Chapter 67: The Bargaining Chip for Negotiations
Chapter 67: The Bargaining Chip for Negotiations
At the Konoha camp, Yagura, escorted by Kisame, walked into the command post under the watchful eyes of Konoha's shinobi.
Namikaze Minato was already waiting for him.
When Yagura arrived, Minato stood from his chair and gestured to the seat across from him.
"Lord Yagura, please, have a seat."
"Hmm."
Yagura nodded, casting a glance at Hyuga Fuji, who stood behind Minato to his left. Without betraying any emotion, Yagura quickly averted his gaze and took a seat at the negotiation table. He was the first to speak. "How is the Third Mizukage?"
"He's being treated with the utmost respect," Minato replied with a smile. "After the negotiations, we'll ensure his safe return to Kirigakure."
After saying this, Minato fell silent, deliberately avoiding any mention of the other Kirigakure captives. He simply looked at Yagura, as if waiting for him to make the first move.
'Don't try to gain the upper hand at the negotiating table,' Yagura recalled the advice of Genshi. 'Negotiations between shinobi villages are decided by power. We're the defeated side—arguing too much will only put us at a further disadvantage. The key is to use facts and benefits to convince the other side while preserving our village's foundation.'
With these words in mind, Yagura relaxed the hand resting under the table and abandoned the idea of probing. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Minato. "Konoha's victory this time has been impressive, but your overwhelming display of power will only provoke greater caution from the other villages."
"I propose that Konoha return two of the tailed beasts to Kirigakure. In exchange, Kirigakure will become an ally of Konoha, standing together in both peace and war."
Minato shook his head. "An alliance is nothing more than a piece of paper. You can't expect to reclaim the tailed beasts with just empty words, can you, Lord Yagura?"
"...Kisame."
At Yagura's signal, Kisame stepped forward and handed him a document and a scroll.
Yagura took them and placed them in front of Minato.
Minato narrowed his eyes as he picked up the document to read. The letter was brief, and it took him only half a minute to finish. His brows furrowed slightly. "Is the information in this letter true?"
Yagura replied, "The scroll beside it contains her body. You can verify it for yourself, Lord Hokage."
Minato's frown deepened, and almost reflexively, he handed the document to Hyuga Fuji, who stood beside him.
This small gesture didn't escape Yagura's notice. From it, he could see the level of trust Minato placed in Hyuga Fuji. His gaze lowered slightly as he remarked, "This is just an advance. I'm sure you'll find it useful."
Though the words seemed directed at Minato, they also felt aimed at someone else.
Hyuga Fuji quickly read through the document, then nodded at Minato. "It's true. The Fourth Kazekage lacked the prestige to suppress Sunagakure. This confirms it."
Minato's expression darkened as he glanced at the scroll.
So this was the fate of Sunagakure's hero?
A powerful shinobi, once one of the village's finest, betrayed and handed over to Kirigakure for disposal—only for her corpse to now be used as a bargaining chip. It was truly pitiful.
Noticing Minato's grim expression, Yagura could understand his reaction. To prevent this from derailing the negotiations, he took the initiative to explain:
"After Sunagakure lost the Third Kazekage, both Kirigakure and Kumogakure launched offensives against them. Pakura of the Scorch Release inflicted significant losses on us during the conflict."
"Later, the Fourth Kazekage sought peace with us. The condition set by Kirigakure's hardliners was to hand over Pakura. At the time, this demand was more to humiliate Sunagakure than anything else. The hardliners never even intended to end the war. But who would have thought…"
Here, Yagura sighed.
Who would have thought that the Fourth Kazekage and Sunagakure's leadership would actually hand over Pakura to them?
To entrust a powerful and respected shinobi, someone whose strength and renown made her a hero of the village, to an enemy nation for disposal—it was enough to make Yagura feel disheartened when he first learned of it.
Sunagakure wasn't even at its breaking point. Pakura had earned her status as a hero precisely because she had successfully defended the village against Kirigakure's attacks.
To sacrifice their resistance for the sake of peace… no wonder Sunagakure remained the weakest of all the villages.
How filthy.
Hearing Yagura's explanation, Minato suddenly felt fortunate.
In his own time of need, he had the unwavering support of his teacher, his wife, the Third Hokage, Fugaku, Hyuga Fuji, and others.
Even Orochimaru, a former contender for the Hokage title, had voluntarily stepped aside.
Because of their support, he had been able to steadily advance without getting caught in the vortex of politics and being consumed by it.
At this thought, warmth filled Minato's heart, and his smile grew even brighter. He said to Yagura, "We are indeed fortunate."
Yagura was briefly stunned but then nodded lightly.
"Yes… we are fortunate."
Kisame had once asked him how he had convinced Genshi to provide his support.
In truth, he hadn't persuaded the elder at all. He had simply sought his guidance.
As someone who had witnessed the war firsthand, Yagura had explained to Genshi the devastating consequences continued conflict would have on Kirigakure. He had hoped the elder would help him stop the Third Mizukage.
What he hadn't expected was that Genshi would personally step onto the battlefield to halt the war.
Genshi had borne the brunt of the opposition and pushed Yagura into his current position, granting him the opportunity to negotiate peace.
Although he was technically a provisional Mizukage, if these negotiations could secure Kirigakure's future, the title of Fourth Mizukage would undoubtedly be his.
"You and your generation are the future of the village. Should I, an old man, take the position instead? You're the first to seek my guidance, and your heart is with Kirigakure—that's enough. If you face difficulties, I'll teach you how to handle them."
Recalling Genshi's words, Yagura's lips curved into a smile as he spoke in a steady tone:
"The letter may not be proof enough, but the body is. Pakura's remains were preserved in excellent condition for the sake of studying Scorch Release and extracting further benefits from Sunagakure in the future. You'll find much can still be learned from it."
Her body showed no signs of combat before death—it was clear she had been ambushed. This could be verified through examination, and her memories could even be extracted.
While it wouldn't topple the Fourth Kazekage, it could be used as leverage to force him to pay a price.
For example…
"With Kirigakure and Sunagakure standing with Konoha, won't it be much easier for you to gain an advantage over Kumogakure and Iwagakure at the Five Kage Summit?"
At this, Minato glanced at Hyuga Fuji by his side, then smiled. "It seems you have some excellent advisors of your own."
"Not advisors. Elders," Yagura corrected. "It seems you're satisfied with this gift."
"It's a good down payment," Minato admitted. "But reclaiming the tailed beasts…"
Yagura interrupted, "Just one. Kirigakure only seeks the return of one tailed beast."
"We remember the price paid for tailed beasts at the first Five Kage Summit. I'm willing to pay double that price to reclaim one. Furthermore, we will compensate Konoha for its losses in this war—twice over. Until the payments are complete, you may keep the tailed beast as collateral."
"However, I ask that you release… Terumi Mei first."
Minato raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Agreed."
Yagura visibly relaxed. "I will convene a Five Kage Summit in five months and invite all the great villages. Where should the meeting take place? The Land of Iron?"
Minato shook his head. "No, the Five Kage Summit will be held in… the Land of Rain!"
(End of Chapter)
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