Hokage, no one knows better than me how to cultivate talent.

Chapter 126

However, since the end of the Third Shinobi World War, coupled with the Nine-Tails' rampage and the Uchiha Clan Massacre, Konoha's strength has severely declined.

Seeing the state of Konoha, those who had previously commissioned the missions all transferred them to other ninja villages.

Even the annual financial allocation from the Fire Country Daimyo to Konoha has been drastically reduced.

If you insist on him producing five million taels now, it's not that he can't.

However, Konoha Village's annual budget is finite.

Ninja salaries, mission rewards, facility maintenance, intelligence networks, diplomatic expenditures... every penny has a clear destination.

Suddenly having to come up with such a large sum of money will inevitably crowd out funds for other projects.

"Five million taels is too much. I can only give you three million taels at most right now," said Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Alright, I'll use it for now, and I'll come back for more if I need it later." Tsunade hesitated for a moment before saying this.

Her expression made it seem as if she had suffered a great loss.

"How many installments do you plan to use it in?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked.

"In the first phase, we'll invest two million taels to purchase equipment and the first batch of medicinal materials. Subsequent treatment and rehabilitation costs will be applied for in installments." Tsunade had clearly planned this out long ago.

"Take this note to Tsunade and ask her to transfer it from the special funds." Hiruzen Sarutobi took out a small booklet, picked up a pen and wrote carefully on it, then stamped it and handed it to Tsunade.

"Why go looking for that old woman again?" Tsunade asked, frowning.

She didn't have a good impression of any of these Hokage advisors.

He's so old and still clings to his position, not making room for the younger generation.

"Because the financial audit requires her and Mitokado Homura to sign off on it," Hiruzen Sarutobi said. "I think you haven't been back to the village in too long; you've even forgotten this rule."

"Alright." Tsunade stood up, walked to the door, then turned back. "But let me make this clear: you need to keep up with the money. If the treatment is delayed because of insufficient funds, don't blame me."

"Don't worry, it won't be a delay." Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand. "Go."

Tsunade snorted coldly, opened the door, and walked out.

Shusui followed behind, but was stopped by Hiruzen Sarutobi after taking just one step.

"Qiushui, wait a moment."

"Does the Third Generation Lord have any further instructions?" Qiu Shui stopped and turned around to ask.

"How did you and Tsunade meet?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked curiously.

"Kurenai is my neighbor, and Shizune is Kurenai's classmate. A while ago, Shizune and Lady Tsunade came back and had nowhere to stay, so they stayed at Kurenai's house temporarily, which is how we met," Akisui said.

"I see." Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded thoughtfully.

He had been wondering how Tsunade and Shusui knew each other when they came in together.

Because Shusui was just an ordinary school teacher and not from the same generation as Tsunade, it was difficult for them to have any interaction.

I never imagined we'd meet in this way.

Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but marvel at Yakumo Kurama's incredible luck, which allowed her to encounter Shusui, who then happened to offer a solution to her bloodline limit.

If things were as Tsunade and the others had described, he would have already prepared to have the Anbu strictly monitor the situation.

"Lord Third Generation, if there's nothing else, I'll be taking my leave now?" Qiu Shui said.

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't speak immediately. Instead, he took an envelope from the drawer, placed it on the table, and pushed it forward.

"Lord Third Generation, what is this?" Qiu Shui asked.

"You volunteered for Kurama Yakumo's matter, so the village can't let you do your work for nothing. This money is a small reward. Depending on Kurama Yakumo's recovery, if there is any improvement, the amount will be increased every month." Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep drag on his cigarette.

"Third Hokage, I cannot accept this money," Shusui waved his hand and said. "I don't usually have many expenses, and I only mentioned an idea. Besides, you just rewarded me with ninjutsu last month."

"One thing at a time," Hiruzen Sarutobi said. "Those who have made contributions must be rewarded. If you don't accept it, what will the others who have received rewards think? Besides, there's not much left."

What else can Qiu Shui say?

I had no choice but to accept it.

"Thank you, Lord Third Generation." Qiu Shui stepped forward and carefully put the envelope away.

"No need to thank me, this is what you deserve." Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand. "I only hope you can remember one thing: protect yourself, and also protect Yakumo and Naruto. You are both the future of Konoha."

"I will, thank you for your concern, Third Generation Lord," Qiu Shui said earnestly.

He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he felt that Hiruzen Sarutobi was much closer to him than before.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded and said nothing more.

Qiu Shui left the office and gently closed the door.

"What did the old man say to you?" In the corridor, Tsunade leaned against the wall waiting for him. When he came out, she raised an eyebrow.

"I received a small reward because of Yakumo's matter." Shusui waved the envelope in her hand, then asked in confusion, "Lady Tsunade, weren't you at the finance department? Why are you still here?"

