"The Kumogakure envoys have arrived!"
Before the announcement outside the conference hall had faded, two ninja wearing armor from the Land of Lightning shoved past the guards and burst into the hall with a white ultimatum scroll.
Sasuke sat at the head of the table, with Tsunade and Jiraiya to his left and Shikaku, Hiashi, Fugaku, and Inoichi to his right. The Joint Law Enforcement Department's Recording Formation Plate was already aimed at the entrance.
The lead envoy, Dodai Nobuyoshi, slapped the ultimatum onto the long table. "The Fourth Raikage's final order: Konoha must surrender the Hyuga Main Family's Byakugan today, release all Kumogakure prisoners of war, and pay five billion ryo in compensation. Otherwise, Kumogakure and Iwagakure will jointly launch a campaign against the Uchiha's dangerous ocular techniques."
Hiashi pressed his palm onto the table. "You crossed our border first, then signed an agreement to withdraw after your defeat. Now you have the nerve to demand the Byakugan?"
Dodai Nobuyoshi glanced at him. "The Hyuga's blood debt from back then remains unpaid, yet Konoha allows Sasuke Uchiha to use uncontrollable black flames. Lord Raikage's severed arm is proof."
Sasuke said nothing. He merely pulled the ultimatum in front of him and read it line by line.
Tsunade stared at the Iwagakure mark at the bottom of the ultimatum. "Did Ōnoki really sign the coalition document?"
"Lord Tsuchikage is willing to maintain the balance of the Shinobi World."
The envoy raised his chin. "If you know what's good for you, have Hyuga Hiashi remove a pair of Byakugan himself, then send Sasuke Uchiha to the Land of Lightning for questioning."
Jiraiya frowned. "Both countries' armies are already massed at the border. Continuing to discuss compensation will only send the situation out of control. Let the Daimyo's Residence intervene first, and