The moment Sasaki heard the words "Uchiha Fugaku", his expression froze in shock.
The Uchiha name was one that carried weight across the Land of Fire—and indeed, throughout the entire shinobi world. The clan was known for its power, its Sharingan, and, in recent years, for a string of decisive actions that had changed the balance of the ninja world.
This envoy had not expected to find an Uchiha seated among Konoha's senior advisors, let alone actively participating in such high-level political negotiations. It unsettled him.
After all, this clan was infamous for its strength and its uncompromising nature. Recently, they had crushed the combined forces of the Hidden Cloud Village, one of the Five Great Ninja Villages whose power rivaled that of Konoha itself. The Uchiha had not stopped there—they had even toppled Konoha's own "esteemed" leadership. The Third Hokage, once revered, and Danzo, the feared "Darkness of the Shinobi World," had both been dragged down by Uchiha Ryosuke's merciless hand. And the means used had been nothing if not brutal.
Sasaki had originally come into this meeting with a strategy in mind. The Senju clan had declined, and Tsunade, despite her strength, was known for her sense of justice and her tendency to reason things out. If pressed under the banner of "greater good for the Land of Fire," she might have reluctantly accepted a reduction of Konoha's budget.
Beeut the unexpected presence of the Uchiha changed everything. This was a clan that did not bow to reason, one whose very aura demanded submission. Sasaki realized, in that instant, that he could no longer press the issue.
He forced a smile, quickly softening his earlier stance.
"Of course, this matter can be discussed further. After all, these are the wishes of the Daimyō himself."
Tsunade and Shikaku exchanged looks of surprise. A moment ago, Sasaki had been brusque and impatient, speaking with the authority of the Daimyō's office. Now, faced with Fugaku, his tone had flipped entirely.
The oppressive presence of the Uchiha truly was something else.
Even Tsunade, who had once witnessed the overwhelming dominance of her grandfather Hashirama and great-uncle Tobirama, felt a grudging acknowledgment. Somehow, the Uchiha now carried a pressure that even the Senju in their prime hadn't projected to this degree. Perhaps this envoy had realized all too well just how dangerous the Uchiha were to provoke.
Fugaku spoke without hesitation, his voice firm.
"There is nothing to discuss. For the sake of the Land of Fire and Konoha's defense against outside enemies, countless shinobi gave their bodies, their health, even their lives. Fire Country civilians may suffer hardships, but can you truly say their suffering is greater than that of those who sacrificed everything for the nation? Money is the least and simplest form of comfort we can provide to their grieving families. Remember: the dead cannot be revived. The least we can do is honor their sacrifice. Tell the Daimyō: Konoha will not accept any cut in funding. The amount must remain as per the standing agreement."
This was not the old Fugaku who might once have leaned toward radicalism or clan-first thinking. He wielded the rhetoric of justice and duty like a blade.
Tsunade was briefly taken aback. This is… the Uchiha speaking? she thought. Weren't they supposed to be reckless and aggressive, self-serving above all else? Yet here was Fugaku, standing firm not just for his clan, but for the countless Konoha shinobi who had bled and died in the war.
Her surprise quickly gave way to solidarity. She nodded and added her voice.
"Advisor Fugaku is right. Compared to the common hardships of civilians, it is the disabled shinobi and the bereaved families of the fallen who deserve aid first. If their sacrifices are dismissed, then tell me—who in the future will lay down their lives for the Land of Fire?"
Her words struck like a hammer. The implication was clear: cut support for shinobi, and the entire alliance between Konoha and the Daimyō would be jeopardized.
Sasaki felt his stomach knot. That threat was no empty warning. If Konoha refused to fight for the Land of Fire, the Daimyō's rule would collapse under the weight of outside forces. No army of conscripts could stand against the organized might of the other ninja villages. Without Konoha, the Land of Fire would become easy prey.
He could not be the one to shoulder such a consequence.
"I… see," Sasaki conceded with a stiff bow of his head. "If this is the will of Konoha, then I must return and report to the Daimyō. Ultimately, the decision rests with him."
Tsunade gave him a polite smile, though her eyes were sharp. "Then carry back our answer. Konoha has endured the full devastation of the war. We require the agreed funds. That will not change."
"Understood." Sasaki nodded.
Off to the side, Shikaku couldn't help but sigh in relief. Thank goodness we pulled the Uchiha into the council, he thought. Without their weight pressing down on this negotiation, today's discussion could have ended in disaster. The clan's sheer presence was enough to cow even the Daimyō's envoy. Their influence was such that even the capital could no longer ignore them.
For Shikaku, a pragmatist to the core, this was a comfort. He would always put Konoha first. And if the Land of Fire's civilians suffered… that was the Daimyō's burden, not his.
At that moment, Sasaki suddenly spoke again, his tone shifting.
"Since I am here in Konoha, I would like the honor of meeting your village's strongest shinobi—Uchiha Ryosuke. Might that be arranged?"
It was a personal request, one born not of politics but of curiosity. Ever since the days of the legendary Senju Hashirama, the ninja world had not seen a figure rise so quickly in fame and power as Ryosuke Uchiha. Naturally, Sasaki was eager to witness such a man with his own eyes.
Tsunade, however, hesitated. This envoy wants to meet Ryosuke? She frowned. Ryosuke was known for being… volatile, to say the least. If he heard the Daimyō was behind attempts to slash Konoha's funding, would he react violently? Fugaku had been forceful but composed. Ryosuke might not bother with composure at all.
Was it wise to let the two meet?
Her hesitation stretched long enough for Sasaki's patience to fray. His face darkened. Was he being denied? I am the Daimyō's first-ranked guardian shinobi, he thought indignantly. And they would refuse me an audience with a single man? Do they hold me in such contempt?
He voiced his dissatisfaction aloud.
"Is there some reason this meeting is inconvenient?"
Tsunade recognized his irritation. In the past, she might have snapped back, letting her temper fly. Beeut now she was Hokage. A leader had to temper their fire with diplomacy.
So instead, she turned to Fugaku. "Advisor Fugaku, does Ryosuke have time to receive a visitor?"
Fugaku replied with calm honesty.
"Ryosuke should be at the clan compound at this hour. Whether he is available depends, of course, on him. If Lady Hokage sends someone to summon him, we will know shortly."
Tsunade nodded, then turned to her attendant.
"Shizune, go fetch Ryosuke and bring him here."
"Yes, milady," Shizune answered at once, departing the Hokage Tower.
Tsunade offered the envoy a polite smile. "If you can wait a little, Sasaki-dono, Ryosuke will be here shortly."
"I can wait," Sasaki replied, masking his eagerness with formality.
Meanwhile, Shizune leapt across Konoha's rooftops at full speed, cutting down her travel time. Within ten minutes, she arrived at the Uchiha district. After identifying herself to the guards and stating her purpose, they let her pass without issue.
Inside one of the clan's residences, Ryosuke was reclining comfortably, his head resting on the lap of Yugito Nii—the kunoichi from Kumogakure who now bore nothing but affection in her gaze. Ryosuke had no doubts about her loyalty; the softness in her eyes was proof enough.
The door slid open, and Shizune entered—only to be greeted by this intimate sight. Her heart sank with an involuntary pang. Compared to Yugito's voluptuous figure, she felt painfully inadequate.
Beeut she quickly pushed those emotions aside. After all, Ryosuke had warned them from the start—he would not have just one woman. That truth was undeniable now.
Forcing her thoughts back to the matter at hand, Shizune cleared her throat.
"Ryosuke-sama… the Hokage requests your presence at once."
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