Location: Somewhere in Iwagakure.
The days passed slowly in Iwagakure after the Chunin Exam incident. Although many feared it would escalate into a war between Kumo and Iwa, fortunately, it never came to pass.
It had already been a few days since Arano started waiting for a certain report. Finally, his secretary entered his office, carrying a locked scroll.
Channeling a specific chakra signature, Arano unlocked the scroll's contents and began reading. As his eyes traced the words, a smile gradually appeared on his face.
"Nahi, inform Onoki, Han, Sori, and Imano that we will have a meeting this evening."
"YES, Lord Tsuchikage!"
— POV: Arano —
Tonight's meeting is crucial. It will undoubtedly impact the future of our village. That is why I summoned the most important figures — these four men help me govern Iwagakure.
After becoming Tsuchikage, I knew I had to place the right people in the right roles to ensure my rule remained stable.
Selecting them took time, but now, every position is filled.
First is Onoki — the man who taught me Particle Style, known as Jinton. He holds immense influence in the village and, as an Elder, advises me in all matters.
Second, Sori — responsible for securing the loyalty of the Anbu to me. He handles both internal and external village security, serves as captain of the First Anbu Team, and manages all Anbu operations.
Third is Han, the Jinchuriki of the Five Tails. A skilled ninja and trusted friend, he commands a special Anbu team dedicated to highly classified missions.
Last is Imano Haishori — leader of my clan. His influence within the village is formidable; without him, I would never have become Tsuchikage.
Of course, the five of us alone are not enough to rule the entire Land of Earth. That's why we rely on many subordinates and allies.
— Later that day, inside the Tsuchikage's office. —
Behind a large wooden desk sat Arano, and in front of him, his guests took their seats.
"Welcome. I am pleased to see everyone has gathered, despite the short notice," Arano said, pulling a stack of papers from his desk.
"It's only natural to come when the village's highest authority calls," Han remarked, glancing around to see if anyone disagreed.
"If the Tsuchikage summoned us, it must be for something serious," said Onoki, his curiosity clearly piqued.
"In this meeting, we will discuss the worsening economy and also... a certain report," Arano said, handing a document to each guest.
Page 1:
Monthly global income: 350,000,000 million Ryo.
75% of the revenue comes from taxes.
(When a ninja completes a mission, they receive payment, but the village takes 15% of it. Merchants operating within the village pay a tax of 35% on their monthly income. Civilians are taxed about 25% of their monthly earnings.)
20% comes from trade.
(The Land of Earth holds vast natural resources — chakra metal being the most valuable. Used primarily for weapon crafting, most is reserved for internal use, while the surplus is sold to other nations.)
5% originates from various other sources.
Since the end of the Second Great Ninja War, monthly revenue has increased by 50%.
While promising, our expenditures still surpass our earnings.
Before the Second Ninja War, our reserves totaled approximately 6,000,000,000 Ryo. Post-war, this shrank to 2,200,000,000 Ryo.
Upon taking office, I launched several major projects both within and beyond the village. Renovating the Ninja Academy alone cost us 900,000,000 Ryo, aiming to better prepare the next generation.
Now, regarding the report — the Head Scientist has confirmed that research progresses as expected. Details remain classified, but you should know that since the beginning of his research, we have spent 600,000,000 Ryo from project funds and over 1,000,000,000 Ryo from village coffers.
Because our expenses exceeded our reserves, we had no choice but to seek a loan.
Onoki succeeded in persuading the Daimyo to grant us a 2,000,000,000 Ryo loan — and secured a promise for additional loans if needed.
This influx covered the 300,000,000 Ryo deficit. However, the Head Scientist still requires substantial funding to continue.
And now, onto the next page.
Page 2:
Monthly expenditure:
Out of 350,000,000 million Ryo:
10,000,000 for maintenance.
130,000,000 for village development.
40,000,000 allocated to the Ninja Academy for resources and training.
150,000,000 for salaries of village workers.
20,000,000 remains as surplus.
Unfortunately, 20 million is insufficient to fund all ongoing research.
Even though we rely on the Daimyo's money, we must not allow him to gain influence over our village.
That is why I urge all of you to remain vigilant — we cannot allow the opposition to discover how dire our financial situation truly is.
I believe that's enough for today. The meeting is adjourned. I trust that sharing this information has helped you better understand the challenges we now face.