Trade Relations

Ruri seemed to transform into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. A surge of chakra carrying immense suction erupted from his mouth and shot straight toward the Seven-Tails.

The Seven-Tails instinctively sensed danger and tried to evade, but it could not escape. Having only just broken free from its seal, it was still somewhat weakened.

The Seven-Tails was firmly caught by Ruri's chakra. In the blink of an eye, the chakra transformed into gigantic chakra dragons that coiled around it one after another, then gradually pulled it toward Ruri.

"Roar!" The Seven-Tails let out repeated howls. Not only was its entire body being dragged along, but the chakra within it was continuously leaking away. Crimson chakra representing Tailed Beast chakra flowed along the chakra dragons and into Ruri's body.

"Is that... a sealing technique?"

"The Takikage possesses such a powerful sealing technique?"

"So this is his true strength. There is probably no one in the Shinobi World whose sealing techniques can reach his level..."

"Could the Uzumaki Clan do it? No... Perhaps only their second elder, who passed away a few days ago, could have used a sealing technique with such power..."

Shock. Shock was all that remained for the Five Kage. Including Hashirama, it was not as though they had never fought Tailed Beasts before. Defeating a Tailed Beast was not particularly difficult for shinobi of their caliber. The difficult part was that Tailed Beasts could not be completely destroyed and could only be sealed.

There were not many in the Shinobi World accomplished in sealing techniques. Sealing techniques were easy to learn but difficult to master. The use of sealing scrolls could be widely taught, but not everyone could master sealing techniques capable of sealing chakra or ninjutsu. It could be said that, apart from the Uzumaki Clan, hardly anyone was proficient in sealing techniques. Even Hashirama's seals for Tailed Beasts merely relied on Wood Style's suppression of Tailed Beast chakra and were crude, makeshift seals.

Tobirama watched the Seven-Tails being gradually absorbed clean with an unpleasant expression. He had wanted to test whether Ruri's Wood Style was real, yet he had witnessed something this unbelievable instead. This man could suppress a Tailed Beast through sealing techniques alone, and had even sealed the Tailed Beast within his own body!

Chomei's chakra was drained completely. Even its final physical form turned into chakra and was sealed within Ruri's body by the Phantom Nine Dragons Sealing.

Chomei inside Ruri's body was also suffering terribly. "Damn it, this feeling... why does it feel like the Ten-Tails?!"

Such dense chakra!

Ruri sensed the chakra within himself. The Phantom Nine Dragons Sealing just now had not only directly absorbed part of the Seven-Tails' chakra for his own use, but had also sealed the Seven-Tails inside him like a battery. The seal now gave him the feeling that whenever his chakra ran low, he could withdraw it from the Seven-Tails...

It truly deserved to be called a top-tier sealing technique. Ruri could not help but marvel. This was far stronger than the Four Symbols Seal or the Eight Trigrams Seal. It not only sealed the Tailed Beast, but directly put it to use as well. It was the perfect Jinchuriki!

Feeling the vigorous chakra within him, Ruri suddenly had the urge to fight Hashirama. What shinobi would not want a thrilling battle after growing stronger? Besides, there were no Jinchuriki in this era yet, and no one knew what changes would occur after sealing a Tailed Beast into a human body. Perhaps he could use the Seven-Tails' chakra to make Hashirama suffer a minor loss through carelessness?

"Let us continue discussing the terms of cooperation!" Hashirama's cheerful voice rang out, as though nothing had happened. Although he had not seen Ruri's Wood Style, that terrifying sealing technique had once again reshaped his understanding of Ruri's strength.

Tobirama stood silently behind Hashirama. His test of Ruri had failed, and Wood Style had not been drawn out. However, he had confirmed one thing: Ruri knew space-time ninjutsu. Before using that terrifying sealing technique, Ruri's spatial fluctuations had already been committed to memory.

The cooperation Hashirama spoke of was simple: ordinary mutual exchange of goods, opening trade between the nations, and dividing their respective territories to make it easier for each village to accept missions.

