Negotiations, Kakashi vs. Zabuza

Meanwhile, at a small tavern not far from the docks, Kakashi and Zabuza sat at a small table. Several side dishes and a bottle of sake were laid out before them as they drank together.

At a nearby table, their Genin disciples were also eating and chatting separately.

The atmosphere was so harmonious that they did not seem like shinobi from opposing sides at all.

Zabuza leaned back in his chair, idly playing with the hilt of the Decapitating Carving Knife as he spoke to Kakashi, who was pouring himself drinks.

"I still remember the first time I saw blood.

It was during the Third Shinobi World War, on the battlefield between Konoha and the Hidden Mist Village.

I was patrolling outside the camp with a senior when we received word that Konoha shinobi had infiltrated the restricted area.

The two of us rushed over immediately. When we got there, dozens of shinobi were already fighting with blades drawn.

More than a dozen people had already fallen. Some were from Konoha, and some were from the Hidden Mist Village.

There was blood everywhere on the ground, and I even saw a severed hand still clutching a blade.

My senior told me to throw my shuriken. I was a Genin then, so I did whatever my senior told me to do, right?

But before I could even open my ninja tool pouch, my senior had already collapsed before me with a thud.

I saw that bastard drive a kunai into my senior's stomach.

Blood just kept pouring out from there.

My mind went completely blank. All I knew was that I had to throw all six of my shuriken at that bastard at once.

I didn't really know what happened to that bastard afterward.

Then, two years ago, I saw him again. He was wearing a Konoha Jonin vest, arrogantly leading several Chunin to the Land of Water to deliver a letter from the Hokage.

The people with him were the same ones who had infiltrated our camp back then.

Kill and burn, and you'll wear a golden belt; build bridges and roads, and you'll die without a grave.

I can barely remember what that senior looked like anymore.

I regret that those six shuriken didn't go into that bastard's head.

The Shinobi World shouldn't be like this.

Shinobi shouldn't be like this either, Kakashi."

Kakashi set down his wine cup and looked at Zabuza.

"How many days did it take you to reach the Land of Waves, Kakashi?" Zabuza asked.

"Four or five days, I guess. Why?" Kakashi replied.

"Do you know why I didn't attack you during those four or five days?"

"Because I'm handsome?" Kakashi said, then laughed at his own joke.

"Maybe." Zabuza reluctantly tugged at the corner of his mouth, barely managing a smile. "Because I think that in the entire Hidden Leaf Village, you're the only one who still acts like a human being.

If you were Konoha's Hokage, I wouldn't have to keep my hands stained with blood."

"Give me a break. Six shuriken couldn't even kill that shinobi? Truly worthy of the Hidden Mist Village's saint, huh?!" Kakashi could not help mocking him.

"Don't make fun of me. I'd rather not be this saint!" Zabuza shook his head.

"Don't be stupid. I'm a Konoha shinobi. If I became Hokage, I'd still do whatever it took for Konoha. When that happened, you'd look down on me too, wouldn't you?" Kakashi said.

"I knew you'd say that!" Zabuza said with a smile, pointing at Kakashi.

"That's just how it is!" Kakashi said with a grin.

"But when you do things for Konoha, you can't talk about nothing but profit," Zabuza warned.

"My teacher, the Fourth Hokage, often told me that there were no eternal enemies, only eternal interests.

But I'm also afraid that we won't be able to drink together over the next few days." Kakashi stared directly into Zabuza's eyes.

"Hm, so you noticed?" Zabuza remarked on Kakashi's sharp instincts as he pulled a scroll from his ninja tool pouch and placed it on the table.

It was the written decree in which the Land of Water recognized Dazna as the daimyo of the Land of Waves.

"Go on, then. How does Konoha intend to handle this?" Zabuza tapped the scroll. "You should know that the Hidden Mist Village agreed to quite a few harsh demands from the daimyo in exchange for this decree."

"Why don't I hear the Hidden Mist Village's terms first?" Kakashi was not stupid. In a negotiation, how could he state what he could offer before even knowing what the other side wanted?

Zabuza did not mind. They had come prepared in the first place and were not worried about such little tactics.

"First, from this day forth, the Land of Waves will be governed by the Land of Water. The Land of Waves' former leader, the merchant Kado, must also be handed over to the Hidden Mist Village for us to deal with.

"Second, Konoha must provide a plot of land at the border for the construction of a transoceanic bridge.

"Third, open trading ports, permit citizens of the Land of Water to reside there and establish consulates, and permit merchants from the Land of Water to trade freely within the Land of Fire.

"Fourth, pay a total of 180 million ryo for the Land of Water's port construction costs and the bridge construction costs.

"Fifth, determine the tariffs by agreement. Merchants from the Land of Water should pay tariffs to the Land of Fire, but the rates will be set by the Land of Water. The Land of Fire will have the right to make suggestions, but no right to decide.

"..."

Before Zabuza could finish, Kakashi waved a hand and cut him off.

"Are you treating us like a defeated nation?" Kakashi was so angry that he laughed.

"Although the terms are a little harsh, Konoha can no longer afford a war, can it?

Konoha's Fourth Hokage died in battle, the Legendary Sannin left, the Third Hokage is old and frail, and not a single Kage Level fighter remains. Among your upper ranks, there is only a group of Jonin led by you, Kakashi.

Can a Konoha like that truly bear the cost of fighting on multiple fronts?" Zabuza struck straight at the heart of the matter.

Kakashi responded just as sharply. "Hmph, what could you possibly know about Konoha's foundations?

Although the Legendary Sannin left, they still maintain deep ties with Konoha.

Konoha's older generation of powerhouses remains formidable, and the new generation has already grown up. Have you forgotten how, during the Third Shinobi World War, the entire Hidden Mist Village was suppressed by Konoha's Uchiha Clan?

Konoha is overflowing with talent, with worthy successors in abundance. But after the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were scattered by Konoha's Might Duy, have you managed to gather them all again?

Not to mention that Konoha still has the strongest tailed beast, the Nine-Tails. If multiple countries truly joined forces to attack Konoha like they did during the Third Shinobi World War—

Konoha would gather all its strength and beat the first ninja village to make a move to death. We would not rest until one side was dead!

So, can your Hidden Mist Village bear that price?"

Zabuza was left speechless, then snorted coldly. "What a sharp-tongued Konoha technician. So there's nothing to negotiate?"

Kakashi impatiently waved his hand. "Enough. Konoha doesn't want war. Does the Hidden Mist Village really want one either?

Stop these meaningless tests and name your real terms."

Zabuza snorted again, pulled out the second agreement he had prepared long ago, and tossed it to Kakashi.

Kakashi took it and examined it carefully. This agreement did not have any major issues. It laid out cooperation between both sides and the division of the Land of Waves, and its terms applied to both parties, making it fairly equal.

After reading it for a long while, Kakashi replied, "That's more like it. What the hell was that first agreement?

But I can't make the decision. I can only send it back for the Hokage to decide. Once the Hokage has made a decision, an envoy will be sent to the Hidden Mist Village to meet with Lord Mizukage."

"Fine. We'll be awaiting your arrival at any time!" Zabuza said, settling the matter with a final word.