Shiori shuddered in alarm. He was right. The Uchiha Clan would certainly investigate, if only to recover the Sharingan.
If the talks kept making no progress and the Uchiha Clan traced the trail to the Land of Sea, Konoha would inevitably learn of their negotiations.
No! Lord Genji has to decide this. If this causes the plan to fail, I'll definitely be made the scapegoat.
At that thought, Shiori beckoned to those behind her. "Seal his chakra, tie him up, and take him to Lord Genji."
"Yes!"
"Lady Shiori..."
"Shut up!"
The young ninja tried to dissuade her, but Shiori cut him off coldly. "Don't let hatred blind you. The talks are what matter most right now."
"Yes!"
An hour later, Shiori led Uchiha Yan to a wooden house.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Come in!"
Picking Uchiha Yan up, Shiori walked into the house, then tossed him onto the floor.
"Lord Genji, this is Uchiha Yan. He tracked you here alone and even guessed that we're negotiating an alliance with Kumogakure."
"Hm?"
Genji put down the intelligence scroll in his hand and looked Uchiha Yan over, his face full of astonishment. So young?
"Little fellow, how old are you?"
"Twelve! What about you, Elder Genji? You must be fifty, right?"
"More or less!"
"Wouldn't it be a shame to die so young?"
"Of course!"
Uchiha Yan lay curled on his side on the floor. Though it was very uncomfortable, a smile still appeared on his face.
"It's precisely because I don't want to die that I surrendered without a fight and asked to speak with you."
"What a pity! I'm not Shiori. No matter what you say, you'll die in the end. Especially since you're so clever."
"You care so much about your village, Elder Genji. You definitely won't kill me."
"Heh!"
Genji chuckled. "I just told you, you'll die in the end. No amount of intelligence on Konoha will help you."
"Who said I was going to sell intelligence on Konoha?"
Genji paused, not quite understanding what Uchiha Yan meant. Other than intelligence on Konoha, what could possibly interest him?
Uchiha Yan did not hold anything back either. He spoke directly. "Two pieces of intelligence and one favor in exchange for letting me leave this place.
"The first is the whereabouts of a surviving orphan of the Uzumaki Clan. The second is what's strange about the Fourth Mizukage. Finally, I'll help you secure an agreement in these talks.
"The Three-Tails probably hasn't revived yet. The Uzumaki Clan makes the best vessels.
"I don't believe you haven't noticed the changes in the Fourth Mizukage, Lord Genji.
"As for the difficulties in these talks, I imagine the Land of Lightning wants Kirigakure to commit its full strength while they focus on keeping the enemy occupied."
Genji was inwardly startled. Uchiha Yan's three offers struck right at the heart of the matter, and every one concerned Kirigakure's most pressing problems.
Shrewd with age, Genji had no intention of letting Uchiha Yan lead him around by the nose. A mocking smile appeared on his face.
"Sorry! You guessed wrong. That isn't why the talks are stalled, and there's nothing wrong with the Fourth Mizukage."
"Really?"
Uchiha Yan sighed. "Forget it, then! Just kill me!"
"Gladly!"
Genji waved a hand. "Shiori, kill him! Then send his Sharingan to Konoha."
"Yes!"
"Ah... wait! I give up!"
Uchiha Yan truly did not dare gamble with his life.
"I'll stop pretending, and you should too! Just as preparations for war began, the Fourth Mizukage ordered that killing be allowed in the Ninja Academy's graduation exam. You still dare say there's nothing strange about him?
"And then there's the Three-Tails inside Rin Nohara, the Fourth Hokage's student. How sick in the head would someone have to be to think of attacking Konoha with the Three-Tails?
"I don't believe the Fourth Mizukage doesn't know that the Fourth Hokage's wife is Kushina Uzumaki. If they can seal even the Nine-Tails, why would they fear the Three-Tails?
"The talks are even simpler. Negotiations between the two sides must be about dividing the spoils.
"With Konoha not yet defeated, you can't possibly be fighting over the spoils.
"The only thing that could cause a deadlock is something whose gains and losses are already visible-in other words, the ninja survival rate.
