After receiving twelve billion ryō in compensation from the daimyō, Senju Tobirama and his group immediately left the daimyō's mansion.
Watching their departing figures, the daimyō ground his teeth in rage. He slammed the teacup on the table to the floor, shattering it to vent his fury.
"Damn brats! Damn you, Senju Tobirama… I will never forgive you!"
Being forced to pay a sky-high compensation of twelve billion ryō… this matter would undoubtedly spread quickly. Once it did, he would absolutely become the laughingstock of the other daimyōs, a joke at every banquet.
These people must die, especially that brat!
"Put a bounty on them! Five billion! I want Senju Tobirama and that brat dead!"
...
"Renya-kun, you're seriously incredible!" Koharu Utatane couldn't help but praise him.
"I didn't expect you to actually wring twelve billion ryō in compensation out of the daimyō!" Sarutobi Hiruzen said with visible admiration.
If it had been him, he would've just accepted whatever compensation the daimyō offered, maybe haggling for a bit more, at most doubling it.
From one billion ryō to two billion ryō, maybe… but twelve billion? That was something he wouldn't have even dared to dream of.
"The daimyō is rich anyway. Making him pay a little extra isn't a big deal." Renya smiled faintly.
Clearly, money wasn't an issue for him.
And if he had money to spare, it would've been a crime not to squeeze him dry!
The war initiated by Kumogakure had caused countless Konoha shinobi to die or be severely injured, and it would take enormous funds to compensate for the losses caused by the war.
The families of those dead and wounded shinobi all needed substantial sums to get by.
That money would naturally have to come from the Land of Lightning's daimyō.
The funds allocated to Konoha by the Land of Fire's daimyō were limited, yet so many shinobi had died in battle.
As a result, each family's bereavement compensation was pathetically small.
Especially for those children who had lost their parents and were forced into becoming orphans, money was vital for survival.
The allowances distributed by the village barely covered food, leaving nothing left over for clothes or other necessities. This was the tragic reality for the vast majority of Konoha's orphans.
Renya knew from his predecessor's memories just how miserable orphans' lives were. Even orphans from prominent clans like the Uchiha lived in hardship.
For children from ordinary families, it was even worse…
Renya wanted to change this situation, to improve the living conditions of Konoha's orphans.
This was one of the main reasons why he hadn't hesitated to threaten the daimyō.
"Kid, you did a damn good job!" Senju Tobirama patted Renya's shoulder, unreserved in his praise.
From the start, Tobirama had prepared himself for a difficult tug-of-war with the Land of Lightning's daimyō.
Getting more compensation wouldn't be easy, and while he was still considering strategies…
Renya had stepped forward and, after just a single round of negotiation, somehow managed to secure twelve billion ryō in compensation!
This kid had completely surpassed his expectations.
"Renya, I have to admit, you're impressive." Shimura Danzō's expression was unusually serious.
This was the first time he truly admired Renya. Deep down, he had fully acknowledged Renya's worthiness as Hokage.
He conceded defeat wholeheartedly.
Only someone like Renya could lead the village toward a better future.
...
After leaving the daimyō's mansion, they didn't head back to Konoha right away but instead set off toward Kumogakure.
Senju Tobirama still had to sign the surrender treaty in Kumogakure, so they went straight there.
The Second Raikage had already returned to Kumogakure earlier to prepare the surrender documents.
By now, everything should be ready.
...
Kumogakure.
The war had just ended, and on the streets, small groups of bandaged shinobi gathered, quietly discussing their experiences on the battlefield.
"You guys have no idea how terrifying the poison created by Konoha's 'Poison Master' is! Almost no one could resist it!"
"No way, it was that bad?!"
"Of course it's true! Plenty of high-ranking shinobi got exposed without realizing it, and then—bam!—the poison spread, and they dropped dead on the battlefield."
In no time, rumors about Konoha's "Poison Master" spread wildly throughout the village.
From eighty-year-old elders to three-year-old toddlers, everyone had heard of the "Poison Master."
Renya's name and title had reached the point where they could make children stop crying at night.
Any shinobi who had seen Renya in person couldn't help but tremble whenever the topic came up.
This was battlefield trauma syndrome.
They were extremely grateful that the "Poison Master" had focused entirely on jōnin-level opponents and hadn't bothered with chūnin like them.
As long as they didn't recklessly approach him, they were safe… unless, of course, they were unlucky enough to bump into him directly.
Thanks to this, most Kumogakure chūnin had escaped unscathed.
Though they hadn't been killed, the fear in their hearts only grew stronger with each passing day.
There was even a saying circulating through Kumogakure:
A chūnin's survival rate when encountering the Poison Master on the battlefield is higher than that of a jōnin.
If you're a chūnin, don't panic. But if you're a jōnin… be afraid. Very afraid. Retreat immediately!
Otherwise, death is the only thing waiting for you.
The rumors became more and more exaggerated, eventually turning into stories that claimed the "Poison Master" could kill hundreds just by waving his hand, instantly poisoning everyone in sight…
Renya had already been turned into the very embodiment of a demon.
When Konoha's diplomatic envoy finally set foot at the gates of Kumogakure, the once-bustling streets instantly fell into a dead silence.
Kumogakure shinobi all raised their heads, their eyes locking onto the black-haired boy walking beside Senju Tobirama.
"Th-That guy… could it be…" someone stammered, trembling uncontrollably, "Konoha's Poison Master?!"
"Damn it, why is he here?!"
The tension on the streets skyrocketed. Countless eyes locked on Renya.
Hatred, fear, dread, caution… all these emotions intertwined, forming an almost tangible killing intent.
The Second Raikage had already informed them beforehand that Konoha's envoy would be coming to sign the peace treaty.
But none of them had expected the Poison Master to come along!
Feeling all the stares on him, Renya's lips twitched slightly.
Did these people really have to look at him like he was some kind of criminal?
He hadn't even done anything yet!
Renya didn't realize that, in Kumogakure, his reputation had already reached the point where he was feared like a monster parents used to scare their kids into behaving.
If he had known, he wouldn't have been surprised at all.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, walking at the rear of the group, whispered softly,
"Looks like Renya's… 'battlefield record'… left quite an impression on Kumogakure's people."
Even though they were Renya's comrades, none of them could deny the impact he had left.
Every gaze—whether from shinobi or civilians—was fixed squarely on him.
Shimura Danzō snorted coldly.
"Five Kage-level shinobi died in this war. Four of those deaths are linked to him. How could they not remember him?"
"Hey there!" Renya raised a hand toward the crowd, flashing a friendly smile.
The moment he lifted his hand, panic exploded among the onlookers. People frantically backed away, terrified that the Poison Master was about to unleash poison.
Renya's friendly smile, in their eyes, looked exactly like the triumphant grin of a demon whose plot had just succeeded.
Some even felt their throats tighten, convinced they were already poisoned.
"It's over… I've been poisoned…"
Chaos erupted instantly as the crowd scattered in all directions.
"Kid, did you just release poison?" Senju Tobirama's voice came from the side.
Renya: "???"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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