Seeing that the representatives of the Uzumaki Clan had finally arrived.
Originally, according to negotiation etiquette, both sides would stand up to greet each other and shake hands, but that was when both sides arrived at around the same time. However, now...
Hōzuki Gengetsu and the Kiri-nin all sat with dark expressions, ignoring the Uzumaki group. They simply narrowed their eyes and stared at the Uzumaki representatives before them, inwardly sighing in disbelief.
Had their Kirigakure really lost to such a group of elderly, children, and the weak?
That's right. Most of the people before them were elderly. Though their spirits and complexions looked good, their gray hair still revealed their advanced age.
Truly the famously long-lived Uzumaki Clan!
To think they could still move around like the young at such an old age! Weren't they afraid of throwing out their backs?
As for the "children"...
A seven-year-old Kage-level fighter!
Hōzuki Gengetsu stared at the little boy walking at the front. He hadn't expected that the strongest fighter of Uzushiogakure would really be this young.
Why couldn't Kirigakure produce a true genius like this?
Given his strength, this child must already be in control of Uzushiogakure.
But to be so young...
Uzushiogakure must have been truly panicked by Kirigakure's invasion. Otherwise, why would they let such a young child take charge?
He could be the next Uzushiogakure daimyo, or even the next Uzukage. Wait—Uzushiogakure didn't seem to have a Uzukage yet. But...
Once a Kage-level fighter appeared, Uzushiogakure would have a true Uzukage. However, this child was far too young. For someone so young to wield such power, the Uzumaki Clan must truly have lost their minds!
Hōzuki Gengetsu narrowed his eyes at Uzumaki Jun, his gaze filled with danger. If they acted now...
They absolutely could not let him grow up!
Uzumaki Jun ignored Hōzuki Gengetsu's gaze and sat down on a chair with an impatient expression. Before coming, he had already made it clear that he was just a seven-year-old child. Everything else would be left to the clan head to negotiate. After all, it was just about selling a tailed beast.
He had already set the price—the same one Tobirama had proposed back then.
Anything higher than that, and the other side might refuse to pay. After all, this tailed beast belonged to them! To demand extra money just to return it would make Uzushiogakure seem insane.
Kirigakure couldn't afford to lose face like this. If pushed too far, they would have no choice but to resolve things with force. Though Uzumaki Jun wasn't afraid, the shadows lurking behind this conflict made him uneasy.
Not just Madara, Black Zetsu, or White Zetsu—even Konoha, that nest of schemers, was beyond Uzushiogakure's current strength. If Konoha felt that Uzushiogakure had humiliated them and decided the Uzumaki Clan could no longer be their loyal... ahem, allies, they would definitely strike.
Don't doubt it. Hadn't Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō done this kind of thing countless times?
One played the good cop, the other the bad cop, manipulating people until they were in tears, clinging to Hiruzen's leg and swearing to dedicate their lives to Konoha's prosperity. Those who didn't...
Ended up dead.
A village leader who dared to scheme against his own people could hardly be called generous.
So Uzumaki Jun had no intention of keeping the tailed beast. Their strength simply wasn't enough. It was better to sell it and use the money to stock up on food and supplies for winter.
As for the rest, they could talk after Uzushiogakure became the sixth great nation—or even surpassed the five great nations.
Don't be fooled by how ninja always seemed to eat meat, wear stylish clothes, and live comfortably.
Ninja earned their money through life-and-death struggles. The common people below suffered during disasters and wars, often reduced to drinking watery porridge with just a few grains of rice.
Life was harsh for them—most couldn't eat their fill, couldn't stay warm, and lived in fear of having their heads cut off by ninja the next day.
Uzushiogakure's current resources and food supplies were still very limited. Without proper preparation, this winter would be unimaginably difficult.
Though Uzushiogakure was better off than war-torn regions, deaths from starvation were still common every year, especially now that winter was coming.
The first winter after a war was always the most terrifying.
Uzumaki Jun glanced at Hōzuki Gengetsu. Just like in the anime, he had no eyebrows and dark eyes. As for his foul expression, Uzumaki Jun ignored it.
He had been peacefully eating breakfast at home, making the other side wait, of course they'd be angry.
Sigh.
A guy like this was definitely single.
Uzumaki Jun sat down in his seat, paying no attention to Hōzuki Gengetsu's envious, jealous, and hateful gaze.
He couldn't understand why a grown man would look at a little kid like him with such envy. What was there to be jealous about?
Was this Mizukage some kind of pervert?
The clan head smiled at the eyebrowless man and said, "Mizukage, our apologies. Jun-sama was a bit slow eating breakfast, so we were delayed."
Hōzuki Gengetsu's face turned green at these words. What did he mean, "a bit slow eating breakfast"? And who was this "Jun-sama"? Did they think Kirigakure couldn't tell they were doing this on purpose? He narrowed his eyes dangerously and asked, "And you are?"
"Head of the Uzumaki Clan," the clan head replied, his tone unwavering. As the leader, he knew that in negotiations, you could never show weakness. A single step back would lead to endless retreat.
"So you're the one calling the shots here?" Hōzuki Gengetsu said. Just a clan head? Kirigakure had over a dozen of those. If not for the fact that they had lost this battle, he wouldn't even bother with them. But now...
"Kirigakure's terms are all here. Read them first."
He motioned for his assistant to toss the prepared compensation agreement to the clan head, then turned back to stare at Uzumaki Jun.
A seven-year-old Kage-level fighter!
Kirigakure didn't have time to waste arguing with Uzushiogakure. They needed to seize the initiative, and then...
Settle accounts with Konoha!
The Uzumaki clan head was momentarily stunned by Hōzuki Gengetsu's tactics. What was this? Hadn't Uzushiogakure won? Shouldn't they be the ones setting the terms?
And these conditions...
Why did Kirigakure act like the victorious side?
Seeing this, Uzumaki Jun narrowed his eyes. It seemed they were trying to pressure them with the might of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
Otherwise, these terms were utterly ridiculous!
Things like "Kirigakure will not invade Uzushiogakure for five years," or "Uzushiogakure is permitted to trade with the Land of Water but must protect Kiri-nin." Even more unreasonable was the demand for Uzushiogakure to return the Three-Tails and compensate for the fleet's losses...
Uzumaki Jun didn't even bother reading further. He laughed a bitter, angry laugh. Had Hōzuki Gengetsu lost his mind?
How could Uzushiogakure possibly agree to such terms?
He sighed inwardly. "Uzushiogakure is still too weak. So weak that even after winning, others still look down on them."