Chapter 100 (Patreon)

Yujiro glanced at the Iwagakure shinobi and civilians standing along both sides of the street, then shook his head.

That little old man really loved making a show of things.

Under Ōnoki’s arrangements, Yujiro and the others were soon taken to one of Iwagakure’s finest guest residences.

They rested there for the day.

The following morning, Ōnoki personally led Yujiro to the Tsuchikage’s office.

“Yujiro, Iwagakure truly wishes to end this war with Konoha,” Ōnoki said with a serious expression.

“As long as Konoha’s demands are something we can accept, Iwagakure will not take up arms against you again.”

He had already made his position clear.

Iwagakure was prepared to suffer a heavy loss. All Ōnoki could do now was hope Konoha would not push them too far.

After all, the old man had welcomed them openly and offered peace first.

“My conditions are simple.”

Yujiro rested a hand on his black blade and looked at Ōnoki with a faint smile.

He wanted to see just how much the old Tsuchikage was willing to endure.

Ōnoki had always been stubborn. It was not until the Five Kage Summit, after hearing Gaara’s words, that he finally began to reconsider the way he had lived as a shinobi.

However, the pressure Yujiro had placed on Iwagakure over the past three weeks had already forced a change in him.

At the very least, he was no longer losing his temper like an irritable old man every time something displeased him.

Of course, there was only one real reason for that change.

Yujiro was strong.

If Yujiro had been weak, Ōnoki would never have treated him so carefully.

That was simply how the shinobi world worked.

“What are your conditions?” Ōnoki asked quietly.

Despite trying to remain calm, he could not stop himself from feeling nervous.

He watched Yujiro closely, afraid he would name a price Iwagakure could never pay.

“Every year, the Land of Earth will hand over fifty percent of its revenue and supplies to Konoha.”

Yujiro raised his right hand and spread all five fingers.

“Fifty percent?!”

Ōnoki’s expression changed immediately.

His already sallow face seemed to turn the same color as the stone walls around him.

Yujiro did not hurry him.

He simply stood there with one hand resting on his blade and waited.

If Ōnoki refused, then Yujiro would beat him until he agreed.

If even that failed, he could capture Kurotsuchi and use her to pressure the old man.

Still, that would only be a last resort.

Yujiro had no intention of doing it unless there was no other choice.

Ōnoki was different from the leaders of the other hidden villages.

If he was driven too far, the old man might truly choose to fight Konoha to the bitter end.

Yujiro was not afraid of that, but Konoha would still suffer unnecessary losses.

If a battle could be avoided, there was no reason to start one.

But if it could not be avoided, Yujiro would not hesitate.

“Fine!”

After a long silence, Ōnoki finally answered in a heavy voice.

“I accept.”

Yujiro raised an eyebrow.

He had actually agreed.

“Are you sure?” Yujiro asked, narrowing his eyes slightly.

“Yes.” Ōnoki nodded firmly. “I will not take back my word.”

Fifty percent.

Only Ōnoki knew how much resolve it had taken to accept such a demand.

“Well, I’m not completely heartless.”

Yujiro smiled.

“I’ll lower it to thirty percent.”

“Really?!”

Ōnoki’s eyes widened.

Yujiro nodded.

“Really.”

“Hahaha! Good! Very good!”

Ōnoki immediately burst into laughter.

“Yujiro, the more I look at you, the more likable you become!”

He moved closer and lowered his voice.

“By the way… how much are the other hidden villages paying?”

Yujiro raised his hand again, showing all five fingers.

Ōnoki stared at them for a moment.

Then he laughed even louder.

“Hahaha! Excellent! Well done, Yujiro!”

His mood had completely changed.

“We are holding a banquet tonight. Iwagakure will make sure you are properly welcomed!”

Seeing the satisfied smile on Ōnoki’s face, Yujiro smiled to himself.

—

“You really are awful, Yujiro.”

Inside Yujiro’s golden mindscape, Kurama finally spoke.

“I already knew you were underhanded, but this was worse than I expected.”

With a thought, Yujiro’s consciousness entered the mindscape.

He looked up at the enormous Nine-Tails and smiled.

“What did I do?”

“Do not play innocent with me!” Kurama snapped. “I know exactly what you were doing!”

“Then explain it.”

Yujiro leaped onto Kurama’s head and sat down comfortably.

“Hey! Yujiro! Get off my—”

Kurama stopped when he noticed the faint smile on Yujiro’s face.

He quickly swallowed the rest of his words.

He had almost forgotten what kind of person he was dealing with.

There was no point provoking this monster over something so small.

“…Fine. Sit there.”

Kurama paused before reluctantly asking, “Is it comfortable?”

“Very.”

Yujiro ran a hand through the fur on top of his head.

“As expected of the strongest tailed beast. Your fur feels surprisingly good.”

“Ahem.”

Kurama cleared his throat and quickly returned to the subject.

“First, you went to Sunagakure and forced them to surrender by showing them just how overwhelming your strength was.”

“After that, you left as though nothing had happened, but you deliberately allowed word to spread that Iwagakure would be your next target.”

“You even travelled straight toward the Land of Earth.”

Kurama’s eyes narrowed.

“I doubt anyone in Iwagakure has slept properly for the past few weeks.”

“You kept them waiting without knowing when you would appear or what you would do.”

“By the time you finally arrived, their nerves were already worn down. Of course they welcomed you and tried to keep you happy.”

His nine tails moved slowly behind him.

“Then, when Ōnoki asked for your terms, you demanded fifty percent.”

“You chose a number so high that it nearly stopped the old man’s heart.”

Kurama snorted.

“If he had been any older, you might have sent him straight to the Pure Land.”

“Then, right after he forced himself to accept it, you lowered the amount to thirty percent.”

One of Kurama’s tails struck the ground.

Bang!

“Just like that, he went from losing fifty percent to losing thirty!”

“He accepted it immediately without even trying to bargain!”

“And somehow, he walked away thinking he had gotten a good deal!”

Kurama stared up at Yujiro.

“You completely controlled the negotiation from the beginning.”

Yujiro listened quietly before giving a casual smile.

“When did I ever say I was a good person?”

Kurama froze.

That was true.

Yujiro had never once claimed to be kind.

No wonder.

Yujiro rose to his feet on top of Kurama’s head.

“If someone stands with me, I’ll treat them as one of my own.”

His expression turned cold.

“But if they stand against me, they should not expect mercy.”