Negotiations

By then, the Second Raikage could move again. He walked up to the future Third Raikage and said, "Hokage, aren't you afraid the shinobi world will laugh at you for bullying a junior like this?"

"Hahaha! Weren't you demanding respect from my junior just now? Spare me that useless talk. You heard my conditions. What do you say?" The Second Raikage said, "It's too much." Tobirama Senju turned to leave. "Prepare for war!" Raikage A and the other guards were furious, but there was nothing they could do. "Danzo, kill those two. Oh, right, Yuying, let them say their last words." "All right." Itō Yuying restored Kinkaku and Ginkaku's ability to speak.

Then Ginkaku's curses rang out. "Damn you, Konoha! Release me now, or I'll never let you get away with this!" Tobirama Senju glanced at Ginkaku. "He's finished his last words. Danzo, kill him." "Yes." Shimura Danzō charged straight at Ginkaku without hesitation. "Wait, Hokage!" Kinkaku spoke up, but no one paid him any attention. Shimura Danzō thrust a kunai toward Ginkaku's heart, only for the Raikage to stop him.

Tobirama Senju stared darkly at the Raikage. "Do you really think I'm a pushover?" He threw a Flying Thunder God Kunai at the Raikage, who dodged it. Then Tobirama Senju appeared beside him and slammed an Energy Wave into his kidney. Even with Lightning Armor protecting him, the Energy Wave broke through his defenses, leaving the flesh around his kidney a bloody mess.

He collapsed to the ground, cold sweat pouring off him from the pain. "That's the second time you've bullied a junior." The Raikage said weakly, "Hokage, I accept your demands." "Hmm... wouldn't it have been better to do that from the start? All right, have your men hurry and fetch my three thousand jin of chakra metal and five hundred million in compensation." The Raikage sent his subordinates to fetch them. The few ninja who remained bandaged him and stopped the bleeding.

Kinkaku and Ginkaku were no longer acting so arrogantly. Kinkaku said, "The Raikage has agreed to pay compensation. You can release us now, can't you?" Tobirama Senju said, "You still don't believe it? What the Raikage is paying is only their share. It has nothing whatsoever to do with you. If you want to live, show me what you have to bargain with." The Raikage grew anxious. "Hokage, you're going back on your word! Wasn't that compensation meant to ransom Kinkaku and Ginkaku?" "No. What you're paying is compensation for the casualties you inflicted on Konoha. But the chief culprits must be eliminated."

At that moment, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, B, could bear it no longer and charged straight at Tobirama Senju. Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō were about to intercept him, but Tobirama Senju stopped them. Watching B undergo Tailed Beast Transformation, Tobirama Senju said disdainfully, "You're courting death." He vanished with Flying Thunder God. Seeing Tobirama Senju disappear, B activated his sensory abilities. "On the right!" He threw a punch, but Tobirama Senju vanished again and appeared behind him, severing one of B's arms with a Flying Thunder God Slash. B screamed in pain, "Ah... aaah!" Seeing that B was about to lose control of the Eight-Tails' seal, Tobirama Senju said, "Since you want to come out so badly, I'll help you." Tobirama Senju pressed a hand against B's abdomen.

"Release..."

An immense amount of red chakra instantly surged out. Soon, a gigantic monster with a bull's head and octopus tentacles appeared. "Hahaha! I'll kill you all!" Tobirama Senju said, "Yuying, sorry for the trouble, but send him to Kumogakure." "All right," Itō Yuying said. Then he appeared on top of the Eight-Tails' head. The Eight-Tails grew even more furious and swung his arms up to grab Itō Yuying.

Just as the Eight-Tails was about to catch Itō Yuying, he vanished into thin air. The Raikage and the others stared, dumbfounded. What did this mean? Where had he been sent? They did not believe Tobirama Senju would joke with them. "Hokage, what is the meaning of this?" Tobirama Senju ignored him and merely muttered to himself, "If you don't get back soon, your village might be gone." Disregarding his injuries, the Raikage hurried toward his village. Tobirama Senju said, "The Raikage alone can go. You stay." The future Third Raikage was kept where he was by Tobirama Senju.

