"Actually, the Daimyo residing in the inner palace already knows your intentions."
After a brief silence, the High-ranking Official glanced behind him to make sure the Prime Minister had left before finally speaking up: "Of course, our goals are aligned. Whatever we do should be for the benefit of the Land of Fire."
"Please, Lord Danzo, don't rush. The Great Councillor will make proper arrangements."
Hizashi Hyuga also tried to soothe Danzo before asking the High-ranking Official: "May we ask how much military funding the inner palace plans to increase, if there has been any news?"
"That depends on Konoha's needs and sincerity."
The High-ranking Official spoke earnestly: "Naturally, everything can be discussed for the sake of the Land of Fire."
"Konoha needs thirty billion!"
Danzo blurted out without hesitation, raising the demand by ten billion ryo above what Konoha originally planned.
"See? You're rushing again."
The High-ranking Official shook his head disappointedly.
"Oh dear..."
Danzo once again found himself speechless.
"Of course, we know how much effort you honorable officials have put in. There will definitely be generous rewards once the military funds are successfully allocated from the court treasury."
Hizashi Hyuga gave Danzo a look filled with intellectual disdain before sincerely continuing to the High-ranking Official: "As long as the Prime Minister and other honorable officials are satisfied, everything can be easily arranged."
"Seventy-thirty split."
The High-ranking Official calmly laid down his terms.
"How much funding exactly?"
Danzo impatiently interrupted again.
Although he found such underhanded dealings utterly distasteful, he swallowed his pride for Konoha's sake.
After all, what Konoha truly aimed for was twenty billion; getting thirty billion would mean a 70% share equals 21 billion, which wasn't entirely unacceptable.
However, the High-ranking Official deliberately ignored him and continued speaking directly to Hizashi Hyuga.
"Fine by me."
Without acknowledging Danzo's expression, Hizashi simply nodded.
"One hundred billion."
The High-ranking Official raised one finger.
"One hundred billion!"
Danzo was nearly overcome with joy.
At the beginning of this mission, the Hokage Tower had only initially requested twenty billion ryo.
It wasn't much—only two-fifths of Konoha's usual annual military budget—which barely supported two or three thousand-nin battle expenditures during wartime.
This number was only proposed due to the firm suggestion from the Hyuga Clan Leader; otherwise, the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi probably wouldn't have even dared to request more than fifteen billion.
Therefore, when he heard the astronomical figure of one hundred billion, Danzo was nearly overwhelmed with happiness.
Plus, even with a seventy-thirty split, they still get seventy billion!
If he'd known things would go this smoothly, Hiruzen wouldn't have needed to go through the trouble of staging a fake border attack.
"Thirty billion."
Hizashi Hyuga slightly nodded, agreeing: "About the same as the village's initial military budget plan, enough to last for quite some time."
"Of course, if there's still a shortage later, we can always discuss further."
The High-ranking official laughed heartily and raised his cup in a distant toast. "But as loyal ministers serving close to His Highness the Daimyo, we must consider the nation's interests. Our actions should always be measured according to our resources. So this time, Konoha will have to endure a bit of hardship!"
"No hardship at all! Seventy billion will last us quite a while!"
Danzo was practically overjoyed, paying no heed to the official's demeanor as he immediately stood up to chime in.
"You—"
Both Hizashi Hyuga and the High-ranking official were stunned speechless.
I've seen people with poor judgment before, but never someone this clueless!
After half a moment, Hizashi finally spoke cautiously, "The seventy billion comes from each of your respective sponsors."
At the same time, he signaled with his eyes for Soushu Hyuga and others to get ready.
"So what you're saying is that out of one hundred billion military funds, only thirty billion will go to Konoha?"
When Danzo finally caught on, he was instantly left gaping in shock.
"That's correct."
Hizashi nodded very firmly.
The High-ranking official's expression clearly darkened.
How dare they talk about money like that! So tacky!
Besides, seventy percent wasn't even that much! How could **(High-ranking official)** possibly lack such basic strategic endurance!
"My goodness."
The High-ranking official gave an annoyed flick of his hand, instantly unfurling his folding fan to hide his face filled with disdain.
But to ninja Danzo, this pretentious display seemed utterly mocking!
