Uchiha Kin smiled, his gaze settling warmly on the Inuzuka Clan's Ninja Dog. It was a sturdy, medium-sized yellow dog, with yellow fur and a white face. It looked simple and good-natured, and a vertical line like a heavenly eye marked its forehead. Kin felt an inexplicable fondness for it.
"Ch-ch-ch—" Kin beckoned, making the sound a few times. The yellow dog wagged its tail and ran over, rubbing against his leg.
"That dog's nose is sharp," Kin said. He'd always liked country dogs like this. When he was little in his previous life, Big Yellows like this would run along behind him, bringing him many happy memories from his childhood.
This kind of Big Yellow was actually a tengu. People believed the vertical line on its forehead was a third eye.
There was a saying: "One dog guarding the gate keeps out gods and ghosts." They were extremely reliable.
The Inuzuka Clan regarded Ninja Dogs as friends, so seeing Kin take a liking to his dog made him happy, too. "Does Lord Kin like dogs?"
"Yeah, they're all right. I wouldn't say I particularly like them." As he spoke, Kin rubbed Big Yellow's head. The dog eagerly nudged his hand, clearly showing an unusual fondness for him. A strange thought crossed Kin's mind: Good grief, could you have transmigrated here too? Have you found a fellow countryman?
The dog kept enjoying the attention until the Inuzuka called him away. Only then did he reluctantly leave. Yakushi Nonō smiled. "Kin, I can't believe Ninja Dogs like you so much!"
Minato asked, "The Rock Ninja are coming. Should we make preparations?"
"No need. When they arrive, I'll sit on one side with the Rock Ninja on the other. You can all sit with me." With that, Kin stood up. "Welcoming the Rock Ninja as their host, inside their own stronghold—what could be more wonderful?"
Everyone paused for a moment before understanding what Kin meant. Their spirits rose along with his.
The Rock Ninja party came within ten kilometers, and the Byakugan inside Kin sensed them.
That tiny frame of Ōnoki's contained astonishingly bright chakra. His whole body was like a glowing mass of chakra, making the people around him seem dim by comparison.
Soon, the Inuzuka who had reported earlier came back in. The Rock Ninja had arrived.
"Show them in."
Ōnoki rode on the back of a burly, more than two-meter-tall fat man. Entering what had once been a Rock Ninja stronghold filled him with a humiliation he couldn't put into words. He scanned the room and immediately spotted the boy Ghost Blossom had mentioned.
His presence was like a mountain, like an abyss. He was impossible to miss; one look was enough. Among the gathered shinobi, Uchiha Kin stood out like an awl in a sack.
"You're Uchiha Kin?" Ōnoki's manner was far from friendly, and his tone was stiff. Anyone facing such humiliation would have struggled to be pleasant.
"That's right, I'm Uchiha Kin. Please, Tsuchikage."
Ōnoki lifted off the burly man's back, then floated about two heads taller than an average person. As he flew alongside Kin, he said, "I'd been curious what sort of person the boy who defeated the Rock Ninja's finest commander would be..."
"Living up to the rumors?" Kin raised an eyebrow.
"A pity, a pity... A fine steed dies in its stable, or is humiliated at the hands of a slave. If you were with the Rock Ninja, you'd have been given important duties long ago.
"It's laughable that the Hidden Leaf had a talent like you on the battlefield and failed to make use of him. Countless shinobi died because of incompetents, and the Sand Ninja pushed right up to their doorstep. If it weren't for you, the Rock Ninja would have reached the Hidden Leaf's doorstep by now, too. Heh..."
Ōnoki spoke at an unhurried pace, quickly finding his rhythm. He lamented that Kin had been unappreciated before.
Kin smiled as he invited Ōnoki to sit. The people accompanying both sides sat down as well, and the gathering took on the air of negotiations.
Once seated, Ōnoki got straight to the point. "Tell me. What terms do you want for a ceasefire?"
"I always thought only young people like me were hot-blooded. I didn't expect you to be so vigorous in your old age, Tsuchikage.
"Since that's the case, I'll be blunt. We can have a ceasefire, but you'll have to give something up. Otherwise, what would have been the point of fighting this war? I think Qingshi Town is a fine place. I want it.
"Transfer Qingshi Town to the Land of Fire, and the Land of Fire will hold permanent ownership of the area. The Rock Ninja can have the right to assist with its future management and development..."
"Impossible!" Ōnoki refused outright. "The Daimyo would never agree to such terms. The Rock Ninja can relinquish a portion of our mission share."
"Tsuchikage, there's no point negotiating like that. The Land of Earth is barren, and its agriculture and animal husbandry are difficult to develop. You can only rely on mercenary work. Those mission shares of yours mean nothing to us, whether you give them up or not.
"Your own people don't even make a living from missions, and we have no use for yours either... Let's be frank. If we're going to negotiate, let's negotiate over Qingshi Town.
"Perhaps you'd like to think it over?"
The first negotiating meeting ended after only a few exchanges. Ōnoki didn't linger for a moment; he left with his people.
The next day, they met again. Ōnoki stated his position. "Ceding Qingshi Town to the Land of Fire is absolutely out of the question. The Rock Ninja would sooner fight to the last man than accept those terms. If you're willing to consider another arrangement, we can discuss it."
"Please, Tsuchikage."
"The Daimyo of the Land of Earth will grant Qingshi Town and part of the surrounding area to you personally, in the name of an award—
"But that award will have nothing to do with the Land of Fire or the Hidden Leaf. When you govern and manage the area in the future, you must not pay lip service to this arrangement while actually letting the Hidden Leaf or the Land of Fire's administrative authorities run things.
"Qingshi Town must belong to you alone!"
Kin said, "Well..." and seemed to fall into thought. In truth, his mind raced. Ōnoki being so accommodating had taken him by surprise.
Still, he couldn't agree too easily. So he feigned hesitation and haggled with the Tsuchikage back and forth.
After Ōnoki had reasoned with him, appealed to his emotions, and brought up the Daimyo's prestige, practical interests, and a host of other arguments, Kin finally agreed.
He also made some demands of his own. He'd prepared them long ago: the Rock Ninja would help build the area's basic infrastructure. Naturally, he initially demanded that they do it for free. The Tsuchikage wouldn't agree, of course, and after another fierce exchange, they each gave a little. The work would be done at the lowest labor rate, with payment delayed for three years.
The Tsuchikage shot to his feet. "Good. Since we've reached an agreement, let's sign the treaty today!"
Kin stood as well, unable to hide his good mood. "Then may the friendship between the Land of Earth and the Land of Fire last forever!"
"May the friendship between the Land of Earth and the Land of Fire last forever!"
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