The Hidden Mist's demands for reparations were outrageous and exorbitant, practically bleeding the Hidden Leaf dry. Of course, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't possibly agree. The only reason he was willing to admit the Hidden Leaf's defeat, surrender to the Hidden Mist, and even offer war reparations, was to alleviate pressure so he could fully dedicate himself to the Hidden Stone battlefield and minimize the Leaf's losses.
Now, look at this. If he agreed to the terms in this scroll, there would be no need to fight the war at all, because their entire fortune would already be gone!
Beside him, Minato Namikaze noticed Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression and, intrigued, glanced at the scroll. One look was enough to make him almost overturn the entire negotiation table.
"Impossible!" Minato Namikaze roared, "You have no intention of negotiating! We cannot agree to these terms!"
"See, you're getting agitated again." Yoru smiled calmly. "So-called negotiations are essentially bargaining. I make an offer, you make a counter-offer. Add a bit, subtract a bit, and the negotiation is done."
"Now that we've made our offer, it's your turn to counter."
Minato Namikaze was choked by Yuki Yoru's retort, but his emotional outburst was understandable given the Hidden Mist's overly harsh conditions. Not only did they demand surrender and apologies, but they also sought to strip the Hidden Leaf of its kekkei genkai – a condition the Hidden Leaf would absolutely never accept!
"We can accept the terms regarding surrender and apology. As for the diplomatic reforms, trade cooperation, and so on, we gladly accept those as well. Mutual benefit and peaceful development are outcomes we are more than willing to see," Hiruzen Sarutobi stated gravely. "However, regarding the amount of reparations, I hope we can make some adjustments."
"Minato Namikaze has visited the Hidden Mist Village many times; he knows full well the current state of our Hidden Mist. I imagine you, Hokage-sama, are also aware of our situation," the Third Mizukage said slowly. "To put it bluntly, our Hidden Mist is gravely ill. If we don't receive the medicine to heal our wounds, we wouldn't mind dragging someone down with us to hell."
"So, even if you have objections regarding the reparations, please don't speak carelessly."
"..."
The Third Hokage's face twitched as he forced a smile. "Of course, I will consider the practical situations of both sides."
"Let's discuss the finances first... Mizukage-sama, two hundred million ryō is truly too much. Such a vast sum of cash, let alone for our Hidden Leaf, even if all Five Great Shinobi Villages pooled the money from their treasuries, they probably couldn't gather two hundred million ryō in cash."
"So, I'm wondering if the monetary amount could be lowered somewhat... how about fifty million ryō?"
"Secondly, we can withdraw all bounties on individuals associated with the Hidden Mist, including Ao, the Byakugan User Killer."
"But regarding the provision of kekkei genkai bloodlines..."
Shinobi from kekkei genkai clans are often the elite, the pillars of the village. It's precisely because of these kekkei genkai clans and the unique kekkei genkai powers they possess, which other villages lack, that the Hidden Leaf has stood at the pinnacle of the shinobi world, repeatedly defeating invaders in countless wars.
Take the Uchiha clan, for example. Even if the current Hidden Leaf elders despise the Uchiha due to the Second Hokage's influence, they cannot deny that without the Uchiha, the Hidden Leaf wouldn't be what it is today! The same goes for other clans. The Sarutobi clan, the Senju clan, the Hyūga clan, the Shimura clan, and so on.
Kekkei genkai clans are the foundational cornerstones of every shinobi village. Protecting the village's kekkei genkai from leaking out is a consensus among all shinobi villages. Everyone understands that once these secrets leak, it's tantamount to surrendering their weapons and exposing their weaknesses!
"Mizukage-sama, as the Kage of the Hidden Mist, you must be aware of how much importance the shinobi clans place on their kekkei genkai. For large clans like the Uchiha or Hyūga, let alone their kekkei genkai spreading to other villages, even within their own village, they strictly forbid its leakage."
"They prohibit intermarriage with outsiders, retrieve any organs left behind, dispose of bodies uniformly, and so on," Hiruzen Sarutobi carefully chose his words to avoid strong opposition from the Hidden Mist side. "Even as Hokage, I don't have the authority to override these internal clan protocols."