The Land of Water could provide abundant seafood and maritime trade. The Land of Earth had all kinds of building materials and construction workers. The Land of Fire possessed fertile soil and was a major producer of grain. The Land of Lightning was well-funded, and even the impoverished Land of Wind could offer minerals unique to its deserts. Trade sounded simple, but during the chaos of the Warring States Period, no two nations had ever established trade relations, because merchant caravans would be robbed and slaughtered by enemy shinobi halfway through their journeys. Trade could only exist once basic peace was ensured.

The Five Kage looked toward Ruri. If the Land of Waterfalls could not produce anything worth trading, then simple trade would amount to the five great nations unilaterally aiding the Land of Waterfalls. In that case, the Land of Waterfalls would undoubtedly be placed in a weak position once more.

"As for the Land of Waterfalls, we indeed have nothing with much trade value. We even need assistance from the various nations in terms of supplies, and we must also pay to purchase the Seven-Tails. The Land of Waterfalls truly has little strength left to spare, and I hope everyone can understand." Ruri seemed completely unconcerned as he slowly laid out the Land of Waterfalls' true circumstances.

"In that case, if Lord Takikage is willing to sell the Seven-Tails to us, the Land of Lightning can unconditionally support the commerce and agriculture of the Land of Waterfalls." A spoke impatiently. Only the wealthy Land of Lightning dared make such an offer. The Land of Water and the Land of Earth had nearly exhausted their liquid funds merely purchasing two Tailed Beasts.

"Thank you for your kindness, Lord Raikage, but the Land of Waterfalls is fully capable of sustaining itself. Its current development is also progressing well. We only need normal trade with everyone." Ruri said with a smile. When it came to money, the wealth amassed by the Black Market Exchange was surely greater than the Land of Lightning's liquid funds, but he could not say that! It was an underground business that could not see the light of day.

"But trading with the Land of Waterfalls brings us no benefit whatsoever. Why should we do something that offers no benefit?" Byakuren interjected.

Retto watched from the sidelines. This time, he did not speak up in support. Ruri had not brought Hero Water to the table, but Retto had coveted it for a long time. If he could take this opportunity to make Ruri offer Hero Water as a trade commodity, that would be ideal.

Of course Ruri understood Retto's intentions. However, the Land of Waterfalls had not accumulated much Hero Water since its founding. There was not much left even of the kind diluted several times that he had previously given Retto. How could he possibly bring it out to trade as ordinary goods?

"Well... didn't we just sign the Shinobi World Peace Agreement? Since we are all allied nations, of course we should help one another! Trading with the Land of Waterfalls may not bring you much benefit, but it will not bring any harm either, right?"

"But..."

"What is there to hesitate about? Besides, trading with the Land of Waterfalls can earn you my favor!" Ruri's words were rather playful. His favor? Did they need that?

"And look, it might not be entirely without benefits. The peace treaty has been set, but the Land of Fire's advantage of having vast fertile land has not changed. If peace lasts for more than a decade and the Land of Fire develops, perhaps even becoming powerful enough to fight all five of us alone, what will happen to our nations then? This geographical disadvantage..." Ruri's words sounded flippant, yet they gave the Kage Alliance much to ponder.

It was not that they were judging a gentleman's heart by their own narrow minds. Shinobi were simply practitioners of such a dark profession, and they had been enemies before this. Hashirama's attitude today was indeed sincere, but could sincerity alone truly guarantee anything? With peace in the Shinobi World, every nation would enter a period of rapid development. During that time, the Land of Fire, with the largest territory and the richest land, would hold the greatest advantage! What Ruri said about it developing to the point where it could fight one against five was not impossible! Even if Hashirama could guarantee that he would not invade other nations, what about after Hashirama died? Moreover, Konoha was not currently ruled by Hashirama's word alone. There was also Uchiha Madara, whose strength rivaled his, who stood on equal footing with him, and who possessed immense ambition!