Chapter 329
Koharu Utatane was being completely unreasonable!
This was unheard of!
When a ninja made a mistake, the usual punishments were confinement or demotion. As long as they hadn't betrayed Konoha, everything was negotiable. Fines did exist, but they were typically deducted from mission commissions.
Yet Koharu Utatane was demanding several billion...
To put things into perspective, Konoha's total reserve funds were just a few billion at best!
Fining a single ninja this much was unprecedented in the entire ninja world!
However, the others present found it quite reasonable—because Haruto Saito was just that rich! Hiruzen Sarutobi even gave Koharu an approving glance—she was truly cunning!
"I second that!" Homura Mitokado immediately followed up, "I think this is the best course of action. Haruto Saito is extremely money-minded, and a fine will definitely make him learn his lesson. Besides, he's so wealthy that even if we fine him a few billion, he'll still be the richest man in Konoha... Plus, having a few extra billion in reserve funds would greatly help with the impending war..."
"I agree as well," added Shikaku Akimichi, not elaborating further.
With all three senior advisors in agreement, under normal circumstances, Koharu's proposal would have already passed as an official decision. Even if Hiruzen opposed it, the votes were against him. However, in this era, Hiruzen Sarutobi was effectively an autocratic ruler—he had veto power and could make final decisions on his own!
"I don't oppose Koharu's proposal..." Hiruzen Sarutobi said thoughtfully. "But... what if Haruto Saito refuses to pay? Then what?"