“That damnable Hidden Cloud Village, to think they would launch a sneak attack while I was busy fighting Konoha!”
After returning to the Tsuchikage Building, Ōnoki left the Tsuchikage’s office in a state of utter disarray in his fury.
“Lord Tsuchikage, please, calm your anger!”
A tall man entered the room and began tidying up the mess the Tsuchikage had made on the floor.
“Katsuyu, how can I not be angry?
Instead of attacking Konoha, the Hidden Cloud Village sneak-attacked us while we were the ones fighting Konoha!”
Ōnoki spoke, still seething with indignation.
“Sigh, Lord Tsuchikage, the priority now is how to ransom our people back.
Getting angry won’t help!”
This man named Katsuyu was Tsuchikage Ōnoki’s guard.
Now in his forties, he possessed the Bloodline Limit: Steel Release.
Hearing Katsuyu’s words, Ōnoki let out a long sigh.
He never imagined that the men he led there would be completely wiped out, leaving him as the sole survivor!
Furthermore, after the Third Raikage and the others had departed, he went to inspect the battlefield.
He saw an incredibly massive crater on the battlefield, with billowing hot steam still rising from it.
It looked as though the Four-Tails had fought someone here and lost.
Was it the Third Raikage’s eldest son, Yezhue Ai?
The Tsuchikage pondered silently; he could never have guessed that the giant crater was caused by the Third Raikage’s son, who was only ten years old.
“Lord Tsuchikage, there is a man outside claiming to be an envoy from the Hidden Cloud Village.
He says he has a message for you.
Shall I let him in?”
Someone outside the door reported to Ōnoki.
“Is that so?
Let him in!”
Ōnoki gave a cold snort, having a general idea of what the Hidden Cloud envoy was here for.
“Lord Tsuchikage, our Lord Raikage has sent me to deliver a message: 1,277 Chunin at 10,000 Ryo each; 210 Jonin at 1,000,000 Ryo each; and 500,000,000 Ryo for the Four-Tails Jinchuriki.”
After the Hidden Cloud envoy finished speaking, he looked at Ōnoki.
Ōnoki felt a sudden tightness in his chest.
“Five hundred million?
Why don’t you just rob me!”
Ōnoki shouted in fury.
The Hidden Cloud envoy didn’t argue; he just stared straight at Ōnoki, his expression seemingly saying: ‘Isn’t that exactly what we’re doing?’
Ōnoki was incensed by the Hidden Cloud Village’s asking price.
Although he knew the Four-Tails Jinchuriki was worth that much, he still didn’t want to pay so much.
“Go back and tell your Raikage that I can offer at most 300 million for the Four-Tails Jinchuriki.
I can’t give a single cent more!”
“Lord Tsuchikage, I am not in charge of negotiations.
If you wish to negotiate, please go to the Land of Iron tomorrow.
We will conduct the talks with you there!”
Ōnoki’s expression softened slightly.
The Land of Iron was a neutral nation; even if there was an ambush, they would assist the party being targeted.
If the Raikage had casually named a small ninja village, he likely had no intention of negotiating.
“Fine.
I will go to the Land of Iron tomorrow.
Go back and report to your Raikage!”
After the Cloud envoy took his leave, he departed from Iwagakure and returned to the Hidden Cloud Village to report.
“Katsuyu, get ready.
Tomorrow, take Retsu-do and come with me to the Land of Iron.”
“Yes, Lord Tsuchikage.”
The next day.
The Land of Iron.
“Lord Tsuchikage, I am the one in charge of this negotiation with you.”
Dodai spoke to Ōnoki with a composed and respectful manner.
“Hmph, do you also think the Third Raikage would lose to me in a negotiation?”
Ōnoki snorted coldly.
“Ōnoki, what do you mean by that!”
The Third Raikage performed the traditional Raikage art: slamming the table.
The table instantly shattered into pieces.
“Hmph, don’t you know exactly what I mean?”
