Trade Deal Finalized

Hokage's Office.

Minato Namikaze looked at Shimura Ken before him and the list he had submitted, his brow slightly furrowed.

The list contained the names of all twenty-seven young ninja of suitable age in the Shimura Clan.

After every name, four words had been written in red ink: At your disposal.

"Elder Shimura, what is the meaning of this?" Minato Namikaze's voice revealed neither pleasure nor anger.

Shimura Ken's manner was exceedingly humble.

"Lord Hokage, Danzo... his crimes were monstrous. He has brought upon our clan a shame that can never be washed away."

"But the rest of the Shimura Clan has never wavered in our loyalty to the Land of Fire and to the Daimyo."

"We... we of the Shimura Clan also wish to serve the Daimyo!"

He suddenly raised his head, and his clouded old eyes abruptly turned sharp.

"Do the descendants of criminals still have a path to serve their country?"

"I beg Lord Hokage to show us a way forward!"

Minato Namikaze fell silent.

He looked at the old man, his thoughts churning.

The Daimyo had not issued any orders targeting the Shimura Clan.

Yet that silence was like a blade that could fall at any moment, leaving the entire Shimura Clan in constant terror.

Now, they could no longer endure it.

Minato Namikaze wanted to agree. After all, he was not blind; everyone in Konoha knew what kind of life the Shimura Clan had lived while Danzo was around.

But this was not a decision he could make.

"I will truthfully report your request to the Daimyo."

"As for whether the Daimyo is willing to give you an opportunity, I cannot guarantee it."

"Thank you, Lord Hokage! Thank you, Lord Hokage!" Even such an ambiguous reply allowed Shimura Ken to see hope.

He respectfully bent at the waist and gave a deep bow before shakily retreating from the room.

Watching Shimura Ken's stooped back, Minato Namikaze picked up the weighty list and sighed.

Once upon a time, the Shimura Clan had been one of Konoha's great clans. When had they ever been so humble?

He organized this request together with the lists from the other clans and dispatched someone to send them to the Land of Fire Capital as quickly as possible.

The fate of the Shimura Clan would be decided by a single word from that ruler.

Meanwhile, far away in the Land of Fire Capital, a negotiation was underway.

Daimyo Manor, side council hall.

The hall was warm as spring.

But the atmosphere was tense.

Minister of Finance Tanaka Shigeru wore a smile.

Opposite him sat the negotiating representatives from the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind.

The Land of Earth's envoy was a solidly built middle-aged man, though his face looked haggard.

Clearly, the negotiations that had lasted seven days had drained much of his energy.

Pointing at the trade agreement draft that had been revised more than twenty times, he said in a hoarse voice, "Lord Tanaka, we have already felt the sincerity of the Land of Fire."

"We are deeply grateful that the Land of Fire is willing to open exports of white sugar, silk, and refined sea salt."

"However..."

He abruptly changed tack and pointed to one of the clauses in the draft.

"Regarding the establishment of a trade transit station at the border of our three nations, with the Land of Fire taking the lead in construction while the Land of Earth and Land of Wind jointly provide funding..."

"We cannot accept this!"

Beside him, the Land of Wind's envoy nodded in agreement. His eyes narrowed, flashing with the vigilance and cunning unique to the desert people.

"That's right."

"Trade should be free. Merchants should be able to carry their goods back and forth between their respective towns."

"Why must there be a fixed trade station?"

"That sounds less like trade."

"And more like building a military fortress for the Land of Fire at the border."

The accusation was sharp as a blade.

The smile on Tanaka Shigeru's face did not change in the slightest.

Instead, a young man beside him stood up.

The young man was only in his early twenties. He was handsome, and his brand-new official robes made his already straight posture appear even more upright.

Even when facing the envoys of two nations, he remained as steady as a mountain.

The man was Asaba Toru, a trusted follower who had stayed by Chiba Ran's side throughout his rise to power.

He gave a slight bow before speaking in a clear voice, neither servile nor overbearing.

"Gentlemen, I believe you have misunderstood."

