Chapter 259: "Trying to Get Something for Nothing? Mist Village, You’ve Got Some Nerve"

As long as it didn't affect his plans, Uchiha Madara didn't care whether the Third Mizukage lived or died.

What mattered to him was whether Black Zetsu had found a suitable candidate.

He was eager to find someone from the Uchiha clan to take his place, someone who could pretend to be him and carry out his plans in the ninja world.

"I haven't found a suitable candidate yet," Black Zetsu replied, troubled by the high standards Uchiha Madara had set for the selection.

In order to revive his mother, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, Black Zetsu couldn't just randomly grab anyone.

This left him still searching for the right person.

"The only one close enough would be Yagami Takuya, who was once seen alongside Nagato. But that kid isn't easy to control."

"Yagami Takuya? A half-blood?" Uchiha Madara frowned slightly. He needed a full-blooded Uchiha, not someone of mixed lineage.

"I'll keep looking," Black Zetsu said.

There were plenty of Uchiha clan members, but finding one that met Uchiha Madara's criteria wasn't easy.

The candidate needed to have decent talent, be easy to manipulate, and gullible enough to believe any deception.

In simpler terms, they needed to find a pure-blooded Uchiha genius who was also a bit of a fool.

This made things quite difficult.

But for the sake of Uchiha Madara's plan, and for his own agenda, Black Zetsu could only begrudgingly continue his search in Konoha for the right target.

"No rush. Since the pawn is no longer useful, let's make the most of it before discarding it."

"Uh…"

Seeing the single eye of Uchiha Madara, with its three tomoe spinning slowly, Black Zetsu fell silent.

Though a bit of a failure, that pawn still had some use. Wasn't it a waste to throw it away just like that?

Fine. Whatever you say, I'll do.

Sighing inwardly, Black Zetsu turned and looked at Tobi, who had been squatting quietly nearby, forbidden from speaking by Uchiha Madara, and asked:

"Wanna know what it feels like to poop?"

Uchiha Madara, due to his condition, couldn't act personally, so Black Zetsu needed to head to Konoha to keep an eye on the Uchiha clan and find a suitable candidate.

That meant someone else would have to control the Third Mizukage.

Thus, Tobi became the first choice.

"Really?" Tobi blurted out excitedly, his hands flailing as he babbled, "If I go with you, I'll finally know what it feels like to poop?"

"…"

What a weirdo!

Black Zetsu was speechless.

"Get lost!!" Uchiha Madara, who had just closed his eyes, growled in frustration.

The reason he forbade White Zetsu from speaking was because this weirdo kept asking him what it felt like to poop. Over and over. Who could tolerate that?

Especially when Tobi was a chatterbox.

"…"

Let's just hope this guy doesn't ruin the Mist Village.

Shaking his head, Black Zetsu took Tobi with him and headed to the Mist Village.

"I'm sorry, but I must decline. There's no such thing as defeating an enemy and then returning the spoils of war to them in the ninja world.

If that's how it works, then please have your Mist Village return everything you've plundered from our shipping routes over the years. Otherwise, Konoha won't be handing over Samehada."

Facing the Mist Village's envoy, Tsunade's words instantly shut him down.

After all, how could you cough up something you've already swallowed?

Was that even possible?

The Mist Village didn't even have a clear count of how much they'd stolen from the Land of Fire over the years.

Even if they did remember, no one would willingly give it back, as the cost would be far too high.

A single Samehada wasn't worth that kind of price.

With just a few sentences, Tsunade had thoroughly blocked the Mist Village's envoy.

"I demand to see the Hokage!"

Realizing that negotiations with Tsunade were getting nowhere, the envoy insisted on seeing the Third Hokage. He wanted to speak directly with him rather than wasting more time with Tsunade.

"As you wish," Tsunade said, indifferent.

If she didn't have to waste her breath on this, all the better.

If the Third Hokage hadn't insisted, Tsunade wouldn't have bothered coming here to deal with the Mist Village envoy.

Wouldn't it be nicer to go home and sleep? Or maybe enjoy a drink at the tavern?

Does drinking interfere with work?

Of course not.

After much insistence, the envoy finally got his wish and met with the Third Hokage.

"Hokage-sama, our villages have always kept to themselves, so why is Konoha making things so difficult for the Mist Village?

Surely, you understand what Samehada means to us?"

As soon as they met, the envoy bombarded the Third Hokage with accusations.

The smile on the Third Hokage's face froze, and the expressions of Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, who were also present, darkened.

"If your village and Konoha have always stayed out of each other's way, then who's been attacking our shipping routes and plundering our ships?" Koharu demanded sharply.

Where do you get the nerve to say something like that?

Claiming the two villages have never interfered with each other was a joke.

Under Koharu's pressure, the Mist Village envoy's face showed a hint of discomfort as he struggled to explain:

"How can a few merchant ships compare to the importance of Samehada?"

"Hokage-sama, Elders, Konoha's actions could damage relations between our two villages."

"It's just a weapon. Even if it's a war prize, it can still be exchanged."

"What does the Mist Village plan to offer in exchange for Samehada?"

Since all you've been talking about is Samehada, I'd like to know—what can your Mist Village offer?

"A few merchant ships are nothing?" Koharu scoffed. It was no wonder Tsunade didn't like dealing with the Mist Village; their tone didn't sound like negotiations, but more like they were provoking Konoha.

Finally, the Third Hokage spoke, signaling that there might be room for negotiation.

The envoy's face lit up with hope as he hurriedly said:

"Hokage-sama, the Mist Village has come to Konoha with sincere intentions. It was wrong of us to attack your ships, but it wasn't all us. Keep in mind, the shipping route is near the Land of Lightning, and the people of Lightning have also been engaging in such acts."

"…"

That nearly made the Third Hokage laugh in disbelief.

The Cloud Village was a major trading hub, with the most developed trade routes of any of the Five Great Villages. They'd be the last ones to engage in such activities, especially given the immense revenue they collected from trade taxes every year.

"I can promise you, Hokage-sama, that if Konoha returns Samehada and the body of Fuguki Suikazan, the Mist Village will cease all attacks on your shipping routes. What do you think of this offer?"

What a blatant attempt to get something for nothing.

Homura laughed out of frustration:

"If those are the only terms, then you may leave. Konoha will not accept such conditions, and we will defend our shipping routes without needing the Mist Village's involvement."

You really think you can just talk your way into getting what you want?

Mist Village, you've got some nerve.

"Are you not afraid of souring relations between our villages?"

"Don't let the door hit you on the way out!"

Trying to get something for nothing, and then resorting to threats when it fails? Even the Third Hokage couldn't help but snap:

"Konoha does not fear deteriorating relations with any village. If your Mist Village seeks retaliation, Konoha will be ready.

And when you return, tell the Third Mizukage that it's not only the Land of Fire with shipping routes. The Land of Water has them as well, and if anything like this happens again, Konoha will choose to retaliate."

You come to my turf to threaten me? You think I won't stand my ground?

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(P)(S): If you're interested, you can read up to chapter 320+ at patreon.com/ Emik01. ಥ‿ಥ

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