"Daring commoner dares to—"
Gritting his teeth, Danzo pressed together the three fingers of his right hand, and sharp Wind Release chakra immediately started swirling at his fingertips.
"Take action! Restrain him!"
Instantly changing expression, Hizashi shouted loudly, immediately body-flickering to stand protectively in front of the official. He simultaneously activated his Byakugan and assumed the starting stance of Gentle Fist.
[Jumping Slash!]
The first to act was Soushu Hyuga.
Before Hizashi's words had even finished echoing, he had already used his Q skill and charged toward Danzo.
Although he couldn't draw his Torch Pole in time, resulting in slightly diminished effectiveness and control, his reaction speed still clearly surpassed ordinary Body Flicker techniques.
As for other Jonin Branch House members of the Hyuga clan who had also attended the banquet, they had just begun rising from their seats and hadn't even started moving yet.
"Wind Blade!"
Feeling the abnormality behind him, Danzo ignored everything else. He immediately spun around, sweeping his right hand outward and slicing three invisible Wind Release chakra blades toward Soushu Hyuga!
[Counter Storm!]
Just when Danzo not only refused to surrender passively but dared to resist, Soushu Hyuga activated his E skill; relying on the chakra-infused wind barrier surrounding his body, he directly absorbed the attack from the three Wind Blades!
Of course, although [Counter Storm] could theoretically make him immune to all basic attacks for two seconds, these three Wind Blades were launched by Danzo, who had achieved mastery in Wind Blade skills—essentially belonging to the category of magical damage. Plus the mutation caused by virtual game skills becoming real, [Counter Storm] merely eliminated most of the Wind Blade's power. Three deep, bloody wounds still remained upon his body.
However, these wounds were only caused by chakra directly acting on flesh and blood. Although they looked gruesome, the actual damage was minimal; the cutting force mimicking Wind Release nature transformation had already been neutralized by [Counter Storm], so the injuries sustained wouldn't significantly impact the subsequent battle.
After launching his Wind Blade, based on conventional assumptions, Danzo believed that this unfortunate Branch House Hyuga, a newly promoted Tokubetsu Jonin, would at least be severely wounded or even killed outright, so he didn't give it much thought. Instead, he immediately turned his attention to the other Branch House Jonin who had just stood up.
"Die!"
But just as Danzo was distracted, Soushu Hyuga transformed his arms into spears. Crossing his arms left and right, he lunged straight toward Danzo's shoulders!
"You fool!"
In that split second of hesitation, Danzo immediately sensed danger.
How could anyone possibly survive three direct Wind Blade attacks from him?
Even steel would have been sliced apart by the fierce blades—let alone mere flesh and blood!
Yet reality had proven otherwise. Danzo quickly raised both hands to block Soushu Hyuga's twin-arm attack. Then, he quickly prepared to use Wind Release ninjutsu at point-blank range, turning this capable junior into a spray of bloody pulp!
Unfortunately, things rarely go as planned.
Just as Danzo blocked Soushu's grabbing arms, he suddenly felt dizzy for no apparent reason—and his entire body momentarily lost consciousness!
The skill [Counter Storm] deals a certain amount of chakra damage to surrounding enemies two seconds after activation or when the skill is reactivated, also causing one second of stun.
For ninja whose reaction speed surpassed even Master tier, one second of total control loss was already deadly enough!
Especially in such close proximity!
"Crash!"
Soushu retracted his arms, crouched low, and drove his shoulder forward, slamming his hip into Danzo's chest with full force!
"Phew!"
Instantly, Danzo spat out a mouthful of old blood, arching backward into the air.
"Wind Release—"
Still, being an experienced ninja, he wasn't done yet.
Although Soushu's technique had indeed been extremely strange, it hadn't been a killing blow. As he flew backward, Danzo quickly regained full consciousness and prepared to launch another ninjutsu attack.
But by then, it was already too late.
A group of Hyuga Branch House Jonin had already surrounded him completely. Though they hadn't moved in yet, pairs of Byakugan eyes filled with murderous intent locked onto Danzo, who seethed with rage inside. If he didn't back off right away, they'd gang up on him and tear him apart on the spot!
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