26 - Wolves at the Table

Sitting in his seat, Masashi listened intently to the exchange on both sides.

After a while, he grasped the essence of the negotiations.

In simple terms, due to the constantly expanding battlegrounds of the Great Ninja War, the conflict had risen to the level of nations. With Konoha as the victor, the Land of Fire also naturally emerged as a victorious nation.

Although Kiri and Konoha had signed a truce agreement, including some economic exchange clauses, this agreement was limited to the two villages.

From the perspective of the two nations, a mere truce was far from enough.

However, as this conflict arose from the Great Ninja War, the negotiations fell to the two major shinobi villages, with their respective daimyō granting them full authority.

This situation explained why, after Suna's defeat, the daimyō of the Land of Wind reduced military funding and cut back on mission orders.

For the Land of Wind, Suna had declared war on Konoha using the Third Kazekage's death as a pretext but surrendered early on, essentially dragging the Land of Wind into a costly situation. Consequently, the nation had no choice but to make concessions to the Land of Fire.

The inner workings of the central government are completely different—it's no wonder the Third Hokage can still hold a supporting role.

Reflecting on this, Masashi gained a lot. These mechanisms were something the Uchiha clan had never truly understood before. It wasn't that they lacked interest; they had just never been part of the inner circle and were always isolated from both Konoha and the daimyō's national affairs.

In the Uchiha clan's understanding, a truce between villages meant peace between nations as well. Due to their lack of insight, they had significant misconceptions about the nature of Hokage succession.

Hiruzen's retirement wasn't simply due to a bad deal with Iwa. Though Konoha's reputation seemed damaged, the Land of Earth still had to make concessions.

In fact, Iwa's stinginess had only strengthened the Land of Fire's negotiating position, forcing the Land of Earth to give up more. Hiruzen had secured all the benefits Konoha was owed.

His retirement was merely a move to elevate Minato into the inner circle, further solidifying their faction's influence.

Masashi felt a bit of a headache. Though he valued the learning, he couldn't deny the toll it took.

The habit stemmed from his previous life as a gamer. He'd always been the type to exhaust every possibility in a game before moving on, methodically exploring each path until nothing remained unknown.

Where others might abandon their pursuits after failure, he would dive deeper, pushing himself to the absolute limit of what could be learned or achieved.

The talks continued. Minato's inexperience showed as he struggled to fully embody the mindset of a shinobi village leader.

He was often led astray by Fuguki, though the two veterans beside him would intervene immediately to set him back on track.

"What alternatives can we consider?" Minato asked. "Perhaps if we examine the trade routes—"

"The northern sea routes are not negotiable," Fuguki jumped in quickly. "They're vital to our economy."

"Your economy?" Danzō's single visible eye fixed on him. "Interesting. Our intelligence suggests your northern ports are operating at less than half capacity. Tell me, what's really being protected there?"

Fuguki's jaw tightened. "That's not—"

"And these reports," Danzō continued, sliding a folder across the table, "show your southern trade has increased threefold in the past month. Curious timing."

Hiruzen took a long draw from his pipe. "Perhaps we should discuss those merchant ships that were spotted near the Land of Lightning's waters?"

Color drained from Fuguki's face. He opened his mouth, then closed it.

This is like watching a tiger and a wolf corner their prey, Masashi observed as the two veterans systematically exposed every deception.

"The port fees alone—" Fuguki tried again.

"Would barely cover a tenth of the damages," Danzō cut in. "Let's not waste time with these peripheral issues."

Sweat beaded on Fuguki's forehead as he shuffled through his papers. Each argument he raised was countered before he could fully voice it. Every alternative he suggested was revealed as already compromised.

Finally, his shoulders slumped. "Our daimyō says we can offer a compensation of 1 billion ryō, but that's the limit. Anything beyond that is unmanageable for our country."

At these words, Konoha's side perked up.

They've been waiting for this number, Masashi realized. Everything before was just theater.

Minato leaned back thoughtfully.

Hiruzen took out his pipe and began smoking again.

Tapping his cane, Danzō spoke slowly but firmly. "2 billion ryō is the absolute minimum; if this war continues, your country will only owe more."

Fuguki shook his head, holding his ground. "1 billion is beyond our means already. Asking for more is impossible. Please consider reducing the amount."

"Reducing it is out of the question. The war has brought us to this point; there's no way around it."

However, given that the other side was paying, Danzō made an effort to keep his composure, softening his tone slightly.

"If you can't pay it all at once, you could spread it over forty years. The longer the installments, the smaller the burden. This is just a suggestion; please don't take offense."

Fuguki retorted, "Forty years? Would you agree to such terms if you were in our place?"

"I'm not the one paying," Danzō said. "However, longer installments would ease your financial strain."

Fuguki sighed, and Masashi could see the fight draining from him. "From the start of the war, our treasury has been depleted. We would need to borrow money, but after our defeat, our reputation has taken a hit."

He's playing right into Danzō's hands, Masashi observed.

Danzō countered, "The Land of Water is rich in resources. Other nations will be willing to lend."

