Alliance Negotiations

After this incident, Chiba Shun's chakra level had risen. With some more time to settle and consolidate, his strength would truly reach the level of a Jonin.

Under the usual squad procedures, he should have paid the three people who had guarded him a sum of money, just as Killer B had given him a long sword worth 300,000 ryo last time.

However, neither Yozuki A nor Killer B lacked money, so neither mentioned it. Sakai Yushi was even less likely to bring it up.

A few days later, the Konoha army personally led by Hiruzen Sarutobi finally arrived at the border.

Konoha and Kumogakure's main forces began their standoff.

Watching from afar as the Konoha shinobi busily constructed their camp, the Third Raikage felt somewhat envious.

The Konoha army did not have much fewer shinobi than his side.

Yet Konoha was merely one of four armies. Although this force was the largest, it could not be considered the absolute main force.

On Kumogakure's side, however, they had practically mobilized their entire strength.

Even after mobilizing everything, they had only gathered around three thousand people.

He asked Chiba Shun, who stood guard beside him, "Shun, when will the first batch of Ninja Academy students graduate?"

Chiba Shun froze for a moment, not understanding why the Third Raikage had suddenly asked about this. Still, he promptly replied, "Judging by their ages, a batch can graduate next year."

"However, these students were recruited by Senior Aoki several years ago. There aren't many of them, only forty-seven."

There should originally have been more, but many had died on the night Chiba Shun had been ambushed by Root's three men.

Seeing that the Third Raikage remained silent, Chiba Shun continued, "For large numbers of students to graduate, we'll have to wait another three years."

"Three years from now will be when the first large-scale batch graduates. There will be nearly five hundred graduates then."

"Although our graduation standards will be lowered, quite a number still won't be able to become shinobi. I estimate that around four hundred will become Genin."

"After that, each year will have more graduates than the previous one."

After a pause, Chiba Shun added, "Once these children graduate, if some of those with good talent become Jonin disciples, the Ninja Academy's enrollment numbers can rise another level."

"I've calculated it. If the Ninja Academy develops to its peak, the number of graduates each year could reach seven hundred."

The Third Raikage murmured, "Seven hundred? I remember Konoha has nearly four thousand students every year!"

Chiba Shun nodded. "Yes, but not all four thousand can graduate. Konoha Ninja Academy's standards are higher than ours. In the end, roughly three thousand five hundred become Genin."

The Third Raikage sighed. "Three thousand five hundred... Even if Konoha suffers severe losses in war, it can replenish three thousand five hundred people every year. In just two or three years, it can barely recover its strength."

"No wonder Konoha can gather so many people so quickly now."

Chiba Shun did not respond. Konoha's foundation was far deeper than Kumogakure's.

Even recruiting throughout the entire Land of Lightning, Kumogakure could only manage seven hundred graduates a year.

Moreover, it was certain that the average strength of those seven hundred would be inferior to Konoha's three thousand five hundred.

A day later, Konoha's temporary camp was completed. The two sides did not engage in any probing battles and instead began negotiations directly.

The two Kage came to the space between the armies and stopped roughly several dozen meters apart.

On Kumogakure's side, the Third Raikage had brought Yozuki A, Killer B, and Chiba Shun.

On Hiruzen Sarutobi's side were Enma, Minato Namikaze, and a middle-aged shinobi who looked like he was definitely a Nara.

Shikaku Nara was still young at this point. Chiba Shun did not know whether this man was Shikaku Nara's father.

Hiruzen Sarutobi first glanced at Chiba Shun before turning his gaze to the Third Raikage.

He spoke first. "Raikage, war or peace?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke with great momentum, as though he had already defeated the Third Raikage and was bestowing mercy upon him.

The Third Raikage showed no weakness either and shot back, "Does Konoha wish to sue for peace?"

The two sides exchanged verbal blows like this for a while.

However, the confrontation did not last long, since both sides had come to negotiate.

Thus, they soon turned to the matter of forming an alliance.

Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Konoha can provide Kumogakure with the rewards for two hundred S-rank Missions, as well as some Ninja Academy teaching materials."

"I hope Konoha and Kumogakure can advance and retreat together."

No one paid much attention to the teaching materials.

Chiba Shun's heart stirred as he began calculating what the rewards for two hundred S-rank Missions actually meant.

Kumogakure had deployed three thousand shinobi. Taking Special Jonin like Chiba Shun as an example, each person's allotted supplies were worth as much as 50,000 ryo.

Among those three thousand were Jonin and Elite Jonin stronger than Chiba Shun, as well as Chunin and Genin weaker than him.

Chiba Shun did not know the number of shinobi of each rank in Kumogakure, so he could only calculate based on his own allotment.

He alone had received roughly 50,000 ryo worth of supplies.

The village covered their daily food expenses, which cost around 3,000 ryo a day. Including the subsequent negotiations, the entire process would take about half a month, amounting to 45,000 ryo.

For three thousand people, the total expenditure would be 285 million ryo.

Aside from these daily expenses, there had also been the earlier battles against Konoha reconnaissance shinobi. The village still had to pay rewards to the shinobi squads carrying out those missions.

However, that amount was not large. At most, it was probably only several dozen A-rank Missions and several hundred B-rank Missions.

