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  The atmosphere grew tense.

  Mitokado, putting on a friendly face, stepped forward, attempting to appease the Mist envoy with soothing words. Inwardly, he cursed Gojo Kaigetsu. This hard-won peace was nearly shattered because of him.

  Thankfully, Mitokado was there to mediate.

  However, Gojo Kaigetsu clearly didn't appreciate the intervention.

  His demeanor sharpened, his tone growing hostile.

  "Whether your Fourth Mizukage still fight or not, why don't we just test it?"

  "Perhaps you're unaware, but our Konoha elder, Danzo, during the establishment of our base in the Land of Hot Water, secretly infiltrated Kirigakure a behind a 'Flying Raijin Mark.'"

  "Of course, Elder Danzo is getting on in years, and his talent is… limited. He certainly 't use that S-rank jutsu."

  "Such a powerful jutsu, even in Konoha, only one person use it. You're all aware of who that is, I presume."

  "Shall we give it a try, Kirigakure envoy, Gonbee-dono? Perhaps with a snap of my fingers, that Flying Raijin user will teleport intakure and wreak havoc."

  "By then, will Kirigakure still have any Kage-level shinobi capable of stopping this disaster? Will these peace talks truly satisfy both parties?"

  "I'm not a patient ma's say ten seds. If Gonbee-dono 't provide a satisfactory answer in ten seds, this finger will snap."

  Gojo Kaigetsu slowly raised his right hand, his thumb and middle finger poised, his icy voice eg like a death knell.

  "10, 9, 8…"

  Damn it!

  Gonbee's pupils stricted. This was pletely ued!

  A mixture of shod fury surged through him. He gred silently at the impassive Danzo, his eyes burning with rese.

  ‘Danzo, the Darkness of the Shinobi World… he actually took advantage of our internal flict to leave behind such a dangerous mark? Such a dirty tactic, like a mangy dog!’

  But after the initial rage, Gonbee began to think.

  Someone in Konoha could use the scary space-time ninjutsu, the Flying Raijin Jutsu. This was on knowledge among those who had experiehe Third Shinobi World War.

  If… if Danzo had indeed infiltrated Kirigakure during this operation a behind a Flying Raijin mark… Minato Namikaze, the Yellow Fsh, could ieleport intakure.

  In Kirigakure’s current state, could aop him?

  Gonbee desperately searched his memory fe-level figures, but the harsh reality filled him with despair.

  The answer was-no!

  Even their vilge's st resort, the Three-Tails, Isobu, was sealed within Yagura. With Yagura in a a, even this final, desperate measure was unavaible.

  Ihis was insane!

  Gonbee hadn't expected Gojo Kaigetsu to be this reckless, pletely disregarding the dignity of a major vilge.

  During peace talks, to have their Kage teleport into another vilge to cause destru and age… only those barbarians from Kumogakure would do such a thing!

  It was utterly shameless!

  Of course, it ossible that Gojo Kaigetsu was bluffing, that there was no Flying Raijin mark in Kirigakure. But could he gamble on that? Could he bear the responsibility?

  It was like a Kirigakure intern messing up iations with Konoha. If he gambled with Gojo and lost, he would have to sign the i report, taking full responsibility.

  Gonbee shuddered. He… couldn’t gamble.

  Gojo's words had uled more than just Gonbee.

  Danzo's face darkehis was a huge burden being pced upon him.

  If it were for his dear friend, Sarutobi, he would bear the bme, but this was for his political enemy, Gojo Kaigetsu.

  From now on, whether in peace or war, he would be targeted by those bloodthirsty lunatics from Kirigakure…

  ‘Damn it all!’

  He wao decre, "When did I ever leave a Flying Raijin mark?!" But seeing Gonbee's increasingly grim expression, Danzo, the Darkness of the Shinobi World, realized something.

  His ing mind quickly pieced things together. Could it be that the Fourth Mizukage was truly incapacitated due to the internal rebellion in Kirigakure?

  If so… he would undoubtedly lose this gamble with Gojo Kaigetsu. But the subsequent peace talks would allow Konoha to squeeze Kirigakure dry.

  ‘This is… both a good and bad oute.’

  Danzo’s face torted in a grimace, caught in a dilemma.

  On one hand, being Hokage. Oher, strengthening Konoha. Two ideals that should have been aligned were now g in his mind, pushing him to the edge, nearly obliterating his ninja way.

  Meanwhile, Minato noticed Gojo Kaigetsu making small hand signals behind his back. These were pre-arranged signals between them.

