Uchiha Seiryu [232-234] (Patreon)

Chapter 232: From Arrogance to Deference, Laughable Indeed

Seiryu heard the news and couldn't help but smile. It seemed that either A or Killer Bee had woken up.

"Does your country really need to send two delegations just to discuss the same issue?" Seiryu said, a slight smirk on his face as he looked at the haughty envoys from the Land of Lightning in the grand hall.

"That actually fits the stereotype we have of your country's inconsistency," said Kazuo Miura from the side, adding fuel to the fire.

The whole hall burst into laughter, filling the room with a jovial atmosphere.

Even Yoshihiro, seated on the throne, couldn't help but laugh.

Just moments ago, the envoys from the Land of Lightning had entered with airs of superiority, but now their faces turned red and white by turns.

After the laughter died down, Seiryu spoke: "Let's invite these other envoys in as well. Let's see what grand theories they have to share."

Soon, the second group of envoys from the Land of Lightning entered the hall. If the first group had looked like they were lost in a daze, the second group looked so tense.

Seeing the state of the first delegation, the newly arrived envoys grew anxious.

Did they say something they shouldn't have? Did they already submit the document?

They had been sent only after A regained consciousness and the daimyo learned what had really happened at the front lines. In a rush, ninja had escorted them at full speed to the border and then straight to Konoha, barely pausing for breath, yet they still arrived a step too late.

"Greetings, Honorable Daimyo of the Land of Fire. Greetings, Grand Minister," the leader of the new envoys bowed respectfully to both Yoshihiro and Seiryu, then asked nervously, "Regarding the peace agreement between our two nations, how far have the negotiations progressed?"

Seiryu raised an eyebrow. "Ah, you've arrived just in time. Our daimyo was just about to have these reckless fools executed as an act of war, then send their heads back to your country along with our declaration."

"Please, Daimyo and Grand Minister, calm your anger," the new envoy broke out in a cold sweat. "They are not official envoys from the Land of Lightning, but traitors trying to sow discord between our nations."

"Cameron! What nonsense are you spouting?!" the leader of the first group shouted in fury at being branded a traitor.

At that moment, Cameron approached and whispered something in his ear.

The previously defiant envoy collapsed, his face full of terror.

He hadn't expected that the battle at the front had been such a catastrophe for the Land of Lightning!

If, as their advisors had guessed, Kumo and Konoha both suffered heavy losses, then pressuring the Land of Fire would have been a win-win: either Konoha would fold and sign the agreement, or, if they refused and executed them, they could be martyrs in their homeland's annals.

But now, it was clear the Land of Lightning had lost terribly, while Konoha's forces remained strong. Until they recovered, they stood no chance.

If Konoha was provoked into war, they would be remembered as the ones who doomed their country!

For these officials, death wasn't the scary part—it was being remembered forever as the ones who brought disaster to their nation.

"Uh, um, Your Excellency Daimyo, Grand Minister, it was just a… little joke earlier, please don't take it to heart…" The pressure nearly made them babble.

"Why were you arrogant before, but now so deferential? It's really quite amusing!" Kazuo Miura burst out laughing, his laughter echoed by others in the hall, while the second group could only offer awkward smiles.

"I have to say, I preferred your insolent attitude from before. Can you go back to that?" Seiryu said with a smile once the laughter subsided.

"Grand Minister, you jest… Please forgive my earlier rudeness…" The speaker's bald head was now covered in sweat, gleaming under the sunlight.

The whole scene, after cleaning up the mess caused by a disobedient student, actually put Seiryu in a better mood—but he wasn't about to let these people off easy.

Narrowing his eyes, he turned to the second group of envoys and asked calmly, "Mr. Envoy from the Land of Lightning, if I'm not mistaken, you just said those others were what, exactly?"

At his words, the first group of envoys began trembling.

The second envoy showed a trace of pity, but knowing the situation, they had no choice but to abandon their compatriots to save themselves.

"Grand Minister, they are traitors who sought to undermine the friendship between our nations," he finally said, gritting his teeth.

The first group slumped to the ground, realizing that for their country's future, they had been sacrificed.

"So, traitors, then?" Seiryu remarked. "I knew the leadership of the Land of Lightning wouldn't be that foolish. But since they are trying to sow discord, why don't we help your country deal with them?"

"Grand Minister, there's no need to trouble you. Since we are here for friendly negotiations, let us take them back. Rest assured, we will provide a satisfactory explanation for their offense against you and the daimyo."

"Friendly negotiations?" Seiryu's expression grew cold. "I don't think there's any friendship left to negotiate over!"