"On the battlefield, Kirigakure and Konoha have already begun probing each other for intelligence, while Kumogakure has done nothing but send more ninja.
"If you agree to let me leave, I have a way to make Kumogakure take the leading role while you keep Konoha occupied on the Southern Front."
"Untie him!"
Genji gave the order calmly, then picked up a scroll from the desk and tossed it in front of Uchiha Yan.
"You must be the Uchiha Yan mentioned in the reports. Konoha's announcement wasn't a lie. You really did run circles around Danzo.
"You've offended Danzo. Even if I let you leave, you won't live long."
Uchiha Yan opened the scroll and read the intelligence about himself, inwardly startled. This knows me better than I know myself. Even I don't know who all my classmates are.
Genji poured himself a cup of water. His tone was calm, yet it made Uchiha Yan feel death looming.
"You should understand how important the intelligence that two nations are allying against Konoha is.
"If you were only looking for the commander-in-chief's identity, the whereabouts of an Uzumaki Clan orphan alone would be enough to buy your life."
"I understand! It's a deal! I state my terms, you state yours, and we both give a little. Then we have an agreement, don't we?
"How about this? My offers stay the same, in exchange for letting me enjoy myself in the Land of Sea until the war ends.
"If your talks go well, tell Danzo you're the commander-in-chief. If they don't, tell him the Fourth Mizukage is the commander-in-chief.
"Well? That won't interfere with cooperation between the Lands of Lightning and Water, will it?"
"You even thought of that!"
Genji exclaimed in admiration. "Fortunately, you're an Uchiha. Otherwise, I'd kill you no matter what.
"First, tell me how you'd get Kumogakure to agree to take the leading role. Then I'll consider whether to make a deal with you."
"Simple! Hold peace talks with Konoha!"
?????
For a moment, Genji failed to follow. He looked at Uchiha Yan in utter confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"Just negotiate directly with Konoha for whatever you want, then let Kumogakure find out. Isn't that all?"
"Konoha won't agree!"
"Then just make Kumogakure think Konoha will agree to half your terms, won't you?
"If the Land of Water gains something without paying anything, what will Kumogakure think? Won't they raise their offer to entice you into attacking Konoha?
"The outcome of negotiations isn't decided at the negotiating table. It's decided on the battlefield and in other countries.
"If that still doesn't work, you can contact the Lands of Earth and Wind. You don't have to side with Kumogakure, as long as you get what you want.
"For example, say you originally wanted two cities, but now Konoha only gives you one. That's still a gain."
"What if Konoha won't negotiate with me?"
"What are you thinking? Whether it's to gather intelligence or stall for time, Konoha will negotiate with you. It's only a question of how long.
"Most importantly, Danzo will keep taking action against Kirigakure. If you send someone to Konoha in secret, even if Kumogakure finds out, they won't think it's a tactic to force concessions out of them."
Genji lowered his head in thought. He admitted that Uchiha Yan's suggestion really was a good approach. Kumogakure could not possibly defeat Konoha alone.
The Sannin were absent, not dead. Jiraiya alone would be enough to change the course of the entire war, unless Kumogakure deployed the Eight-Tails.
If they deployed the Eight-Tails, Konoha also had the Nine-Tails. In the end, only the other three nations would benefit. Kumogakure was not stupid; there was no way they had not considered that.
Put on an act? There's no harm in trying! At worst, we can hold real peace talks. Given Hiruhi Sarutobi's temperament, getting a few things shouldn't be much of a problem.
If there really is no alliance, letting Uchiha Yan leave won't matter, and we'll still get the location of an Uzumaki Clan orphan. No matter how you look at it, Kirigakure won't lose out.
With Uchiha Yan among the Uchiha, the conflict between Konoha and the Uchiha will continue. Sooner or later, Konoha will fall into internal strife.
At that thought, Genji slowly raised his head, a smile appearing on his face.
"Your chakra will still have to be sealed, and someone will have to accompany you. Once this is over, we'll discuss the other two offers."
"Of course! The results need to be verified, whatever they are. I understand!"
"Shiori, take two people and watch him yourself. Aside from sending intelligence or leaving the Land of Sea, let him do as he pleases."
"Yes!"
Before you continue