Visitors from Iwagakure

Year Two of Konoha.

Two guests arrived in Konoha Village. One was wrapped in bandages, while the other had a bulbous red nose.

They were Mu, the future Second Tsuchikage of the Hidden Stone Village, and Onoki, the future Third Tsuchikage.

Representing the Hidden Stone Village of the Land of Earth, they had come to Konoha seeking an alliance and hoping to forge a peace treaty.

Outside the Konoha White Palace, Uchiha Yan led a group out to receive them.

Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama had gone off to capture Tailed Beasts again as soon as the New Year was over, so they were currently absent from the village. Uchiha Yan received the guests in their stead.

Mu and Onoki stood before the White Palace. Compared to the rugged style of the Hidden Stone Village, Konoha's architecture was far more refined.

"Your journey from afar must have been exhausting."

Mu bowed. "Lord Yan. On behalf of the Hidden Stone Village, I present Konoha with a peace treaty. We hope our two nations can become allies."

Uchiha Yan's gaze fell upon Mu, but he did not respond immediately.

He was particularly interested in this future Second Tsuchikage. Aside from the Nine-Tails, there were few things in the entire ninja world that Uchiha Yan truly coveted. Welcome Approach: Thousand-Armed Murder was one of them, though it was merely a nice bonus. Dust Release—the ninja world's sole Bloodline Selection—was what truly made his heart itch.

When it came to the strongest defense in the ninja world, there was the so-called Shield of Sand, Rotation, the Third Raikage's Lightning Release Armor, and Uchiha Itachi's Yata Mirror. But when it came to the strongest offense, if Dust Release dared to rank second, no ninjutsu would dare claim first. Below the Sage of Six Paths, it ignored all defenses. Before Dust Release, all beings were equal—there was no defense that one blast of Dust Release could not solve. And if there was, then two blasts would do.

In the original story, during the Five Kage's battle against Uchiha Madara, Onoki had carried the damage output while the other four Kage could only provide support. That showed just how powerful Dust Release was.

"There's no rush. You two have traveled thousands of miles and must be weary from the journey. You should first take a look around Konoha. Konoha was founded to dissolve hatred and safeguard peace in the ninja world. As a representative of love and peace, Konoha naturally does not wish to see war break out in the ninja world again."

Upon hearing Uchiha Yan's reply, both Mu and Onoki let out sighs of relief.

They had always heard that the Uchiha Clan was arrogant, conceited, and difficult to deal with. They had not expected this Uchiha Yan to be so humble, courteous, and approachable.

Before coming here, Mu and Onoki had prepared themselves for the worst.

"Then we thank you, Lord Yan." Mu nodded.

"You two should take a good look around Konoha first," Uchiha Yan said. "The Land of Earth and the Land of Fire have rather different customs. I will carefully review the treaty on my end. Tomorrow, both sides can sit down and discuss matters properly."

He turned and instructed Uchiha Tekka beside him, "Tekka, take our two guests around Konoha."

"Yes, Lord Yan."

Mu and Onoki understood. An alliance between two nations was not something that could be settled just because one side said so. It involved interests, whether the two nations held equal standing, and how problems would be resolved—none of which could be settled in a short time. Mu and Onoki had already prepared themselves for several days of grueling negotiations.

In the original story, Mu had also brought Onoki on a diplomatic mission to Konoha, only for Uchiha Madara to stop them and humiliate them.

Over the following days, Konoha and the Hidden Stone Village held several rounds of negotiations regarding the alliance agreement.

The conference hall on the second floor of the Konoha White Palace.

Konoha's representatives: Chancellery Director Senju Tobirama, Secretariat Director Nara Shikato, Ministry Director Hyuga Tennin, and Uchiha Yan.

The Hidden Stone Village's representatives: Mu and Onoki.

Both sides traded words across the table without yielding an inch. From trade provisions to military assistance, from intelligence sharing to border demarcation.

Uchiha Yan sat to one side throughout, never interfering.

With Secretariat Director Nara Shikato serving as adviser, Chancellery Director Senju Tobirama playing the hardliner, and Ministry Director Hyuga Tennin playing the conciliator, all he needed to do was sit back and watch. He only spoke when they truly could not reach a decision.

"Hmph." Senju Tobirama snorted. "Konoha is currently the strongest among the five great nations. Should the Land of Earth be attacked by another country, Konoha would have to help defend it against foreign enemies. Therefore, Konoha cannot form a brotherly alliance with the Hidden Stone Village. As a condition, the Hidden Stone Village should pay tribute to Konoha every year."

"Impossible." Mu refused decisively. "Equality is the foundation. This is the Hidden Stone Village's bottom line."

"If tribute is unacceptable, then once Konoha and the Hidden Stone Village become allies, Konoha will station troops in the Hidden Stone Village. Konoha will send a small force of ninja to the Land of Earth to deter the other nations and prevent them from attacking the Land of Earth."

This was the counterproposal Konoha had discussed yesterday. Tribute truly was too much to demand, but stationing a small force of ninja in the Hidden Stone Village was not entirely unacceptable compared to the former.

Mu's expression darkened.

"No." His tone was even harsher than before. "The Hidden Stone Village will never accept foreign troops being stationed there. If the Land of Earth is attacked by another country, the Land of Earth can cover Konoha's military expenses. But we will not accept stationed troops."

What a joke. If Konoha stationed troops in his home, what sovereignty would the Land of Earth have left?

"If this is Konoha's attitude, then there is no need to discuss this alliance."

"That won't do, and neither will that." Konoha had already made concessions. "As the strongest great nation, Konoha gains no benefit from allying with the Hidden Stone Village. Konoha would also have to help the Hidden Stone Village defend against foreign enemies, so it must receive tangible benefits."

The negotiations reached an impasse.

At that moment, Uchiha Yan spoke.

"If Konoha and the Hidden Stone Village form an alliance, then in terms of trade, the Hidden Stone Village must not impose extra taxes on Konoha's goods or obstruct Konoha's goods from entering the Land of Earth. Furthermore, Konoha must be able to purchase the Land of Earth's mineral resources and goods at lower prices than other buyers."

"That isn't excessive, is it?"

Compared to tribute and stationed troops, this condition was indeed much milder. As the strongest ninja village, Konoha was bound to gain some advantage. Preferential trade terms and purchasing discounts would cause the Hidden Stone Village economic losses, but they did not at least touch upon its sovereignty or dignity.

"This..." Mu considered it for a moment. "Agreed."

"Then let us continue."

The negotiations continued.

The negotiations lasted an entire day, and the two sides finally reached a preliminary consensus on the trade provisions. Their alliance was more or less settled. The specific tax rates, purchasing discounts, and lists of goods would still need to be further refined afterward.

In truth, at the very start of the negotiations, Uchiha Yan had used Kotoamatsukami on Mu.

Kotoamatsukami's command was simple—"Unconditionally obey any decision made by Uchiha Yan."

This command would not affect Mu's normal thinking or judgment in other matters. He would still fight reasonably for the Hidden Stone Village's interests. But as long as Uchiha Yan spoke, Mu would obey unconditionally.

The Sharingan was an eye that reflected the heart. A Mangekyo's abilities corresponded to the obsession and state of mind at the instant its owner awakened it. When he awakened his eyes, this body's obsession had been not wanting to die, wanting to change everything, while his own obsession had been escape—not wanting to face this world. Thus, the abilities of Uchiha Yan's Mangekyo Sharingan were Kotoamatsukami in his left eye and Kamui in his right.