Chapter 182

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"That's enough; you've taken so much already~"

"You're going to make Matatabi angry."

Finally, Yugito couldn't bear it anymore and pushed Yoichi's hand away from her stomach. As their connection was severed, the chakra extraction stopped.

At this moment, a blue flame-shaped chakra emerged from Yugito, forming into Matatabi's cat head. Matatabi said to Yoichi, "A deal is a deal, but taking this much chakra at once is too much."

"Don't worry, Matatabi. As far as I know, your chakra can recover. I need it urgently, but I will compensate you later."

Yoichi looked at Matatabi's slightly thinner cat face and smiled, "Besides, you're free inside Yugito's body, unlike the Nine-Tails. It can't even turn its head."

"You humans only covet our tailed beast power."

After saying this, Matatabi retreated. Yoichi had just extracted nearly half of its chakra. Fortunately, with the seal completely removed, it could recover quickly. Otherwise, in the previous sealed state, it would have taken at least a month to recover.

After Matatabi retreated, Yugito curiously asked, "Why do you need so much chakra?"

"I'm also a Jinchuriki, and the thing inside me needs to feed."

Yoichi explained, sealing Matatabi's chakra within his body. Half was directly fed to Godzilla, and the other half was stored for future battles.

Without a steady energy supply, Godzilla's growth was slow. It relied entirely on Yoichi to provide energy. Since Yoichi couldn't supply chakra daily, he had to turn to the tailed beasts.

"Are you going to guide my training today?"

Yugito asked, tilting her head and nervously fidgeting with her fingers behind her back.

"I can, but let my shadow clone do it. Today, the envoys from Kusagakure and Takigakure are coming to the village. I need to meet them."

Yoichi said, creating a shadow clone.

Yugito felt a bit disappointed hearing this but understood the importance of village matters. The shadow clone was still Yoichi's clone, which made her feel slightly better. She followed the clone into the woods.

She had become a Jinchuriki shortly after graduating and had spent most of her time communicating with Matatabi. She hadn't learned many actual ninja techniques and knew only a few jutsu.

That's why she was eager to start training. However, besides Yoichi, she didn't know anyone in Konoha. Seeing Yoichi earnestly teach an outsider last time and using her as an example made her angry and go home.

After obtaining Matatabi's chakra from Yugito, Yoichi headed to the Hokage building.

Recently, the Uchiha clan's Jonin assessments had been arranged for five members, with more waiting in line. This time, they were truly waiting in line as many other ninjas had also applied for the Jonin assessment. The Uchiha were the first to be scheduled.

Shisui and two other clan members had also joined the Anbu. Sakumo's Anbu was fully formed within four days.

Now, Konoha had five Anbu squads, two under Hiruzen and three under Sakumo.

Mikoto had also been meeting with several notable nobles from the Land of Fire. After Sakumo visited the Daimyo, many mission commissions were again assigned to Konoha, reviving the mission team.

Hiruzen, hearing this news, was even more frustrated. He and Koharu had hoped to use this opportunity to show Sakumo the difficulty of being Hokage, that Konoha's ninjas depended on numerous mission commissions.

But it was resolved so easily, contrary to Sarutobi's expectations.

Since becoming Hokage, Sakumo had managed village affairs smoothly, making Koharu and Homura feel redundant.

After becoming Hokage, they had taken some time off, citing health issues, but found that the village ran smoothly under Sakumo. They could no longer rest comfortably.

On the day Kusagakure and Takigakure came to sign the peace agreement, Koharu and Homura couldn't stay idle and went to the Hokage building.

When they arrived, they found many people already in the Hokage's office.

Shikaku and his father, Yoichi, arrived on time but not last like Koharu and Homura. Minato and Hiruzen were also present, along with the heads of the mission and interrogation teams.

Minato, though just a Jonin, had no specific duties in the village, so normally he couldn't attend such meetings. But following the previous Hokage, he was allowed in. Yoichi's presence was due to his role as the police force captain and the formidable Konoha Thunder Fang.

Koharu and Homura took their seats in the Hokage's office. Soon, the envoys from Kusagakure and Takigakure were brought in by the Anbu.

The two envoys, having similar demands, were brought together. After brief introductions, they went straight to the point.

"Fourth Hokage, our village was deceived and coerced by Iwagakure into attacking Konoha. Fortunately, we realized the truth in time and refused Iwagakure's demands. We hope to sign a peace agreement with Konoha."

"Fourth Hokage, Takigakure is in a similar situation, deceived and coerced by Iwagakure. We seek peace."

Both envoys claimed they were deceived and that it was Iwagakure's fault, hoping for peaceful coexistence with Konoha.