"We hosted you at the highest standard for this Chunin Exam, and I know Konoha has done nothing to offend Kumo. Yet your Raikage, before leaving, kidnapped the grandson of our Third Hokage. Such a blatant provocation isn't just an insult to Konoha, but a trampling of the Will of Fire! Do you really think there's still friendship between our countries?"

"Sensei, enough talk! Let's just execute them as a warning and send those prisoners to work the cotton fields. We should just declare war on the Land of Lightning!" At this, Yoshihiro spoke up from the throne.

Seiryu glared at him, and Yoshihiro shrank back, sticking out his tongue.

Still, even though he was causing trouble, his words put enormous pressure on the envoys.

"Grand Minister, please reconsider! The Raikage acted rashly, and our country is willing to offer compensation."

"Compensation? Are you referring to the three billion ryo worth of mining waste you tried to pass off earlier?" Seiryu sneered.

"Why don't you review our official document before deciding?" The envoy Cameron, sweating heavily, quickly pulled out the document and handed it over.

Seiryu glanced at it and nodded—it showed much more sincerity.

First, the Land of Lightning's daimyo acknowledged that the conflict was caused by Raikage A's reckless actions and promised he would be punished.

For compensation, instead of the previous insultingly low offer, they now proposed 40 billion ryo in hard cash, paid over ten years.

As for the prisoners, the ransom would be 50 million ryo for jonin, 30 million for special jonin, 10 million for chunin, and 5 million for genin, totaling about 26 billion ryo, also to be paid over ten years.

Cameron asked tentatively, "Grand Minister, what do you think of this offer? We truly come with the utmost sincerity."

"The amount is fine, but I'll only give you three years to pay it off," Seiryu said. "Also, the ransom for the prisoners needs to be increased by 30%, and it must be paid in full before we release anyone. You'll also be responsible for all their upkeep costs while in detention."

"But, Grand Minister, that's too much! Our country simply can't come up with so much money at once," Cameron said bitterly. If they wanted all their people back, they'd need to pay nearly 50 billion ryo the first year, but their annual budget was just over 100 billion.

"That's your problem," Seiryu said coldly. Ten years? Who knows what your country will look like in ten years? If they weren't put under economic pressure, the Land of Lightning would just rearm and come for revenge. Seiryu had no intention of giving them that chance.

Under such financial strain, the Land of Lightning and Kumo only had two choices: cut the military to pay off the debt, or squeeze their own people even harder to rebuild strength.

Either way, Konoha would benefit. If they cut the military, good; if they squeezed the people, when Konoha's forces moved in, they'd be seen as liberators.

As for the possibility of the whole Land of Lightning uniting in the face of adversity, Seiryu doubted it. Before the rise of rap music, maybe. But now, even their own high-level officials were at each other's throats.

"Also, your military actions didn't just hurt Konoha. The war you started on the border with the Land of Hot Water also deeply wounded their people. As their ally, the Land of Fire has a duty to seek justice for them," Seiryu said.

"What sort of compensation would you suggest for the Land of Hot Water?" Cameron sighed. It was clear Konoha was going to ask for the moon, and he'd have to report back to his daimyo before any further negotiations.

"I recall your country seized nearly 10,000 square kilometers of land, including northern ports, from the Land of Hot Water during the Second Great Ninja War. Why not return that territory?" Seiryu asked.

"I'm afraid our daimyo would never agree," Cameron replied, troubled. The port in question was the only warm-water port in their territory—crucial for the Land of Lightning.

"In that case, it seems your country isn't sincere at all," Seiryu said coldly. "Or do you think the losses of a small country like the Land of Hot Water don't matter? Let me be clear: the Land of Hot Water is our loyal ally. Their business is our business! As the responsible power in the ninja world, the Land of Fire must oppose your nation's bullying ways!"

"Well said!"

"Grand Minister is absolutely right!"

The civil officials in the hall all chimed in, echoing Seiryu's words.

Chapter 233: You Need to Attend

The Lightning Country's envoys left the hall in defeat. With Seiryu's demands, the envoy had no authority to decide anything; only after reporting to his daimyo could negotiations resume.

After court, Seiryu returned to the Hokage's office to deal with the aftermath of Naruto's departure.

First, there was the matter of how to frame Naruto's absence.

If he hadn't already spoken with Naruto and learned his intentions, Seiryu could have simply classified it as training—after all, only a team of genin who weren't in the inner circle had actually witnessed Naruto's departure, and a simple gag order would suffice. As for the damage at the Valley of the End, that could be explained as a renovation project.

