Chapter 57: Snow

That means the Uchiha's budget for next year will be reduced from the originally planned eighty million taels to sixty million taels.

Is this amount a lot? Too little! Under normal circumstances, Uchiha members cannot take on many missions, especially those who have joined the Security Department.

This sum equals the entire Police Department's revenue for the coming year.

Last year was less, but at least there were war missions, and many received extra pay.

Shisui's expression was calm, but his peripheral glance swept over Tuan Zang; although he had anticipated it, the moment of receiving the result still barely contained his inner fury.

However, contrary to his expectations, the Third was especially looking after the Uchiha today, which left him somewhat puzzled.

"The vote passes; two million taels will be reallocated from the Security Department's budget for rebuilding the damaged parts of the Konoha, and next is agenda item ten."

The remaining agenda items concluded quickly; Fugaku and Tie Huo were heavy‑hearted and paid no attention, while Shisui steadied his mind and recorded everything.

It wasn't until evening that the high‑rank ninja meeting finally drew to a close.

Before departing, the Third called out to Fugaku. With a sorrowful expression, he gently reassured, "Fugaku, the Uchiha are ultimately members of the Konoha. I trust the Uchiha, and I ask the Uchiha to trust the Konoha."

Fugaku's features softened; recalling the Third's protection today slightly eased his inner anger, and he pledged, "The Uchiha will forever be the Konoha's Uchiha."

The Third nodded with satisfaction and continued, "Give me a little more time, and everyone will come to understand the Uchiha."

Shisui remained silent throughout, watching the Third's every move.

Fugaku acknowledged, and the three of them turned and left.

Outside the Hokage Building, the snow fell ever heavier, already forming a thick layer; streetlights quietly lit up, illuminating the path for everyone's return.

The group stepped out of the Hokage Building and dispersed, when suddenly a man passed in front of Fugaku. His face was somewhat aged; upon noticing Fugaku he bowed, waited for Fugaku's response, and then departed.

The two did not converse; Fugaku and the others felt a pang of sadness watching the lone elder walk away.

He was the elder patriarch of the Anma Clan, whose members are among the few Jonin in the records, and he was also the third person to cast a dissenting vote earlier.

"Let's go."

Fugaku whispered, and the three treaded through the snow back to the clan lands.

Before parting, he looked at Shisui and instructed, "Do not disclose the meeting's contents lightly; I will speak to the clan elders on that matter."

Shisui understood, nodded in agreement.

"You are the bridge between the Konoha and the Uchiha; I entrust the clan matters to you."

Fugaku's expression remained unchanged, but his gaze at Shisui carried a hint of expectation and sorrow.

"Yes, everything for the Uchiha!" Shisui lowered his head; his reply was still that sincere.

The two bid farewell to Fugaku and walked quietly within the clan grounds.

Tie Huo felt conflicted; he watched the snowflakes settle on Shisui's shoulder, his voice full of bewilderment.

"Can the Uchiha and the Konoha still coexist? Do we really have any time left?"

"I will set things right and will never allow such a thing to happen, for the Uchiha." Shisui kept walking without looking back, his answer unwavering.

That crimson‑tinged silhouette in the bleak snow seemed especially scorching; Tie Huo stared dumbfounded and instinctively fell in step behind.

"Then I entrust it to you, Lord Shisui!"

Shisui turned back, a gentle smile on his face that seemed to dispel the chill, and softly replied, "Leave it to me." Returning to the courtyard, Sima Yi was seated in the hallway sipping tea, a stove beside him, and he was intently watching snowflakes fall into a pond and then vanish.

"Grandfather, I'm back."

Shisui walked along the freshly cleared path; Sima Yi snapped back to attention, rose, looked at Shisui with a smile, gently shook the snow off Shisui's shoulders, and then, in a customary manner, said, "Welcome home."

The two moved from the hallway into the main hall; the meal was already prepared, and the moment Shisui returned, Yu Zhibo Xuehua rushed to the kitchen to announce it.

They sat down to dinner; Shisui glanced sideways, looking through the hallway at the outside snow scene and sighed, "If only we could stay this peaceful forever."

Sima Yi let out a light laugh; he knew the meeting would not go smoothly, but seeing Shisui appear somewhat despondent, he still spoke, "Those without great ambition will ultimately be controlled by others."

Shisui paused, turned back with a chuckle, "Grandfather is right; the right to decide must stay in one's own hands to feel at ease."

The two did not mention the meeting's details; since recruiting attendants, they had tacitly agreed to discuss serious matters only in the study.

After the meal, they went to the study, and Shisui finally told Sima Yi everything that had occurred at today's meeting.

"Grandfather, why did the Third protect us so much today? Was it also to appease us? It doesn't seem that way to me; this time his attitude feels far more sincere than before."

Sima Yi nodded and said, "You're right; he quietly suppressed the hospital issue to avoid a scandal, and today's protection was also to spare the Uchiha from excessive pressure."

Shisui's eyes flickered as he recalled Sima Yi's words from three days earlier, and he immediately understood.

"Is he afraid we would actually rebel?"

"Exactly. Right now the north is in constant friction, the war has just ended, and the Konoha is in a vulnerable period. If the Uchiha were to rebel, even if he could quell the uprising, the entire Konoha would be riddled with wounds, and the Fourth Ninja World War would inevitably erupt, after which the Konoha would cease to exist."

Shisui nodded, then recalled those three assistants and felt a surge of anger.

"Those three, as the Hokage's assistants, see the Hokage unwilling to continue suppressing the Uchiha; why are they so overbearing?"

"Hehe~"

Sima Yi shook his head, chuckling, "Carnivores are contemptible, caring only for immediate profit."

"The three are merely assistants, not the Hokage; they cannot see, nor consider, the matters the Hokage must weigh."

"However, the person in the dormitory is rather greedy, evidently not as familiar with the Third as Tuan Zang, nor as experienced."

Xiao Chun hoped to allocate the full forty million taels to the Medical Department, while Tuan Zang only took twenty million taels, stating it would be used to rebuild the Konoha. Although both knew the money would inevitably pass through Tuan Zang's hands, at least it saved face.

"Tuan Zang is indeed scheming; no wonder Grandfather previously said we could consider cooperating with him."

"Hahaha, that counts as acknowledging him."

Shisui chuckled and continued, "I plan to end my leave tomorrow and return early to the ANBU. If the chance arises, I'd like to approach Tuan Zang; what do you think, Grandfather?"

"The Hokage's support is indeed crucial, but the Hokage's stance is already clear, so there's no rush. As for Tuan Zang, now is not the time; let's wait for the news to spread first.

In the coming days you can continue to summon Itachi to gather information; regarding clan affairs we will keep sufficient eyes on the ground to stay informed, without letting this disrupt our plans."

"Besides Brother Hui, I have some former subordinates in the clan; I can entrust this matter to them."

Shisui, unperturbed, followed Sima Yi's suggestion.

He may not leak the meeting's contents, but such a major event becomes known to every ninja clan within two days.

Of course, with the power the Grand Elder controls, this may not be able to be concealed tonight.

The clan's turmoil is now inevitable! (End of chapter)