"Though our land is resourceful, we lack the means to fully develop it."

"Your country has talented people; you can harness their skills to generate wealth," Danzō remarked.

Fuguki, visibly annoyed, muttered, "With such great ideas, maybe you should become our Grand Minister."

Danzō didn't take offense. "I would need the daimyō's permission, but personally, I'd be glad to serve."

This silenced Fuguki, who eventually sighed, his tone softer and almost pleading.

"Since your daimyō hasn't approved you to serve in our Land of Water, you can't come. We cannot compel our daimyō to pay. I ask you to be more considerate and compassionate."

"If we agree to 2 billion, other nations will know we must borrow money and impose heavy interest. We'd be trapped in debt, unable to repay, which would lead us back to war. Why push us so far?"

Danzō felt a twinge of satisfaction.

Nevertheless, it was a formal negotiation, and as a former Hokage advisor, he had a reputation to uphold.

"It's your country's responsibility to find a way to settle your debts."

"But we can't afford it. What should we do?"

Danzō reiterated, "That's why we reduced it to this amount—there's no room for further negotiation."

Fuguki pleaded, "Please, just reduce it a bit more."

"I'll be frank; I know your daimyō received a covert message yesterday confirming the 2 billion as your bottom line. I included that in our proposal as a sign of goodwill. The number won't budge," Danzō responded firmly.

Fuguki fell silent.

Masashi looked at Fuguki with genuine pity.

Danzō, an expert in intelligence, wouldn't speak so confidently without solid information.

One of the Five Great Nations, yet all its secrets laid bare—what was left to play?

After an intense verbal exchange, the first round of talks between Konoha and Kiri came to an end, and the attendees stood up to leave.

"The terms are... acceptable to Kiri," Fuguki said.

Of course they are. We've left you no choice, Danzō thought, watching the Kiri representative.

Fuguki, who had acted subservient and overly accommodating during the meeting, now carried himself as if nothing had happened.

His transformation was immediate—from a bowing diplomat to a proud ninja of Kiri.

No one found this surprising. The other representatives exchanged knowing glances, well-versed in this political theater. After all, everyone here was just doing their job.

Why take it so seriously? As long as they tried their best, that was enough.

As he reflected on how he had just secured 2 billion ryō for the Land of Fire, Danzō was filled with a sense of accomplishment.

These past few days had been exhausting. Managing foreign intelligence work was mentally taxing.

"The Uchiha representative showed remarkable restraint today," one of his advisors commented quietly.

"Restraint born of necessity, nothing more," Danzō replied coldly.

The only thing he wasn't entirely satisfied with was that today, the Uchiha clan had been allowed to participate. Although Shikaku had promised an explanation, Danzō still had reservations.

These ninja clans always banded together in critical moments.

But clans were relics of a bygone era. In the era of one nation and one village, they were bound to decline.

The Shimura clan was a perfect example. Over the past few decades, they had steadily faded into insignificance. Some clan members had hoped Danzō would intervene, but he had refused.

Old things should be buried.

What kind of person did they think Danzō was? He wasn't clinging to outdated traditions; he was aiming to become Hokage, because he believed his methods were what Konoha truly needed.

Why did they cling to those tiny plots of land? What was so bad about becoming an ordinary member of the village? The village wasn't stingy—accomplishments were fairly rewarded.

Why did they insist on relying on a clan to compete with non-clan ninja?

The Sarutobi clan was no different. How many genuinely outstanding talents did they have? They couldn't withstand any major upheaval. It was only because Hiruzen protected them that they're still around.

They would suffer in the future.

"The Uchiha's influence grows daily," a Root agent had reported earlier that morning.

"Then we must grow faster," Danzō had responded, his grip tightening on his cane.

But…

The Uchiha and Hyūga clans were still so powerful.

Especially the Uchiha.

Danzō's hostility toward the Uchiha wasn't just due to their strength.

He still remembered how, after Tobirama sacrificed himself for the village, the Uchiha had rejoiced, eager to seize the village's highest authority.

The Senju clan, who co-founded the village, had never acted like that. If it hadn't been for the presence of the Senju at the time, he and Hiruzen might not have been able to hold their ground.

Other clans had been restless back then, but none were as blatant as the Uchiha.

Since then, the Uchiha clan had repeatedly and clumsily attempted to challenge the Hokage's authority. What they never understood was that the least likely candidates for Hokage in all of Konoha were members of the Uchiha clan.

No one wanted an Uchiha as Hokage.

Still, the First Hokage had made the Hokage position a dream shared by all Konoha villagers, including the Uchiha.

Danzō understood this all too well. Hokage wasn't just a dream; it had become a belief.

Even he was caught up in it.

For this reason, the Uchiha had become the greatest hidden threat to the village.

The sooner this issue was resolved, the better. Unfortunately, the Uchiha clan constantly produced exceptional talent, and they were cohesive as a unit.

Yet, Danzō hadn't made up his mind about this matter. This generation of Uchiha included individuals like Kagami. Danzō still felt a pang of regret for his late companion.

