Should Small Nations Be Held at Kunai Point?

"Nobody?"

Sarutobi Yunosuke, who had always had a fiery temper, immediately looked displeased.

It was not just him. Even the calm Natsume frowned.

Though they knew the Hidden Rain Village's new leader might be trying to put them in their place, such a rude approach was simply...

Too crude.

Just as Sarutobi Yunosuke was about to force his way into Amegakure Tower, Amemura, an Amegakure Jōnin, finally appeared.

"My apologies. Something held me up for a while."

Amemura wore a Hidden Rain Village uniform and carried a short sword on his back. The smile on his face made it impossible to tell whether he was speaking the truth.

"Please, come in."

He extended a hand, gesturing for the three Konoha envoys to follow him inside.

"Hmph. A tiny Hidden Rain Village dares put on such airs."

Sarutobi Yunosuke was just about to lose his temper when Natsume stopped him.

"It's fine. Just a few tricks before the negotiations."

Natsume narrowed his eyes slightly, seemingly certain he had this negotiation in the bag.

"Let's go. Let's see what this newly appointed leader actually wants."

At his urging, Sarutobi Yunosuke finally suppressed the anger in his heart and followed Amemura inside.

They soon arrived at a spacious Conference Room, where they were told—

"Please wait here for a moment. Our leader will arrive shortly."

After saying that, Amemura left the Conference Room, leaving the three Konoha envoys staring at one another.

Natsume's brow furrowed deeply. What exactly was going on with the Hidden Rain Village?

Even with his composure, the repeated slights were starting to irritate him.

"If that damned new leader doesn't show up soon, I'll tear down his tower!"

Sarutobi Yunosuke soon lost his patience and began shouting loudly.

This time, Natsume, as the team leader, did not stop him. That had been the main reason for bringing Yunosuke along.

It would be good to give that Hidden Rain Village leader a little warning.

Sure enough, not long after hearing Yunosuke's shouting, Jingū Kiraku finally appeared at the Conference Room entrance.

"Sorry to have kept our esteemed guests waiting."

A faint smile rested on his face, while a cold-faced female ninja followed behind him.

Her gaze was icy, and she seemed to harbor deep hostility toward the Konoha ninja.

Natsume did not care about that.

Plenty of people hated Konoha. One Rain Ninja was nothing.

At that moment, he had eyes only for one person: the new leader rumored to have personally killed Hanzō the Salamander.

Jingū Kiraku slowly sat down across the conference table, a faint smile on his lips as he said,

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Jingū Kiraku, and I am currently the leader of the Hidden Rain Village."

Upon hearing this, Natsume was just about to stand and politely introduce himself when Jingū Kiraku rudely interrupted him.

"May I ask what brings you all to the Hidden Rain Village?"

Natsume's gaze darkened slightly at being cut off, but out of professional courtesy, he sat back down with composure.

"We have come on the Hokage's orders to visit you, Leader, and to promote cooperation and development between our two nations."

After saying that, Natsume waited for Jingū Kiraku to exchange a few pleasantries. Instead, when he looked up, he met a half-smiling gaze that seemed to say—

Keep talking. I'll listen.

This unexpected reaction made Natsume pause slightly, leaving him no choice but to force himself into the main topic.

"Additionally, we would like to discuss the matter of war reparations with you, Leader."

At the mention of war reparations, the new leader across from him finally reacted.

He raised a brow and looked at the Konoha envoys before him.

"What reparations?"

That question instantly left all three of them dumbfounded.

What reparations? Naturally, the reparations for the Hidden Rain Village's surrender!

But Natsume quickly realized that this new leader was simply playing dumb.

He snorted inwardly, and his tone turned forceful.

"Leader, surely you have not forgotten the armistice treaty the Hidden Rain Village previously signed with Konoha?"

Sensing the atmosphere suddenly grow serious, Erika immediately went on guard—

As though she could draw her sword and start cutting people down at any moment.

Yet Jingū Kiraku remained unaffected and merely asked in return,

"Of course I remember it. But may I ask who signed that treaty?"

Faced with the question, Natsume answered without hesitation.

"Naturally, it was your Hanzō."

Jingū Kiraku smiled and immediately mocked him.

"Since Hanzō signed the treaty, what does it have to do with me, Jingū Kiraku?"

At those words, Sarutobi Yunosuke could no longer hold back.

He smashed his fist into the conference table, sending cracks racing across its surface, then leaned forward and glared furiously at Jingū Kiraku.

"So you're planning to renege on the debt?"

Jingū Kiraku's expression did not change as he watched wood splinters jump from the table.

He folded his hands and spoke slowly.

"Gentlemen, let me ask you something. Where do you think these reparations came from?"

Natsume frowned as he looked at the composed Hidden Rain Village leader before him.

"Naturally, they were won through the hard fighting of us Konoha ninja!"

At those words, Jingū Kiraku finally smiled.

A terrifying chill instantly swept through the entire Conference Room, as if even the air were about to freeze solid.

He slowly rose to his feet, pressing both hands against the cracked tabletop as he asked coldly,

"So what you're saying is that after you killed Hidden Rain Village ninja and harmed the people of the Land of Rain, you also expect us to pay you reparations, correct?"

Jingū Kiraku's questioning made Natsume's expression turn somewhat unnatural, but he still gritted his teeth and said,

"Because you are a small nation! The defeated side!"

"Should a small nation be held at kunai point?"

Jingū Kiraku let out a cold laugh as astonishing killing intent rapidly spread outward.

Seeing this, Natsume knew the Hidden Rain Village leader intended to fight this to the bitter end.

He suddenly let out a disdainful laugh.

"In that case, I hope you can withstand Konoha's wrath, Leader."

"Your actions will bring an even heavier and more painful disaster upon the Land of Rain."

"Just like Hanzō the Salamander."

With that, Natsume stood up and prepared to leave with his two companions.

"Wait."

Jingū Kiraku also straightened up, his voice calm.

"Your companion smashed my conference table. He hasn't paid for it yet."

Upon hearing that, Sarutobi Yunosuke immediately turned around.

"If you've got the nerve, come to Konoha and collect it from me, Leader of the Hidden Rain Village."

The moment he finished speaking, his pupils rapidly dilated.

Because Jingū Kiraku had already appeared before him.

"Sorry, but I don't like people owing me money."

A calm voice reached him, along with Jingū Kiraku's fist.

The attack was too fast. Caught off guard, Sarutobi Yunosuke could only raise his arm to block.

The next second, he felt as though he had been struck by some enormous Summoning Beast.

Cracking sounds of breaking bones erupted from within his body. His entire body twisted as he smashed through the Conference Room wall like a cannonball, crashing heavily onto the street outside...