Konoha, Kirigakure, Sunagakure: Alliance of the Three Villages (Part 2)

The envoy took the scroll and examined it closely. The first clause stated: From the day both parties agree to these terms, Konoha and Kirigakure shall open their respective ports and coastlines to each other, and abolish all import tariffs on each other's goods.

The second clause stipulated that Konoha must commit to importing at least three thousand kilograms of seafood caught by Kirigakure annually.

The third clause: Should Kirigakure have a need to purchase raw iron, Kunai, Shuriken, or other ninja tools and commodities, Konoha shall not impose any additional surcharges, maintaining the same pricing as within Konoha, with transportation costs to be borne by Kirigakure.

The fourth clause...

The fifth clause...

The sixth clause...

The envoy scanned through them roughly and discovered that among the twenty-six clauses, not a single one mentioned that Kirigakure must withdraw from this war or provide support to Konoha.

The entire document had only one focus: the two sides doing business.

Furthermore, many of the clauses were actually beneficial to Kirigakure.

Take the first clause, for instance; if both sides abolished import tariffs, Kirigakure would make a fortune!

Konoha had very few merchant ships traveling to the Land of Water or Kirigakure, whereas they had plenty of cargo ships that needed to come to Konoha.

The envoy was bewildered. What kind of terms were these?

He looked at Yuya suspiciously, but Yuya just smiled affably. "This is the sincerity we offer. I believe your side can already see that we have made significant concessions."

The envoy fell silent. That was certain; these terms could even be described as generous.

Yuya added, "By the way, the Land of Water has highly developed waterways and many large cargo ships. Konoha has a need for such vessels as well. As for the pricing, I assume you cannot make that decision yourself, so please relay this message to your Mizukage."

The envoy could only nod blankly.

Yuya continued with a smile, "Additionally, Konoha would like to select a site in the Land of Water to build a steel processing plant. The Land of Water is rich in relevant mineral resources. Konoha only requires one-tenth of the raw iron output from the plant within the first three years. Please convey this message to your Mizukage as well."

The envoy continued to nod in a daze.

In the end, until he was escorted out of the tent, the Kirigakure envoy's mind was a complete blank.

Are you people in Konoha running a charity?!

Giving us so many benefits?

Kagami Uchiha saw the delegation off, and upon returning, he saw Yuya dispelling his transformation jutsu. He frowned and asked, "I understand your intention is to have Konoha pay a price to survive this period, but isn't this giving Kirigakure too many benefits?"

Yuya looked puzzled. "Why do you say that?"

Kagami Uchiha replied, "How is it that all those clauses seem to benefit Kirigakure?"

Yuya immediately laughed. "If that's how you feel, then that's perfect. I'm sure the Mizukage of Kirigakure will feel the same way."

Kagami Uchiha was confused. Why does what you just said sound wrong to me?

Yuya did not explain the specific reasons to Kagami Uchiha, merely stating, "I wouldn't just give away Konoha's resources for no reason. Giving Kirigakure so many benefits today is naturally because, in the future, I will take back even more, with interest."

To the ninjas of this world, who didn't even understand the definition of economics and spent their days only fighting and brawling, every condition Yuya proposed looked like a benefit to Kirigakure.

However, they overlooked one implicit condition.

That was, once these clauses were truly implemented, the merchants of Konoha would enjoy the exact same tax exemptions.

Although Yuya had been saying that Konoha was currently just a small village and not much to speak of, it depended on who you compared it to.

The ninja villages of the other four great nations were not even as good as the current Konoha.

In the world of Yuya's past life, it took a city in one country only a dozen years to transform from a small fishing village into an international metropolis.

And that was without any supernatural powers.

In this life, with ninjas possessing supernatural abilities, Yuya felt he might not even need ten years to let Konoha fully develop.

You all think these are benefits for Kirigakure. Sorry, but these are actually beneficial to us as well.

Let's start by giving Kirigakure a little taste of "dumping" shock.

After Yuya finished talking with the envoy from the Land of Water, just as Yuya had anticipated, the high-ranking officials of Kirigakure didn't even consider that there might be traps within these clauses.

