Time passed like a white horse flashing across the gap of a half-opened shoji door.
In the blink of an eye, another two months slipped away.
At this time, there were only three months before the Uchiha Night of Extinction as recorded in the original plot line.
But Thousand Nights didn't panic at all!
Because with his efforts, everything was shifting along a different stream.
Nowadays,
Not only had the villagers' long-held hostility toward the Uchiha softened,
Uchiha's reputation inside Konoha had risen like a bonfire that refused to die out.
And the clansmen had become wealthier.
Every day they walked around with real smiles on their faces.
Full of a new kind of energy toward daily life!
Full of hope toward a future that no longer pointed straight at tragedy!
It was also for this reason that the clansmen held tremendous respect for the young patriarch Chiya!
It was even beginning to drift into a near-worship level!
Ryunosuke even told him several times that the clansmen were preparing to spontaneously build a statue of Thousand Nights in the center of the Uchiha compound, next to the training plaza where the clan used to gather.
You know,
This was a treatment even former patriarchs, including Uchiha Fugaku, had never enjoyed!
But Chiya immediately vetoed the idea.
Not because it would cost money,
Rather…
He was still young and still physically growing, and if they carved a statue based on his current height and face, what would he do when he grew up?
Would they demolish and rebuild it each time he had a growth spurt?
So he said to wait.
At the very least, he would have to wait until he turned twenty.
Of course, that was just a joke he used to shut down the idea.
...
In addition to the changes inside the clan, the changes that occurred in Qianye personally were equally huge.
Host: Thousand Nights
Constitution: 232 (Hashirama-cell fusion progress: 16%)
Power: 229
Chakra: 237
Mental Power: 124
Speed: 121
Points: 94067
Bloodline Limit: Sharingan, Wood Release
Comprehensive Strength Rating: Kage-level (upper).
The values on the panel had risen dramatically!
The comprehensive strength evaluation had also shifted from Kage-level (mid-upper) to Kage-level (upper).
He was only one step away from entering the super-shadow tier, the tier of monsters like Prime Hiruzen or Minato at full speed.
But remember,
Three months ago, Qianye had only been a fresh chunin!
Now he was a true shadow-level fighter!
The speed of progression was simply frightening!
Of course,
Qianye rarely showed his full ability in front of outsiders.
So in the eyes of most people, he was still a rookie with strength only around the chunin-jonin border.
The intercolumnar cell fusion also increased by 6%!
Don't look down on that 6% increase, because the improvement was terrifying!
According to Qianye's current estimates,
If both sides relied purely on chakra volume and endurance, he could even pressure a super shadow-level powerhouse!!
It was also worth noting
That after two months of steady point-gathering,
He already had over ninety thousand points saved.
Now he was less than six thousand points away from the technique he had been aiming for.
In general, everything was moving toward a better future.
But in contrast, some people in the village leadership were not so happy…
...
"Why is this quarter's tax revenue so low?"
"The total amount is not even half of the same quarter last year!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at the scroll in his hand and spoke in a deep voice.
Konoha was the wealthiest of the Five Great Villages.
Except during major wars, tax income was always very stable.
But this quarter, the taxes weren't even as good as during the Third Shinobi War!!
"Because most of the villagers' disposable money was earned by the Uchiha clan."
"And based on the policy set years ago, Uchiha does not have to pay taxes."
"So that is why the total fell this sharply."
Mitokado Homura explained.
Back then, in order to weaken the Uchiha, the village leadership stripped away every profitable position and business from them, leaving them only the unglamorous Konoha Military Police Force.
But in order to prevent the Uchiha from rebelling due to poverty, and to silence villagers' gossip, they created a policy that the Uchiha were exempt from taxes.
On the surface, the policy seemed beneficial to the clan, but in reality, it took away every place they could have earned money.
Originally this policy always worked in the leadership's favor.
But right now…
"This amount of tax revenue is nowhere near enough!"
"Taxes affect village construction, the academy budget, the pension of retired ninjas, mission subsidies, and other areas. At this level, nothing can be funded."
Hiruzen said in a low, heavy tone.
"Then why don't we simply abolish the 'Uchiha tax-exemption' policy?"
Mitokado Homura suggested.