"What else could I be doing? Of course, I'm waiting for you to come with me to find that old hag, Koharu Utatane," Tsunade said matter-of-factly. "If I go alone, she'll nag me endlessly."

If it were before, she might have gone to the trouble of asking Hiruzen Sarutobi to get her a serving too.

But with three million taels of silver about to be received, she felt it was unnecessary.

She, Tsunade, will soon be a millionaire again; she wouldn't care about such a small amount of money.

"Can't Lady Tsunade handle this by herself?" Shusui asked.

Even though Tsunade hasn't returned to the village for many years, and even though Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu are the village's Hokage advisors, Hiruzen Sarutobi himself has already agreed. No matter how bold those two are, they probably wouldn't dare to make things difficult for Tsunade, right?

After all, Tsunade didn't even give face to Hiruzen Sarutobi, let alone the two of them.

"It's not that I can't handle it, it's just annoying," Tsunade said impatiently. "That old woman always asks so many questions, she wants to find out every single penny you've spent. It's good that you went there. You were involved in Kurama Yakumo's matter, so it's better for her to ask you questions than just keep asking me."

Qiu Shui thought it was something important, but it turned out it was just to get him to share the firepower.

The two walked through the corridor of the Hokage Building, went down a flight of stairs, and came to a door marked "Financial Review Room".

Qiu Shui thought Tsunade would kick the door open as usual, but she simply pushed it open instead.

In the room, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado sat behind the desk, each holding a document and reading it.

Upon hearing that the visitor hadn't even knocked, both of them frowned slightly in unison.

When he realized that the person who came was Tsunade, the expression on his face instantly changed from displeasure to understanding.

Since Tsunade usually just kicked down the door when she entered Hiruzen's office, the two of them were momentarily surprised to find that Tsunade's behavior was actually quite good.

"Tsunade?" Koharu Utatane put down her documents, a hint of surprise in her voice, her gaze unconsciously ignoring Akisui behind her. "What brings you here?"

"I'm here to ask for money." Tsunade sat down opposite the two men without any politeness, crossed her legs, and said, "The old man approved three million taels of silver and told me to come to you to transfer it from the special funds."

"What project's funding?" Koharu Utatane frowned.

"The treatment for Kurama Yakumo." Tsunade briefly explained Kurama Yakumo's problem and the treatment plan proposed by Shusui.

Koharu was silent for a few seconds, then shifted her gaze from Tsunade to Shusui, looking her up and down.

"Are you Qiushui?" Tsurugi asked.

"Yes." Shusui bowed slightly. "Greetings, Lady Utatane. Greetings, Lady Mito."

After Qiushui finished speaking, he calmly gave both Koharu and Mitokado Hyou a quality check.

[Name: Xiaochun, who switched dorms]

Chakra: 8600

Quality: A+

[Ninjutsu: Chakra Scalpel, Minor Ailment Extraction Technique, Palm Healing Technique, Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique...]

[Evaluation: A regular Jonin with very rich combat experience]

Name: Mitokado Yan

Chakra: 8700

[Ninjutsu: Water Release: Water Severing Wave, Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique, Earth Release: Earth Flow Spear, Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall Technique...]

Quality: A+

[Evaluation: A regular Jonin with very rich combat experience]

After scanning the personal attribute panels of the two individuals, Qiu Shui was left with only one feeling.

Hiruzen Sarutobi is still too powerful.

Although he had never seen Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado actually fight while watching the anime, judging from the data given by the system, both of them were A+ in quality. In addition, they had served as Tobirama Senju's bodyguards when they were young, which means that they were at least elite Jonin level in their time.

However, as he has grown older, he has now fallen to the level of an ordinary Jonin.

Qiu Shui even felt that the system's evaluation of them was already quite polite.

If it really came down to a life-or-death battle, given their current physical condition, they'd probably struggle even to fight a special Jonin.

"Are you sure you can cure that Kurama family child?" Koharu Utatane didn't respond to his greeting, but instead looked at Tsunade again.

She didn't have much of an impression of Qiu Shui, only that he had a handsome appearance.

But the other party wasn't a medical ninja, and wasn't well-known in the village.

Koharu subconsciously felt that he might have a good relationship with Tsunade and had been brought along to gain experience.

"I'm not sure, but we have to try," Tsunade said frankly. "If we leave her alone, she'll run into trouble sooner or later, and that will be even bigger problems."

Koharu tapped her fingers on the table, as if weighing something.

"The old man has already agreed, what time are you wasting, old woman?" Tsunade said impatiently.

Watching from the side, Qiu Shui secretly marveled at how formidable Tsunade truly was.

He wasn't afraid of offending the Hokage's advisor, who was usually respected.

A hint of envy arose in my heart.

"Three million is no small sum." Koharu Utatane, ignoring Tsunade's tone, said, "I need to see a detailed list of expenses and instructions for the medication."

"It's all ready." Tsunade pulled a piece of paper from her pocket and slapped it on the table.

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