The Whole Village Knew

In the Konoha District, at the inn where the Kumogakure delegation was staying.

The moment the door shut, Tie Lan straightened his back.

He slid the bolt into place, walked to the table, poured himself a cup of water, and gulped it down.

A Jonin accompanying him leaned in and lowered his voice. "Lord Tie Lan, how did it go?"

Tie Lan set down the cup and grinned, showing every one of his white teeth.

"It worked."

"Really?"

"All I did was test them. Those three old fools were softer than the last."

Tie Lan slapped the table, unable to hide his smugness. "I told them outright that Konoha had killed Prince Takasu. Know what happened? That old fool actually explained himself to me! Said Konoha was investigating too!"

"The Third Hokage himself, explaining things to a Jonin like me!"

"Hahaha! Tell me, if that isn't spineless, what is?"

The Kumogakure shinobi filling the room burst out laughing.

The Jonin's eyes lit up. "Then... the compensation?"

"I brought it up." Tie Lan crossed one leg over the other. "I told them to compensate Kumogakure for its losses in manpower and resources, or we'd attack Konoha."

"Did they agree?"

"They didn't agree, but they didn't refuse either."

Tie Lan narrowed his eyes, triumph ringing in his voice. "Hiruzen Sarutobi said they needed to think it over."

"Think it over?"

"If they need to think it over, they're close to agreeing."

Tie Lan sneered. "I've heard that plenty of times across the negotiating table in Kumogakure. If they had any backbone, they'd have slammed the table right there. Why would they need to think?"

He picked up his cup, took another gulp, and clicked his tongue.

"Back then, our predecessors from Kumogakure forced Hizashi Hyuga of the Hyuga Clan to kill himself.