Sakumo nodded and said, "Konoha also seeks peace and welcomes friends who share this goal. Do your village leaders have any additional points for the peace agreement?"

The envoys exchanged a subtle glance, feeling hopeful, and conveyed their leaders' intentions.

Their proposal was to stop pursuing war-related matters, sign a mutual non-aggression alliance, prohibit Konoha from taking their missions, and open borders to allow their ninjas into the Land of Fire.

"That's enough."

Yoichi couldn't stomach their nonsense anymore. "Fourth Hokage, is this the peaceful solution Jiraiya-senpai mentioned? It's just emboldening these idiots and wasting our time. They haven't realized they're the defeated ones. Let me teach them a lesson."

He then used his Sharingan on them, continuing, "Such people won't wake up without a beating. For these two villages, a B-rank mission is enough."

Others in the room felt the envoys' proposals were overly ambitious. Shikaku and Hiruzen believed in negotiations over force.

 Shikaku hesitated and said, "Yoichi, we can sign the peace agreement if they remove a few terms."

"Why give them benefits after winning? Shikaku, who will account for the fallen Konoha ninjas?"

Yoichi's words silenced Shikaku. He realized arguing further might harm his clan's reputation, especially since the Memorial Stone had been recently erected, honoring fallen ninjas.

The envoys, feeling indignant, thought Konoha wouldn't harm them and said, "Sir, we came seeking peace..."

Sharingan genjutsu! The envoys' vision darkened, leaving only the spinning three tomoe of the Sharingan, killing them countless times in an instant.

When they regained consciousness, they were back in the Hokage's office, drenched in cold sweat, limbs weak, and chakra uncontrollable, kneeling on the ground.

They had been caught in a genjutsu!

Witnessing this, the others in the room realized the speed and effectiveness of Yoichi's genjutsu. The envoys knelt, terrified and speechless.

"Looks like today's negotiation won't proceed. We'll wait for new envoys from Kusagakure and Takigakure."

Sakumo couldn't agree to their demands. His lenient attitude was for friends, not recent enemies.

Yoichi's words reminded him that granting any benefits to these villages would dishonor the fallen Konoha ninjas and displease the Daimyo, causing further losses for Konoha.

"Yoichi, a B-rank mission is unnecessary. Handle it as an S-rank mission, but there's no rush. Focus on village matters first."

Yoichi smiled and said, "No problem. I'll leave tomorrow."

Among the smaller villages, only Amegakure posed a slight challenge to Yoichi. The others were no threat.

Sakumo nodded, then added, "Yoichi, don't go overboard."

"Don't worry, Fourth Hokage, I won't harm civilians."

The room's occupants understood Sakumo had approved Yoichi's suggestion.

Hiruzen, anxious, said, "Sakumo, reconsider. The war just ended, and any action might trigger another."

"Third Hokage, I've thought it through. Iwagakure and Kumogakure can't start another war soon. Kirigakure is restless and unpredictable. War is inevitable, with or without this incident."

Sakumo's words showed his understanding of the delicate balance. Granting any concessions would disrespect the fallen and displease the Daimyo, causing greater harm.

Hiruzen couldn't counter Sakumo's reasoning, despite his reluctance to let Yoichi handle it.

Before Hiruzen could speak again, Sakumo called in the Anbu to escort the envoys out.

Had they approached humbly, Sakumo might have negotiated, but they sought equality, overestimating their status compared to the Great Five Ninja Villages.

"Let's discuss other matters. The Anbu received intel that Kirigakure paused its war with Sunagakure and is eyeing us."

Sakumo moved on, noting Kirigakure's movements. Despite limited interaction, Kirigakure seemed to focus on Konoha post-war, unlike their previous major conflicts with Sunagakure and Iwagakure.

"Minato, can you handle Kirigakure? I'll assign ten teams and two Anbu squads. Report immediately if there's a large-scale invasion."

Sakumo said, entrusting Minato with the task.

"Understood, Fourth Hokage."

Minato readily accepted.

"Now, regarding village matters..."

Sakumo outlined upcoming village tasks and responsibilities.

After finishing, he asked, "Does anyone have any additions?"

"I have a question, Fourth Hokage."

Yoichi asked, "Why does the Root exist? Must it be separate from the Anbu? With tight village funds, I suggest trimming costly departments to save expenses."

Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura clenched their fists under the table.

They hadn't expected Yoichi to target Danzo so soon, especially in Danzo's absence.

"Ah, the Root. I just formed the Anbu, so I'm not well-versed in this department."

Sakumo turned to Hiruzen, "Third Hokage, could you explain to Yoichi?"

(End of Chapter)