However, knowing Naruto's true intentions, Seiryu decided that Naruto needed to carry the label of"missing-nin for a while. Otherwise, with Naruto acting out across the ninja world under the name of Konoha, it would cause trouble for the village's pacifist reputation. And only as a missing-nin would Naruto attract the attention of Kara.

Would this status hurt Naruto? Not really. The bounty system in the ninja world was flexible—like with Roshi from Iwagakure or Deidara, their bounties were more of a signal to other bounty hunters to leave them alone.

The only real threat to Naruto might be other groups coveting the fox inside him. But now, having mastered Kurama Mode, Naruto was firmly at Kage-level, and with his Wind Release and taijutsu prowess, he could escape from almost anyone.

"Inaho!" Seiryu called his secretary. "Where's Jiraiya these days?"

"Lord Jiraiya is holding a book signing in the Land of Hot Water," Inaho replied.

"The Land of Hot Water, I see." Seiryu nodded, wrote a letter about Naruto's status, and asked Inaho to find Jiraiya, watch over Naruto, and train him a bit. Then, he took out the Scroll of Seals, copied the Flying Thunder God technique, sealed it in the letter, and handed it to Inaho.

"Deliver this to Jiraiya personally."

"Yes!" Inaho nodded, taking the letter and leaving the Hokage's office.

Soon, the head of the mission hall knocked on Seiryu's door.

"Hokage-sama, we have an S-rank request from the Land of Demons that needs your attention."

"The Land of Demons?" Seiryu took the file and read it.

"A person named Yomi has usurped the position of priestess and daimyo, and they need Konoha ninja to protect the priestess and seal the nation's demon?" Seiryu scratched his head. He remembered this plot from the movie "Naruto: Shippuden the Movie." But with Naruto gone, who should he send?

"I'll have Sasuke go. It'll be good for him, and the demon's power might be useful to him," Seiryu said, then told the mission hall leader, "Tell the client that Konoha will send an elite team."

"Yes!" After the leader left, Seiryu got up to head for the Senju clan compound.

…

After Tsunade's treatment, Sasuke slowly woke up in the hospital, his friends waiting at his bedside.

"Sasuke, you're awake," Neji said, handing him a cup of water.

Sasuke took a sip, then looked around.

"Sorry, I failed. I couldn't bring him back," Sasuke said, pounding the bed in frustration.

"Forget it, let's not talk about that now," Neji said quickly. "Just focus on getting better."

Sasuke fell silent.

At that moment, Seiryu entered the room.

"Sensei."

"Hokage-sama."

Everyone greeted him respectfully.

Seiryu nodded, then said, "You all may leave. I want to talk to Sasuke alone."

"Yes." The others filed out.

Seiryu sat down by Sasuke's bed, picked up an apple, and began peeling it with a kunai.

Sasuke didn't say anything, just stared at the ceiling.

After peeling the apple, Seiryu handed it to Sasuke and broke the silence.

"Awakened your eyes?"

Sasuke nodded.

"What abilities?"

"Mukunchui and Kenbudo-no-mikoto," Sasuke replied. "One lets me summon destructive lightning chakra, the other lets me freely manipulate it."

"Not bad," Seiryu nodded. These were basically Amaterasu and Kagutsuchi, but with lightning—perfect for a reincarnation of Indra.

"But even the Mangekyo wasn't enough to bring him back," Sasuke said, dejected. "And I could tell he wasn't even fighting seriously."

"Of course not. He's just a step away from being the perfect Jinchuriki. You're no match for him yet." Seiryu replied.

"Sensei, can you teach me how to use the Mangekyo Sharingan?" Sasuke asked.

"If you mean using genjutsu on tailed beasts, ask your brother Shisui, or your father in the Land of Water. As for the Mangekyo's abilities and Susanoo, I don't recommend training those yet."

"Why?" Sasuke was confused.

"You've noticed, right? Using these abilities strains your eyesight, and Susanoo in particular is tough on a growing body," Seiryu explained.

"But, Sensei, you awakened your Mangekyo even earlier."

"I didn't have a choice," Seiryu said. "And I paid a heavy price for it. But you don't need to rush."

"Still, how can I catch up to him?" Sasuke insisted. "Sensei, please help me."

"All right. Recover first. After you finish this mission, I'll take you somewhere. Then you can decide," Seiryu nodded, placing the mission report on Sasuke's bed.

"I understand," Sasuke replied, picking up the report.

…

Three days later, after recovering under Tsunade's care, Sasuke set out with Neji, Sakura, Karin, and Lee for the Land of Demons.

