While he waited for Pakura to enter the carriage, a system notification sounded in Xuandou's mind:
[Ding! Congratulations, host, on completing the quest: Unequal Treaty! Reward: Draw attempts ×1]
Looking at his newly added draw attempt, Xuandou did not use it immediately.
The reward odds were too low at present. It would be better value to wait until he became Clan Head and increased the clan's prosperity before drawing.
Right now, winning over Pakura and opening the S-rank Luxury Treasure Chest took priority.
As he was thinking, the system's voice sounded again:
[Ding! The host has triggered a main quest.] [Main quest issued: Become the Uchiha Clan Head!] [Quest description: The host has now accumulated sufficient achievements and renown. Compete with Uchiha Fugaku and obtain the position of Clan Head.] [Quest reward: Unlock the Family Module.]
Looking at the newly issued system quest, Xuandou wholeheartedly agreed.
It was time to claim the position of Clan Head.
Once he returned to the village, the Third Shinobi World War would finally draw to a complete close.
The shinobi world would enter a brief period of peace.
That would be the perfect opportunity for him to develop the Uchiha Clan and increase its prosperity.
As these thoughts passed through his mind, the carriage's door curtain was lifted.
A ninja escorted Pakura inside, then respectfully withdrew.
Only Pakura and Xuandou remained in the carriage.
Xuandou leisurely looked the woman before him up and down.
Pakura was still wearing her backless combat outfit.
The dark fabric clung to her body, outlining her full bust and slender waist.
The broad expanse of skin exposed on her back was as fair as jade.
Even with her chakra sealed and her expression cold, her blend of mature and untamed beauty was still striking.
His scrutiny made Pakura uncomfortable all over, and she gritted her teeth and spoke first:
"Uchiha Xuantou... why exactly are you so determined to have me?"
Xuandou smiled softly.
"Because I admire you, of course."
"The name Pakura of the Scorch Release is famous throughout the shinobi world."
He leaned forward, deliberately drawing closer and closing the distance between them.
"I'll be the Uchiha Clan Head in the future, and I happen to need a capable kunoichi as my secretary. What do you think?"
"Forget it!"
Pakura glared at him, her eyes practically spitting fire.
Rather than becoming angry, Xuandou smiled.
That was the normal reaction for her to have.
Getting her to agree willingly would still require some gradual "training."
"It doesn't feel good to be abandoned by your village, does it?"
He suddenly spoke, his voice level.
Pakura's breath caught, and she glared fiercely at him.
"That was all your fault!"
"Naive."
Xuandou shook his head, his tone growing colder.
"Even without me, Uchiha Xuantou, there would be an Uzumaki Xuandou or a Senju Xuandou forcing Sunagakure to choose someday. When that happened, you would still be the first one they abandoned."
"What matters isn't whether someone forces them. What matters is that your value is too low!"
"In other words, you're too weak. Other people don't have to pay any price at all for abandoning you!"
Pakura froze, her lips trembling slightly. For a moment, she could find no retort.
After a long while, she asked quietly:
"Then... how do I increase my value?"
Xuandou suddenly stood, walked up to her, and reached out to lift her chin.
They were so close they could hear each other breathe.
"Follow me. Become my woman-Uchiha Xuantou's woman!"
"I, Uchiha Xuantou, will become the most powerful person in the shinobi world. When that happens, no one will dare look down on you. Everyone will regard you with awe."
Forced to tilt her head back, Pakura flushed with anger.
"You... let go!"
Just then, Shisui's voice came from outside the carriage:
"Lord Xuandou."
Xuandou released her and turned.
"Come in."
Shisui appeared inside the carriage with the Body Flicker Technique. His gaze swept over Pakura, carrying a hint of puzzlement.
"Lord Xuandou, there's something I don't understand. Why would you trade five billion ryo for this completely useless woman?"
In his eyes, exchanging an astronomical indemnity for an enemy jonin whose loyalty was uncertain was hardly wise.
Even if this kunoichi possessed a Kekkei Genkai.
