"..."
Upon hearing Uzumaki Jun's words, the scene fell into silence.
What? Keep it as a pet? This is a tailed beast we're talking about! Something that can be used as a...
Damn it, it might actually be possible. After all, this kid is the monster who defeated a tailed beast at the age of seven using just one jutsu. Who's to say he won't be able to keep a tailed beast as a pet in a few years?
Just like the God of Shinobi and Lord Tobirama back in the day, who treated the tailed beasts like balls to kick around. Did the tailed beasts dare to roar at them?
Probably not. They'd just let out a "meow," then obediently curl up to make themselves rounder so they wouldn't hurt anyone's feet.
They couldn't afford to offend those two!
Hōzuki Gengetsu narrowed his eyes and said threateningly, "Kid, that's a tailed beast you're talking about!"
Don't speak so confidently. Even if you can defeat a tailed beast, that doesn't mean you can tame it.
Keep it as a pet? It'll blast you with a Tailed Beast Bomb before you can even finish your sentence.
Uzumaki Jun rolled his eyes at Hōzuki Gengetsu's words. Did they really think he was just a kid?
And wasn't it this very kid who forced the Kiri-nin to surrender?
Trying to scare him?
As if he hadn't watched over 700 episodes of Naruto for nothing!
"Ahh!" Uzumaki Jun pretended to be frightened, widening his eyes. "So that's a tailed beast!"
"But it's so weak!"
Heh, he took it down with a single jutsu. Why should he be afraid of it?
Although...
He could only use that jutsu once, but he was still the one who defeated the tailed beast!
Hōzuki Gengetsu was left speechless by Uzumaki Jun's reply. Damn it, this brat was truly infuriating. But now, his desire to kill Uzumaki Jun grew even stronger. This kid was only seven years old!
Who knew if he'd really be able to keep a tailed beast as a pet in a few years?
That would be far too dangerous for Kirigakure.
And...
If the Uzumaki Clan obtained a tailed beast, they would undoubtedly create a jinchūriki.
Then not only would they have a seven-year-old Kage-level shinobi, but they'd also have a jinchūriki. Taking down Uzushiogakure would become even more difficult. So...
They absolutely could not let Uzushiogakure get their hands on a tailed beast!
But right now, he couldn't show his true intentions. Negotiations required bargaining. If they could lower the price, they should. Otherwise, the Hōzuki Clan would really have to tighten their belts.
Damn Konoha!!!
"No matter what, Kirigakure cannot agree to this condition," Hōzuki Gengetsu said sternly, his expression making it clear that they would either continue the war or lower the demands. Otherwise, Kirigakure would never compromise.
Seeing this, Uzumaki Jun couldn't help but laugh.
Continue the war?
Let's see if Kirigakure could even afford to keep fighting in a few days.
Uzumaki Jun had already informed the clan head that if Kirigakure refused to agree no matter what, they should just leave. So...
"In that case," the clan head narrowed his eyes and said, "we'll leave the Three-Tails for Lord Jun to keep as a pet."
"Then we'll take our leave."
"..."
The Kiri-nin were stunned by this turn of events, especially Hōzuki Gengetsu. Were negotiations really supposed to work like this? If the price wasn't right, shouldn't they haggle?
Were the Uzumaki Clan really this stubborn?
Did they really have enough money to buy that many explosive tags again?
But...
Watching the Uzumaki Clan walk away, Hōzuki Gengetsu's expression darkened. "They're serious?!"
Damn it, couldn't they at least let the other side bargain? Who would do business with them like this?
...
"Jun, do you really think they'll agree?" the daimyo asked worriedly. Selling someone else's property back to them at a higher price was something the Uzumaki Clan had never done before.
The Uzumaki Clan upheld Lord Hashirama's ideals! Such a shameless act...
Just thinking about it was exciting!
Uzumaki Jun rolled his eyes at his father. Clearly, the Uzumaki Clan shouldn't be the ones handling business negotiations. Otherwise, they'd either lower the price or start a fight. There was no third option, and it would always end in a huge loss!
"Of course," Uzumaki Jun said impatiently. "In a few days, Kirigakure will probably agree."
He just didn't know how the mission to deliver the sealing techniques was going.
He had already told the team sent to the Land of Earth that the Light-Weight Boulder Technique was just a bonus. Whether they obtained it or not didn't matter. The most important thing was to pressure Iwagakure into sending troops to the border to intimidate the Land of Water.
Since the war wasn't over yet, the Kiri-nin probably hadn't withdrawn from the Land of Earth's battlefield.
"If they complete the mission, Kirigakure will definitely agree," Uzumaki Jun said calmly.
...
However...
They didn't have to wait a few days. Kirigakure had already received news from the front lines.
"The Iwa-nin... the Iwa-nin are advancing!" A Kiri-nin jōnin gasped as he reported to the Kirigakure higher-ups. "The Tsuchikage is leading the Iwa-nin toward our outpost!"
"..."
The Kirigakure higher-ups exchanged glances. What was going on? Wasn't the war supposed to be ending? Hadn't Kirigakure already lost? Why was the Tsuchikage advancing now?
Was the war not enough for them? Did they think it ended too quickly and wanted to drag it out longer?
And...
Hadn't they agreed that when Kirigakure obtained the sealing techniques, none of the villages would attack? Everything had been settled. What was Iwagakure trying to pull now?
"Damn Iwagakure!" Kenshō roared, his face livid. "They're going back on their word!"
They had all agreed to obtain the sealing techniques together and create jinchūriki so that Konoha wouldn't be the only one with that advantage. What was the meaning of this? Did they no longer want the sealing techniques? Did they no longer want jinchūriki?
Or...
Had news of Kirigakure's defeat in Uzushiogakure spread?
All the Kirigakure higher-ups seemed to realize something, their expressions shifting uncertainly.
Had the Mizukage really failed?
"Has the ship to Uzushiogakure set sail yet?" Kenshō asked with a frown. They still didn't know what was happening in Uzushiogakure, but it couldn't be good.
Otherwise, why would Iwagakure make a move?
They must have realized Kirigakure's military was weakened and were trying to take advantage.
Now even Kenshō couldn't help but resent Hōzuki Gengetsu. What kind of terrible idea was this? They could have just let the other villages occupy Uzushiogakure while Kirigakure took a share of the profits. But no, Hōzuki Gengetsu had to insist on Kirigakure starting a war.
And now? They hadn't gained anything and were suffering huge losses instead!
Kenshō sighed, closing his eyes helplessly. "Send a ship to deliver the news to the Mizukage."
"Go at full speed!"
"Not a single moment's delay!"
"Kirigakure can't afford to wait any longer!"
Hearing Kenshō's orders, the Kirigakure higher-ups all sighed. They knew it now...
Kirigakure's invasion of Uzushiogakure...
Had failed.
After the meeting ended, the various clans left with their own people, each with their own thoughts.
As for Yuki Kiyoi...
"Clan Head, Lord Kiyoi," a Yuki clansman suddenly appeared.
"What is it?" Kiyoi, with his perpetually narrowed eyes, frowned. "Why the panic?"
The Yuki Clan represented what?
The Ice Release kekkei genkai!
So they had to remain calm and elegant at all times!
What was the meaning of this panicked expression?
The Yuki clansman glanced around, making sure no one was watching them, then whispered into Kiyoi's ear, "We've spotted Uzu-nin..."
...
Meanwhile, in Konoha...
"Lord Hokage, the Tsuchikage has suddenly launched an attack on the Kiri-nin. The reason is currently unknown!"