Then Itō Yuying appeared beside Tobirama Senju. "How did it go?" Tobirama Senju asked. "It was a very bloody scene. Blood flowed in rivers, and the losses were beyond counting." Kinkaku, Ginkaku, and the future Third Raikage trembled all over at those words. Ginkaku had completely lost his nerve. No longer arrogant, he even breathed softly. They all stared at the brat, Itō Yuying. How could he be so strong? Those strange ninjutsu of his never even repeated themselves. They were still being restrained even now!

Itō Yuying took out a Senzu Bean and popped it into his mouth, instantly feeling fully refreshed. He had already eaten four Senzu Beans during this stretch of time. This move really consumed a lot of ki.

Kinkaku stopped putting on a brave front too. "Hokage, state your terms!" Tobirama Senju said, "I'll only say this once. Don't bargain with me." "All right. As long as I have it, I'll give it to you."

"Mm." Tobirama Senju nodded in satisfaction. "Give us your Six Paths Tools, along with two hundred million in compensation. As for chakra metal, let's make it one thousand jin. If you don't have it, borrow it from the Raikage." Kinkaku and Ginkaku nearly spat blood when they heard this. You might as well kill me, they thought. Kinkaku said, "I accept." Tobirama Senju said, "Decisive. Have your subordinate fetch it!" Itō Yuying released one of Kinkaku and Ginkaku's subordinates.

Tobirama Senju sealed Kinkaku and Ginkaku's chakra, then tied them up. Itō Yuying dispelled the Time-Stopping Formation. Tobirama Senju and the others returned to the Konoha camp and began planning their next actions. Itō Yuying returned to his room and sat cross-legged to train. I'll give myself seventy points for today's performance. I can't get too proud.

That evening, Itō Yuying ate with Tobirama Senju and the others. Itō Yuying asked, "Teacher, are we really going to release Kinkaku and Ginkaku?" Tobirama Senju nodded. "Yes, we'll release them. Let Kinkaku, Ginkaku, and the Raikage wear each other down! We only need to watch the show." "Then aren't you afraid they'll join forces?" "Mm, I observed them for a long time. Their ideals differ. One side advocates peace and recuperation while waiting for future opportunities, while the other advocates invasion and territorial expansion. Even if they unite against a common enemy, it won't last. We only need to sow discord between them."

"Mm-hmm." Itō Yuying nodded. So this is a politician's touch!

Three more days passed, and both the Raikage's subordinates and Kinkaku and Ginkaku's subordinates arrived. The Raikage's subordinate took out five storage scrolls and placed them on the ground. Hiruzen Sarutobi began checking them. After counting everything, he nodded to Tobirama Senju. "No problems." Then Shimura Danzō checked Kinkaku and Ginkaku's scrolls. "Teacher, the chakra metal is five hundred jin short." Tobirama Senju frowned. "It seems you've let my words go in one ear and out the other. Do you think I really don't dare kill anyone?"

Kinkaku and Ginkaku's subordinate immediately dropped to his knees. "Lord Hokage, this really is all we have!" Tobirama Senju said, "Didn't I tell you to borrow it from the Raikage? Surely the Raikage has five hundred jin of chakra metal!" "I went, but... but the Raikage said there wasn't much left. He told me to discuss it with you and ask whether you could accept a little less. Once we have it, we'll definitely repay you double!"

Tobirama Senju sneered. "What a fine scheme, Raikage! Trying to use someone else to do your killing. How ridiculous." Kinkaku and Ginkaku were also enraged when they heard this. "Damn that Raikage! We won't let this go!" "All right, since you don't have that much chakra metal, I can understand. But while you can be spared death, you cannot escape punishment. Leave an arm in its place!"

The Raikage's subordinate called out, "Lord Hokage, the Raikage had me bring an extra five hundred jin of chakra metal. Could you refrain from cutting off the two lords' arms in exchange?" Tobirama Senju chuckled. "Your plan failed, so now you want to mend the damage? Are you making a monkey out of me, Tobirama Senju? Danzo, cut off one of Ginkaku's arms." "Yes." His blade rose and fell, and an arm dropped to the ground. Ginkaku's heart-rending screams rang out. Tobirama Senju looked at Kinkaku. "If you want to blame someone, blame the Raikage! He took me for a fool."

Then he let them leave. Shimura Danzō, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Itō Yuying all gave Tobirama Senju a thumbs-up.