Not long after, the Third Hokage reached a conclusion in his mind.
It was easy to understand why Uchiha Gen was willing to help Tsunade; the boy had received plenty of assistance from her throughout his career as a Ninja, so it was natural for him to step in. The Third Hokage was actually pleased that the fellow had such a good character and was grateful for favors, as that meant he could securely keep him under his control in the future by bestowing a few favors.
As the Hokage, what he could offer was far beyond what anyone else could compare to; even small favors were things that other factions could not easily provide.
Then, what did the Uchiha Clan seek?
Was it the Medical Department?
That seemed to be the only possibility.
It had been nearly twenty years since Senju Tobirama died in battle and he, Hiruzen Sarutobi, took office.
Over such a long period, the power within Konoha had long since been divided and solidified; unless the power structure changed, it would be difficult to see any major shifts.
Especially regarding the Uchiha Clan, who had firmly grasped the Police Force as early as the time of Senju Tobirama, making it impossible for outsiders to intervene, even for the Hokage.
Yet, under the strict vigilance of two generations of Hokage, they had no opportunity to extend their reach beyond the Police Force.
In the eyes of the Third Hokage, this had become a sign that the Uchiha could no longer endure the loneliness and were attempting to reach their tentacles toward other power departments.
If the Medical Department were established, it would be a brand-new major department. Once established, the position of its head would undoubtedly belong to Tsunade, and Uchiha Gen, as a top-tier Medical Ninja of the current era who was valued by Tsunade and had inherited most of her Medical Ninjutsu, would certainly be able to occupy a high position within it.
Was this an exchange of benefits between Tsunade and the Uchiha?
The Third Hokage pondered for a moment, and a plan had already formed in his mind.
Regardless, he had to carefully consider a reasonable proposal supported by half of the Jonin present.
Not to mention that the Ninja World War had not yet ended, and he still needed the efforts of Orochimaru, Tsunade, the entire Uchiha Clan, and other Jonin.
"What you say is not without reason, but the fact that the Village is short on resources is also a reality. I can approve the initial plan to promote Medical Ninja and train a batch of them on a trial basis first."
"The funding the Village can provide will not exceed thirty million ryo. The remaining supplies and military expenses must be used to ensure that Konoha can sustain itself in this Ninja World War. If it is not enough, you, Tsunade, will need to raise it yourself."
"At the same time, personnel must pass relevant medical knowledge and political background checks before they can receive medical training, to ensure that the related knowledge is not stolen by Ninja from other Villages. By selecting the best from the best, we can also ensure that funding and human resources are not wasted."
The meaning behind the Third Hokage's words was to provide some resources, indicating support in principle, while also imposing certain restrictions, which were reasonable.
Thirty million ryo seemed like a large amount—enough to buy the life of an Elite Jonin at the underground bounty station—but for the undertaking Tsunade wanted to pursue, it was a drop in the bucket.
The medical equipment that Uchiha Gen had asked the Third Elder to collect alone cost more than that.
As for the screening of personnel, the political background check part was also decided by the Third Hokage, which meant he could insert his own relevant talent first and occupy the spots in advance.
However, achieving this result already met the minimum expectations for Tsunade and Orochimaru.
Not failing was, for them, a success and a good beginning.
If the funds were insufficient, Tsunade would have to raise them herself. However, since a considerable portion of the Senju Clan's wealth had been inherited by Tsunade, it could basically cover the initial investment. If that was still not enough, she could also rely on the connections of the Senju Clan to attract investment.
For the Third Hokage, this could also reveal whether the Uchiha Clan truly had designs on the Medical Department.
If you were willing to invest even that much money, it would be enough to prove that the Uchiha Clan had designs on the Medical Department.
Of course, in reality, the Uchiha Clan did indeed have designs on the Medical Department, which was one of the reasons Uchiha Gen used to persuade his clansmen.
"How much money do you think the clan should invest in the Medical Department at this moment?"
As soon as the Jounin Council Meeting ended, the Great Elder found Uchiha Gen again and asked.
He was not asking whether to invest money or not, but how much to invest.
With Tsunade taking the lead, the establishment of the Medical Department was already a certainty.
The only difference lay in the scale of its establishment and the speed of its development, which would be limited by a lack of manpower and financial resources.
But in time, this department would surely become the premier important department in Konoha, just as Uchiha Gen had said.
If they wanted a slice of this cake, they indeed had to contribute money and effort during this fledgling stage.
And for the Uchiha, although they were not short on money, the wealth required to promote the establishment of a brand-new Ninja department was enough to make them wince, which was why the Great Elder asked this.
"That depends on how many people the clan can cultivate who are suitable for practicing Medical Ninjutsu. We can gather the young Ninja in the clan who possess some medical knowledge, and I can invite a Medical Ninja to come over for initial training and teaching."
"We can try investing some in the early stages; it doesn't need to be too much, just enough to help Tsunade get through the fledgling stage. If there is talent that can enter the Medical Department, ensuring the clan truly has a chance to gain a firm foothold there, that will be the time for real, heavy investment."
In a secluded alley in Konoha, Uchiha Gen stood beside the Great Elder and said.
The Uchiha had already contributed to this matter; as long as they did not give up halfway, they would always be able to get a share of the spoils.
At the very least, he, Uchiha Gen, would certainly occupy a seat among the high-level officials of the Medical Department, becoming an indispensable figure within it, enough to secure some benefits for the Uchiha Clan.
But if the Uchiha Clan got involved, the Third Hokage would definitely suppress them from the shadows. Only by ensuring the benefits would it be worth it for the Uchiha to continue investing.
"It is indeed time to invite someone else to teach. Your own training and improvement cannot be neglected; in this Ninja World, one must ultimately rely on strength to speak."
"However, you brought me here—is it because the person you want to recommend is right here?"
The Great Elder said, with his hands behind his back, looking at the somewhat dilapidated courtyard before him.
It was an orphanage, not very large. Through the dim candlelight inside the window, one could vaguely hear the laughter of children coming from within.
Inside the house, accompanied by an old woman, Yakushi Nono was distributing a handful of candies she held in her palm to the children one by one, a gentle smile overflowing on her face.
Although she was also just a half-grown child, she had already become a high-earning Ninja.
Because they had learned Medical Ninjutsu from Tsunade and Uchiha Gen, the first batch of over a dozen Medical Ninja were now highly sought after.
There was not a single squad that did not wish to have a life-saving healer in their team.