“We won’t be returning Uchiha Fugaku’s Mangekyō Sharingan; you can keep the fifty Million Ryō for that thing. We don’t intend to take that part. What I am here for is the remaining hundred Million Ryō…!”
Homusubi’s refusal made the atmosphere a little tense. Neither Tsunade-hi nor Shizune expected such a situation. Tsunade-hi had expected that it would be difficult to negotiate with Homusubi about Uchiha Fugaku’s Mangekyō Sharingan, but the fact that he would directly refuse without a mont of thought? This was not within her expectations, and she didn’t know what to say at the mont.
At this ti, Kuroto spoke, “That’s not right… The deal we made was that Amatsukami would do the counter-insurgency work, along with retrieving the Mangekyō Sharingan from the Uchiha Clan which they will return to Konoha… Now you intend to keep it… even if you have not included that fifty Million Ryō in the paynt, you are changing the deal, are you people going to go back on your word?”
Tsunade-hi’s expression suddenly brightened as she looked at Kuroto with a nod of approval. “Yes, is this how Amatsukami operates? At this rate, we can no longer trust you people, nor will any other Shinobi Village or employer be able to trust you either!”
Hearing Kuroto and Tsunade-hi’s words, it was Homusubi’s turn to be silenced.
Shizune looked at Kuroto and Tsunade-hi, then turned to Homusubi while anxiously thinking to herself, ‘Why did Kuroto-kun and Tsunade-sama speak such a thing? Wouldn’t this offend Homusubi?’ She was nervous thinking of the consequences of angering Homusubi but at the sa ti admired Kuroto and Tsunade-sama for their bravery and calmness.
After a mont of silence, Homusubi denied, “Think whatever you want, but we won’t be returning Uchiha Fugaku’s Mangekyō Sharingan.”
Kuroto frowned, “Are you not worried about the reputation of your organization?”
Homusubi shrugged, “So things are more important than reputation. Moreover, even if we do give you Uchiha Fugaku’s Mangekyō Sharingan, nobody except the Uchiha Clansn can harness Dojutsu’s power… Don’t you already have Hatake Kakashi as an example? If you want that pair of Dojutsu for safekeeping, then forget it; soone from Akatsuki or so traitor from your village might try to steal it for themselves and cause more problems in the future just like what happened with the Box of Bliss. Therefore, we are going to keep that pair of Dojutsu in our custody.”
Everyone was speechless with Homusubi’s reasoning. But they couldn’t deny his words either. They already have a non-Uchiha trying to use the Mangekyō Sharingan, and the results are obviously not very good. The differences in Kakashi’s strength when he had the Sharingan and when he didn’t have the Sharingan are so obvious!
Seeing that his words got through to the three people, Homusubi added, “But if that’s still not enough to satisfy you people, how about I lower the paynt by fifty Million Ryō?”
Everyone was surprised by the sudden proposal made by Homusubi, “You are going to lower the paynt?”
Homusubi nodded, “Indeed,” and further explained the details, “Think of it as the paynt for buying that pair of Mangekyō Sharingan from Konoha, and the price is the sa as what Konoha agreed to pay us for each pair, that is fifty Million Ryō.”
Hearing the details, Kuroto couldn’t help but ask Tsunade-hi, “What do you think Tsunade-sama? I don’t think this is such a bad option.”
Tsunade-hi nodded, “You are right.” No matter what, as long as the Akatsuki Organization exists, Konoha cannot end their cooperation with Amatsukami because only the leader of Amatsukami has the power to deter and stop the leader of Akatsuki, therefore, Konoha needs to ally itself with Amatsukami whether they like it or not.
This is why, even if Homusubi had refused to return the pair of Fugaku’s Mangekyō Sharingan, they would still have no other choice but to pay the four hundred Million Ryō that Homusubi asked as the paynt for Counterinsurgency and rescue of Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, after all, they are helpless and have no other option.
