Naruto: Tenseigan Eye

The Land of Fire was simply too prosperous. Signing a peace contract of this nature would leave other villages with no legitimate reason to initiate conflict. This would allow Konoha to develop peacefully, continuously accumulating strength and becoming an even greater powerhouse.

Not to mention the economic benefits of such a deal.

Take the current state of Kumo Ninja Village, for instance. They have significantly bolstered their military power purely through economic ventures. The wealth they've amassed has given them the confidence to stand as an equal competitor against the five great ninja villages, including Konoha.

"Are these terms acceptable?"

The Hokage, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke, his tone measured.

The envoy leader from Sunagakure, Chiyo, opened her eyes and responded calmly:

"Yes, these are our terms. The village has shown sufficient sincerity; now it's up to Konoha to decide. If your village refuses, we'll withdraw the offer entirely.

As for war reparations? That's out of the question. Sunagakure already owes a considerable debt to Hyuga Shinki from your village. That alone will take us years to repay."

Indeed, personal debts alone were daunting enough. How could they possibly manage war reparations to Konoha on top of that?

It would be akin to selling off Sunagakure itself.

Chiyo even cited the debt owed to Shinki as a way to underline Sunagakure's financial limitations.

Shinki, sitting nearby, frowned and cautioned her:

"Personal debts are personal debts, and village debts are village debts. Don't conflate the two or use it as leverage in these negotiations."

Chiyo nodded with a smile.

"Understood."

Having achieved her goal, she retreated graciously, accepting the warning without argument. There was no need to push further; the terms were already on the table.

Shinki didn't press the issue either.

"I'll need to consult with others before deciding. Sunagakure's representatives, please return to your accommodations for now. Once we've reached a conclusion, we'll inform you."

An internal discussion was inevitable. Negotiations of this scale couldn't be resolved in a single sitting. Both Hokage and Chiyo were prepared for drawn-out talks.

Chiyo stood, signaling her entourage.

"Let's go."

With that, the Sunagakure delegation left the conference room and made their way to the accommodations arranged for them by Konoha.

When the room cleared, the Hokage lit his pipe, his face shadowed with thought.

"Share your opinions."

The room fell silent.

Although there were many people present, everyone understood their relative importance in such discussions. Most chose to defer, waiting for the more influential voices to speak first.

All eyes shifted to the front of the room.

Shinki, feeling the weight of their stares, furrowed his brow. Why were they all looking at him?

"Homura, you're the Hokage's right-hand man. Don't look at me—I'm just here as an observer."

A soft cough interrupted the quiet.

Nara Shikashin nudged Shinki with his foot, signaling for him to speak.

Shinki sighed, raising his hand in mock surrender.

"Why me? I'm the youngest person here. I'm the head of ANBU, responsible for intelligence and assassinations. Strategic discussions like this aren't exactly my forte."

Homura, always the mediator, interjected smoothly:

"It's because we trust your judgment. Both Hokage and I value your perspective."

The Hokage hummed in agreement, exhaling a puff of smoke.

Shinki grimaced. "Fine. But don't expect much." He glanced around the room. "Actually, never mind. I'll pass. I've got to go; my house is a mess, and I don't have time for this nonsense."

The room erupted in confusion as Shinki pushed back his chair to leave.

"Wait, wait! Don't go!" Nara Shikashin quickly grabbed his sleeve.

"Shinki, please, stay. Let me go first."

Taking the floor, Shikashin laid out his analysis:

"Chiyo's mention of personal debts wasn't just a deflection. It was a signal that Sunagakure is operating at its financial limits. They've offered what they can, and they won't budge further. Any attempt to extract more from them would likely fail."

He paused for emphasis.

"As for the puppet techniques, do we really need to pursue them? Compared to the potential long-term benefits of this deal, such pursuits seem trivial."

Someone muttered under their breath:

"What's the point of focusing on puppet techniques? They're not even relevant to us."

The Hokage's sharp gaze silenced the speaker immediately.

Shinki chuckled quietly. Sarutobi's clan members had a knack for stating the obvious.

"The village wants the puppet techniques to bolster civilian ninja capabilities," Shinki clarified. "Don't dismiss their importance so casually."

The Hokage signaled for the windows to be opened, allowing fresh air to circulate. He took a long puff on his pipe before addressing the room:

"While reparations are significant, we must also consider long-term stability. However, agreeing to Sunagakure's terms has implications. It could tarnish Konoha's reputation. As victors, failing to secure reparations or tangible benefits would make us look weak."

He paused, letting his words sink in.

"On the surface, the deal seems beneficial. But beneath it lies a web of potential pitfalls."

Shinki nodded.

"Exactly. If we accept their terms and they later claim they're unable to meet their obligations, it'll be an embarrassment. We need to tread carefully."

The Hokage's expression darkened.

Negotiations might appear straightforward, but the stakes were higher than they seemed.

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