“To launch a sneak attack while we were at war with Konoha—is that all the courage the Hidden Cloud Village has?”
Seeing that the two Kage were about to start a shouting match or even come to blows, Dodai hurriedly intervened.
“Lord Tsuchikage, Lord Raikage, we are here to discuss the ransom amount for the prisoners, not to fight.”
At those words, the Tsuchikage and Raikage each gave a cold snort and sat back in their respective seats.
“Lord Tsuchikage, I believe the messenger who delivered the word has already clarified the prices to you?”
Dodai spoke to Ōnoki with a smile.
“Impossible.
The price you quoted is too high.
500 million Ryo is enough for me to wage a whole war against you!”
Ōnoki floated up, feigning fury.
“Lord Tsuchikage, there’s no need to pretend.
Don’t we already know how important the Four-Tails Jinchuriki is to you?
500 million is already very cheap; it’s impossible to go any lower!”
Dodai said, spreading his hands.
Seeing that his act hadn’t worked, Ōnoki dropped his angry expression.
“Even so, 500 million is too much.
Aren’t you afraid that if you’re this greedy, I’ll stop fighting Konoha and come fight you instead?”
Ōnoki threatened, narrowing his eyes.
“Lord Tsuchikage, you are fighting Konoha for its fertile lands.
We can help you with that!”
After Dodai finished speaking, he pulled out an agreement.
It was an agreement stating that as soon as Iwagakure ransomed their people, the Hidden Cloud and Iwagakure would not attack each other for five years, and they would join forces against Konoha!
“Lord Tsuchikage, in truth, the Hidden Cloud Village has long wanted to go to war with Konoha.
It was only because your actions were so excessive that we raided your borders!”
When Ōnoki saw this agreement to join forces against Konoha, his expression softened.
He also understood that fighting the Hidden Cloud Village was pointless.
Setting aside whether they could win, even if they did, would they really want to occupy the Hidden Cloud’s mountain-surrounded territory?
Since Dodai had given him a way out, he naturally followed the path down.
“Fine, then I will pay the compensation.
But in exchange, you must enter the battlefield and help us shoulder the pressure from Konoha!”
“Of course, of course.”
Seeing that the 700 million Ryo was about to arrive, Dodai’s face almost split with a grin as he hurriedly pushed the agreement in front of Ōnoki.
Ōnoki took a pen and signed his name on the agreement.
He then passed the agreement to the Third Raikage, who also signed it.
“When can I have my people back?”
Now that the contract was signed, Ōnoki asked directly.
“Lord Tsuchikage, I will release them as soon as I return.
You can go straight to the border to pick them up!”
Dodai said with a chuckle.
“Ōnoki, remember to bring the money when you come!”
After the Third Raikage finished speaking, he gave one copy of the contract to the Tsuchikage, kept one for himself, put on his hat, and left without looking back.
“Then, Lord Tsuchikage, since we’ve reached an agreement, we’ll head back to prepare for the release.
After all, their desire to return to Iwagakure is quite strong!”
Dodai said with a smile, then followed the Third Raikage out of the Land of Iron’s meeting room, leaving only Ōnoki with a dark expression.
“Lord Tsuchikage, they are far too disrespectful.
To just leave immediately after finishing their piece!”
Katsuyu said indignantly.
“Don’t you know those brutes from the Hidden Cloud?
They’re just a bunch of uncivilized savages!”
Retsu-do, who was beside them, also spoke coldly.
“Enough, say no more.
Even if you want to talk, wait until we’re back in Iwagakure.
Beware of ears in the walls.”
Ōnoki waved his hand to stop his two guards from complaining further.
“Yes, Lord Tsuchikage,” the two replied.
“Let’s head back as well.
Katsuyu, Retsu-do, remember to have the money ready by tomorrow.
You’ll come with me to the border tomorrow morning to pick up our people.”
After Ōnoki finished speaking, he picked up his Kage hat and left the Land of Iron.
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