But… now that Homusubi has lowered the paynt by fifty Million Ryō, the proposal is a little easier to accept. Of course, Tsunade-hi is still dissatisfied that Amatsukami has refused to complete their end of the agreent and decided to keep Uchiha Fugaku’s Mangekyō Sharingan for themselves, but the fact that they have lowered the paynt in return gives a psychological feeling that Konoha is not losing in this transaction.
Moreover, the pair of Fugaku’s Mangekyō Sharingan would only bring trouble for the Hokage faction and the village, since it was announced that it was Amatsukami that took away Fugaku’s Mangekyō Sharingan, then let them keep it and continue to attract the hatred of the Uchiha Clan. In comparison, being able to reduce the paynt by fifty million Ryō is much better for the village.
With this line of thought, both Kuroto and Tsunade-hi nodded, “Alright then… we will accept this proposal, and pay up the remaining three hundred and fifty Million Ryō to your organization… however, this is the only ti… I hope that your organization will keep their end of the deal from the next ti otherwise it would be difficult to trust your organization!”
“I understand,” nodded Homusubi with a light nod.
At this ti, “Well then…” Kuroto was about to speak sothing, however, he was interrupted as Tsunade-hi kicked the ground and rushed toward Homusubi without any warning, and suddenly punched him with her entire might.
Boom!
A huge impact resounded as the ground beneath their feet cracked and smoke and dust covered the scene.
“Wh–what?!” Exclaid Shizune in shock, she was confused, and panicked. Worried that with her actions, Tsunade had definitely offended Homusubi now, and what awaits them is the anger of Amatsukami. For a mont, she even wanted the reality before her eyes to be a dream!
Not only Shizune but Kuroto was also taken aback by Tsunade-hi’s sudden actions. He couldn’t understand what brought upon her that she suddenly attacked Homusubi, and for a mont even wondered whether old age had finally started to take its toll on her and she had started to go insane!
As both Kuroto and Shizune stood with dumbstruck expressions, the dust and smoke were cleared by the morning breeze, and the sight of Tsunade-hi being held in a chokehold position by Homusubi–who was surrounded by the rib-cage armor of Susano’o of red color–appeared before them.
“Tsunade-sama!” cried out Shizune in panic and looked at Kuroto, “Kuroto-kun… you… you must save Tsunade-sama!” In Shizune’s view, Tsunade-hi had definitely offended Homusubi of Amatsukami by attacking him, and she knows that if anyone among the two of them had the strength to possibly save Tsunade-hi, it was Kuroto; therefore, she asked Kuroto.
Kuroto didn’t act imdiately; instead, he looked at Homusubi and Tsunade-hi, trying to understand what she wanted to accomplish by attacking Homusubi. As for the worry about her? Co on, it’s Itachi; obviously, he wouldn’t harm the old woman, so Kuroto was least worried about her.
Following Kuroto’s gaze, Shizune also turned toward Homusubi and Tsunade-hi.
While keeping her in a chokehold, Homusubi questioned, “Would you like to explain yourself? I will decide your punishnt depending upon your answer.”
Shizune also asked, “Tsunade-sama, why did you…?” Even though she was held in a chokehold, Tsunade-hi did not struggle much or have any problem breathing, perhaps because Homusubi kept the grip of his hand loose enough for her to be able to breathe and speak properly.
In response to Homusubi’s doubt, Tsunade-hi shrugged, “I had to verify whether you are really a mber of Amatsukami… I had to make sure that you really are Homusubi of Amatsukami and not soone pretending to be one of them.” Then glanced at Kuroto from the corner of her eyes.
She still clearly rembers that day when Kuroto created several Shadow Clones, and all of them pretended to be different mbers of Amatsukami in order to scare away ‘Madara’ and Zetsu from Konoha.
Hearing Tsunade-hi’s words, Kuroto was taken aback and suddenly realized that he was the person responsible for her strange actions. It happened during the Practical Test in the Forest of Death; at that ti, in order to scare away Obito and Zetsu, Kuroto used all the Amatsukami disguises he had at the mont, and with the help of his Shadow Clones, he scared away Obito and Zetsu.