  Uanding, Minato began the hand seals for the Flying Raijin Jutsu.

  He had only ohought: Since Kaigetsu-kun is throwing caution to the wind, I have nothing to hold back.

  If this were the Minato of the past, he would have obediently adhered to the basic etiquette between vilges. But after spending time with Gojo Kaigetsu, he was like a pure-hearted boy corrupted by a deli with dyed blonde hair… even though he was the oh the blonde hair.

  “Konoha is going too far!”

  “Just because your vilge is strong doesn’t mean ours is weak! Do you think Kirigakure has no o?!”

  “Enough talk! Yagura-sama will kill you all!”

  “We came here for peace talks, not to be humiliated! Gonbee-dono, there’s o tialking with these rude Konoha ninjas. Let’s go!”

  The apanying younger geion of Kirigakure ninjas started cm.

  Only Mei Terumi’s expression grew more serious. Judging by Gonbee’s rea, it was likely that the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, who had appeared in public retly, was an imposter meant to stabilize the vilge.

  The real Yagura had likely met with an unfortunate end during the rebellion.

  The pieces clicked into p Mei’s mind. She sighed softly. Without Gojo Kaigetsu, Kirigakure could have secured Konoha’s alliahout any cessions.

  Judging by Elder Mitokado’s attitude, they might even have gained some advantages.

  But because of Gojo Kaigetsu, Kirigakure would have to bleed to obtain a peace treaty… a plete reversal of the initial situation.

  Mei lifted her gaze, staring ily at the bck fabric c Gojo Kaigetsu’s eyes, as if trying to peer through the thin veil and uand the heart of this scary man.

  “3, 2, 1…”

  Goched as Gojo Kaigetsu’s thumb and middle finger rubbed together, ready to snap, while Minato pleted his hand seals.

  He had to make a decision!

  “I uand!” At the st moment, uhe incredulous gazes of the Kirigakure delegation, Gonbee bowed deeply at a y-degree angle, shouting with all his might.

  The shout seemed to drain all the chakra from his body. And with that shout, his already strained spine finally gave way.

  Crack-

  Gojo Kaigetsu snapped his fingers.

  The sound echoed sharply in the sileing room, like a resounding sp across Kirigakure’s face.

  A stinging pain-

  An isnd vilge should act like one.

  “That’s more like it~”

  “A very wise choice, a delightful oute for both parties, wouldn’t you say, Gonbee-dono?”

  Gojo Kaigetsu’s icy demeanor melted away, repced by a jovial smile as he cpped Gonbee heavily on his bowed shoulders.

  “Have a seat, Gonbee-dono.”

  Whew…

  Seeing this, Minato quickly dispelled his hand seals. Otherwise, to py along with Kaigetsu-kun’s act, he would have had to teleport to who-knows-where.

  “Gonbee-dono! Why did you do that?!”

  “Traitor! I’ll never five you!”

  “Remember your pride as a Kirigakure ninja, you bastard!”

  “Don’t stop me! I’ll prove that not all Kirigakure ninja are cowards!”

  Behind Gohe younger geion of Kirigakure ninjas erupted in e. Yet, none dared to step past Gonbee and front the seemingly non-bative Gojo Kaigetsu.

  Zabuza Momochi, the stro among them, remained silent. He simply g his rades with disdain. No one was stopping them, yet they only dared to use their mouths.

  Either truly risk their lives to prove their loyalty takure, or, like him, remain silent and invisible.

  “Enough! What do you even know?!” Gonbee was on the verge of a breakdown. His spine was broken by Gojo Kaigetsu, and his rades and juniors didn’t uand him. What kind of injustice was this?

  “Exactly!” Gojo Kaigetsu chimed in, feigning indignation. “Don’t you get it? Your Fourth Mizukage truly lost his fighting ability during the Kirigakure rebellion!”

  “In other words, Kirigakure is now like fish on a chopping block, on the verge of utter ruin. pared to those brainless barbarians from Kumogakure, Mei would rather trust us civilized ninjas of Konoha.”

  “Am I right, Gonbee-dono?”

  “…Ihat is the case.” Gonbee chuckled wryly, slowly straightening his back, standing hunched befojo Kaigetsu.

  “What! How could this be…”

  “The Fourth Mizukage actually…”

  “Is there no oo stand up for Kirigakure?”

  “Alright, alright, enough with the long faces. Let’s sit down and calmly discuss the ‘Konoha-Kirigakure Alliareaty.’”

