....

  “No, why a redu?”

  “Isn’t a redu an adjustment?” Gojo Kaigetsu’s expression darkened.

  “I’m a kied person. Not only will saries be reduced, but our fellow workers must receive every penny owed to them. You, Koyama-kun, will be responsible for managing the funds.”

  Koyama Ichiro’s face grew even darker. Not giving him money, and now expeg him to pay the firewood workers?

  He suppressed his anger. “Then, what about awarding boo outstanding workers…?”

  “That’s a valid point.”

  Gojo Kaigetsu nodded again. “Each exempry printing worker will be rewarded with a house in Konoha, or they choose to receive one million ryō in cash.”

  “Oh?!”

  Koyama Ichiro’s expression did a plete 180. Upon hearing Gojo Kaigetsu’s decision, a wide smile bloomed on his face.

  Misuanding resolved!

  So, it was all a misuanding~ The bes were waiting here all along.

  However, to be safe, Koyama Ichiro cautiously inquired, “Will every exempry worker receive this reward?”

  “We have so many outstanding workers in our publishing house. Rewarding every single one wouldn’t be feasible. So, let’s add a few prerequisites-”

  “Age: 24 years old. Height: 1.9 meters. Hair color: white.”

  “Those who meet these criteria report to the finance department to cim their reward. Oh, and Koyama-kun, you’ll be responsible for managing these bonuses as well. We need every ryō of our 70% profit share from Konoha~”

  24 years old? 1.9 meters tall? And white hair?!

  Koyama Iind seemed to short-circuit momentarily.

  As he processed the information, his anger surged, overing his fear of Gojo Kaigetsu. “Gojo Kaigetsu, you’ve gooo far!”

  “Is there no w in this vilge?! Do you think Konoha is your personal dictatorship?!”

  “Just you wait! I’ll go to Elder Danzo and Elder Homura to impeach you!”

  *Bang-*

  Koyama Ichiro stormed out, leaving only the echo of his furious voi Gojo Kaigetsu’s office.

  [You protected Konoha’s is. Prosperity +3]

  “Hmph, how ignorant.”

  Gojo Kaigetsu rexed ba his chair, pletely disregarding Koyama Ichiro’s threat.

  A sly smile pyed on his lips. Koyama Ichiro’s outburst had iently sparked inspiration within him.

  The tent for the issue of “Iki” began to take shape in Gojo Kaigetsu’s mind.

  The pn to ihe Freat Nations was multi-faceted.

  Attrag fn merts to i in Konoha was just one aspect.

  Another was to ighe “rebellious” and “ambitious” spirit within the worker and ninja csses of the Freat Nations.

  To make them uand that they were free!

  Ultimately, it could be summarized in one phrase: “Stir things up.”

  “The more chaotic, the better.”

  Gojo Kaigetsu grabbed a pen and paper, quickly jotting down his inspired thoughts.

  This issue of “Iki” would also feature fial stories, but with a specifiame appearing within them-

  His own, Gojo Kaigetsu!

  *Swish, swish, swish,* the pen danced across the paper, leaving sharp, impactful words in its wake:

  [Adaptability Essential for Life in the Shinobi World]

  [In Konohagakure of the Land of Fire, there is a unique ninja named Gojo Kaigetsu.]

  [Gojo Kaigetsu possesses a proactive and challenging spirit. He akes a day off, w hteen hours a day, double that of other ninjas.]

  [This allowed him to bee a professional Genin at 14, a in w in the Hokage Tower at 16, and a Hokage Advisor of Konohagakure at the young age of 24. He is also the you and weakest Hokage Advisor in the history of Konohagakure.]

  [Gojo Kaigetsu has bee a “legend of the shinobi world,” being the only oo achieve the position of Hokage Advisor as a in.]

  [Today, we’ll delve into the story of Gojo Kaigetsu. Not about his magnifit battles between ninjas, but about his pursuit of “freedom” before being a Hokage Advisor.]

  [Gojo Kaigetsu was not a pt ninja. During and after the Third Shinobi World War, he not only cared about the hardships faced by his friends' families but also about the signifit political issues pguing the vilge.]

  [Ih year of Konoha, during the peace talks between Konoha and Kirigakure, Konoha did not demand any pensation for Kirigakure’s past transgressions and hastily sought to normalize retions with Kirigakure.]

  [The vilgers of Konoha were enraged, with protests and demonstratioing. As a leader among in, Gojo Kaigetsu was always at the forefront of these demonstratioually being arrested and imprisoned by Konoha’s “secret police.”]

  [One day ih year of Konoha, Gojo Kaigetsu heard that his friend, Minato Namikaze, had e to visit him in prison. His heart filled with ay. He prepared himself for his friend’s criticism, knowing how hard he had worked to bee a in, only to now be “causing trouble” and ending up in prison. Minato would surely be heartbroken and disappointed.]

  [However, that wasn’t the case. Upon seeing Gojo Kaigetsu, Minato first observed him carefully, then quickly rushed frabbing his hand. A long silence followed… After a while, Minato spoke with a resolute tone, “Kaigetsu, I believe you’re right. Do what you think is right!”]

  [With that, Minato released his hand and hurried back to his own battlefield.]

  [In those twenty minutes, Minato only said those few words, words of fort fojo Kaigetsu.]

  [But those words were enough fojo Kaigetsu to uand that Minato aowledged his free will.]

  [Later, Minato Namikaze became the Fourth Hokage of Konohagakure. And Gojo Kaigetsu became his Hokage Advisor.]

  [Regarding this, a minister who wished to remain anonymous ented, “It is precisely because in Gojo Kaigetsu possesses the ce to pursue freedom of speed Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze’s open-mindedhat Konohagakure has bee the powerful hidden vilge that the Land of Fire is proud of. If a vilge chooses to suppress its ninjas’ pursuit of freedom, it is undoubtedly a failed vilge.”]

  [“Moreover, if such a situatioo arise again, I would not hesitate to stand with Gojo Kaigetsu. I would ence him in spirit and even allow him to use his ninja skills and force to fight for his right to pursue free will!”]

  *Sp-*

  Several hours passed, and the sun began to set.

  Gojo Kaigetsu loosened his grip on the pen, holding the manuscript with both hands. He reread it from top to bottom with a satisfied nod.

  “That’s right, a shinobi vilge needs freedom of speech!”

  Gojo Kaigetsu stroked his , unsure of what exactly was happening in Kumogakure.

  But if…

  sidering Raikage A’s explosive temper, would he punish those ninjas who read the forbidden books?

  And if those punished ninjas, after reading his article advog for freedom of spee “Iki,” were to ignite a spark of rebellion?

  Gojo Kaigetsu daydreamed about a glorious future.

  *Knock-*

  The familiar white-haired, masked ninja, Kakashi, appeared behind him once again, bearing bad news-

  “Gojo-sama, the Fourth Hokage requests your prese the Hokage Tower immediately.”

  “Elder Danzo has brought a special iigator to impeach you.”

  ....

  To Be tinued...

  ....