Forcing Their Hand

When the other Kaguya ninjas saw this, the yearning in their eyes almost took solid form.

"Wait!" Kaguya Feng barked. "Bring the medicine here!"

The jonin hesitated for an instant, but under Kaguya Feng's sharp gaze, he still respectfully handed the porcelain bottle back.

The corners of Qin Mo's mouth lifted almost imperceptibly, and a dark glint flashed through his eyes.

Kaguya Feng took the porcelain bottle with trembling hands.

He drew a deep breath and carefully sipped a small mouthful.

In an instant, a cool, warm current spread from his throat through his entire body.

His hunched back straightened unconsciously, and an unnatural flush rose over his wrinkled face.

What shocked him most was that the Shikotsumyaku backlash that had tormented him for years was actually receding swiftly like an ebbing tide.

"This... this is simply..." Kaguya Feng stared in disbelief at his own withered hands. The blue veins beneath his skin were no longer bulging hideously; instead, his skin had regained a healthy color.

He tried moving his limbs, and his joints let out crisp pops, as if he had returned to the prime of his life.

The twelve Kaguya jonin stared fixedly at their second elder, the yearning in their eyes almost taking solid form.

The jonin who had tested the medicine was trembling all over with excitement. "Second Elder, I wasn't wrong, was I? This medicine really—"

"Shut up!" Kaguya Feng snapped, but his tone no longer had its earlier force.

He looked at Qin Mo with complicated eyes. "This medicine... how much of it do you have?"

Qin Mo gently stroked another porcelain bottle at his waist. "We can provide enough for fifty people each month. Of course..." He paused meaningfully. "If our cooperation goes smoothly, that amount can still be increased."

The atmosphere in the council hall turned subtle.

Uchiha Tajima spoke at just the right moment. "Elder Feng, can we talk now?"

Kaguya Feng's Adam's apple bobbed, his gaze shifting repeatedly between the porcelain bottle and Tajima.

Finally, he let out a long sigh. "Say it. What terms do you want?"

"Very simple." Qin Mo took a step forward. "In three days, cooperate with us in ambushing Senju Butsuma's forces..."

Kaguya Feng's pupils contracted violently.

Just as he hesitated, the jonin who had tested the medicine suddenly dropped to his knees. "Second Elder! This subordinate begs you to accept the Uchiha's proposal! So our clansmen no longer have to suffer from the backlash!"

Even more shocking was that the other eleven jonin also knelt in unison and said as one, "Second Elder, please reconsider!"

Kaguya Feng's face turned livid. This young Uchiha brat before him had turned his most elite guards with just one bottle of medicine.

Looking at those jonin kneeling and pleading, every pair of eyes flickered with desire for the "Water of Life."

Kaguya Feng's hands trembled violently, and pain and struggle surfaced on his aged face.

"Fine..." Kaguya Feng let out a long sigh. "For the sake of the clan... this old man agrees to your terms."

A flash of triumph crossed Qin Mo's eyes, but he quickly returned to a respectful expression. "Second Elder is wise."

"However!" Kaguya Feng suddenly said sharply. "This old man has two demands."

Tajima gave a slight nod. "Please speak."

"First, you must guarantee the supply of fifty portions of Water of Life each month; second, the ambush on Senju Butsuma must be absolutely foolproof." Kaguya Feng stared fixedly at Tajima.

Tajima turned his gaze to Qin Mo, and the father and son's eyes met in the air.

Qin Mo nodded almost imperceptibly, the corners of his mouth curving into a faint smile of assured victory.

"Very well." Tajima nodded slightly. "The Uchiha agree to these two conditions."

Kaguya Feng's tense shoulders relaxed slightly, but the wariness in his eyes had not yet faded. "Words alone are no proof. This old man wants a blood contract."

"Exactly what I had in mind." Qin Mo immediately picked up the thread and took an ancient-looking scroll from his sleeve. "This is a contract scroll specially made with an Uchiha secret art. Swear by blood, and it can never be violated."

Kaguya Feng took the scroll and inspected it carefully. After confirming there was no issue, he bit open his thumb and pressed it onto the scroll.

Tajima did the same. Their blood mingled on the scroll, giving off a faint red light.

"The contract is complete." Qin Mo put away the scroll, then took three exquisite porcelain bottles from his robe. "This is the first batch, thirty portions of Water of Life. Please accept it, Second Elder. After the matter is done, the remaining twenty portions will naturally be delivered."

When Kaguya Feng took the porcelain bottles, his fingers trembled slightly.

He gave Qin Mo a deep look. "I hope the Uchiha keep their word."

"Rest assured, Second Elder." Qin Mo bowed slightly. "We Uchiha value promises above all."

"Very good!" Kaguya Feng nodded in satisfaction. "It's late now as well, so this old man won't disturb you further. I'll take my leave first!"

"Izuna!" Tajima called. "Go see Elder Feng out!"

"Yes!" Izuna nodded and rose to escort him.

After Izuna saw off the Kaguya Clan's group.

The atmosphere in the council hall changed abruptly.

Tajima's sharp gaze stabbed toward Qin Mo like a blade, and his Mangekyo Sharingan slowly rotated.

"Mo," Tajima said, his voice low and dangerous, "can you now tell your father where this 'Water of Life' truly came from?"

Madara also stared fixedly at Qin Mo, his eyes filled with doubt.

Qin Mo calmly straightened his sleeves. "Father is wise. I obtained this Water of Life by chance half a year ago in the deep mountains upstream of the Naka River."

He paused, then added, "In an ancient Uchiha ruin."

"A ruin?" Tajima's brows locked tight. "Why have I never heard of it?"

"That ruin was shrouded by a special barrier. Only Uchiha clansmen with extremely powerful ocular power could discover it."

As Qin Mo spoke, the three tomoe in his eyes slowly rotated. "Inside, I found an underground storage room containing roughly a hundred tons of this Water of Life."

"A hundred tons?!" Madara cried out despite himself. "That much Water of Life is enough for our entire Uchiha Clan to squander..."

Tajima's gaze locked tightly onto Qin Mo's eyes. "Why only tell me now?"

"This child wanted to confirm its medicinal effects first," Qin Mo answered respectfully. "Only after multiple tests and confirming there was no mistake did I dare report it to Father."

The council hall fell into a brief silence.

Tajima's gaze shifted among his three sons before finally stopping on Qin Mo. "Take me to see that ruin."

"I'm afraid that won't be possible." Qin Mo looked troubled. "After this child took the medicine water away, that ruin collapsed on its own. However..."

He took a map from his robe. "This is the detailed location. Father can send men to verify it."

Tajima took the map and pondered for a moment. "This matter ends here for now. Mo, keep one ton of that Water of Life for yourself. Hand over the rest for the clansmen to use."

"Yes, Father," Qin Mo answered with his head lowered, the corners of his mouth curving into an imperceptible cold smile.

Madara suddenly stepped forward and blocked Qin Mo with his body. "Father, since Mo discovered this medicine water, he should naturally keep a larger share. Handing over ninety-nine tons is a bit too much!"