The Temptation of the Water of Life

Kaguya Feng waved for his guards to follow.

The twelve jonin immediately spread out. Four guarded him closely, while the other eight fanned out, bringing Qin Mo and the other two within their security perimeter as well.

Madara's brows furrowed slightly, a trace of displeasure flashing through his eyes.

Izuna's hand had already quietly settled on his ninja-tool pouch.

Qin Mo, however, seemed not to notice at all. Still smiling, he led the way ahead. "Second Elder, you've had a hard journey coming all this way. We've prepared the finest tea and refreshments..."

"Then let's go!" Kaguya Feng followed Qin Mo and the other two into the council hall.

Uchiha Tajima sat upright in the main seat, his expression stern and imposing.

Behind him stood four elite Uchiha jonin, their auras steady as mountains.

"Elder Feng, it's been a long time," Tajima said calmly.

Kaguya Feng gave a slight nod, but his gaze kept sweeping through the hall. "Clan Leader Tajima, it has been many days, yet you remain as distinguished as ever."

Qin Mo stood at Tajima's side, calmly observing Kaguya Feng's every move.

The twelve Kaguya jonin stood guard in every corner of the hall, surrounding the entire council chamber so tightly not even water could pass through.

"Second Elder, you seem rather nervous?" Tajima asked with a smile that was not quite a smile.

Kaguya Feng gave two dry laughs. "In troubled times, it is always better to be cautious."

"True." Tajima nodded, then changed the subject. "May I ask why the Second Elder has come this time?"

Kaguya Feng stroked his beard, a sharp gleam flashing through his cloudy eyes. "Clan Leader Tajima, this old man has come to discuss a weapons trade with your clan."

Tajima's fingers tapped lightly against the tabletop. "Oh? Hasn't the Kaguya Clan always been famous throughout the ninja world for its bone blades?"

"Bone blades may be sharp, but they have their limits in the end." Kaguya Feng sighed. "Recently, the fighting with the Uzumaki Clan has grown tight. We need more conventional weapons—broadswords, longswords, kunai, shuriken... and high-quality armor."

A hint of amusement flashed through Qin Mo's eyes.

Madara and Izuna exchanged a wary look.

Tajima pondered for a moment. "How many does the Second Elder need?"

"Two hundred broadswords, three hundred longswords, five thousand kunai, ten thousand shuriken, and three hundred sets of armor." Kaguya Feng rattled off a string of numbers. "The sooner, the better."

The hall instantly fell silent.

That quantity was enough to arm a small ninja army.

Izuna could not help speaking up. "With that many weapons, is the Kaguya Clan planning to launch a war of extermination?"

Kaguya Feng's face darkened. "Boy, watch your tongue!"

Qin Mo cut in at just the right time. "Second Elder, don't mind him. My second brother is only curious. However..." His tone shifted. "For such a large weapons trade, there should at least be a reasonable reason."

Kaguya Feng snorted coldly. "There is no harm in telling you. The Hozuki Clan has been provoking us frequently at the border lately. We must be prepared."

Madara's brows knitted tightly. "As far as I know, haven't the Hozuki and Kaguya always kept the peace?"

"That was before!" Kaguya Feng suddenly grew agitated. "That old fox Hozuki Dark Moon actually sent people to assassinate our clan's Third Elder recently!"

A sharp light flashed through Tajima's eyes. "Such a thing happened?"

"Absolutely true!" Kaguya Feng gnashed his teeth. "That is why we urgently need this batch of weapons, to teach the Hozuki a lesson!"

Qin Mo suddenly chuckled. "Second Elder, I'm afraid it isn't just to deal with the Hozuki Clan, is it?"

Kaguya Feng's expression shifted slightly. "What do you mean?"

Tajima took out a scroll from his sleeve and slowly unfurled it. "According to our intelligence, your Kaguya have been interacting rather often with the Senju Clan lately!"

The twelve Kaguya jonin all tensed at once.

Kaguya Feng's face turned as dark as water. "The Uchiha intelligence network truly lives up to its reputation."

"So..." Tajima slowly rose. "Second Elder, just what exactly do you intend to do with this batch of weapons?"

The atmosphere in the hall abruptly grew tense.

The hands of the twelve Kaguya jonin all unconsciously moved toward the bone blades at their waists.

Just as swords seemed ready to be drawn and arrows loosed, Qin Mo suddenly gave a soft laugh and stood, his fingers lightly tapping the porcelain bottle at his waist, producing a clear, crisp sound.

"Second Elder, why don't you let me guess?" Qin Mo's voice carried a touch of playfulness. "The Senju Clan promised to let the Uzumaki Clan's medical ninjas help you delay the backlash from Shikotsumyaku, and the condition was that you would stab us Uchiha in the back during the next great war, correct?"

Kaguya Feng's pupils suddenly contracted, and the twelve jonin instantly assumed combat stances.

"Nonsense!" Kaguya Feng shouted sternly. "This old man came today sincerely to discuss a trade!"

Calm and unhurried, Qin Mo took out that exquisite porcelain bottle from his robes and gently shook it in the candlelight. The blue liquid glimmered with an eerie radiance. "Then, Second Elder, would you like to see what conditions we Uchiha can offer?"

Kaguya Feng's gaze was unconsciously drawn to the porcelain bottle. "This is...?"

"The Water of Life." Qin Mo pulled out the stopper, and a crisp, refreshing fragrance instantly filled the entire council hall. "Just one diluted drop taken orally can ease the backlash from Shikotsumyaku. Long-term use can even extend one's lifespan."

The breathing of the twelve Kaguya jonin clearly grew rapid, and several of them even unconsciously stepped half a pace forward.

"You... how could you have such a secret medicine?" Kaguya Feng's voice trembled slightly.

Qin Mo gave a mysterious smile. "That isn't important. What matters is..." He deliberately paused. "Compared to the Uzumaki Clan's crude medical ninjutsu, this is what can truly solve your predicament."

Tajima, meanwhile, looked thoughtfully at his third son, a shadow flashing through his eyes.

"Words alone prove nothing!" Kaguya Feng forced himself to stay calm. "Why should this old man believe you?"

Qin Mo had long since prepared for this. He took out a small cup, poured in clear water, then added one drop of blue liquid. "Second Elder can have one of your clansmen try it."

An older Kaguya jonin took the initiative to step forward. Clear signs of backlash from Shikotsumyaku had already appeared on his face.

Trembling, he took the cup and drained it in one gulp.

A moment later, his eyes widened in shock. "It's true... the pain from the backlash has lessened!"

He excitedly displayed his arm. The blood vessels that had blackened from the backlash were returning to their normal color at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The council hall instantly stirred.

A trace of greed flashed through Kaguya Feng's eyes, but he quickly became vigilant again. "This medicine... what side effects does it have?"

"There are no side effects at all!" Qin Mo said.

Kaguya Feng stared suspiciously at the porcelain bottle in Qin Mo's hand, his withered fingers unconsciously rubbing the top of his cane.

The entire council hall sank into an eerie silence. Only the heavy breathing of the Kaguya jonin who had tested the medicine could be heard clearly.

"No side effects?" Kaguya Feng suddenly sneered. "Since when did the Uchiha start doing charity?"

The corners of Qin Mo's mouth lifted slightly, and he casually tossed the porcelain bottle to the jonin who had tested the medicine. "Since the Second Elder doesn't believe me, this bottle of Water of Life is a gift for this brave warrior."

The jonin fumbled to catch the porcelain bottle, wild joy bursting in his eyes.