Chapter 314: Hiruzen Sarutobi's Political Maneuver
"I'd like to request a Resurrection Coin to bring back Choza Akimichi."
Akimichi Torifu's wrinkled face bore a trace of sorrow as he spoke.
"I no longer have the strength to continue leading the Akimichi clan. This Resurrection Coin isn't just for Choza—it's for the future of the Akimichi family. I humbly ask for everyone's support."
He was too old, his physical functions already in decline.
Even as a player in the Reincarnation Game, he lacked the drive to compete.
He'd only held on as clan head because the Akimichi lacked a younger prodigy to take up the mantle.
If Choza wasn't brought back soon,
he feared the clan would fall into irrelevance—discarded by the times like the samurai.
"What does everyone think?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi gently rested his palm on the Hokage hat beside him,
his gaze briefly sweeping over Torifu with a flicker of displeasure.
Calling himself an old man,
saying he lacked the vigor to lead the Akimichi clan?
Anyone familiar with their relationship might understand he was talking about the Akimichi—
but others might think he was referring to Hiruzen himself.
After all, he and Torifu were the same age. Former comrades-in-arms.
Now Torifu was implying he was too old to lead,
and it put Hiruzen, still seated as Hokage, in an awkward position.
When Naruto resurrected Minato without permission,
Hiruzen had hesitated to return the Hokage title.
That indecision had caused rumors to spread.
If not for deploying remnants of the former Root division, merging them with the Sarutobi and Shimura clans to form a new [Shadow Division],
and swiftly jailing the rumor-mongers—
the village wouldn't be enjoying its current "peace."
Torifu's request clearly hadn't considered how easily such talk could be reignited.
Whether intentional or not, it disappointed Hiruzen deeply.
"We've not forgotten Lord Choza's contributions to Konoha,"
said the current head of the Shimura clan—a man about Asuma's age, bearing a strong resemblance to Danzo.
Back then, Danzo had trained him as his heir, and he now carried that same dark aura.
Hiruzen glanced at him and, for a moment, it was as if Danzo was alive again.
He couldn't help but smile faintly.
He nodded at the young man's words, his eyes warm with approval.
This one clearly understood the bigger picture. A true inheritor of his father's will.
Shimura Tano spoke calmly:
"When players complete missions, they must submit all loot to the village. In return, they accumulate contribution points, which can be exchanged for whatever they need."
After the game update,
players who wanted healing items, crafting materials, or skill-enhancing resources found that acquiring them through the clan system was far cheaper than from the now-defunct shop.
With the central shop gone, the clan system had become the dominant force—
increasing control over average players.
"Resurrection Coins cost 200,000 clan contribution points."
"I don't have that much."
Torifu looked at the Hokage seated in the center, his expression complicated.
Technically, the Akimichi clan's hundreds of players could barely scrape together that amount.
But some time ago, the Hokage claimed he needed funds to develop the [Shadow Division].
Under the pretense of "protecting the village,"
he borrowed 100,000 contribution points from the Akimichi to buy a batch of Level 15 green-grade gear.
That was the real reason Torifu was short now.
"Torifu, Tano is right—rules must be upheld."
Hiruzen averted his eyes slightly, sighing.
"If we hand out Resurrection Coins directly, it would be unfair to the other clans."
Torifu lowered his gaze without speaking.
"But Lord Choza is a hero of Konoha. His resurrection shouldn't be a matter of debate."
Hiruzen shifted his tone.
"Let's give the coin to the Akimichi clan now. Once they gather the contribution points, they can repay the village. How does that sound?"
Before anyone else could respond—
"Hokage-sama, absolutely not!"
Shimura Tano stood at once.
"We understand your desire to honor our fallen heroes. But if we break protocol now, who'll stay committed to protecting the village later?
Only by maintaining discipline—and ensuring contribution points are paid—can Konoha remain stable."
"I've made up my mind."
A glimmer of satisfaction flashed in Hiruzen's eyes as he tapped the table.
"Give the coin to Torifu."
Someone who could grasp his intentions—and execute them without hesitation.
Danzo had truly raised a fine successor.
"But Tano also has a point.
If we don't maintain the rules, I, as Hokage, would lose credibility."
Hiruzen pretended to hesitate, then sighed.
"Torifu, how about this: in addition to the 200,000 contribution points,
the Akimichi clan must send fifty players to join the Shadow Division. Deal?"
There it was. The knife beneath the smile.
This was Hiruzen's true objective.
Danzo had been right:
even long-standing allies like the Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka couldn't be fully trusted.
A cautious glint passed through Hiruzen's eyes.
When he was ousted from the Hokage seat,
those clans hadn't come to his aid. They only turned on Orochimaru later—when their own interests were threatened.
He hadn't forgotten that.
So no matter how loyal they appeared now,
he wouldn't rest easy until their military strength was under his direct control.
"Join the Shadow Division?"
Torifu was momentarily stunned.
Looking at Hiruzen's kindly smiling face,
he saw the shadow of Danzo.
Preaching protection of the village while overriding the clans' will—
forcibly recruiting their most gifted members into Root.
Was today's Hokage really any different from the Danzo of old?
Torifu's eyes were filled with disappointment.
But he had no room to refuse.
Every clan had elite shinobi who'd died in battle.
They hadn't said a word, but they were all watching—waiting for a Resurrection Coin.
If he said no,
even if another coin dropped later, the Hokage would have every right to give it to someone else.
And who knew how long it would take for the Akimichi to get another chance?
Hiruzen smiled faintly,
not rushing—just waiting for Torifu to surrender.
He knew his old comrade well.
Honest, dutiful, deeply attached to family legacy. He would never refuse a chance to bring back the clan's pillar—Choza Akimichi.
Victory was already his.
"Fine… the Akimichi clan is willing to—"
Torifu finally gave in, gritting his teeth to speak,
when suddenly—
A voice came from the far end of the conference room.
Asuma Sarutobi looked directly at his father,
disgusted by the manipulative politics he had just witnessed.
Frowning, he said,
"The Konoha Special Ops Division is willing to lend the Akimichi their contribution points."
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