Naruto: Pay-to-Win Ninja System

The Administrative Department was the agency assisting the Hokage in managing Konoha's political affairs.

Its highest officials were Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, whose positions equated to elder statesmen within the village.

These advisors had two primary responsibilities. First, they offered guidance and advice to support the Hokage's governance. Second, they served as a vital link between the Land of Fire and Konoha—receiving national updates and financial allocations, and in return, reporting the village's status and conditions to the Daimyo...

Plainly put,

aside from lacking real executive power,

Homura and Koharu held status almost equal to Danzō's in Konoha!

They were undoubtedly among Konoha's most elite leadership.

Now, the sudden death of such a senior advisor

had indeed struck Konoha like a thunderbolt.

Even during the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars,

Konoha had never suffered the assassination of a top-level council member...

Especially since Koharu Utatane had been an old comrade-in-arms of Hiruzen Sarutobi himself, with deep personal ties.

Seeing Koharu's death with his own eyes sent shockwaves through Hiruzen's soul—and ignited a storm of rage.

An advisor assassinated right in front of the village vault?

If word got out, it would surely be another major blow to Konoha!

Suppressing his anger, Sarutobi muttered:

"Two-man team... red-cloud cloaks..."

"Is that the Akatsuki organization?"

"They actually dared to attack Konoha?!"

"How did they slip through our barrier unnoticed?"

"And why here, specifically, did this battle erupt?"

Innumerable questions surged up from the depths of his mind.

Unfortunately, no one could provide answers.

Though she left behind some clues before her death,

out of caution, Sarutobi couldn't accept them at face value.

"After all, someone might be deliberately impersonating the Akatsuki to shift the blame onto others."

Even the seasoned veteran briefly considered whether Koharu could have possibly fallen under enemy Genjutsu influence...

However, after a moment's pause,

he quickly shook off the idea.

Sarutobi knew Koharu's skill in illusions well.

Although she couldn't match young prodigies like Kurenai Yuhi,

her abilities remained formidable.

To silently control her and alter her memories—

would be practically impossible!

Even the so-called 'highest form of Genjutsu', the Mangekyo Sharingan, would struggle to accomplish this feat without both masterful technique and immense chakra reserves.

Naturally, Sarutobi also suspected whether this could be the work of the traitorous demon child, Shimoku Uchiha.

Yet despite awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan,

the boy was simply too young, with insufficient chakra and ocular power for such a feat.

Thus, he deemed it highly unlikely.

Of course, if he had known that within just over ten days, Shimoku's chakra and ocular power had grown dozens of times stronger, his opinion might have changed completely...

The Anbu worked efficiently.

After inspecting the scene and collecting intelligence, they began handling the body.

Sarutobi personally closed Koharu's eyes and covered her with a white cloth.

Anger burned inside him.

Yet after decades as Hokage, having witnessed countless deaths and separations, this didn't make him lose his cool.

He instead suppressed his rage and coldly asked,

"Has the scene investigation been completed?"

"Reporting to Third Hokage, we've examined all the bodies in the area."

"Except for Elder Koharu Utatane, everyone else was killed instantly. The attacker is extremely powerful!"

"Do you have any means of tracking them down?"

"No..."

"The assailant is highly experienced. They not only swiftly withdrew from the battlefield but also erased all traces and scents!"

"Even the Ninja Hounds Ninken couldn't track them."

"We'll need more time before we might possibly find their trail..."

The Anbu squad leader replied with his head lowered, clearly ashamed.

With comrades slain and an advisor brutally murdered,

They could only stand there helplessly, without clues or leads.

For the Anbu, it was undoubtedly a huge blow.

Of course, they weren't entirely to blame.

After all, who could've imagined the perpetrator would be so powerful! So brazen and arrogant!

This person practically treated the entire Konoha Village as their own backyard!

What's more, the Sensor Division had remained completely silent, issuing no warnings whatsoever.

