Naruto: The Ninja World's Life Buyer

Chapter 236 Lord Kazekage, you don't want Yekura's affair to be discovered, do you?

The Land of Wind, Sunagakure Village.

Luo Sha sat in Feng Ying's office, looking at a secret report in his hand, his face ashen.

"Damn Onoki!"

boom!

Luo Sha slammed his hand on the table.

"He delivered a thousand tons of grain. But he actually boasted on the black market that Sunagakure obtained it at the cost of Yoruichi's life!"

"He wants to cause chaos in Sunagakure!"

Ebizo sat on the sofa, his brow furrowed.

"That's definitely Onoki's style. He kills people by destroying their spirit."

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"Rumors are already circulating in the village. Many ninjas who received favors from Pakura are secretly conspiring to demand an explanation from the Kazekage Building. They don't believe Pakura died during a mission."

"We must suppress it!" Luo Sha gritted his teeth.

"If a mutiny occurs at this time, Sunagakure will be completely finished."

"But—how do we press it?" Ebizo sighed.

Just then.

"Knock knock knock".

There was a knock on the office door.

"Come in."

A member of the secret service walked in and knelt on one knee.

"Lord Kazekage. The Takaya Trading Company's caravan has arrived. They've brought three thousand tons of grain, as well as a batch of the latest wound medicine."

"Furthermore, the Chamber of Commerce representative said they would like to meet with you."

Luo Sha was stunned for a moment.

"Let them in."

After a while.

A man wearing an eye patch and a black trench coat walked into the office.

Sosuke Takaya.

"Lord Kazekage, it's been a long time."

Sosuke greeted him with a smile.

"Takaya Sosuke?"

Luo Sha stood up, his eyes wary.

"Why aren't you staying in Konoha? What are you doing here?"

"Of course we're here for after-sales service."

Sosuke sat down on the sofa as if they were old friends.

"Those three thousand tons of grain represent the first batch of goodwill from the Takaya Trading Company. Are you satisfied, Lord Kazekage?"

"Very satisfied. I thought you would take a long time to deliver it," Luo Sha said coldly.

"I'm always quick."

Sosuke picked up a cup of tea and took a sip.

"However, I heard that Lord Kazekage has recently encountered a little trouble. Regarding—that Scorching Release user, Yekura?"

'

Luo Sha's pupils contracted, revealing his murderous intent.

"You believe the rumors spread by Onoki?"

"Whether I believe it or not is not important. What is important is that the ninjas of Sunagakure believe it."

Sosuke put down his teacup and looked directly at Rasa.

"Onoki's move is vicious. He wants to cause internal strife in Sunagakure."

"If the local tribes are in chaos, my business will be affected."

"So, I'm here to help you."

Luo Sha sneered.

"Help me? How can you help me? Can you bring the dead back to life and have them refute the rumors?"

"The dead cannot be brought back to life."

Sousuke smiled.

"But what if she hadn't died?"

"What did you say?"

Luo Sha suddenly stood up. Behind him, Ebizo also opened his eyes, which were always half-closed.

"Yakura—she's not dead?"

Luo Sha's voice trembled.

He was terrified.

If the woman he betrayed doesn't die and returns to Sunagakure—then his position as Kazekage will be overthrown by the angry ninjas tomorrow!

"What's wrong? Lord Kazekage seems rather unhappy?"

Sosuke enjoyed Rasa's loss of composure.

"She's a hero of your Sunagakure. Isn't it something to be thankful for that a hero is still alive?"

"Sousuke Takaya, stop with your sarcastic remarks!"

Rasa placed his hands on the desk, his Magnet Release chakra subtly fluctuating, causing the surrounding metal utensils to tremble.

Where is she?

"In my caravan."

Sosuke was not intimidated by his chakra and remained calmly seated on the sofa.

"To be precise, she is now a senior technical advisor for Takaya Trading Company."

"Impossible!" Luo Sha gritted his teeth.

"Onoki sent an entire battalion to ambush her in the Valley of the Mist. No matter how strong she is, there's no way she could have survived!"

"What if I had saved him?" Sosuke countered.

Luo Sha was stunned.

He stared at Sosuke, his mind racing. The Takaya Trading Company had intervened? Why were they saving Yoko?

"What exactly do you want?" Luo Sha took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

"I told you, I'm here to provide after-sales service."

"Lord Kazekage, the situation is now very clear."

"Onoki wants to ruin you with rumors. The simplest way to break these rumors is for Pakura to personally tell the Sunagakure ninjas that she was not betrayed by you. The ambush in the Valley of the Mist was just a one-sided conspiracy by Iwagakure, and after you learned of it, you immediately hired the Takaya Trading Company at a high price to come to the rescue."

"In this way, Onoki's divisive scheme will not only fail on its own, but you, Rasa, will also become a wise ruler who spares no expense to hire outside help in order to protect the village's heroes."

Luo Sha's breathing became rapid.

This offer is incredibly tempting. It's practically perfect political crisis management.

"but----"

Ebizo suddenly spoke, getting straight to the heart of the matter.

"Yakura has a strong personality. Knowing the truth, how could she possibly cooperate with us in lying?"

"She will cooperate."

Sousuke smiled.

"Because right now, she doesn't want to die, nor does she want Sunagakure to fall into civil war because of her."

