I Have a Bunch of Relatives Who Want to Be Hokage Chapter 26

What should have been the classic scene of the higher-ups pounding their chests and crying out over the loss of a promising talent was forcibly changed by Might Guy's presence.

Might Guy had inherited his father's legacy and mastered this ninjutsu as well.

So the scene became one where two generations of Hokage opened their arms together, giving the hero's orphaned son a loving hug.

Uchiha Shingen sat at the very end, with Hatake Kakashi between him and Might Guy. The seating order alone made Might Guy's standing in the eyes of Leaf Village's higher-ups clear.

The little green beast had yet to develop his future flair. He probably did not realize the significance of sitting here and merely sat there looking bewildered, though his gaze toward Fuguki Suikazan was extremely complicated.

Clearly, he knew that the man opposite him could be considered his father's killer.

Hatake Kakashi's expression was impossible to read, considering only one eye was visible.

In short, everyone was very serious.

Fuguki Suikazan pulled a scroll from his robes, placed it on the table, and gently pushed it to the space between Namikaze Minato and Sarutobi Hiruzen.

That position was quite deliberate.

Namikaze Minato also took out a scroll and pushed it toward Fuguki Suikazan, while casually taking the Hidden Mist Village's scroll into his hand.

He then handed it to Sarutobi Hiruzen first.

"Third Hokage, I am not familiar with the handwriting of the Water Country Daimyo. Please verify it."

"You are the Hokage. Such an important document should naturally be examined by you personally; I cannot overstep my authority." Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled. "Of course, this old man will help you verify the handwriting as well."

"Sigh, it is only because I am not mature enough that I have to trouble the Third Hokage with such a trivial matter." Namikaze Minato sighed before opening the scroll and spreading it out between himself and Sarutobi Hiruzen.

The old man and the young man both studied it intently.

Across from them, Fuguki Suikazan also opened the scroll Namikaze Minato had handed over and examined it carefully.

This was clearly a high-level meeting. Beyond matters involving the interests of Leaf Village and Hidden Mist Village, the discussion also concerned state affairs between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water.

No wonder the notice from the Hokage Building to the Uchiha Clan had not even mentioned the meeting's contents.

After observing for a while, Uchiha Shingen realized that, aside from Hatake Kakashi and Might Guy, everyone else from Leaf Village attending the meeting was clearly already well informed.

After some time, both sides examining their letters of authorization raised their heads.

"Lord Suikazan, what do you think of our country's Daimyo's letter of authorization?"

"I have read it. There is no problem. Hokage, is our country's Daimyo's letter of authorization acceptable?"

"Your country's letter of authorization is well written, but it lacks the Daimyo's personal signature," Namikaze Minato said. "Daimyos of every country have always personally signed their letters of authorization. That is the case in our country, as well as the Lands of Wind, Earth, and Lightning."

"My apologies, but our customs differ from those of other countries. We use personal seals, which carry the same authority as a signature." Fuguki Suikazan explained with an apologetic expression. "I ask for the Hokage's understanding."

"I will not press the matter this time. But if your country sincerely wishes to befriend other nations, why not follow the conventions of all countries?"

"Our country's Daimyo has never signed documents personally. When I return, I will certainly inform the Mizukage of this matter and ask him to persuade the Daimyo."

"That would be best." Namikaze Minato nodded.

Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly spoke from the side. "The Land of Fire and the Land of Water have had no diplomatic relations in previous years. May both sides retain copies of these letters of authorization?"

"That is acceptable." Fuguki Suikazan agreed.

Namikaze Minato handed the letter of authorization to Sarutobi Hiruzen and continued, "What we are discussing this time concerns matters of great importance between our two countries. Lord Suikazan, you have broad experience and knowledge. I hope this meeting can promote benefits for both sides."

"Of course." Fuguki Suikazan nodded, his tone somewhat impassioned. "Among all nations, the Lands of Water and Fire are the closest neighbors. Today's disputes are only temporary. In the long run, mutual assistance and mutual benefit are the best course. If we remain enemies for generations, it will benefit neither the Land of Fire nor the Land of Water. We are both nations in the south of the continent. We should put the greater picture first and remain on friendly terms forever, so that the northern countries will not bully us."

His words made everyone present look at him sideways.

Well now, this man, renowned throughout the ninja world for his ruthlessness, sure had quite a way with words.

He had even brought up north and south.

"Lord Suikazan," Namikaze Minato could not help reminding him, "the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning, as well as Leaf Village and Cloud Village, also maintain friendly relations."

