Naruto: The Ninja World's Life Buyer

Chapter 263 The Trip to Daimyo Prefecture, The Vanished Itachi

Hokage Building, conference room.

On Konoha's side, Orochimaru, dressed in a divine robe, sat in the main seat. His golden eyes were half-closed, seemingly uninterested in this negotiation that would determine the fate of the ninja world.

On the left is Nara Shikaku. On the right is Takaya Sousuke.

Opposite them was the delegation of the two countries' allied forces.

The representative of Yan Yin is loess. This burly man has a dignified look in his eyes.

The representative of Kumogakure is Tsuchida. He wears a black eyepatch, has dark skin, and a cold expression.

The war can't continue, so we have no choice but to sit down and talk.

But how to talk and what to talk about are the key points.

"Konoha must remove all bounties from the black market."

The loess was the first to speak.

"That bounty pool targeting Iwagakure must be shut down immediately. As long as the bounties remain, the peace agreement is just a piece of paper."

Huang Tu stared at Sousuke.

[At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain name: ①⓪①ⓚⓚⓢ.ⓒⓞⓜ]

He knew that this man was the madman who had pulled out twenty tons of silver and five tons of gold.

The Iwagakure army was not defeated by the Konoha regular army, but it was bitten through by the bounty hunters who roamed the mountains and fields.

"Can."

Sosuke agreed.

"The money is mine. I can stop it anytime. I'll have the person in charge withdraw the unspent gold."

Sosuke agreed readily.

This surprised Huang Tu, who had thought the other party would use this as an excuse to make exorbitant demands.

"However, there is one thing I must state."

Sousuke reminded.

"Bounties can be suspended at any time, but there will inevitably be delays in receiving information. During this period, if those bounty hunters cause casualties to your Iwagakure, I cannot be held responsible."

Huang Tu gritted his teeth and didn't refute it. He knew it was true.

Tu Tai tapped the table, bringing the topic back to the core.

"That's just a prerequisite. The real condition is the currency of the Land of Fire."

Dodai stared at Orochimaru.

"About three years ago, the daimyo of the Land of Fire built a detached palace and unilaterally announced a significant appreciation of his currency and an increase in transit tariffs."

"This was the spark that ignited the war."

The earthen platform's voice was deep and powerful.

"The Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth can withdraw their troops. However, the exchange rate of the Land of Fire's currency must be reduced to pre-war levels."

"If this problem isn't resolved, even if we sign the treaty today, the leaders of various countries will still force us to go to war tomorrow."

o

Tu Tai revealed the true nature of this war: it wasn't hatred, but an economic crisis that made survival impossible.

Orochimaru chuckled softly.

"Lord Tsuchidai, you seem to have the wrong person."

"The exchange rate is the domain of the Daimyo. The Hokage only cares about fighting wars, not printing money."

"Our Konoha's military budget was cut by 30% by the Daimyo's office a few months ago."

Orochimaru shrugged, looking completely indifferent.

The earthen platform and the loess exchanged a glance.

They certainly knew this was the Daimyo's prerogative. But they couldn't bypass Konoha to negotiate with the Daimyo. Ninjas could communicate with each other using swords, but to cross class lines and coerce a Daimyo from another country was neither legitimate nor justifiable.

Therefore, their only option was to pressure Konoha to deal with the Daimyo.

"Lord Hokage, this is the bottom line."

The earth platform refused to give way.

"If Konoha can't make this happen, then we can only continue to drag this out. Even if Kumogakure and Iwagakure go bankrupt, we'll turn the Land of Fire's borders into scorched earth. At worst, we'll all perish together."

An impasse occurred in the meeting room.

Shikaku frowned, his mind racing. If he pushed too hard, the other party might really resort to desperate measures.

Sosuke spoke again.

"The exchange rate is negotiable."

"I am the owner of the Takaya Trading Company, and we have business dealings with the Daimyo Prefecture. I can represent Konoha and write to the Daimyo Prefecture."

He suggested requesting a reduction in the currency exchange rate.

"However, persuading the daimyo will take time, and it will also require—bargaining chips."

Zongsuke looked at Tutai and Huangtu.

"The daimyo only cares about profit. If you two are going to make him return the money he's taken, what do you plan to offer as compensation?"

Tu Tai sneered, "Isn't our withdrawal the greatest compensation?"

"Withdrawing troops is merely a way to cut losses, not a way to gain benefits."

Sousuke corrected.

"If you want the daimyo to back down, you must make concessions on trade."

"For example, high-purity lightning-attribute conductive ore produced in the Land of Lightning will be supplied to the Takaya Trading Company at a price 20% lower than the market price. This will be for ten years."

"We should also be allowed to supply the Land of Earth with its explosive clay."

"Takaya Sousuke! You're taking advantage of my misfortune!" Huang Tu slammed his fist on the table in anger.

"Say what you will. That's how business is done."

Despite several rounds of wrangling, the representatives from Iwagakure and Kumogakure ultimately agreed to Konoha's conditions.

After the meeting, Sosuke immediately wrote to the Daimyo Prefecture.

A week later.

Hokage Building, conference room.

Nara Shikaku held a document from the daimyo's prefecture, his brow furrowed.

Orochimaru wasn't there; he went to the underground laboratory to study the bloodline samples.

Only Shikaku and Sosuke were in the meeting room.

It was too hot, and he needed something crisp and juicy to cool down.

"What's your name?" Sosuke asked, swallowing a piece of cucumber.

Shikaku sighed.

"I refused."

"The daimyo was furious in the letter. He said that the exchange rate of the Land of Fire's currency is a national policy and cannot be changed arbitrarily because of protests from two defeated nations."