"Sasuke, if you're not feeling well, we can rest," Neji, the team leader, suggested as they entered the country.

"I'm fine. Let's keep moving and finish this quickly," Sasuke replied, signaling Neji not to worry.

"All right," Neji nodded, and the group moved on.

Once inside the Land of Demons, they hurried to the meeting place, but along the way, Karin noticed the large number of shrines.

"There are so many shrines here," Karin remarked.

"That's normal. The Land of Demons is a theocracy. The priestess is both religious and political leader," Sakura explained.

"Priestess as daimyo?" Karin was surprised. In the Land of Fire, priestesses only performed rituals and fortune-telling.

They soon reached the rendezvous—a shrine in a valley with a large waterfall—just in time to see someone carrying a white-haired woman being chased by armed men.

"That's our target. Enemies ahead!" Neji, using his Byakugan, assessed the scene and grabbed his staff, charging in.

The others followed. The attackers weren't strong and were quickly dealt with.

Seeing Konoha's team arrive, the attackers gave up and retreated.

The man carrying Shion sighed in relief.

"Thank you for coming, Konoha shinobi. Please, come inside."

Neji nodded, but Shion, being carried, looked up and scanned the group. When her eyes met Sasuke's, her purple pupils narrowed.

Sasuke was puzzled by her gaze, but now wasn't the time. They followed their host inside.

Inside the shrine's hall, after a short wait, Shion returned in formal dress.

"Thank you for coming, Konoha nin. Without you, we can't imagine what would have happened," the host said, bowing.

"Seems we were a bit late; maybe more lives could have been saved," Neji replied.

At that moment, an icy voice came from the dais.

"That's only natural. My safety was their wish."

Shion's words stunned the group. Karin stared blankly at this beautiful but cold priestess, unable to understand how someone so pretty could speak so callously.

"I foresaw their deaths, and they fulfilled their destiny," Shion said, unmoved by the stares.

"Prophecy?" Neji frowned.

"Yes," Shion nodded, then looked at Sasuke. "You can turn your eyes red, can't you?"

"Yes, I'm from the Uchiha clan," Sasuke replied.

"Then it's certain. In my vision, you died, impaled through the body, with red eyes."

"What?" Lee stood up in anger. They'd come all this way to help, and before the mission even started, she was already predicting death?

But Neji and Sasuke both scoffed.

"That's your prophecy, Priestess?" Neji asked.

"Yes. I can see the future, and in that future, that's how you die," Shion replied coldly, as if passing sentence.

"I have a suggestion," Sasuke replied coolly. "In Konoha, people like you usually attend a place called the Naka River Seminar before working as clergy. I think you'd benefit from that, Priestess."

For Sasuke and Neji, trained by Seiryu, such occultists ought to be sent to the Seminar to learn the true meaning of religious authority.

Thus, the first meeting with their client ended on a sour note.

Chapter 234: Shukaku VS Kurama

Meanwhile, Naruto, traveling across the ninja world, had entered the Land of Wind.

Normally, entering the Land of Wind as Naruto would have been difficult, but with the turmoil in Suna, the borders were almost unguarded. Naruto walked in without issue.

Suna was now in chaos.

After Gaara, their Jinchuriki, rebelled against his father's training program and, with Shukaku's help, killed Rasa, the ninja managed to subdue the rampaging One-Tail. But Rasa's death was a disaster for Suna, as he was their financial pillar.

Who would be the next Kazekage? No one knew.

Thanks to years of purges, there was no obvious successor. Gaara, the obvious candidate, was imprisoned as a criminal.

The princess, Temari, was wracking her brains to secure the position and save her brother—because only as Kazekage could she spare Gaara's life. Otherwise, he would be killed for the tailed beast inside him.

In Suna's prison, Gaara sat quietly in the corner, covered in sealing talismans. Inside his mind, Shukaku confronted him.

"Kid, why resist? Just give me control, and these seals will be nothing—you'll be free!" Shukaku tempted him.

Though the weakest of the tailed beasts, Shukaku was the only one who knew human sealing techniques. The current seals on Gaara were little trouble for him.

But Gaara said nothing, using his willpower to combat sleep.

Shukaku wasn't worried; Gaara hadn't slept in ages. When he finally collapsed, control would be his, and he'd be free.

In a small village in the north of the Land of Wind, Naruto, wrapped in a cloak, stood on an empty lot as ragged villagers watched.

"Kurama, are you sure there's water down here? I'll look bad if I can't find any!" Naruto muttered.

"I said there is, so there is!" Kurama replied impatiently. "But aren't you supposed to be training? Why bother with this?"