Sarutobi glanced at Mitokado Homura as if looking at an idiot who had forgotten everything from the Third Shinobi War.
In the past, when the clan was being squeezed dry, restricted from missions, and forced to rely solely on the Military Police Force stipends, you didn't cancel the exemption.
Now that the Uchiha finally managed to earn money through legal businesses inside the village, you want to cancel it?
If Sarutobi himself were an Uchiha clansman, he wouldn't be able to stop himself from greeting Homura's ancestors!
Moreover,
This was a policy he personally issued back then, following the advice of both elders and Danzo, in order to keep the Uchiha from rebelling.
If he canceled it now,
It would only show that his leadership was unstable! No credibility!
What would the villagers think of their Hokage after that?
So he certainly couldn't do that.
But,
The money still had to come from Uchiha somehow.
After thinking for a moment, he said to the nearest ANBU: "Go and bring Thousand Nights to me immediately."
"Yes!"
...
Soon, Thousand Nights arrived.
"Patriarch Thousand Nights, I heard your dream hall and therapy shops have made quite a lot of profit, and you've even started opening branches."
Hiruzen said with a kindly old-man smile.
"It's just barely enough to keep the clan fed. It's not as exaggerated as the rumors say."
Qianye waved his hand.
Then the tone suddenly shifted.
"Naruto-sama, I don't know whether I should mention something or not."
Hiruzen said, "It doesn't hurt to say it."
"Here's the thing. Since early spring, the village hasn't paid the Military Police Department for two months, and several of our clansmen have received two months less salary."
"You must know that the Police Department's salary is already low, especially after being reduced in previous years… Some families even came to me complaining that their kitchens can't boil enough rice!"
"So I want to ask, when will the village be able to return those two months' payments?"
Qianye asked.
"This…"
Hiruzen's old face turned slightly red.
Then he coughed dryly and said with embarrassment: "Recently, the village treasury has been under strain, so the Police Department's payments have been slowed down…"
Almost as soon as Sarutobi finished, Qianye said, with magnificent righteousness: "Uchiha is also part of the village! If the village is having financial difficulties, then even if we have to tighten our belts and go hungry, we will still stand with the village in hardship!!"
Hiruzen almost cried on the spot.
If he didn't already know the true nature of this cunning child, he might actually have believed it!
"By the way, Naruto-sama, did you come looking for me for something specific this time?"
Qianye asked at that moment.
Hiruzen was just about to bring up the matter of taxes, when suddenly a chill ran down his spine.
Wait!
He came to summon Qianye specifically intending to "borrow" money from the Uchiha!
But who would have thought that the moment they met, this kid would pull such an act—
Crying poor together with him…
Even saying the Uchiha were prepared to go hungry for the village's sake…
In this case, how could he possibly bring up borrowing money?
The boy had already painted himself as dirt-poor, and the Hokage was supposed to ask him for funding?
Wouldn't that make him less human than Danzo??
Got it!!
This little devil must have already guessed why he had been summoned.
That's why he deliberately staged that melodramatic performance right in front of him!
Too cunning!!
He had completely blocked Hiruzen's retreat!
However, Hiruzen was still the man known as the "Professor" of ninjutsu, and someone who had endured decades of political and battlefield pressure. He adjusted immediately, smiled, and said:
"In fact, it's nothing serious. You haven't been patriarch for long, so I merely wanted to ask if you've adjusted well, and whether you've run into any trouble."
Qianye: "Thank you, Naruto-sama, for your concern."
After a few harmless exchanges, Hiruzen sent Qianye away.
He began smoking heavily, brows furrowed, thinking about taxes again.
At that moment, an ANBU wearing an animal mask appeared silently inside the Hokage's office.
Kneeling on one knee, he reported, "Lord Hokage, I have just received news that Uchiha plans to hold a large-scale fireworks festival in three days, hosted inside the Uchiha compound. They announced publicly that it will be the largest fireworks event since the founding of Konoha, and the total expenses will exceed one hundred million ryo!!!"
Hiruzen: "…"
A fireworks festival!?
One hundred million!?
This little brat had just cried poverty right here…
And on the very next breath he was preparing the largest fireworks celebration in the village's history!?
This was practically slapping him in the face in broad daylight!!
—