"Furthermore, the daimyo emphasizes—"

"The construction of the detached palace is a matter of national destiny for the Land of Fire, and it cannot be stopped under any circumstances. If the current exchange rate is not maintained, the national treasury will simply not be able to guarantee the progress of the palace's construction."

"He even criticized Konoha for its poor performance, saying that it hadn't completely subdued Iwagakure and Kumogakure, which led them to dare to make such unreasonable demands."

After hearing this, Sosuke took another bite of cucumber.

"That's easy for you to say when you're not the one suffering from the pain."

Sosuke pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his hands.

"So what do we do now?"

Lu Jiu rubbed his temples.

"The delegations from Iwagakure and Kumogakure are still waiting at the inn. If we cannot get the exchange rate lowered, then Hirotsuchi and Tsuchidai will never sign a peace agreement. The war will reignite."

"I'm going to Daming Prefecture."

Sosuke stood up.

"This matter cannot be resolved in Konoha. We must settle the score with the Daimyo face to face."

"You're going in person?" Lu Jiu asked with some concern.

The Daimyo's residence is now a den of dragons and tigers, with the radical faction of the Twelve Guardian Ninjas within it constantly eyeing Konoha with hostility.

"If I don't go, who will? Are you going to talk money with the daimyo?"

Sousuke smiled.

"Don't worry, I'll bring the best guards."

The capital of the Land of Fire.

The bluestone slabs on the street were scorching hot from the sun.

A carriage bearing the emblem of the Takaya Trading Company slowly drove into the most prosperous city in the Land of Fire.

Sosuke sat in the carriage and rubbed his lower back.

"Although the roads in the capital are smooth, the shock absorption of the carriages is really not good."

He complained.

Opposite her, Uchiha Mikoto sat upright. She was dressed in plain-colored everyday clothes, her hands folded on her knees.

Ever since she stepped into the territory of Daming Prefecture, her body had been in a state of tension.

"Lady Mikoto, relax. Don't worry, I won't forget what I promised you."

"But this is the political center of the Land of Fire, and all sorts of barriers and the Twelve Guardian Ninjas are here. If we're going to make a move, we have to make sure it's a one-hit kill."

Mikoto took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Sousuke. The thought that Itachi might be nearby made me—"

"I understand. But it's precisely at times like these that we need to stay calm."

The outer city of Daming Prefecture.

The carriage stopped in front of the official post station.

The person in charge of receiving them was an official under the Minister of the Right, Kujō Kanesane.

"Lord Takaya, you must be tired from your journey."

The official had a broad smile on his face.

"His Highness has recently caught a cold and is recuperating away from the palace. Furthermore, he is preoccupied with state affairs and may not be able to see you for several days."

o

"Please rest at the inn. If you need anything, please let us know."

Give him a break. The most common form of passive-aggressive violence in politics.

Konoha previously skipped the Daimyo and chose Hokage, and recently repelled the Allied Forces at the border. The Daimyo deliberately left them hanging, wearing down their patience and morale, so he could gain a psychological advantage during negotiations.

Thank you for your trouble.

Sosuke wasn't angry.

He pulled a wad of banknotes from his sleeve and casually slipped it into the official's sleeve.

"I'll have to trouble you to take good care of me these next few days."

The official paused for a moment, then felt the thickness of the fabric in his sleeve, and his smile widened.

"Of course, of course. The inn's cook is quite skilled. Lord Takaya, please have a good rest."

The official left.

Sousuke, along with Mikoto and Hinata Katsumi, entered the courtyard assigned to them.

The courtyard is large and the scenery is beautiful.

Upon entering the room, Sosuke closed the doors and windows.

"Victory, let's begin. Let's find Itachi."

"Yes."

Around Hyuga Katsumi's eyes, the meridians bulged.

Those eyes, so pure they were almost ethereal, emitted a faint white light.

The immense power of the pupils spread outwards in all directions from the post station as the center.

It penetrates walls, penetrates soil, and penetrates crowds.

One kilometer. Ten kilometers. Fifty kilometers.

The entire underground water system of the capital city, the secret chambers of the castle tower, and the mezzanine levels of noble residences—nothing could escape his sight.

Sosuke held a folding fan and slowly fanned himself.

Mikoto stood to the side, barely daring to breathe, for fear of disturbing Hyuga Masaru's senses.

Ten minutes later.

The veins around Hyuga Katsu's eyes gradually subsided.

"How is it?"

Mikoto immediately asked.

Hyuga Masaru shook his head.

"no."

"Not found within 100 kilometers."

"I carefully examined all chakra sources with Yin Release properties, and none of them matched the characteristics of an Uchiha infant."

"Not here—how could it not be here?"

Mikoto muttered to herself.

"Where did they hide the weasel?"

"Don't panic."

Zongsuke comforted.

"The people of Daimyo Prefecture aren't fools. They know you've awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan, and they also know how powerful the Byakugan is."

"Itachi is their weapon to restrain Konoha. They wouldn't leave such an important asset so openly in the capital for us to find."

There are two possibilities.

Sosuke held up two fingers.

"First, Itachi was hidden in a place with a high-level isolation barrier. This kind of barrier can even block the Byakugan."

"Secondly, Itachi wasn't even near the capital. He was sent to a much more distant place."

Either way, it means they can't bring the person back in a short time.

"Don't worry. This shows that the Daimyo Prefecture values ​​Itachi very much. They are raising him as a future weapon of mass destruction."

Zongsuke said with relief.

"Since it's a weapon of destruction, there's no danger to his life until it's fully forged. He's being treated quite well right now."

Mikoto closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"I understand, Mr. Sosuke."

Her voice returned to calm.

"I'm sorry, I was too hasty. I lost my composure."

"Concern can lead to confusion; it's human nature."

Sousuke smiled.

"Since Itachi isn't here, we'll really have to treat the next few days as a vacation."