At that ti, no one believed that ‘Madara’ and Zetsu would be fooled, but they were fooled, and this made Tsunade-hi as well as others realize just how much of a deterrence the mbers of Amatsukami are. At the sa ti, they understood that if they were in the shoes of ‘Madara’ or Zetsu, their reaction wouldn’t have been much different either.
They also realized how easy it is for soone to pretend to be a mber of Amatsukami (well, not actually, since they need to have corresponding strength), but unless they have so ans to identify the mbers of Amatsukami accurately, they might get fooled by soone posing as a mber of Amatsukami.
Hence, Tsunade-hi did what she did. Kuroto did not expect that his actions from that ti would leave such a deep impression on Tsunade-hi. While everyone–including Homusubi–was silent and understanding the implications of her words, Tsunade-hi glanced at the ribcage Susano’o and continued, “Now I have confird your identity; you truly are a mber of that Organization.”
Suddenly, Homusubi released a murderous aura and asked coldly, “What do you an? Why did you feel the need to confirm my identity as the real Homusubi? Was there anyone trying to pretend to be one of us?”
Subjected to Homusubi’s murderous aura, Tsunade-hi averted her eyes, “No… no… just in case,” obviously she couldn’t tell him that it was Kuroto.
Shizune also glanced at Kuroto from the corner of her eyes, worried about Kuroto. However, Kuroto’s expression was completely neutral, as if this matter of soone pretending to be a mber of Amatsukami was completely unrelated to him. Seeing Kuroto’s calmness, Shizune breathed a sigh of relief, ‘Phew, Kuroto-kun is really becoming more and more synonymous with Hokage with each passing day, it's really reassuring in many ways.” Then she recalled that Tsunade-hi was still held in a chokehold by Homusubi and anxiously looked at her.
‘Am I digging my own grave with my own hands?’ thought Kuroto. He really didn’t dare to imagine the consequences if it had been Shisui or Shinichi instead of Itachi. If it was Shisui instead of Itachi, considering his trust in Kuroto, he would have definitely dropped his guard, although knowing Shisui he might have been able to defend himself in due ti, but Kuroto couldn’t be so sure. After all, Shisui who is prepared and vigilant against an attack is completely different from Shisui who is unprepared and not vigilant.
Just rember how Shisui suffered against Danzō when he was attacked out of the blue following Danzō’s use of Izanagi, which was completely out of Shisui’s expectations.
And that’s not even the biggest issue; the number of problems that would have arisen if it was Shisui is much more. It would have created so much trouble, and even his identity as Yama would have been exposed! Kuroto shivered at the thought and breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that he made a smart decision by leaving this matter to Itachi.
Compared to Shisui, Itachi is vigilant at all tis. Even when standing in front of Kuroto and Shisui, the people he trusts most, he still remains vigilant, sothing which is very admirable.
Understanding Tsunade-hi’s reason, Homusubi said, “Is that so?” He was still contemplating whether to let go of Tsunade-hi and not pursue this matter any further or should punish her for her discretion.
After a mont of pondering, he said, “Even if you wanted to confirm my identity, you could have just requested while giving an explanation; I would have complied… but you did not ask . Instead, you directly attacked, believing that the most straightforward approach is the best approach…
You see, this is the problem with you people. Instead of trying to communicate or presenting your problems and doubts with proper doubts, you people directly draw your fists and blades… believing that you are right, and this is the only solution.
Attacking is just one example. If you look through the history of the Shinobi World, that’s what you have done over and over and over, and over, and these actions have hurt countless people and turned them into your enemies.”
“I… I just…” Tsunade-hi tried to explain herself.
Homusubi cut her off, “Whatever your reason may be, however, the fact that you attacked without any warning cannot be changed and will not be forgiven…” as he activated his Mangekyou Sharingan and spoke, ‘Tsukuyomi!’
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