Could he refuse to pay the ransom?
He had to pay it.
That also meant he had to cooperate with Konoha Shinobi Village.
Ōnoki felt utterly stifled.
When he met Yanbai, Ōnoki had no desire to appreciate his beauty. In Ōnoki's eyes, Yanbai was a demon.
However, once he had carefully read and signed every agreement...
Yanbai suddenly shook Ōnoki's hand.
With a radiant smile, Yanbai said, "Thank you for your understanding, Lord Tsuchikage. There are no eternal enemies, only eternal interests. I hope we can continue benefiting each other."
This was perfectly normal. It wasn't some Seal of Reconciliation, just a simple handshake to make peace.
Then Ōnoki discovered that the aching back and leg cramps that plagued him in his old age... had all vanished the instant he shook Yanbai's hand!
Ōnoki looked up at Yanbai in shock, about to say something.
But he noticed that Yanbai's eyes had widened, those beautiful eyes brimming with delight.
Ōnoki: "..."
No way. Could this old fossil of a man have a thing for me?
Just as Ōnoki reeled from that fleeting thought...
Yanbai smiled warmly. "You should come to the Land of Fire more often to travel and relax, Lord Tsuchikage."
Ōnoki pondered for two seconds before saying, "I will. Thank you for your concern, Lord Hokage."
Ōnoki's heart raced. That notion seemed utterly absurd. Something he didn't understand must have happened in that instant.
Ōnoki was still quite self-aware, so he now found himself puzzling over what exactly had happened.
Next, the accompanying Konoha Ninja escorted Ōnoki out of Yanbai's private room at the Hanamaki Hotel.
What Ōnoki didn't know was that after he left Yanbai's room...
Yanbai suddenly told Shikaku Nara beside him, "Have them pause for a while. Tell them I need to organize the documents concerning