  Gojo Kaigetsu, being a kied ninja at his core, couldn’t bear to see others suffer.

  Now in plete trol of the iations, he returo his seat and said amiably, “We in Konoha have always yearned for peace. Since Kirigakure has made the right choice, we won’t mistreat you.”

  With a cp of his hands, Gojo Kaigetsu summoned a long scroll.

  It taihe alliareaty he had drafted-

  [Alliareaty:]

  [Konohagakure and Kirigakure shall coexist peacefully forever. The two vilges shall support each other, dispatg ninjas to aid the other in the event of an attack by a third party. The citizens of both vilges shall be protected while residing or trading iher vilge.]

  [Konoha citizens trading in Kirigakure shall no longer be subject to previutions and may freely trade with any mert of the Land of Water.]

  [From now on, Konoha ninja and citizens may freely trade at Kirigakure’s coastal ports. Konoha will station ninjas and administrative officials at these ports specifically to handle business affairs and i with Kirigakure officials and ninja. Konoha shall enjoy tax exemptions when trading with Kirigakure.]

  [To facilitate ship repairs and ste of goods, Konoha shall have the opportunity to select a Kirigakure affiliated isnd. Kirigakure will permaly cede this isnd to the Konoha Hokage and their successors. Konoha may establish offices on the isnd a ws and governance, dispatg ninjas as o protect Konoha’s legitimate is in Kirigakure.]

  [Ten million ryō in cash shall be paid to Konoha for the humanitarian aid provided during the Land of Hot Water operation.]

  [The Kirigakure Bloody Mist regime forcibly seized the Hyuga ’s Kekkei Genkai, the Byakugan, 50 years ago. Kirigakure shall now pay 10 million ryō in cash as pensation aurn the Byakugan.]

  [Kirigakure shall send han ten “young and talented ninjas” to Konoha for an ih study of Konoha’s “civilized spirit” for a period of three years.]

  After the terms were read, both sides gasped.

  One might have mistaken it for a treaty imposed on a decisively defeated nation in the Fourth Shinobi World War. It was hard to believe this was an alliareaty.

  It was a btant dispy of looking down on Kirigakure, treating them as a subordinate vilge of Konoha.

  Gonbee sighed. “Advisojo, with all due respect, these terms are impossible to accept.”

  “If these are the terms of the alliance, Kirigakure will have no choice but to cooperate with those barbarians from Kumogakure, however relutly.”

  Gojo Kaigetsu wasn’t surprised by the resolute tone.

  As with the previously mentioned "breaking the membrane" effect, a male ninja asking a female ninja for a sparring session might be rejected, but suggesting a light warm-up might be accepted.

  Iiations, it was always best to start with high demands. When l the demands ter, the other party would find it harder to refuse.

  “Oh? Is that so? Then, Gonbee-dono, which terms do you find unreasonable?”

  Every single one of them is unreasonable!

  Gonbee’s lips twitched, but realizing that prolonging this wouldn't be Kirigakure, he abahe idea of haggling and said through gritted teeth, “Articles ohrough four, I, as the Kirigakure envoy, agree to! But Konoha must guarao send aid if Kirigakure is attacked."

  "However, articles five and six are absolutely impossible.”

  Gonbee remembered instrus before his departure: Everything was for the sake of biding their time. The alliance was temporary. When Kirigakure regais flory, they would settle the score with Konoha!

  This meant that the terms of this treaty absolutely could not hinder Kirigakure’s resurgehey couldn't damage its foundation.

  The Byakugan was strategically important in ninja warfare and absolutely could not be returned.

  The young and talented ninjas of Kirigakure could not be sent to Konoha either. While the stated purpose was a three-year exge program, they would effectively be hostages. Ohey entered Konoha, they would be trapped, even Kage-level shinobi might be forced to carve the Hokage Rock for the rest of their lives.

  “Hey, we’re all friends here.”

  “Just amend the st two articles as a token of friendship.”

  Gojo Kaigetsu grabbed the scroll, simply crossing out the text.

  “You don’t have to return the Byakugan. Just pay an additional ten million ryō as pensation. We uand each other. The Hyuga will certainly have objes, so this is pensation for them.”

  “As for the young ninjas…”

  Gojo Kaigetsu licked his lips suggestively, pointing at the still somewhat naive young kunoichi,

  “I want her. Let this young kunoichi stay in Konoha to study.”

  “I, as the advisor, will personally provide her with meticulous guidance~”

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