"This is part of my training," Naruto smiled at the villagers. "Only if they trust me will they agree to connect their chakra with mine."

"Whatever," Kurama mumbled, curling up for a nap.

"Are you sure you can dig a well here?" an old man asked, full of hope.

"Of course!" Naruto grinned and gave a thumbs-up. "You couldn't dig one before because the water table is too deep. Without ninjutsu, it's impossible."

"Please stand back," Naruto said, then began weaving signs.

"Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!" Naruto dove underground.

As he dug, the pressure increased. This jutsu made the earth softer, but not enough for extended underground travel. Still, Naruto's body could handle it.

He soon reached the water.

"Rasengan!" He formed a Rasengan and blasted his way upward.

With a loud bang, water gushed from the new well.

"Water! There's water!" the villagers cheered.

"Wait! Don't come close yet!" Naruto said, quickly reinforcing the sand with Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall, turning it into stone to stabilize the well.

"All done, old man!" Naruto said with a smile and a thumbs-up.

"Thank you, Naruto! We've waited so long for this. Now we won't have to walk ten miles every day for water," the old man said, tears in his eyes.

"No problem! You fed me, so I should help out," Naruto replied, scratching his head.

Just then, a series of explosions sounded in the distance.

"Huh?" Inside, Kurama sat up. Naruto was startled by his reaction.

"Kurama, what's wrong?"

"Something interesting is coming!" Kurama grinned. "Kid, how about letting me take control? I'll let you use my power whenever you want, in return."

"What? Why?"

Kurama had never taken the initiative like this before.

"There's an old punching bag coming my way. I want to see if I've still got it," Kurama said eagerly.

"What—? Kurama, speak plainly!" Naruto demanded.

"Just go! If you don't, everyone here will die when it arrives," Kurama said.

"What?" Naruto paled. "Everyone, find somewhere to hide! There might be danger soon!"

"Danger?" the village chief looked toward the explosions. "That's… Sunagakure?"

"I'll stop whatever's coming. But just in case, find a safe place to hide," Naruto said.

"Don't risk yourself, Naruto! Hey!" the old chief called, but before he could finish, Naruto was surrounded by golden chakra and shot off toward the explosions.

At that moment, Shukaku was being chased by Suna ninja. After blasting away pursuers with a Tailed Beast Bomb, he sensed Kurama's chakra and roared, "Damn fox!"

Sensing Kurama, Shukaku went berserk and fired another Tailed Beast Bomb.

Seeing the golden glow, Shukaku attacked immediately.

Naruto, startled, quickly countered with his own Tailed Beast Bomb.

The two bombs exploded, sending up a cloud of sand. Shukaku charged at Naruto.

"Kurama! Is this the punching bag? Isn't he a tailed beast too? Aren't you brothers?" Naruto asked.

Kurama, normally indifferent to other tailed beasts, rarely reacted like this. But with Shukaku, it was different.

"Who's his brother? Enough talk! Give me control!" Kurama demanded.

In the next moment, Naruto's eyes glowed red in Kurama mode. As Shukaku charged, two chakra arms lashed out, smacking Shukaku hard.

Caught off guard, Shukaku spun like a top.

"Damn fox!" Shukaku roared and charged again.

The two began brawling in the desert.

"That's the feeling! This stupid tanuki's gotten fatter, too! Feels even better to hit! Shame I can't fully transform because of the seal, though."

Inside, Naruto watched as Kurama, in control, gleefully fought.

Meanwhile, the Suna ninja arrived at the edge of the battlefield. Maki and Temari were stunned to see someone fighting Shukaku head-on.

"Who is that? Able to take on the One-Tail like that?" Kankuro said in disbelief.

"The chakra… He must be a Jinchuriki too. But which beast? He isn't even fully transformed!" Maki observed.

They didn't recognize Naruto—Kurama Mode had never been seen before.

"What now? Do we help?" Temari asked.

"No, let them wear each other out. Then we'll strike," said the elder, Chiyo, with a greedy grin. "This is our lucky day. We can reclaim Shukaku and maybe capture another tailed beast!"

Suna's forces set up an ambush, but Kurama wasn't worried. Right now, nothing was more important than beating up the tanuki.

"Damn fox! Who's this kid—your Jinchuriki? You've given in to humans?" Shukaku spat as they traded blows.

"Hmph. You haven't improved at all," Kurama sneered, smacking Shukaku.

"At least I can kill you in this state! Without full transformation, how strong can you be, fox?"

For Shukaku, this was his chance for revenge. The advantage is mine!