Let the Rabble Charge First; I'll Deliver the Final Blow!

Mechuan Steward stood rooted to the spot, as though nails had been driven through his feet into the mud.

His mouth twitched several times, and the fat on his cheeks trembled with it.

Go back? I finally escaped Konoha, and now I'm supposed to walk right back in?

He opened his mouth, searching for an excuse, but his gaze fell on the two bodies at his feet, still oozing blood. He swallowed every word.

He nodded miserably and turned around, his sandals dragging two long grooves through the mud.

Yongye glanced at him with undisguised contempt. "Idiot!"

Mechuan Steward hunched his shoulders.

Yongye walked over to him, impatience creeping into his voice.

"This is your big chance! Make a village's leader back down, and you'll become the most renowned merchant in the Shinobi World. Even your chairman won't compare."

Mechuan Steward stopped short.

His eyes lit up for an instant, like an ember stirred by the wind. But the spark quickly died.

"The Third Hokage has gone mad! If he dared to lead the attack on our trading house himself, he won't follow the rules anymore. He won't compromise. Negotiating with him is no different from walking to my death. Reputation means nothing if I don't live to enjoy it..."

Yongye cut him off. "If I can make Hiruzen Sarutobi back down once, I can make him back down a thousand times!"

Mechuan Steward looked up.

He studied Yongye's handsome, untroubled face and dark eyes, remembering all the stories about this Uchiha boy...

The hope that had just gone out surged back to life!

His eyes brightened again, more than before. He turned to his daughter and gave her a look.

Mechuan Riko understood her father at once. She bent into a deep bow before Yongye, her voice trembling with