Beside him, Pakura's eye twitched with anger when she heard Shisui bluntly call her completely useless, and she glared fiercely at the boy, who was only twelve.
Xuandou, however, laughed and casually pinched Pakura's puffed-up cheek.
"See? Even Shisui thinks you're useless."
Only then did he turn to Shisui and say:
"Shisui, your habit of thinking things through is a good one. Let me ask you, then: how much do you think Sunagakure could accept paying in war reparations?"
At that question, Shisui immediately looked troubled.
Xuandou did not make things difficult for him and said bluntly:
"Five billion."
Xuandou spoke with absolute certainty:
"Chiyo and Rasa's authority extends to roughly that amount. A little more or less might be possible, but it wouldn't differ by much."
Hearing that, Shisui became even more puzzled.
"In that case, why did you start by demanding ten billion ryo?"
A flicker of approval crossed Xuandou's eyes.
Shisui was willing to think and was a promising talent worth cultivating.
Xuandou would become Clan Head in the future, and he would need trusted aides like this to assist him.
So Xuandou decided to cultivate him and patiently explained.
"If I'd asked for five billion right away, Sunagakure would have haggled and argued with me forever, and I might not have gotten five billion ryo in the end."
He continued slowly:
"But when I opened with ten billion, they couldn't accept it at all. If I then compromised at five billion, they would feel they'd gotten a bargain instead. They wouldn't even mind throwing in a female jonin with Scorch Release for free."
"That is the art of negotiation."
At those words, Shisui suddenly understood.
"So you exchanged five billion ryo that never existed for a kunoichi, while making Sunagakure feel they'd gotten an incredible bargain!"
"Correct!"
Xuandou nodded. Seeing Shisui sink into thought, he asked:
"Any other questions?"
Shisui shook his head and bowed respectfully.
"Thank you for your guidance, Lord Xuandou. I'll take my leave."
With a flicker, he vanished from the carriage.
Xuandou turned back, only to find that Pakura had been left utterly stunned after hearing their conversation.
A few days later, news that Xuandou had led an army to crush Sunagakure and forced it to sign an unequal treaty swiftly spread throughout the shinobi world.
Upon hearing the news, the other Three Great Shinobi Villages all reassessed Konoha's standing.
Seeing that there was no longer anything to gain and that the war had already dragged on for too long, the major shinobi villages began seeking peace talks.
Soon, Kumogakure, Kirigakure, and Iwagakure held peace talks with Konoha and withdrew their troops in succession.
With that, the Third Shinobi World War was officially over.
When the news reached Konoha, the entire village erupted in celebration.
The long-running war had finally ended, and Xuandou's name was praised again and again along with it.
Before long, he gained another title: "Hero Who Ended the War."
That day, the ninja force led by Xuandou finally arrived outside Konoha.
Crowds surged before the gates. Villagers and ninja lined the road to welcome them, their cheers rising and falling like waves.
Even the Ninja Academy's teachers had brought their young students to stand in rows beside the road, pointing at Xuandou as they called out to the children:
"Look, that's the Hero Who Ended the War, Uchiha Xuantou!"
"You must become great ninja like him someday!"
Pakura, whom Xuandou kept at his side, caught sight of this and curled her lip in disdain.
Xuandou took in her expression and chuckled.
"Sunagakure's enemy is Konoha's hero!"
Pakura fell silent.
After spending these past few days with him, she had gradually grown accustomed to this detestable fellow always saying such philosophical things.
After entering the village, Xuandou ordered the force to disperse.
Then he personally escorted Pakura to a specially constructed chakra-isolating cell deep within the Uchiha Clan Compound.
Through the iron bars, he told Pakura:
"You'll stay here until you've thought it through."
"The day you sincerely agree to submit, I'll let you out."
With that, he turned and left without lingering.
Presumably, the day the two of them would practice dual cultivation was not far off.
Next, Xuandou planned to report to the Hokage and deal with the distribution of the money and goods from this campaign.
Just as he was about to set off, a member of the Uchiha Clan hurried over and said:
"Lord Xuandou, the Clan Head requests your presence!"