An Alliance of Enemies, The Importance of Rhetoric

The past few days have been difficult for Naruto Higashihiko.

The reason was simple: not all clan members agreed to give up the fight.

Having fought for years, the seeds of hatred had long been sown deep in their bones; it wasn't something that could be let go of just because they said so.

Now, if he said to stop fighting, those clan members who had been sharpening their knives and preparing for revenge would naturally turn their attention to him.

Not only that, but even the minority who agreed to the ceasefire were verbally attacking Naruto Higashihiko.

They pointed out his inadequate response, stating that he shouldn't have caused such serious losses.

Yesterday, someone even proposed that he atone with his death.

Sensing that things were not going well, Naruto Higashihiko tried his best to salvage some of his image, but even his two closest friends were now avoiding him from afar.

"It's obvious they're making me a scapegoat."

"Hahahaha, is this what I worked hard for half my life for?"

Naruto Higashihiko had been drinking. Before he even entered the tent, the strong smell of alcohol hit him.

When he lifted the curtain and saw the ninja wearing a mask inside, more than half of his drunkenness instantly vanished.

"Who are you?" he asked.

He was, after all, still the commander. His subordinates wouldn't be so ill-mannered.

This was the main army camp; the enemy couldn't possibly have infiltrated.

If it were an Uchiha assassin, they would have already launched their attack the moment he lifted the curtain.

Compared to an enemy assassin, he'd rather believe the masked man was a product of internal clan strife.

However, he was disappointed in the end.

Looking at the handsome face beneath the mask, and the slowly rotating three tomoe, Naruto Higashihiko quietly reached for his waist.

He could accept failure in a power struggle and face the wrath of his clan with equanimity, but he absolutely would not die at the hands of the enemy.

What's more, it was the person he hated the most in his heart.

"Uchiha Kyosuke!" the Nara Clan Head uttered the masked man's name.

"It's me." Kyosuke slowly put on his mask and said with a faint smile, "Speaking of which, this is the first time we've met."

"Don't worry, we'll be meeting more often from now on." The man's words were filled with threat.

It seemed he was about to notify his subordinates to come and arrest him.

But for some reason, Naruto Higashihiko hesitated to act.

As an opponent, he was well aware of the young man's cunning.

If the other party dared to show himself so brazenly, he must have had sufficient confidence to leave, even though he couldn't figure out the truth no matter how hard he tried.

Moreover, Naruto Higashihiko also wanted to know the young man's purpose for coming.

Seeing this, Kyosuke pointed to the wine pot in his hand and said with a faint smile, "I can see that Clan Head Higashihiko's days have not been easy."

"Thanks to you," the man retorted lightly.

"The Ino-Shika-Cho are about to be transferred on a large scale. To appease the emotions of the clan members, we must find a suitable outlet."

"Clan Head Higashihiko, who do you think is qualified to be this lucky one?"

It's me, Naruto Higashihiko thought, his brow furrowed, his face full of impatience. "Did you come here just to say this? Get to the point."

Hearing this, Kyosuke didn't disrupt his pace at all. The more anxious the other party was, the better the effect of the conversation would be.

Why is he anxious?

Because he's afraid. It doesn't matter if Naruto Higashihiko himself suffers, but he still has a wife and children.

If he fails in the struggle, he's afraid his family will also be implicated.

How to handle this matter has become a problem that troubles him day and night.

"Seeking refuge with the Senju is good, but the outcome is still a direct confrontation with the Uchiha."

"Even if your family escapes the slaughter, they will have to face us again in the future."

"...This is the fate of a ninja," Naruto Higashihiko said in a low voice.

"Mr. Higashihiko, I have a method that I believe can help you." Kyosuke's tone was alluring, like the wolf grandmother persuading Little Red Riding Hood to open the door.

He posed an unavoidable question and then quietly offered a solution.

He discussed the pros and cons of the situation, appearing to be completely considerate of the other party.

His experience from his previous life gave him excellent negotiation skills.

Next, Kyosuke elaborated on his thoughts in detail.

During this time, he still did not reveal any of his demands, leaving his opponent unable to guess his intentions.

"Fleeing to the Land of Lightning?" Naruto Higashihiko's tone was full of doubt.

In Kyosuke's explanation, one point was made very clear.

The Senju are indeed the best option, ensuring the prosperity of the three clans for generations.

He wasn't lying about this, nor was he trying to manipulate the other man's judgment.

He had merely, in the most crucial part, subtly reminded the man of one thing.

No matter the Senju's attitude, your outcome will not change at all.

If you truly care for your clansmen, then choose to die with generosity.

But if there's even a shred of selfishness, then fine, I'll show you other options.

Silence, a deathly silence.

For a full ten minutes, Naruto Higashihiko didn't say a word. Kyosuke could only watch his expression shift like a Sichuan opera mask.

"What should I do?"

The will to survive had, after all, taken precedence.

"The resentment your clansmen hold against you mostly stems from the losses in those few battles."

"If you can annihilate a group of Uchiha forces before you leave, I believe it will be enough to quell the anger in your clansmen's hearts."

"At the very least, it should save your life."

He looked up and stared intently at the young man. Suddenly, a smile appeared at the corner of Naruto Higashihiko's mouth. "So, you've come to make a deal."

He was clever and, from Kyosuke's single sentence, had inferred many things.

If handled well, this could even solve the problem of his exile to the Land of Lightning.

As for whether to agree, Naruto Higashihiko couldn't think of any reason to refuse.

Next, the two discussed the entire process in detail, even openly discussing how to scheme against Uchiha Hikari.

Watching the man fully engaged, Kyosuke smiled inwardly, thinking his persuasion skills hadn't deteriorated.

If he had immediately stated his intention to harm a colleague, he would likely have been rejected on the spot.

Even the subsequent temptations would have been useless.

The resentment in his heart would have absolutely clouded Naruto Higashihiko's judgment.

"You've already harmed me to this extent, and now you want me to help you? Not even in death!" That was likely his thought.

Conversely, he had considered the matter from the other man's perspective the entire time.

As for his own demands, they were subtly woven in.

Naruto Higashihiko would think, I want to live, and helping him out along the way isn't a big deal.

The outcome is the same, the motive unchanged, yet the results are vastly different.

This is the importance of rhetoric.

Even the clever Clan Head of the Nara Clan couldn't escape the manipulation of another civilization.

"Very well, it's decided." Naruto Higashihiko had completely taken control of the conversation.

Of course, this was merely his illusion.

He firmly imprinted the written plan in his mind. With a flick of his hand, the paper immediately began to burn.

"What are you planning to do next?" Naruto Higashihiko still had other questions, but when he turned around, Kyosuke was nowhere to be seen in the tent.

He stood there stunned for a long time, then sighed softly.

What those feelings contained, perhaps only he himself truly understood.