"If you cannot control those kekkei genkai clans, why not just send those stubborn, unruly individuals over?" Yuki Yoru sneered. "After all, these bloodlines have already leaked, haven't they?"
"Hasn't Minato Namikaze told you, Hokage-sama, about that monster on Higashimatsuyama who possesses both the Mangekyō Sharingan and Wood Release?"
"Or perhaps, that monster was originally created by your Hidden Leaf through dark human experimentation, but due to some operational error, it escaped from a certain laboratory?"
Yuki Yoru spoke as if he had suddenly understood something, with a look of realization. "Wait, is it really as I suspect? After all, I'd never heard of that guy before. Possessing such terrifying power yet appearing so suddenly, it truly seems like something released from a laboratory!"
"And that guy started chasing and attacking your Hidden Leaf shinobi the moment he appeared on Higashimatsuyama, completely ignoring me..."
"So, Hokage-sama, you wouldn't be saying you can't control the shinobi clans in your village, while secretly you've already flayed and dissected the kekkei genkai clans within your village, even researching their cells thoroughly, would you?!"
He sounds like he's exposed something incredible!
At these words, not only did Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze's composure break, but even the Land of Iron samurai acting as escorts revealed shocked and curious expressions, all turning their gaze towards the two Hidden Leaf shinobi.
Mangekyō Sharingan and Wood Release. What were those? They were the ultimate powers that pacified the Warring States Era and founded the Hidden Leaf! But after the two predecessors passed away, the Hidden Leaf lost these powers. The Uchiha only had three tomoe, and as for the Senju, let alone Wood Release, there were barely any members of the clan left with names!
And now, these two powers had reappeared in the world, becoming the Hidden Leaf's enemies! The very powers that created the Hidden Leaf now sought to destroy it...
Could it be that everything was truly as Yuki Yoru claimed? An experiment subject created through inhumane human experimentation, accumulating endless pain and resentment, accidentally escaping its cage, and then beginning a journey of revenge against the Hidden Leaf...
Various spectacular dramatic scenarios continuously flashed through everyone's minds, and their gazes towards the Third Hokage and Minato Namikaze grew increasingly peculiar.
"Yuki Yoru, please don't make wild conjectures!" Hiruzen Sarutobi suppressed his anger, growling, "The Hokage is a mighty tree protecting all citizens of the Hidden Leaf; they would never conduct such inhumane experiments!"
"Is that so, heh heh."
A mocking scoff escaped Yoru's lips. "Alright, alright. So, according to Hokage-sama, that guy who appeared on Higashimatsuyama is a monster created by evil ambitionists because of your Hidden Leaf's poor management of kekkei genkai bloodlines, leading to their leakage?"
"That should be it," Hiruzen Sarutobi said grimly, nodding. He wasn't lying about this. While the Hidden Leaf certainly had its share of dark human experiments, their progress was incredibly slow. He truly had no idea who was behind the creation of the individual on Higashimatsuyama who wielded both the Mangekyō Sharingan and Wood Release.
After all, If they had managed to combine Mangekyō and Wood Release into a single subject, they wouldn't be losing the war—they'd already have conquered the shinobi world.
Susanoo clad in a Buddha, crushing the Four Great Nations.
Do you think that phrase is just a casual rhyme? As the Third Hokage, who witnessed the era of the First, Hiruzen Sarutobi knew all too well the terror of the two predecessors who dominated that era; they were true, era-defining powers!
"In that case, your Hidden Leaf are victims too, aren't you?" Yuki Yoru said coldly. "Mangekyō Sharingan and Wood Release... It seems there's a terrifying force hidden within the shinobi world that none of us know about. But then again, I originally wanted to give you a hard time. After all, our village suffered the torment of the Sharingan for quite some time. Now that you've said that, I almost feel bad asking for more from you."
"Suffered the torment of the Sharingan for quite some time..." Minato Namikaze frowned deeply. "What does that mean?"
"It means exactly what I said" Yuki Yoru's tone was unfriendly, but the Third Mizukage beside him let out a self-deprecating laugh. "I suppose I should be the one to explain this."