After reading each clause carefully, the Second Mizukage Gengetsu had only one thought.

These terms proposed by that disciple of Senju Hashirama were surely meant to stall the progress of the Land of Water, to keep them from standing with the Land of Lightning.

The Second Mizukage sneered repeatedly. Do you really think I would agree to these conditions proposed by your Konoha?

How ridiculous.

The Second Mizukage Gengetsu summoned the major clans of Kirigakure.

Gengetsu stated that he did not intend to sign and would fight Konoha to the end, letting Senju Tobirama get a good taste of his Steaming Danger Tyrant.

But the major clans of Kirigakure would not have it.

They didn't care about the commoners of Kirigakure, but if these terms could be implemented, their clans would certainly gain massive benefits.

Not to mention anything else, just the promise of three thousand kilograms of seafood annually was a net profit of over a million ryo—and that was just one of the twenty-six clauses!

"Although you are the esteemed Second Mizukage, you cannot be arbitrary and tyrannical. We must all vote together. At most, we'll give you face as the Mizukage and count your vote as 1.5."

The Second Mizukage was so angry his fierce nature was fully exposed.

What do these guys know!

This is a stalling tactic by Konoha!

This is Konoha trying to keep them from joining that war!

Second Mizukage Gengetsu was furious and summoned an elder from the Yuki clan, whom he trusted most.

The elder saw things quite clearly and asked Second Mizukage Gengetsu, "If Kirigakure joins the war, even if we win, can we destroy Konoha? Will the losses be heavy? And what is our ultimate goal?"

Second Mizukage Gengetsu replied, "If Kirigakure attacks alongside Iwagakure and Kumogakure, we should be able to win, though it would require paying a price and many ninja would die. We certainly couldn't destroy Konoha; after all, the Land of Fire still has ninja forces outside of Konoha village, and they would surely help if they saw Konoha in danger of annihilation.

As for our ultimate goal, it is, of course, to gain benefits through this war."

Having said this, Second Mizukage Gengetsu had an epiphany.

That's right! Why am I joining the war? It's to gain benefits!

Now that Konoha has already prepared those benefits for them, they don't even have to risk their own village's ninja being wiped out on the battlefield. They can just sit at home and count money—isn't that better than risking their lives on the battlefield, only to potentially end up working for Kumogakure and Iwagakure in the end?!

Although Kumogakure had made them promises, claiming that if they won, the greatest benefits would go to Kirigakure.

But those words are just for show; surely no one actually believes those muscle-headed idiots from Kumogakure, right?

Truth be told, they didn't even provide a deposit, but look at Konoha—how generous they are!

Consequently, the Second Mizukage hurriedly sent men to Konoha to sign a treaty.

In the summer of Year 17 of Konoha, Kirigakure, which had originally promised Kumogakure it would send troops, sent a delegation to Konoha to sign an agreement for mutual market access.

Naturally, Kirigakure could not possibly do something like signing a trade cooperation agreement and then immediately turn around and send troops to attack them.

Konoha's eastern front was finally free from worry.

Senju Tobirama was happy, but also anxious. Although Yuya had said these regulations would also benefit Konoha, Tobirama couldn't see any benefit no matter how he looked at it.

However, Tobirama felt he should place more trust in Yuya.

In any case, if things went south, he could just send this guy to prospect for gold mines. A single gold mine would have at least dozens of tons of gold, which would cover any losses.

Thinking this, Tobirama regained his good mood.

After all, regardless of how many benefits Konoha appeared to be giving away in this agreement, the reality was that Yuya had indeed kept Kirigakure from joining this war.

Yuya felt somewhat helpless about this; he really hadn't lied. Within three years, they would all know exactly how much benefit this agreement held.

If things had just ended there, it would have been fine.

What Yuya and Tobirama never expected was...

Sunagakure couldn't sit still after seeing the agreement Kirigakure had signed with Konoha, and they sent people to Konoha with one goal:

The things you worked out with Kirigakure, let's work out the same thing between us.

Yuya was left completely dumbfounded: There are actually experts like this?