Alliance Negotiations

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

Following the usual procedure for a squad, 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.

But A and Killer B were not short of money and did not bring it up. Sakai Yushi was even less likely to mention it.

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

Konoha and Kumogakure's main forces began facing off.

Watching the Konoha ninja busily constructing their camp in the distance, the Third Raikage felt somewhat envious.

The number of ninja in Konoha's army was not much less than on his side.

But Konoha's force was only one of its four armies. Although this force was the largest, it could not be considered the absolute main force.

Yet on Kumogakure's side, they could practically be said to have mobilized their entire strength.

Even after mobilizing their entire strength, they had only gathered around three thousand people.

The Third Raikage said to Chiba Shun, who was guarding his side, "Shun, when can 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, but he quickly replied, "Judging by their ages, a batch will be able to graduate next year."

"But those students were recruited by Senior Aoki several years ago. There are not many of them, only forty-seven."

There should originally have been more, but quite a few had died on the night Chiba Shun was ambushed by the three Root members.

Seeing that the Third Raikage said nothing, 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 batch of students graduates. By then, nearly five hundred people will graduate."

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

"After that, there will be more every year than the year before."

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 to 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 muttered, "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, around 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 vitality."

"No wonder Konoha can rapidly gather so many people 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 people would be inferior to Konoha's three thousand five hundred.

A day later, Konoha's temporary camp was completed. Neither side engaged in probing battles. Instead, they 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 brought A, Killer B, and Chiba Shun.

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

Shikaku Nara was still not very old at this time. Chiba Shun wondered whether this man was Shikaku Nara's father.

Hiruzen Sarutobi first glanced at Chiba Shun, then turned his gaze to the Third Raikage.

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

When Hiruzen Sarutobi said this, his bearing was imposing, as though he had already defeated the Third Raikage and was bestowing his mercy upon him.

The Third Raikage showed no weakness at all and shot back, "Does Konoha want to sue for peace?"

The two sides exchanged verbal blows for a while.

But this confrontation did not last long, since both sides had come to negotiate.

So they soon turned to the matter of an alliance.

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

"We hope that 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 exactly what the reward for two hundred S-rank Missions represented.

Kumogakure had deployed three thousand ninja. Taking a Special Jonin like Chiba Shun as an example, each person's issued supplies were worth fifty thousand ryo.

Among the three thousand ninja 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 ninja at each rank in Kumogakure, so he could only calculate based on his own share.

He alone had received supplies worth roughly fifty thousand ryo.

The village covered food expenses every day, costing around three thousand ryo. Including the negotiations afterward, the entire process would take around half a month, amounting to forty-five thousand ryo.

The total expenditure for three thousand people would be 285 million ryo.

Besides these daily expenses, there had also been the earlier battles with Konoha's reconnaissance ninja. The village still had to pay rewards to the ninja squads that carried out those missions.

However, that amount was not large. At most, there had probably only been 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 of this ninja army should be around 310 million ryo.

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

In addition, the ninja remaining in the village also required the village to cover their expenses, but that was not much, since the ninja defending the village did not need to receive large amounts of supplies.

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

Hiruzen Sarutobi had offered the reward 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 make quite a profit in the end.

And this 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 reward for a mere two hundred S-rank Missions. He directly said, "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."

The Third Raikage had also tasted the benefits of the jutsu Chiba Shun had brought back last time and wanted to extort Konoha again.

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

The two sides began haggling again. The Third Raikage stubbornly demanded jutsu, while Hiruzen Sarutobi was only willing to offer money.

With the two sides 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."

"The White Fang was driven to suicide by Konoha's villagers. That child probably won't have an easy life 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 thinking that the White Fang's son should have decent talent, he directly said to Hiruzen Sarutobi, "Hokage, we can help adopt the White Fang's son."

Hiruzen Sarutobi had naturally heard Chiba Shun's words, but he held himself back and said nothing about them. He merely replied calmly, "Raikage, you are too kind. The fresh sprouts of the Will of Fire will naturally be cared for by us."

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

"Our ninja can enter the Land of Fire, and Konoha's ninja can enter the Land of Lightning."

"Anyway, Konoha has no interest in the missions in our country, but missions in the Land of Fire pay well. This benefits us."

"Also, if our people frequently enter the Land of Fire and learn more about 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 our missions to each other."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth twitched.

Beneficial? Beneficial how? Would it make invading the Land of Fire more convenient?

In truth, Chiba Shun's proposal did not originally disadvantage Konoha either, because Konoha's ninja could also learn the terrain of the Land of Lightning. It was mutual.

But the problem was that the Land of Fire was prosperous, a treasured land coveted by the other four countries, 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 sort of mission exchange was far too disadvantageous for Konoha.

He first swept Chiba Shun with a cold glance before saying to the Third Raikage, "No need."

After a pause, he said, "However, the Raikage is right. Since we have formed an alliance, we should deepen our cooperation."

"Let us exchange jutsu."

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

"Beyond that, both sides will exchange jutsu, sharing the same number and rank of jutsu!"

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

His so-called exchange of jutsu was actually just directly giving jutsu to Kumogakure. He merely phrased it more pleasantly.

Konoha did not lack jutsu. The jutsu Kumogakure could offer were things Konoha did not actually care for. They were neither here nor there.

Of course, if the Third Raikage offered the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, Hiruzen Sarutobi would certainly be interested, but that was impossible.

Sure enough, bringing Chiba Shun had been the right choice. 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 jutsu. We can provide 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 provide one A-rank, ten B-rank, and thirty C-rank Jutsu for exchange."

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

Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately roared, "Raikage, when we are negotiating, since when does a junior get to interrupt!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was beginning to regret it. Perhaps he should not have stopped Danzo before. Wouldn't it have been better to let Danzo kill this brat outright?