"The proposal to establish a trade transit station is not meant to restrict freedom. On the contrary, it is intended to safeguard the freedom and safety of traveling merchants."

He analyzed the bandit problem along the border, the safety of trade routes, tariff barriers, and other issues one by one.

He also compared the long-term costs of issuing missions with the one-time investment required to establish the transit station.

His words painted a vision of efficiency, safety, mutual benefit, and shared prosperity.

His argument was flawless.

However, the envoys of the two nations were clearly well versed in such matters and were not swayed by it.

"Sounds good!"

The Land of Wind's envoy snorted and set down his teacup heavily. "Young man, you have quite the gift for words. But we are discussing national interests, not trying to satisfy hunger with empty promises!"

The Land of Earth's envoy added, "The Land of Fire taking the lead in construction is unfair in itself."

"When the time comes, whether the trade station contains shops or barracks may no longer be up to us."

"We cannot accept this proposal!"

The negotiations instantly fell into a deadlock.

The air seemed to freeze as Asaba Toru's brows faintly knit together.

At that moment, Tanaka Shigeru, who had remained silent the whole time, finally spoke. "Gentlemen, please do not lose your tempers!"

He looked toward Asaba Toru and pretended to rebuke him.

"Watanabe, your intentions are good. You want prosperity for all three of our nations."

"But you are still too young. When considering matters, you cannot look only from the perspective of our Land of Fire. You must also understand the concerns of these two envoys."

Though it sounded like criticism, those words also eased the tension in the room.

The expressions of both envoys improved somewhat.

Only then did Tanaka Shigeru continue, "Since you both have concerns about this clause, then... why don't we each take a step back?"

"The trade station must still be built. For everyone's safety and interests, that point cannot be compromised."

"However, the method of construction can be changed."

Seeing the uncertain looks in the two envoys' eyes, Tanaka Shigeru presented his proposal.

"How about this? All three nations will send people to jointly supervise the construction of the trade station! The number of ninja stationed there must also be completely equal. No one may send more, and no one may send fewer!"

He paused, then looked at the envoys, who were growing increasingly serious, and added more weight to his offer. "Furthermore, the trade station's highest administrative officer will not be appointed by any single nation. Instead, representatives from all three nations will form a management committee to jointly administer the trade station!"

"With that, everything will be open and transparent, and power will be equal. You two should be reassured now, shouldn't you?"

Inside a hidden room separated by only one wall.

Chiba Ran watched with interest through a specially made one-way crystal.

Beautiful!

This act of good cop, bad cop had been played to perfection.

First, they threw out harsh conditions to test the bottom line and draw the fire.

Then, when the other side reacted strongly and negotiations reached a deadlock, they voluntarily yielded and presented a proposal they had prepared long ago.

It would make their opponents believe that it was only through their fierce resistance that they had forced the other side to make concessions.

Sure enough, experience trumped all.

As expected.

In the side hall, after a brief moment of astonishment, the envoys of the two nations immediately revealed delighted expressions.

Joint supervision? Equal numbers of ninja? Joint administration?

Was this not the ideal proposal they had hoped for?

Who would have thought the Land of Fire would propose it themselves?

The Land of Earth's envoy said with barely concealed excitement, "Do you truly mean that?"

"Of course I do!"

Tanaka Shigeru put on a righteous expression and waved his hand. "For peace, for the enduring friendship of our three nations, what do a few gains and losses matter? Our Land of Fire will yield!"

"Good!"

The Land of Earth's envoy slapped his thigh. "Lord Tanaka, your righteousness is admirable. On behalf of the Land of Earth, I agree!"

The Land of Wind's envoy hurriedly nodded as well. "Our Land of Wind agrees too!"

What followed, naturally, was the signing of the trade agreement by the representatives of all three parties.

A trade negotiation that had lasted seven days came to an end amid an atmosphere of universal satisfaction.

Chiba Ran set down his teacup in satisfaction and rose to leave.

Just then, Minamoto suddenly entered and whispered in his ear, "My lord, the Fourth Hokage's proposal has just arrived!"