Bargaining

Uchiha Yato said, "Everyone must sign up enthusiastically. This is a matter of fighting for your own honor and Konoha's honor."

"We must show off Konoha's spirit!"

Uchiha Yato's words were highly inspiring, yet he never mentioned whether he planned to participate himself.

This made Hiruzen Sarutobi's brow twitch in irritation. He looked toward the remaining three members of the Konoha F4 beside him, hoping they could offer some help.

Wonderful. He was practically winking at blind people.

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado failed to get Hiruzen Sarutobi's meaning at all.

Danzo Shimura understood what Hiruzen Sarutobi meant and said, "Uchiha Yato. Since you've said so much, and your strength is sufficient, don't you have any thoughts about joining?"

Uchiha Yato said, "No particular thoughts. My talents are shallow, so I'd better not embarrass myself."

That made Hiruzen Sarutobi understand Uchiha Yato's intentions.

The meaning was simple: if you don't pay up, I definitely won't lift a finger.

Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Fine, we'll discuss it later. For now, sign up enthusiastically. Those who pass the selection afterward will receive spots."

Hiruzen Sarutobi chose to compromise. He decided they would discuss these matters in a small meeting later.

The Konoha F4, Uchiha Yato, and Hyuga Hiashi were gathered in the Hokage's office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "This exchange event is a rather demanding mission."

"So I would like the two of you to represent us in exchanges with the Sand Shinobi."

Upon hearing the Hokage's invitation, Hyuga Hiashi was overjoyed.

To traditional ninja clans with conventional beliefs, earning praise from their elders was an honorable matter.

Hyuga Hiashi happily accepted and agreed to Hiruzen Sarutobi's request.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was also very satisfied with Hyuga Hiashi's attitude. After all, he had called Hyuga Hiashi here solely to put pressure on Uchiha Yato.

That way, Hiruzen Sarutobi could gain a laborer for "free."

Uchiha Yato smiled and said, "That's wonderful. Hiashi, you must show off our Konoha spirit."

If any other Uchiha had said those words, the Hyuga Clan members would have been very happy to hear them.

After all, Konoha's two great dojutsu clans had always competed quite fiercely. If the Hyuga could surpass the Uchiha in some regard, they would naturally be pleased deep down.

For a long time, the Uchiha had produced outstanding talents in abundance, while the Hyuga had been somewhat weaker.

But when it came to Uchiha Yato, forget it. His sincerity might have been genuine, but his knack for causing trouble was just as genuine.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had arranged things this way, but Uchiha Yato simply refused to take the bait.

It was the same old routine and the same old rule: unless Hiruzen Sarutobi showed sincerity, Uchiha Yato would never budge.

Hiruzen Sarutobi patiently asked, "Yato, do you have any thoughts?"

"This is a major matter for the village. You must cherish the opportunity."

By saying that, Hiruzen Sarutobi meant only two words.

He wanted to freeload.

Uchiha Yato said, "Lord Hokage, it's not that I don't want to contribute."

"It's just that there are too many matters concerning the Uchiha right now. I simply can't handle everything."

Hiruzen Sarutobi became interested and asked, "Does the Uchiha Clan have some major matter going on again recently?"

"I wonder if I, as Hokage, can help?"

The Konoha Court and the internal Uchiha Kindergarten that Uchiha Yato had established previously had brought immense benefits to the Uchiha Clan.

Even if they were unsuitable for widespread promotion throughout Konoha Village, introducing them within the Sarutobi Clan could still generate profits.

Uchiha Yato said, "Since Lord Hokage is willing to help, then it can be promoted throughout the entire village."

"That could bring benefits as well. It would be a good thing."

Hiruzen Sarutobi instantly felt that the map of Yan Kingdom was a little too short. In just a few sentences, Uchiha Yato had directly revealed both his intentions and his price.

Without giving Hiruzen Sarutobi time to refuse or react, Uchiha Yato continued.

"I plan to open a newspaper office. It would be like delivering a bit of news to Konoha Village every day."

As for the mature concept behind this newspaper office, Uchiha Yato immediately pulled a detailed proposal from a ninjutsu scroll.

The corner of Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth began twitching again. Uchiha Yato had calculated against him far too ruthlessly.

Because the proposal began with "Konoha Village Newspaper Office," rather than "Uchiha Newspaper Office," it proved that Uchiha Yato had intended from the start to promote it across all of Konoha Village.

Hiruzen Sarutobi could only swallow his anger and ask, "If I help you hand this matter over to the village, then there shouldn't be anything else troubling you, right?"

Uchiha Yato replied, "No, no. If that's the case, I'll have plenty of time. Naturally, I can bring glory to the village."

At this point, the matter could have ended amicably, but Uchiha Yato just had to add another cheap remark.

"Actually, even if you hadn't said anything, I would have gone anyway. I already made an appointment with Rasa of the Sand Shinobi to have a match with him then."

Uchiha Yato was the very picture of taking advantage and then acting innocent. Hiruzen Sarutobi could not say much, so he could only grit his teeth and accept it.

After carefully recalling everything that had happened recently, Hiruzen Sarutobi waited until Uchiha Yato and Hyuga Hiashi had left.

He secretly opened the hidden compartment in the Hokage's desk, took out some quick-acting heart medicine, swallowed another pill, and soothed his nerves a little.

Within the Uchiha Clan Grounds.

Uchiha Yato said to Uchiha Kei, "The Hokage has agreed to the newspaper office I mentioned before."

"The matters we discussed earlier can now begin as well."

Uchiha Kei was quite happy upon hearing this, but then he asked somewhat unhappily.

"Can't this newspaper office truly be kept entirely under the Uchiha Clan's control?"

"Why must other ninja clans be allowed in, and even civilian ninja be permitted to take a share?"

There was no helping it. Uchiha Yato's thinking was too far ahead of its time. From the perspective of the Uchiha Clan head's interests, Uchiha Kei's thoughts were not wrong.

Uchiha Yato explained, "I need the strength of others. If we alone control too much power, we will draw everyone's hostility."

"I need to give up some benefits and bind them to us. Otherwise, they may very well turn against us directly."

In the gentlest possible way, Uchiha Yato told him that they could not be lone wolves. They had to be the lead wolves.

Uchiha Yato added, "Our Uchiha Clan is part of Konoha's larger family."

"We do not merely want to be the masters of the Uchiha Clan. We want to become the masters of Konoha."

"So it is absolutely necessary to give up some benefits and make them see us as one of their own."

Uchiha Kei truly deserved his position as clan head. After thinking it over briefly, he understood what Uchiha Yato meant.

The lead wolf Uchiha Yato spoke of did not mean becoming the Uchiha Clan's lead wolf. It meant becoming the lead wolf of all Konoha.

But then Uchiha Yato changed the subject. "If something comes too easily, they won't treasure it either."

"These next few days, let's show them the style of the Uchiha Clan and treat them properly. Otherwise, it would be bad if they really started thinking the Uchiha Clan was easy to bully."

Those words immediately struck a chord with Uchiha Kei. At the welcome banquet they had held for the Sand Shinobi before, Uchiha Kei had thoroughly shown off in front of the other clan heads.

Especially Hyuga Himawari, whom it had angered terribly. The Uchiha Clan had so many good things, yet they had never known about them before.

Uchiha Kei smiled and assured him that this was what the Uchiha Clan excelled at most. They would definitely handle it perfectly.

With that, Uchiha Yato had properly arranged the newspaper office matters, and everything was ready to begin.

After a period of adjustments, the final three days soon arrived—the time for the Sand Shinobi exchange competition.