The atmosphere was somewhat heavy.
After a moment, Sōkyū Hatake finally spoke slowly, his voice as steady as ever:
"Tsuchikage Ōnoki, I understand Iwagakure's current predicament. As a member of the Shinobi World, Rōran has a duty to provide humanitarian aid to an ally that has suffered such a disaster."
Ōnoki relaxed a little, but immediately tensed again, because he knew a "but" was coming.
"But," Sōkyū Hatake said, changing tack just as expected, "as you said, rebuilding a shinobi village that has been almost completely destroyed requires enormous resources and a long-term commitment. This is not merely 'aid,' but a massive 'reconstruction project' and 'investment.'"
Sōkyū Hatake leaned forward slightly, looking straight at Ōnoki.
"I can promise that Rōran will fully support Iwagakure's reconstruction. Funding, technology, supplies, manpower-we can give you priority in all of them. We can help you build a new Iwagakure on the ruins, one that is more modern, more resilient, and more livable. We can even help you train a new generation of shinobi and restore the village's defensive strength."
Ōnoki's heartbeat quickened. He knew the terms the other man would demand would be anything but simple.
"Then what is the price?" he asked directly, his voice dry.
Sōkyū Hatake leaned back in his chair, his delivery becoming clear and methodical, as though he were presenting a business plan drafted long ago.
"First, Iwagakure's reconstruction plans, core technical standards, and primary building materials must follow Rōran's system, with Rōran experts leading the design to ensure compatibility with the future development of the entire Shinobi World."
Ōnoki's heart sank. This meant that the future Iwagakure's "core" would bear Rōran's deep imprint.
"Second, the exploration, extraction, refining, and sale of all Iwagakure's mineral resources, both those currently known and those that may be discovered in the future,