Before long, the Daimyo of the Land of Earth arrived at the front of the troop formation. A middle-aged man then approached Zhou Cheng, supported by an attendant.
"I, the Daimyo of the Land of Earth, pay my respects to the God of Shinobi!"
God of Shinobi was arguably the most exalted title in the shinobi world.
Even a daimyo had to show its bearer due deference.
The Daimyo of the Land of Earth adopted a humble attitude, hoping to leave a favorable impression on Zhou Cheng.
He wanted to gain an advantage in the negotiations to come.
"What is it?"
"We're at war right now!"
"Aren't you afraid I'll capture you and end this war on the spot?"
The Daimyo of the Land of Earth smiled. "You must be joking, Lord Zhou Cheng!"
"We can negotiate the terms, as long as you withdraw your troops!"
Zhou Cheng nodded. "Sure. Like you said, we can negotiate!"
"My terms are that Ōnoki slit his own throat and Iwagakure become Konoha's vassal."
"Konoha will decide who gets promoted to chunin and jonin."
"Iwagakure must pay tribute to Konoha every year!"
An uproar erupted!
Gasps rose all around them.
No one in their right mind would agree to such terms.
The Daimyo of the Land of Earth's face instantly turned livid.
His eyes all but blazed with fury.
"Aren't those terms a little excessive?"
He gritted his teeth, forcing the words out between them.
Zhou Cheng sneered. What bargaining chips do you have?
"You can refuse. Once this war is over, I can demand even harsher terms."
"When that happens, you'll have to agree whether you like it or not!"
The Daimyo of the Land of Earth trembled with anger, yet there was nothing he could do.
The Three-Nation Allied Forces of the