"It's embarrassing to admit, but due to my weakness and incompetence, I, as Mizukage, was controlled by a Sharingan user through genjutsu for some time. This led the Hidden Mist into immense suffering until I was awakened by Yoru recently..."
"Wha— what?!"
"Controlled by the Sharingan, Third Mizukage-sama, this..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze showed the same shocked expressions as everyone else. For a village's Kage to be silently controlled was truly too horrifying to believe. Did the Sharingan truly possess such power?!
No, impossible. Even Fugaku and Kagami Uchiha in their prime didn't possess this level of power. Otherwise, if the clan had such power, they would have already taken control of all the Leaf's elders!
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was one of deep suspicion and uncertainty. Then, recalling the monster with the Mangekyō Sharingan and Wood Release...
There truly are bad people in the shinobi world, and they are the ones who stole the Hidden Leaf's ultimate power!
"Go ahead and laugh. This is indeed what I, the incompetent one, deserve..."
"Enough, Third Mizukage!"
Yoru interrupted the Third Mizukage, his gaze calmly fixed on the two before him. "You've all heard our Hidden Mist Village's great humiliation. To prevent this from happening again, our Hidden Mist must acquire the power to counter the Sharingan."
"Hokage-sama, you must know that the best way to deal with the Sharingan is to counter it with another Sharingan. Therefore, the Uchiha clan's kekkei genkai bloodline is something our Hidden Mist absolutely must obtain. This is non-negotiable!"
"This..." Hiruzen Sarutobi's face froze.
If the Hidden Mist Village's original intent was to covet the Sharingan's power, then now, the Hidden Mist wanted the Uchiha's bloodline to prevent its village from suffering further harm from the Sharingan. Although the result was the same, the different motivations entirely changed the meaning!
Plunder versus protection...
"I understand your urgent feelings, Yuki Yoru, but this..."
"Rumble!!"
A deep rumbling sound echoed from outside, abruptly interrupting their conversation.
"It seems someone doesn't want us to conclude these peace talks." Yuki Yoru sneered. "Hokage-sama, who do you think it is? The recently defeated Hidden Sand? The Hidden Cloud, who are observing from the sidelines? Or the Hidden Stone, who are currently locked in intense battle with you?"
"...Peace is hard-won. No matter who it is, they cannot interrupt our peace talks," Hiruzen Sarutobi said in a low voice.
"Well said! Then, Hokage-sama, please use this opportunity to think carefully!"
A deathly silence fell over the meeting room, but the expressions of those present grew increasingly tense. General Mifune, who had been enjoying the spectacle, was now clenching his toes tightly, his eyes fixed on the meeting room door, hoping that the Land of Iron's samurai and the Akatsuki organization could hold off the invaders.
As for Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze, one was caught in a difficult dilemma by Yoru's demands, while the other had already produced a Flying Thunder God kunai, ready to lead his Hokage to retreat at any moment.
Only Yuki Yoru and the Third Mizukage remained calm and unhurried.
After a long while, the commotion outside gradually subsided. A samurai jogged into the meeting room, whispering into Mifune's ear, "General, our losses were quite severe, but thanks to the Akatsuki organization's help, all the assassins who came to disrupt us have been dealt with."
"Dealt with? That's good..." Mifune breathed a sigh of relief. Losses, what were losses? Compared to the Land of Iron's reputation and this 'Kage Summit,' they were insignificant!
However, Yuki Yoru, with his sharp hearing, slightly narrowed his eyes upon hearing the news.
It seems... I heard the name of an extraordinary organization.
It appeared that this time, besides extracting a lot from the Hidden Leaf, he might also encounter some truly interesting things.
"Gentlemen, although there was a small incident outside, with us here, this Kage Summit will not be disrupted!" General Mifune raised his hand, breaking the silence, and announced loudly, "Please continue, Kage!"
"..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Mifune a speechless look.
Continue what, continue? Seriously, can't you see I'm in a difficult spot here?
After a long silence, Hiruzen Sarutobi could only grit his teeth and say, "Mizukage-sama, Yuki Yoru, and General Mifune, we have traveled a long way from the Hidden Leaf, and we are weary from our journey. Might we perhaps pause the meeting and resume after a day of rest...?"