"Wait!"
Kazahana Dōtō reached out to stop him, his expression losing its earlier composure.
He had never expected the other man to be so decisive, ready to destroy the item the moment the deal fell through.
After a pause, Kazahana Dōtō said anxiously, "I agree to trade the Chakra Armor technology for it."
He had agreed so readily partly because he desperately wanted the treasure his older brother had left behind, and partly because he understood his own situation quite well.
They were not sitting at a negotiating table. They were discussing terms on a battlefield, and the other man could attack at any moment.
The Chakra Armor technology was the culmination of his painstaking efforts, into which he had poured enormous amounts of time and energy.
But compared with the Land of Snow Treasure and his own position as daimyō, it seemed insignificant.
No one could resist the lure of power, and that treasure might well contain something that could make the Land of Snow powerful.
"Good. We have a deal."
Zou Hyuga nodded as he spoke and sent the Crystal Pendant straight over to Kazahana Dōtō.
After taking the Crystal Pendant, Kazahana Dōtō examined it briefly and confirmed that it was the pendant his older brother had once worn.
When he had killed his brother, he had coveted not only the throne, but also the Land of Snow's treasure.
With the object of his dreams finally in hand, a smile returned to Kazahana Dōtō's face. He motioned for Zou Hyuga and Haku to follow them to the Land of Snow's city.
Zou Hyuga turned and fell into step with the Snow Ninja, then suddenly looked back at Kazahana Dōtō. "You have the pendant now. Leave Kazahana Koyuki alone from now on."
Kazahana Dōtō gave no answer to the