That sum was likely around twenty to thirty million ryo.

In other words, the expenditure for this shinobi army should be around 310 million ryo.

Of course, that only counted what had been consumed. The true bulk was the stockpiled supplies, but those could still be used after being brought back to the village and could not be counted as expenses.

In addition, the shinobi remaining behind in the village also required village funds, though that amount was not much since those guarding the village did not need to receive large quantities of supplies.

Overall, because this time they had merely mobilized and made a threat of war rather than actually going to war, Kumogakure's expenses were not high, at most around 350 million ryo.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had offered the rewards for two hundred S-rank Missions. Konoha's mission rewards were high, and each could be calculated at two million ryo, making a total of 400 million ryo.

By that calculation, Kumogakure should ultimately make quite a profit.

And that was only Hiruzen Sarutobi's opening offer. The Third Raikage would surely raise the price.

Sure enough, the Third Raikage would not be bought off by the rewards for a mere two hundred S-rank Missions. He said directly, "Konoha must provide the rewards for one thousand S-rank Missions, calculated at two million ryo each. In addition, it must provide ten S-rank Jutsu and fifty A-rank Jutsu."

Having benefited from the Ninjutsu Chiba Shun had brought back last time, the Third Raikage wanted to extort Konoha again.

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not get angry at the Third Raikage's outrageous demand. He merely said, "Ninjutsu are impossible. We can provide the rewards for four hundred S-rank Missions."

The two sides began haggling again. The Third Raikage insisted on Ninjutsu, while Hiruzen Sarutobi was only willing to offer money.

As the two sides remained deadlocked, Chiba Shun quietly said to the Third Raikage, "Lord Raikage, the White Fang of the Leaf committed suicide. I heard he left behind an orphan."

"White Fang was driven to suicide by Konoha's villagers. That child probably isn't doing well in Konoha either. Why don't we fulfill our duty as allies and take the child in to raise him?"

The Third Raikage did not understand why, but White Fang's son should have good talent, so he directly told Hiruzen Sarutobi, "Hokage, we can help adopt White Fang's son."

Hiruzen Sarutobi had naturally heard Chiba Shun's words, but he held himself back from saying anything and merely replied, "Raikage, you're too kind. The new bud of the Will of Fire will naturally be cared for by us."

Upon hearing that, Chiba Shun suggested again, "Lord Raikage, we can exchange mission quotas."

"Let our shinobi enter the Land of Fire, and Konoha's shinobi can enter the Land of Lightning."

"Either way, Konoha doesn't think much of the missions in our country, but missions in the Land of Fire pay well. This would benefit us."

"Furthermore, if our people frequently enter the Land of Fire and gain a better understanding of its terrain, it will be beneficial in the future..."

The Third Raikage's eyes lit up. He said to Hiruzen Sarutobi, "Hokage, since we are forming an alliance, we should deepen our cooperation and open up missions to each other."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth twitched.

Beneficial? Beneficial how? Would invading the Land of Fire become more convenient?

In truth, Chiba Shun's proposal would not originally have been a loss for Konoha either, since Konoha's shinobi could also learn the terrain of the Land of Lightning. It went both ways.

The problem was that the Land of Fire was prosperous, a prized land coveted by the other four nations, while the Land of Lightning was far more barren. Konoha had no interest in it and had no plans to invade the Land of Lightning.

Therefore, this kind of mission exchange was far too disadvantageous for Konoha.

He first shot Chiba Shun a cold glance before saying to the Third Raikage, "There is no need."

After a pause, he continued, "However, the Raikage is right. Since we are allies, we must deepen our cooperation."

"Let us exchange Ninjutsu."

"Konoha can support its ally with seven hundred S-rank Missions, calculated at two million ryo each as the Raikage said."

"Additionally, both sides will exchange Ninjutsu, sharing the same number and the same ranks of Ninjutsu!"

The Third Raikage revealed a smile. Under Chiba Shun's intimidation, Hiruzen Sarutobi had yielded!

His so-called exchange of Ninjutsu was actually just directly giving Kumogakure Ninjutsu. He was only phrasing it more pleasantly.

Konoha did not lack Ninjutsu. The Ninjutsu Kumogakure could offer were things Konoha did not truly care for, neither here nor there.

Of course, if the Third Raikage offered the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes would certainly light up, but that was impossible.

Sure enough, bringing Chiba Shun had been the right decision. To deal with someone as black-hearted as Hiruzen Sarutobi, they needed someone even more black-hearted, like Chiba Shun.

With that thought in mind, the Third Raikage said, "Fine, we'll exchange Ninjutsu. We can offer ten S-rank—"

Before the Third Raikage could finish, Hiruzen Sarutobi directly interrupted him. "Raikage, our alliance has only just been formed. We won't exchange S-rank Jutsu for now."

"Konoha can offer one A-rank Jutsu, ten B-rank Jutsu, and thirty C-rank Jutsu for exchange."

The Third Raikage frowned, considering how to raise the price, when he heard Chiba Shun mutter, "The Hokage is so stingy. He's not even as generous as Danzo."

Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately shouted angrily, "Raikage, when we are negotiating, since when does a junior get to interrupt!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was beginning to regret it. Should he not have stopped Danzo before? Would it have been better to let Danzo kill this little brat directly?