The Land of Iron.
Shisui looked at the fully armed Mifune before him, then at the row of sword-bearing samurai behind him, and tapped the table.
"Lord Mifune, I've been very patient in these negotiations. Please don't mistake my mercy for permission to keep pushing your luck."
Mifune's sharp gaze passed over Shisui and settled on the faces behind him.
A little red-haired girl. A little white-haired boy.
And a...
His gaze dropped to a cold-eyed young woman.
He shook his head. "Mr. Shisui, while I also think the Daimyō may be pushing his luck..."
"His demands aren't actually unreasonable."
"After all, the Shinobi World has been stable for nearly a century. You suddenly came here to throw your weight around... No, you don't even have much weight to throw around."
Mifune looked over Shisui and the others again. "If we truly can't reach an agreement, have Shinji Uchiha come negotiate in person."
"?"
Karin and Kimimaro frowned at the same time.
"Have Shinji negotiate?"
Shisui stared at Mifune in surprise.
Then he shook his head.
"Lord Mifune, do you know what you're saying? Adults have to take responsibility for their words and actions."
Mifune remained unmoved. "Of course!"
Their ignorance left Shisui genuinely helpless.
He swept his gaze around the room and sighed. "I really didn't want it to come to this. Given the way the Land of Iron operates, if I did as Shinji suggested and used Genjutsu to control the Daimyō, you would certainly start a war."
"But if there's no other way, we won't need Shinji..."
Clang!
Clang, clang—
Crash!
Before Shisui could finish, Mifune shot to his feet and gripped the hilt at his waist, his eyes flashing.
"So we can't reach an agreement, Mr. Shisui?"
Behind him, blades flashed as the samurai drew their