"Impossible!" The clan leader shouted loudly, his eyes wide as he glared at Hozuki Gengetsu. Even if you are a Kage-level powerhouse, you can't bully people like this!
"Let me remind you that Uzushiogakure is the victorious nation, while Kirigakure..."
"Was merely the losing side. Hmph!"
Hearing Uzushiogakure's taunts, the Kiri-nin grew furious. They had lost, yes, but they were still one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages. How dare the Uzumaki Clan treat them with such disrespect?
Did they think Uzushiogakure was stronger than Kirigakure?
Or did they believe Kirigakure no longer had the strength to fight?
But...
The Uzu-nin were even angrier. Were these terms not just outright bullying?
Just as they rolled up their sleeves, ready to fight...
"Stop!" Uzumaki Jun shouted sternly. He turned to glare at them, his expression cold. "Have you forgotten your mission?"
Mission?
All the Uzu-nin were confused for a moment before suddenly realizing—ah, right!
Weren't they just here to cheer?
Thinking this, as if they had suddenly understood, they immediately formed hand seals and shouted, "Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
"Multi..."
The Kiri-nin were completely bewildered by the Uzu-nin's actions. What were they trying to do? Start a fight?
Especially Hozuki Gengetsu, who frowned at the scene. He didn't understand what the Uzu-nin were planning. After all, this was a post-war negotiation. Starting a fight now would be breaking the rules.
The last ones who acted violently during negotiations, the Gold and Silver Brothers, had met a tragic end.
If Uzushiogakure attacked now, the consequences...
Would be unimaginable. Breaking the rules of the shinobi world would not only provoke Kirigakure but likely Konoha as well—after all, the Second Hokage had died precisely because someone broke the rules!
However...
Uzumaki Jun was well aware of this. He had no intention of fighting. He just wanted his clansmen to provide support, to cheer from the sidelines. And it worked perfectly, didn't it?
The Multiple Shadow Clone Intelligence Reduction Technique was truly effective!
The clan leader, hearing the support from his clansmen, calmed down completely. He looked at Hozuki Gengetsu and said, "Uzushiogakure cannot accept these conditions. And remember—Uzushiogakure is the victorious side!"
"The terms are not for you to dictate!"
Hozuki Gengetsu listened to the clan leader's words, resting his chin on his hands as he stared straight at him. But seeing no fear in the man's eyes, he sighed inwardly.
It seemed intimidation wouldn't work. With a cold expression, he said, "Aren't you afraid of war? Next time, it won't just be Kirigakure..."
He didn't finish his sentence. This much was enough.
"If that's the case, then let there be war."
"Uzushiogakure fears no battle."
The clan leader stared at Hozuki Gengetsu, enunciating each word clearly.
"Uzushiogakure fears no battle!!"
Instantly, all the Uzu-nin roared in unison, their combined voices...
Even Uzumaki Jun felt a shiver at the sheer force of it.
The entire mountain seemed to tremble from their voices!
The numbers...
Truly, this was the Uzumaki Clan's signature technique.
Compatibility—MAX!
Seeing this, the Kiri-nin grew somewhat fearful. What if the Uzumaki Clan got too worked up and actually attacked? It was terrifying—especially since the Uzumaki were exactly the kind of reckless people who would do such a thing...
They were a bunch of hotheads!
"State your terms," the Mizukage's assistant sighed in resignation.
He had expected this. They were the defeated side.
Kirigakure had lost not only against Uzushiogakure but also in the wider shinobi war...
Who knew how long it would take for Kirigakure to recover after this? Would they ever catch up to Konoha again?
For now...
They had to hear Uzushiogakure's demands.
"These are Uzushiogakure's terms!" The clan leader directly handed over their written conditions. There weren't many—just one!
Hozuki Gengetsu and the Mizukage's assistant glanced at it, their faces instantly turning livid as they glared at the clan leader. "You..."
This was too much!
They knew this price all too well!
Yet...
Uzumaki Jun paid them no mind, casually looking around instead. Kirigakure had invested heavily in this invasion of Uzushiogakure, even sending three of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. But in the end...
A complete loss!
Serves you right for invading Uzushiogakure!
If he hadn't transmigrated here and taken control of the Uzumaki Clan's mindset, Uzushiogakure would have been destroyed by now, with the Uzumaki Clan nearly wiped out.
As for whether Kirigakure would accept these terms...
Hah. Uzumaki Jun wasn't worried. The conditions weren't harsh—they just had to buy back their Tailed Beast with money. The Five Great Shinobi Villages were rich enough to afford it. After all, they had originally purchased two Tailed Beasts!
Except for the Kazekage, that shameless pauper, and the Hokage, that cheater, the other villages had all bought two Tailed Beasts!
As for the First Kazekage, that penniless and thick-skinned...
During Hashirama's Tailed Beast sale, he actually demanded that Konoha cede fertile land to Sunagakure and give them 30% of the funds other nations paid for Tailed Beasts to support Suna's development...
Only someone as good-natured as Hashirama would tolerate that. If it were Uzumaki Jun, he'd have said, "Take it or leave it, scram if you don't want it!"
Being poor was no excuse!
He'd have beaten them up long ago instead of patiently mediating!
As for Kirigakure, while they were suffering heavy losses...
They could still afford this sum. Though the Hōzuki Clan would probably have to tighten their belts afterward. After all, the Mizukage was from their clan, Hozuki Gengetsu had no choice but to bear this burden.
As for who would ultimately reimburse the cost...
Uzumaki Jun glanced in Konoha's direction and sighed inwardly. "Being the champion of justice isn't easy."
Especially when that justice had a black heart.
"We cannot accept these terms," the Mizukage's assistant said to the clan leader, helpless. "The Tailed Beast originally belonged to Kirigakure. There's no reason for us to..."
Before he could finish...
"The Three-Tails is in our hands," the clan leader said flatly. Damn it, you still have the nerve to say it originally belonged to Kirigakure? So you invading Uzushiogakure was justified?
"But it..."
"The Three-Tails is in our hands now."
"However..."
"The Three-Tails is currently in our possession."
"..."
Listening to the back-and-forth, Uzumaki Jun yawned boredly. They were going to agree anyway, so why drag it out? Did they want to imitate the First Kazekage's shamelessness?
Don't joke around!
Did they think Uzushiogakure was as foolish—no, as kind-hearted—as Hashirama?
"Kirigakure will not agree to these terms," Hozuki Gengetsu finally cut off the argument, impatient. "Kirigakure will only pay one-third of the amount. Anything more is unacceptable."
Kirigakure had to draw the line somewhere. No matter what, they were one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages. They couldn't afford the humiliation of buying back a Tailed Beast at full price.
And besides... this was a third-hand Tailed Beast! Shouldn't the price be lowered?
In that case...
"Clan leader, are the negotiations done yet?" Uzumaki Jun blinked his large, glistening eyes, complaining. "Jun is hungry. If not, how about we don't sell the Three-Tails? Keep it as Jun's pet?"
Hah! One-third of the price?
Was Kirigakure dreaming?
That wouldn't even cover the cost of his explosive tags!
In a few more days, Kirigakure would be begging Uzushiogakure to agree.
Hozuki Gengetsu should focus on how to salvage the Mizukage's reputation instead!