"Although she was utterly disappointed with the village, she still cared about her unsuspecting companions."

"As long as you agree to my conditions, I will make her shut up and cooperate with you to finish this charade."

"Conditions? What do you want?" Luo Sha asked.

"It's very simple."

Sosuke held up two fingers.

"First, Sunagakure has announced that Pakura has been seriously injured in the battle at the Valley of the Mist, resulting in damage to her meridians, and is no longer able to serve as a ninja. She will officially retire."

"Secondly, as compensation for her retirement and the rescue efforts of the Takaya Trading Company, Lord Kazekage, you need to sign a document acknowledging that the Takaya Trading Company possesses tax-free trade rights in the Land of Wind. Furthermore, future mineral extraction in Sunagakure must prioritize supplying the Takaya Trading Company."

Luo Sha's cheek twitched.

Duty-free trade rights! This is tantamount to opening a hole in the economic artery of the Land of Wind, allowing the Takaya Trading Company to bleed the land dry!

"This is impossible!" Luo Sha roared. "What's the difference between this and treason?!"

"Kazekage-sama."

Sousuke's eyes turned cold.

"Don't put it that way. The three thousand tons of grain I brought were sold to you at a price 30% lower than the market price."

"I'm helping you through the famine. I have to earn this money back from somewhere else, right?"

"If you disagree————"

Sosuke spread his hands.

"Then I can only take Yekura for a walk around the plaza in Sunagakure."

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"At that time, she will tell everyone how she was surrounded by Iwa ninja in the Valley of Mist, and how your Kazekage pushed her into the fire."

"The ninjas of Sunagakure might not believe Onoki's rumors. But if their hero said it himself—"

This businessman holds a bomb in his hand that could overthrow his rule.

Ebizo sighed and shook his head.

"Lord Kazekage—please agree to his request."

The old man saw things very clearly. Sunagakure is now riddled with holes and can't withstand any more damage.

"----good."

Luo Sha slumped back into his chair.

"I agree."

One hour later.

On the balcony of the Fengying Building.

Rasa stood on high ground, looking down at the thousands of Sand Village ninjas and civilians gathered below.

The rumors surrounding Onoki had reached their peak, and the crowd was filled with voices of doubt.

"Lord Kazekage! Please explain Lord Yekura's matter!"

"Is what Onoki said true?! Did the village really betray their comrades for food?!"

The sentiment is indignant.

Luo Sha took a deep breath.

"quiet!"

The amplified power of chakra suppressed the noise throughout the venue.

"Onoki's rumors are shameless attempts to sow discord!"

Luo Sha said loudly, his tone filled with grief and indignation.

"The truth is, Iwagakure broke the deal and set a despicable trap in Mist Valley, attempting to assassinate our hero!"

"The moment I received the intelligence, I hired the elite rescue team from Konoha's Takaya Trading Company to go to the rescue!"

"Luckily, we made it in time!"

Luo Sha waved his hand.

The balcony door opened.

Yecang came out.

She was covered in bandages and her face was pale.

But that was the living, breathing Yekura.

The entire stadium fell silent for a moment, then erupted in deafening cheers.

"Lord Hayakura!"

"Lady Yekura is not dead! Thank goodness!"

"Lord Kazekage is wise! Onoki was lying after all!"

Yekura looked at the cheering crowd with a complicated expression.

There was relief, there was pain, and there was also a deep irony.

She turned her head and glanced at Sosuke, who was standing in the shadows.

Sosuke nodded slightly to her.

"Everyone----"

Ye Cang spoke, his voice hoarse.

"I'm fine. Lord Kazekage—didn't betray me."

She said those words against her will.

But she knew she had to say it. For the sake of her fellow villagers who were still struggling to survive, she couldn't let the village be torn apart because of her.

"However, my meridians were damaged in the battle—I can no longer gather chakra."

"From today onwards, I will be withdrawing from the front lines."

A sigh of regret came from the crowd.

"Damn Iwagakure! We must avenge this!"

"Quiet!" Luo Sha took the microphone at the right moment.

"The village will never forget Jonin Yekura's sacrifice. In gratitude for the Takaya Trading Company's rescue, and to ensure Jonin Yekura a peaceful old age."

"She will travel to the Land of Fire as the technical representative of Sunagakure and serve as a senior advisor to the Takaya Trading Company."

A political stunt has come to a perfect end.

Luo Sha retained his position as Feng Ying and stabilized the morale of the army.

Onoki's "divide and conquer" strategy completely failed, and even aroused Sunagakure's deeper hatred for Iwagakure.

Meanwhile, Takaya Sousuke returned home laden with a tax-free privilege document and a living Scorching Exorcist.

On the carriage leaving Sunagakure.

Ye Cang watched the sandstorm recede into the distance outside the window.

"Satisfied?"

She asked Sosuke, who was sitting opposite her, coldly.

"Very satisfied."

Sosuke put away the tax exemption document.

"You cooperated very well. Your acting was good."

"I'm not acting," Yekura said through gritted teeth. "I'm doing this for the peace of Sunagakure."

"Say whatever you want."

Sosuke handed her a bottle of water.

"From this day forward, the Land of Wind will no longer have the Blazing Escape Master, Yekura."

"Only a senior advisor from Takaya Trading Company."

"Welcome to the team, Yekura."

Yecang took the water bottle.