"Your descendant is so much like you. If you were still alive, would things be different now?"

The first time he had seen Kagami's descendant, even Danzō's iron-hard heart had wavered slightly.

But only slightly.

He couldn't bring himself to trust the Uchiha.

In the shadows of the shinobi world, there was no room for trust.

After leaving the Hokage Building, he returned to his lair under the escort of Root ninja. The underground facility was quiet.

Seated in his office, surrounded by the physical manifestation of his power, he didn't immediately start reviewing the documents on his desk. Instead, he struck the floor heavily with his cane.

"Where is Orochimaru? Has he forgotten his assignment? Hiruzen sent him to act as my guard. I want to see him now."

A figure disappeared swiftly into the darkness.

Only then did Danzō begin processing the paperwork.

Orochimaru had been acting increasingly out of line lately.

Of all Hiruzen's students, the Snake Sannin was the one Danzō couldn't quite figure out. Still, he knew one thing—Orochimaru couldn't do without his support.

Just as he had been the only high-ranking official to back Orochimaru's candidacy for Hokage, he remained his sole ally in the village.

Though it was a forced alliance. And yet, the position had gone to that youngster Minato.

How laughable.

After a while, a thin figure emerged from the shadows.

"Danzō."

"You've been experimenting again?" Danzō asked coldly. "And you dared to attend a meeting afterward? If I hadn't ordered someone to clean up after you, you'd have been exposed."

"This batch of materials is time-sensitive. Delays would have affected the results," Orochimaru replied nonchalantly. "Besides, I'm not your subordinate. Just focus on providing the materials I need."

"Oh?" Danzō put down his pen, his gaze chilling. "Orochimaru, don't try that tone with me."

"What do you want from me?" Orochimaru asked dismissively.

"What do you think of today's Uchiha?"

"Oh? Is he the next 'material'?"

"Have your experiments rotted your brain? I'm asking if there's a way to bring him into my fold."

"Convince an Uchiha to join Root? Sarutobi-sensei would never agree." Orochimaru lost interest.

Initially, Root had been a training institution for ANBU, but Hiruzen's inability to handle foreign intelligence work had allowed Danzō to take over that responsibility, incorporating it into Root's functions.

By now, Root had effectively become an independent entity, operating parallel to ANBU with only nominal affiliation.

The increase in responsibilities had led to a shortage of talent. Despite Danzō's efforts to recruit from various clans, the Hyūga and Uchiha clans had always been excluded.

As he aged, the complexities of foreign intelligence work increasingly strained his existing resources.

If only he could secure some Uchihas or even just one—it would be enough.

The Hyūga weren't as suited to the work of Root. Foreign operations required a different skill set, one the Uchiha excelled at.

The Hannya Black Ops presented a clear case. They had the audacity to pull one over on Konoha. They had to be eradicated; otherwise, Konoha's prestige would be undermined.

Those rats were excellent at hiding, but with the power of the Sharingan, they could be dealt with quickly.

They had to die—sooner and more miserably, the better.

"I'm not sure what you're planning, but you know the Uchiha's temperament, don't you?" Orochimaru licked his lips. "If I could, I'd have dealt with them already."

"Forget it. Talking to you is pointless. The lab will be moved soon. Keep a low profile for now."

Danzō felt some regret about involving Orochimaru. This guy was becoming harder to control. But without him, the experiments wouldn't have progressed this far.

What a headache.

After the unpleasant conversation with Orochimaru, Danzō decided to focus on dealing with the Hannya Black Ops first.

As he pondered how to negotiate with Sarutobi, a Root ninja appeared, kneeling before him.

"Speak."

"Danzō-sama, the Third Hokage has arrived with Fuguki. They say they have urgent matters to discuss."

"I don't have time to renegotiate the reparations. Did they say what it's about? If it's about money, tell them there's nothing to talk about. If we can't reach an agreement, we'll fight again."

"The Third Hokage says it concerns the Fourth Mizukage. Fuguki hopes to cooperate with Konoha to uncover the truth."

"Invite them in immediately."

---

Before some of you misunderstand - Danzo wasn't always the person we love to hate. His teammate was an Uchiha and there was likely a bond between them. But then Tobirama died, and the Uchiha clan was likely celebrating. This might be where his hatred toward the Uchiha started, in my opinion, looking at it logically.

Then came the Nine-Tails Attack, Shisui revealing his MS' ability, and Obito posing as Madara. All these things piled up until his hatred outweighed having the clan benefit Konoha.

I mean, losing a powerful clan means having fewer powerful ninjas to defend Konoha - it wasn't wise at all. Sure, there was the threat of a coup d'état, but there could have been other ways to maintain the status quo without making Konoha look like a delicious meal for other villages. That's just my opinion.

---

112/100: First bonus chapter reached!

208/200: Second bonus chapter reached!

278/400 reached for next bonus chapter.

If we somehow reached the top 10, which is so unlikely: 3 chapters/day for 1 week.

p@treon.com/Malphegor

Consider leaving comments and reviews!