki put down the financial document he was reviewing, picked up another, and sat casually on the desk.

"Hey, the Sarutobi clan isn't doing too bad. They've repaid quite a lot of their debts," he remarked.

Among the clans involved in the Third Hokage's embezzlement scandal, the Mitokado clan had the best reputation.

Why?

Because they benefited the least from the embezzlement, and they were the first to tighten their belts and start repaying their share of the stolen funds.

Tsunade had announced these developments publicly, which improved the villagers' perception of the Mitokado clan.

It wasn't the same for clans like the Sarutobi and Shimura. Just mentioning them made villagers grit their teeth in anger. Some even cursed them outright, often dragging their ancestors into the insults.

Realizing the need to make amends, the Third Hokage had no choice but to lead his family in repaying their portion of the funds. Even Mitokado Homura had no way out and was forced to follow suit.

The Shimura clan, however, was in the worst position.

Danzo Shimura was dead, and without the Third Hokage's protection, they were left to fend for themselves. They faced immense pressure to repay the funds they had spent lavishly.

On the contrary, the Sarutobi clan made progress the fastest.

Their collective effort, coupled with Tsunade's occasional leniency, allowed them to make noticeable repayments.

"Tsk, spending money is easy, but repaying it? That's a decades-long struggle," Shinki said with a smirk.

At this rate, the Sarutobi clan would have to live frugally for at least ten years to clear their debts.

The Shimura clan's situation was even worse.

They had enjoyed the benefits of the funds while spending recklessly, but now they were in dire straits trying to make up the shortfall.

The Third Hokage had never intended to repay these debts himself but was forced to do so under Tsunade's strict administration.

And Tsunade? She refused to take sides or hide the issue. She made public announcements to ensure the villagers knew what was happening.

Every time Mitokado Homura reflected on the situation, he felt relieved that he had acted quickly to minimize his family's involvement. Otherwise, they would have faced the same misery as the Sarutobi and Shimura clans.

When the funds were first divided, the Mitokado clan had felt shortchanged. But now, it seemed like a blessing in disguise.

Smaller gains meant smaller repayments.

Meanwhile, the Shimura and Sarutobi clans, who had received the lion's share, were struggling miserably.

Shinki couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of these once-powerful clans living in poverty to repay their debts.

"This is exactly what they should do. Just because the old man has retired doesn't mean these debts can be swept under the rug."

Tsunade nodded firmly.

She could show some leniency to the Third Hokage and the Sarutobi clan, but defaulting on these debts was out of the question.

She ensured that the relevant announcements were updated regularly, keeping the villagers informed.

As for saving face for the higher-ups? That was absolutely not her concern.

If you had the power to take money, you should also have the ability to repay it.

The funds belonged to the village, not a specific family.

"Now, about the situation in Cloud Ninja Village…" Shinki said, steering the conversation to another topic.

"As usual, they're as demanding as ever," Tsunade replied with a sigh.

The war between Cloud Ninja Village and Rock Ninja Village had dragged on much longer than expected—far longer than Konoha's conflict with the Sand Ninja Village.

Even now, neither side showed any signs of retreating or compromising.

"Overall, Cloud Ninja Village has the upper hand. There's been another fallout between Onoki and Roshi in Rock Ninja Village. Details are unclear, but Roshi hasn't returned to the battlefield," Tsunade explained.

Shinki smirked. "It's not surprising. Onoki's stubborn personality and Roshi's hot temper are a recipe for disaster. They're bound to clash."

Indeed, Onoki wasn't the type to tolerate insubordination, but he wasn't ruthless enough to eliminate Roshi outright. That kind of action was more in line with how the Sand or Mist Ninja Villages operated.

Neither the Third Kazekage nor Yagura would have tolerated someone like Roshi. A jinchuriki challenging the authority of the village's leader would have been swiftly dealt with.

"Honestly, Onoki is quite lenient. If this were Konoha, even we wouldn't tolerate such behavior," Shinki remarked.

Roshi's actions were bold—quarreling with his village leader and refusing to fight in critical battles. Most other Kages would have eliminated him without a second thought.

"If I were Onoki, I'd have locked Roshi away as a jinchuriki. Since he refuses to obey orders, he has no business roaming free."

Shinki continued, "Putting personalities aside, Onoki is a capable leader. That's why I think Rock Ninja Village is a better candidate for an alliance with Konoha than Cloud Ninja Village. The Third Raikage is too domineering, and his son is no better. Without absolute power to keep them in check, an alliance with Cloud Village would bring little benefit to us."

"Don't even mention it," Tsunade said with a bitter expression.

"The Third Raikage is pushing for us to pressure Rock Ninja Village. He even suggested that you personally intervene."

Shinki was stunned for a moment before laughing.

"He really dares to dream, doesn't he? Even if we're allies, that's an absurd request!"

Expecting the leader of Konoha's elite forces to pressure their enemies on their behalf? The Cloud Ninja Village's wishful thinking truly had no bounds.