"That is exactly my point." Fuguki Suikazan looked approving. "If Leaf Village and Cloud Village can be friendly, then what is there to distrust about our Hidden Mist Village?"

On his other side, the old man with the cross-shaped scar on his chin frowned.

"Whether the Land of Fire and the Land of Water become friendly will not be decided based on the attitude of a third country."

Then he said to Namikaze Minato, "Fourth Hokage, let us continue discussing the main matter."

Shimura Danzo VS Fuguki Suikazan

Sitting in his seat, Uchiha Shingen listened to the conversation between the two sides. After listening for a while, he roughly understood what they were negotiating.

Simply put, because the ninja war had continued expanding its battlefield, it had risen to the national level. As the victor, Leaf Village had naturally made the Land of Fire a victorious nation as well.

Although Hidden Mist Village and Leaf Village had signed a ceasefire agreement that even included provisions for economic exchanges, that agreement was limited to the two villages. For the two countries, a ceasefire was far from enough.

However, since the conflict had been caused by a ninja war, the negotiators became the two major ninja villages, fully authorized by the Daimyos of their respective countries.

That also explained why, after Sand Village's defeat this time, the Wind Daimyo had specifically cut military funding and reduced mission orders.

For the Land of Wind, Sand Village had declared war on Leaf Village over the assassination of the Third Kazekage, only to surrender soon afterward. It had truly dragged the Land of Wind down with it, forcing the Land of Wind to concede benefits to the Land of Fire.

The way the central authorities operated was completely different. No wonder the Third Hokage could still hold the position of Hokage's advisor.

After thinking it over carefully, Uchiha Shingen understood many things.

The Uchiha Clan had never considered these rules before.

It wasn't that they did not want to understand; they simply had never entered the central apparatus and had been shut out of state affairs between Leaf Village and the Daimyo's Court, so they had no idea how this system operated.

In the Uchiha Clan's understanding, a truce between villages meant that peace had also been achieved between nations.

Because they did not understand, their perception of a Hokage stepping down or taking office naturally differed greatly.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's resignation was not, at its core, because the agreement with the Stone ninja looked too humiliating. On the surface, Leaf Village had suffered a loss, but the Land of Earth still had to surrender benefits, which would ultimately flow back to Leaf Village.

If Stone Village refused to give up a single hair, it would become the Land of Fire's best bargaining chip, and the Land of Earth would end up paying even more.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had still secured the benefits Leaf Village deserved.

His resignation had merely taken advantage of the moment to push Namikaze Minato into the central apparatus, further expanding the power of their faction within it.

If I were still a Senju Clan member, I'd say that damn rich bastard had picked the right man...

Uchiha Shingen felt a headache coming on.

He was personally quite gratified that a student he had taught back then could play power games so skillfully, but now it was becoming a bit of a trap.

One playthrough was one playthrough. He did not particularly care about changes in seniority; aside from the zeroth playthrough, they were all just experience packs to him.

It was just troublesome.

That had always been how he played games. Unless he had completely ruined a run, he would not start the next playthrough.

Other people would not give up until they reached the Yellow River. He had to jump in and swim a few laps, and it was only over once he drowned.

The talks continued in the hall.

Namikaze Minato was clearly still green and had yet to truly acquire the mindset of a ninja village leader. If he was not careful, Fuguki Suikazan would lead him by the nose. But the two old foxes beside him were another matter; whenever that happened, they immediately stepped in.

Facing two opponents alone, Fuguki Suikazan was soon forced onto the back foot.

When the talks reached the most crucial point for both sides, Fuguki Suikazan, whose head was buzzing from the two old men needling him, immediately stated his position.

"Let me state our position first. Our daimyo has said that two billion ryo in reparations is too large a sum. Our country cannot afford it."

At those words, Leaf Village's side perked up.

Namikaze Minato leaned back tactically.

Sarutobi Hiruzen took out his pipe and began puffing away.

Next came Shimura Danzo's time to perform.

Shimura Danzo tapped his cane and said unhurriedly, "Two billion ryo has already been reduced as far as it can go. If the war continues, your country will only have to pay more."

Fuguki Suikazan shook his head, maintaining his stance. "We cannot pay two billion ryo. If you raise the amount further, we will be even less able to pay. Please reduce it somewhat."

"It cannot be reduced. This is the consequence of war. There is no helping it."

Still, considering that the other side was the one paying, Shimura Danzo forcefully suppressed that damned stubbornness in his heart and softened his tone.

