"Fine!!"
What else could he say? Takuya smiled wryly.
"I'll help you, but I can't guarantee success. After all, I've only t her once, and the first impression wasn't great. I'll try to arrange a eting with Suzune. Since Hyuga iko is responsible for taking care of her, she'll likely co along as well."
"As for the rest, that's up to you. I can't do much more."
Setting up a eting was the most he could offer. How Nawaki chose to pursue her was his own problem-Takuya had no further involvent.
"Deal!!!" Nawaki grinned from ear to ear.
Could love at first sight really exist in this world?
That seed a bit exaggerated.
Takuya and Kushina, as well as Uchiha Mikoto, had a great relationship, but it definitely wasn't love at first sight. Their feelings developed gradually over ti, growing from shared experiences and interactions until they slowly got closer.
Love at first sight? That was nonsense.
The first ti Takuya t Uchiha Mikoto... well, they almost fought. As for Kushina, let's not even ntion it-back then, whenever Takuya saw her, he wanted to go the other way.
The news that Fuguki Suikazan had been killed and Sahada taken did not spread throughout the Mist Village. Genji quickly sent a team to Konoha to et with the Third Hokage, hoping to open diplomatic talks to retrieve Sahada.
Even if it required so concessions, they were willing to negotiate-as long as the Third Hokage didn't demand too much.
The diplomat hadn't even set out yet when a letter reached Konoha first.
Negotiations?
Reading the letter, the Third Hokage hadn't expected Mist Village to approach Konoha, requesting negotiations to retrieve Sahada and, incidentally, Fuguki Suikazan's body.
It seed Mist Village highly valued the weapon. As for the body, it was more of a secondary condition. If Konoha was willing to return it, fine. If not, they could do whatever they wanted with it.
After all, the secrets had almost all been uncovered. There was no way for Konoha to erase all traces of intelligence, and so things just couldn't be concealed forever. So before everything leaked, Mist Village wanted to get Sahada back to avoid being a laughingstock. Negotiating between two villages was already a significant event.
The Third Hokage imdiately called for Danzo, the Elder Council, and even Tsunade, who couldn't escape this ti. Since Tsunade had taken charge of the Logistics Division, she was now considered part of the higher-ups. Despite only managing the logistics departnt, her position naturally gave her so authority, placing her on equal footing with the others.
"Old man, why did you call ?" Tsunade yawned, rubbing her face, which bore the mark of the desk she had been sleeping on. The right side of her face was red, while the left was normal.
It was obvious she had dozed off during work.
"You've been gambling again, haven't you?" The Third Hokage couldn't help but scold her lightly.
The others, like Koharu Utatane, averted their eyes, pretending not to see, treating Tsunade as if she were invisible.
"I played a few rounds. Last night, I rushed through so reports, so I didn't sleep well. I brought the proposal with -take a look. I think the village should train more dical ninjas. Each standard squad should have a dical ninja."
Tsunade handed over the proposal, causing Koharu's face to darken. After all, she was the head of the dical departnt, yet she had been completely unaware of this proposal. It was clear that Tsunade had bypassed her.
The Third Hokage wisely glanced at the proposal, then at Koharu's displeased expression, and quickly set the docunt aside, clearing his throat.
"We'll discuss this later. Today's eting is about the negotiations with Mist Village."
The Third Hokage handed out the letter from Mist Village for everyone to review.
Tsunade, who had been dozing off, perked up when she heard the word "negotiation." Just then, Danzo handed the letter to her.
"Mist Village is playing quite the ga."
After reading the letter, Tsunade scoffed.
"Sahada is Takuya's war trophy. How could we just hand it over? Has Mist Village fallen to the point where they can't even afford to lose a single weapon?"
"Ahem, Tsunade, diplomacy is important. After all, maintaining good relations with Mist Village could benefit Konoha as well," Mitokado Homura argued.
"And how exactly would it benefit Konoha?" Tsunade shot back.
"Mist Village may be closed off, but they've constantly harassed and plundered Fire Nation's sea routes. The daimyo has already complained several tis. Have you forgotten about that?"
"Why did Takuya's team head out to sea? It was because Mist Village has been too bold." "They've been attacking our ships and disrupting our routes, so they're enemies. And enemies' belongings are war trophies. They want to get Sahada back because they're embarrassed? Since when have we ever returned intelligence we've gathered from other villages?"
"Negotiations? Sure. But returning the weapon? Absolutely not."
Mitokado Homura: "..."
Did she really have to shut down so hard?
The Third Hokage was speechless, while Koharu felt a strange sense of relief-thank goodness she hadn't spoken. Otherwise, she would have been on the receiving end of Tsunade's wrath.
As for Danzo, he kept his eyes down, minding his own business.
He wasn't concerned with the village's affairs at the mont-only his personal research.
"Everyone." Tsunade slamd her hand on the table in frustration.
"We just wiped out a Mist Village ninja squad and took their weapon. Now they co begging for negotiations to retrieve it, and Konoha is supposed to just hand it over? What would the
daimyo think?"
"So you're saying the negotiations aren't necessary?" The Third Hokage asked.
Tsunade shook her head.
"No, we should negotiate. Let's see what Mist Village has in mind. But as for returning the weapon, that's not happening. They can co talk about it after they've made up for all the losses they've caused the Fire Nation over the years."
While the rchant ships had no direct connection to Konoha, they were tied to the daimyo's
estate.
If Konoha returned Sahada to Mist Village, how would the daimyo react? What about
future funding?
After all, the daimyo was Konoha's main financial backer. A little face and respect needed to
be shown.
There was so logic in Tsunade's reasoning. Even if Mist Village wanted to offer compensation, they didn't have much to give-they were too poor. And Konoha didn't really
need their compensation either.
The Third Hokage thought for a mont, then nodded.
"Alright. Tsunade, you'll handle the negotiations. What's your take on the situation with Mist
Village?"
It was a headache, but Sahada was in Takuya's possession, so Tsunade couldn't refuse the task. At least the negotiations would take place in Konoha, so she didn't have to travel. "The Third Mizukage has gone mad!!" Koharu could only sum up the situation this way.
After reviewing the intel extracted from Fuguki Suikazan's mind, Koharu had felt a chill down
her spine.
She couldn't imagine how Mist Village had survived these past few years. Without external enemies, their own Third Mizukage's tyrannical rule had been enough to weaken the village
year by year.
Next Bonus: 2500 Power Stones ( ́¤`)J
(P)(S): If you're interested, you can read up to chapter 320 at patreon/Emiko1.
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