What a damn waste of ninja!

Sarutobi didn't lash out, though he desperately wanted to scream in rage to vent his frustration.

In the end, he held himself back.

It wasn't that these Anbu ninja were too weak — just that the enemy was too strong!

Six jonin!

Together, they would've been enough to directly destroy some smaller hidden villages...

Yet against this enemy, they'd been effortlessly wiped out like chickens.

Speaking of which, such a ruthless enemy.

Why didn't they kill Koharu Utatane outright?

Certainly not out of respect for her position as an advisor?

There must've been another purpose!

Realizing this,

Sarutobi suddenly understood:

"Oh no! The enemy's target is still those funds moved out from the vault!"

"They tortured Koharu to make her reveal the location of the backup vault!"

Sarutobi's expression drastically changed. Without hesitation,

He quickly dashed toward the backup vault.

His demeanor and grace as Hokage vanished instantly.

After all, the money stored inside the vault was the lifeblood of their village!

Last time, half of it had already been stolen.

If everything got taken again this time,

They probably wouldn't even be able to pay salaries for those Anbu 'civil servant' ninja.

How could Sarutobi not be furious?

...

Several minutes later.

Outside Konoha Village, a figure suddenly materialized.

Now, looking at the eight spatial scrolls in his arms, Shimoku also revealed a bright smile.

Yes, exactly that kind of very 'plain' smile.

A total of 40 million ryo as a 'parting gift' — Konoha Village was truly generous!

So generous that Shimoku didn't want to leave anymore.

On the other hand, to be honest,

After suffering one loss, Konoha Village did learn its lesson.

Not only had they moved all the money originally stored in the main vault,

But they'd even divided and stored it into three temporary secret backup vaults as precautionary measures.

However, no matter how hard Konoha planned, they never could have foreseen this.

Koharu Utatane, the high-ranking advisor who knew the location of the secret Backup Vault,

Would be taken down entirely by Shimoku.

Moreover, under the influence of Shimoku's Genjutsu, she honestly revealed the exact location of the Backup Vault.

With such cooperation, how could Shimoku possibly pass up this chance?

Without hesitation, he immediately struck out and infiltrated one of the Backup Vaults—an underground natural cave hidden beneath the carved stone faces of the previous Hokages.

He looted all 40 million ryō worth of treasure stored within that vault!

Not a single coin was left behind...

At this moment, perhaps the Third Hokage Sarutobi, only realizing what had happened too late,

Upon seeing that once-full Backup Vault now completely empty, might just drop dead from sheer rage?

Besides this one,

There were two other Backup Vaults: one located directly beneath the main treasury's attic,

And another placed right next to the Hokage's office.

Konoha really lived by the old sayings—"the darkest spot is right under the lamp" and "the most dangerous place is actually the safest."

This further proved how bold and meticulous Konoha truly was.

If not for extracting the information through Genjutsu,

Shimoku probably wouldn't have found these Backup Vaults so quickly.

Of course, due to time constraints

and the higher risks involved,

Shimoku refrained from raiding the remaining two Backup Vaults.

Tonight alone, he had already taken a hefty 'takeaway' of forty million ryō. That was more than enough for now.

There was no need to completely strip Konoha bare and force them into a desperate fight to the death.

Moreover, rather than instantly wiping Konoha off the face of the earth,

Shimoku much preferred watching them slowly crumble, step-by-step falling into ruin, struggling frantically while screaming in despair...

Holding onto a fading hope in the midst of despair until their final breath.

Isn't that far more enjoyable?

After all, the climax is often just a brief shiver—passing as quickly as it comes, leaving only emptiness behind.

It's the careful buildup and the climax itself that leave the sweetest memories, making you want to relive them again and again.

[Enjoy!]

<><><><><><><><>

Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!

~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!

<><><><><><><><>

~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!

~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!

patreon.com/Tansnovel

<><><><><><><><>