"If you cannot produce it all at once, you can pay in installments. For instance, over forty years. The more installments there are, the lighter the burden. This was originally your business and has nothing to do with me; I am merely mentioning it in passing. Please do not take offense."

Fuguki Suikazan said, "Forty years? If it were you, would you be willing?"

Shimura Danzo said, "It is not me paying the money. In any case, you can pay in installments. The longer the term, the better."

Fuguki Suikazan said, "Since the war began, our treasury has long been emptied. Unless we borrow money from other countries... Our country lost the war, and our reputation has already been greatly damaged."

Shimura Danzo said, "The Land of Water is rich in resources, with wealth everywhere. Those countries will not refuse to lend to you."

Fuguki Suikazan said, "Though our country is not lacking in resources, we cannot develop them."

Shimura Danzo said, "That is fine. Your country produces talented people in abundance. You can make use of their wisdom to develop new sources of wealth."

That was more than Fuguki Suikazan could take. The old man was needling him again.

Slightly angered, he said, "Since you have so many solutions, why not come be our Grand Minister?"

Shimura Danzo was not angry at all. He merely said, "That would require asking our daimyo. Personally, I would be quite willing to go."

Those words left Fuguki Suikazan speechless for a long while. At last, he sighed, his tone carrying a faint hint of supplication.

"Since the Fire Daimyo will not approve of you becoming a minister of our Land of Water, you cannot go. So can Hidden Mist Village force the Water Daimyo to pay? Please put yourself in my position and understand my circumstances. If we set the figure at two billion ryo, other countries will know that we must borrow from them to repay the debt. They will certainly take the opportunity to pressure us and demand exorbitant interest. Then we will be unable to borrow the money or pay the reparations, and we will have no choice but to go to war again. Why must you press our country so hard?"

Shimura Danzo's first reaction was actually delight.

But this was a negotiation, after all. As a former Hokage's advisor, he still had to preserve some semblance of dignity.

So he merely said, "Borrowing money to repay debts is a matter for your Land of Water. It has nothing to do with me."

Fuguki Suikazan said, "We do not have the money to pay the reparations. What are we supposed to do?"

Shimura Danzo said, "That is why we reduced it to this amount. There is no way to reduce it further."

Fuguki Suikazan said, "I must still ask you to reduce it somewhat more."

Shimura Danzo said, "It cannot be reduced. Let me be frank: I already know that you received a secret letter from the Daimyo's Court yesterday. Your bottom line is two billion. I wrote it accordingly; this counts as our sincerity. What I said about installments is also true. You can go back and discuss it, but the amount is the amount. Not a single ryo less."

Fuguki Suikazan said, "..."

Looking at the fat man, Uchiha Shingen felt genuinely sorry for him.

Shimura Danzo's main work was gathering intelligence beyond the borders. Since he dared say that, it had to be solid evidence.

One of the Five Great Nations, and their opponent had already figured out even what was beneath their underwear. What was there left to play?

Chapter 48: Visiting Root

After a round of verbal sparring, the first round of talks between the Hidden Leaf Village and the Hidden Mist Village came to an end, and everyone rose to leave.

Fuguki Suikazan, who had been so conciliatory and furiously impotent during the talks, now acted as though nothing had happened.

No one found it strange.

They were all just working for someone else. There was no need to take it so seriously; doing their best was enough.

Thinking about how he had secured another two billion for the Land of Fire, Shimura Danzo felt a deep sense of accomplishment.

These past days had exhausted him. Intelligence work outside the country was mentally taxing.

The only thing he was dissatisfied with was that Uchiha personnel had actually been allowed to participate today. Although Nara Shikaku had said he would come explain, Danzo still had objections.

Those ninja clans would still band together when it mattered.

But ninja clans were ultimately remnants of a bygone era. In this age of one country, one village, they would inevitably decline as a whole.

The Shimura Clan he belonged to had fallen apart over the past few decades.

Some clan members had hoped he would step in during that time, but he had refused.

Outdated things ought to be buried. Who did they take Shimura Danzo for? He wanted to become Hokage because he believed his methods were what suited the Hidden Leaf Village.

What was the point of clinging to that little patch of land? What was wrong with becoming an ordinary member of the village? It was not as if the village was so stingy that it refused to reward contributions. Did they really have to rely on a ninja clan just to dare compete with ninja from non-clan backgrounds?

Just look at the Sarutobi Clan. How many truly outstanding talents did they have now? They could not withstand any real turmoil. Hiruzen was the only reason they were still protected, and they would suffer for it in the future.

Only...

The Uchiha Clan and the Hyuga Clan were still as strong as ever.

Especially the Uchiha.