Kumogakure's Envoys

Compared to Konoha, Kumogakure chose its Third Raikage far more quickly. Kumogakure's style was exactly like that of the mafia. After Third Raikage A crushed Kinkaku and Ginkaku's coup, he naturally inherited his father Second Raikage A's position as Raikage.

Having taken office in such haste, Third Raikage A had a mountain of messes waiting for him. The most pressing issue now was how to calm Konoha's fury.

Third Raikage A stared at Tobirama Senju's corpse before him, his head throbbing. If this was handled poorly, Kumogakure itself might face the risk of destruction.

This was not easy to resolve!

They had agreed to negotiate and stop fighting, rest for a few years, then settle the score again. Yet Kumogakure had failed to keep Kinkaku and Ginkaku in line. They launched a coup and directly killed the Second Hokage, who had come for negotiations.

Although their own Second Raikage had also died, Konoha definitely would not care about that. What did Konoha care whether their Raikage was dead or not? They had agreed to negotiate and stop fighting, yet someone from Kumogakure had launched a sneak attack?

Did they have any respect at all for the dignity of the Ninja World's foremost village?

Putting himself in Konoha's shoes, Third Raikage A knew that he would definitely rage until there was no end but death.

Things had come to this, so he could only hope Konoha would restrain itself and not go mad enough to perish together with Kumogakure.

Otherwise, Third Raikage A could only lead Kumogakure into a fight against Konoha to the bitter end.

A few days later, Kumogakure's envoys arrived in Konoha, hoping to discuss signing a new peace agreement, returning the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju's body, and other matters.

Since Kumogakure was at fault, they were willing to make concessions to the previous agreement.

Konoha promptly convened a meeting. With Tobirama Senju's remains about to be returned, there was no point in Mito Uzumaki trying to stall any longer. They still had to face reality.

The arguments at the meeting were extremely heated. The Senju Clan's jonin had a simple demand: fight to the end!

Their Clan Head and Hokage had been killed by an enemy village. If they did not even dare make a sound, Konoha might as well disband and let everyone go their separate ways.

Konoha must have revenge!!

A blood debt must be repaid in blood!!!

Such cries rose one after another and nearly became the mainstream.

Yet reality was cruel. War was a matter of vital importance to a nation, the ground of life and death; it could not be treated lightly.

Konoha could no longer wage a proper campaign. Their pockets were truly empty.

They had no money!

War burned money!

Who would pay for it?

Surely they could not count on those noble lords of the Land of Fire?

But such words could not be said aloud. Did they not understand political correctness?

Avenging the Hokage was the proper slogan.

Even though Uchiha Nan was sitting below and inwardly wanted to applaud, he had to put on an indignant expression, as though he could not wait to charge onto the battlefield and fight Kumogakure to the death.

The slogans on their lips had to be loud!

But when it came to actually sending troops to fight Kumogakure to the death, the Clan Heads of every ninja clan present had to weigh how long their own businesses could last. They could not possibly sell their ancestral assets to those blackhearted bankers of the Land of Fire.

Those bastards were a pack of profiteers even in ordinary times.

They sat steady as fishermen by the shore. As long as someone dared sell, they dared offer a price so low that even they themselves would feel guilty.

If they refused to sell, that was fine. The price would only fall further afterward.

Mito Uzumaki looked at the clamoring ninja demanding revenge below. The Clan Heads of every family wore mournful expressions and said nothing. Their stance was obvious enough.

They could seek revenge, but not now.

Konoha was already nearly spent. If they kept fighting, everyone would be finished.

After a major war, they would not only have to deal with Kumogakure. Iwagakure and Kirigakure might also join in. They might have to fight one against three.

In the end, Mito Uzumaki brought the Clan Heads of every family into a small room for the final meeting.

After discussion among the Clan Heads, they could not fight, but they had to put on a sufficient display. They could not let the other ninja villages think Konoha had grown weak.

If Konoha did not even dare utter a word after its Hokage had died, how could it continue leading the smaller villages around it, such as Kusagakure?

Naturally, Uchiha Nan had no objection. The one who died was not an Uchiha clansman, but Tobirama Senju.

Mito Uzumaki personally carried out War Mobilization among Konoha's ninja, swearing to seek justice and repay blood debts with blood.

Yet in secret, the Clan Heads of every family issued orders to their clan ninja stationed toward Kumogakure: they had to remain restrained.

They could not launch attacks proactively. Of course, if Kumogakure still dared send troops to attack, then there would truly be nothing left to discuss. They might as well perish together.

"If Kumogakure does not give us a satisfactory answer this time, Konoha will fight Kumogakure until one side dies!"

Facing Kumogakure's ninja, Konoha's officials issued their harshest diplomatic statement, making Kumogakure's envoys feel that they might not return alive from this trip to Konoha.

But with their mission on their shoulders, they still negotiated with Konoha.

On top of the original peace agreement, Kumogakure was willing to pay Konoha an additional 4 billion Ryo in reparations: 1 billion in the first year, with the rest paid off over five years.

Kumogakure, poor enough to rattle, made a major concession because it was in the wrong. They had no money either. If more was demanded, they truly could not afford it; people in the village had already starved to death.

Grain merchants had long since driven food prices to astronomical heights, fully three times the peacetime price.

The Raikage naturally came down hard on such merchants and beat several profiteers to death. Unfortunately, it was utterly useless.

But this was a business with profits several times over, enough to make people risk their lives.

Besides, the grain merchants all had backers. Making a fortune through war by raising food prices was not something that earned money from only one village. Which country's food prices had not skyrocketed?

Just look at neighboring Sunagakure. Food prices there had nearly risen five or sixfold, yet no one had said a word. Was Kumogakure somehow special?

Then the Raikage who had killed the merchants was warned.

Once Konoha saw Kumogakure lower its stance, the remaining matters became much easier to handle.

Threats, outrageous demands, then haggling. They exchanged a few rounds of harsh words, threatened to fight until mutual destruction if necessary, and finally returned to reality.

Konoha demanded an additional 500 million ryo, and Third Raikage A gritted his teeth and accepted it.

Money was merely an external possession.

Ten people starving to death was a number. Ten thousand people starving to death was also a number.

He had no choice. Reality was simply that cruel.

Let Kumogakure's villagers suffer a little; he would bear the infamy.

The final matter discussed at the meeting was when Tobirama Senju's body would be returned. This was a major matter for Konoha.

They would hold a Village Funeral for Tobirama Senju, and make it grand!

The Clan Heads of all Konoha's families had to attend personally. The occasion had to be magnificent!

They also had to notify the nobles of the Land of Fire. Every last one of them had to attend the funeral.

Konoha intended to collect a round of burial fees from the nobles and use the Hokage's funeral to make money. It was a little shabby.

But making money was nothing to be ashamed of.

Their household was nearly unable to keep the pot on the stove. Consecutive fiscal deficits had left Konoha spending more than it earned.

If Tobirama Senju had a spirit in heaven, he would surely agree. He contributed to Konoha while alive, and even after death, he continued to dedicate himself to Konoha.

That was the Will of Fire: exhausting oneself in service, giving everything until death!

Dear readers, could you slap my face with monthly tickets?