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Minato Namikaze looked at Shimura Ken standing in front of him in the Hokage office. He looked at the list the elderly man presented. His brow furrowed slightly.
On the list were the names of all eligible young shinobi from the Shimura clan. Twenty-seven names in total.
Next to each name, four characters were marked in bright red ink. "At your disposal."
"Elder Shimura, what is the meaning of this?" Minato's voice betrayed no emotion.
Shimura Ken's posture was very humble and respectful.
"Hokage-sama, Danzo... his sins are truly monstrous. He has brought indelible shame upon our clan."
"But the loyalty of the rest of the Shimura clan to the Land of Fire and to Daimyo-sama has never wavered!"
"We... we of the Shimura clan also wish to serve Daimyo-sama!"
He suddenly looked up. His cloudy old eyes abruptly became sharp and intense.
"Is there still a path for the descendants of a criminal to serve their country?"
"We beg you, Hokage-sama, to show us a clear way forward!"
Minato fell silent.
He looked at the old man before him. His thoughts churned inside his mind.
The daimyo had not issued any orders specifically targeting the Shimura clan.
But this silence was like a blade hanging overhead that could fall at any moment. It made the entire Shimura clan live in constant dread.
Now, they could no longer bear the uncertainty.
Minato was inclined to agree with their request. He was not blind to their situation. Everyone in Konoha knew what kind of harsh life the Shimura clan had led when Danzo was alive.
However, he could not make the final decision on this matter.
"I will report your intentions truthfully to Daimyo-sama," Minato said carefully.
"As for whether Daimyo-sama is willing to give you a chance, I cannot guarantee anything."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama! Thank you!" Even such a vague answer gave Shimura Ken a glimmer of hope.
He bowed respectfully. He performed a deep, formal salute. Then he tremblingly withdrew from the office.
Watching Shimura Ken's hunched back as he left, Minato picked up the weighty list with a quiet sigh.
Once upon a time, the Shimura clan had also been a prominent clan in Konoha. When had they ever been forced to act so humbly?
He organized this application carefully, along with the lists from the other clans. He sent someone to deliver them all to the capital at the fastest possible speed.
The fate of the Shimura clan would be decided by that monarch with a single word.
Meanwhile, far away in the capital, negotiations of a different kind were underway.
In the daimyo manor's auxiliary hall for political affairs, the atmosphere was tense despite the warm temperature.
Finance Minister Tanaka sat with a slight smile on his face.
Across from him were the negotiating representatives from the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind.
The Land of Earth's envoy was a solidly built middle-aged man. But his face looked haggard and worn.
Clearly, these seven days of intense negotiations had consumed a great deal of his energy.
He pointed to the draft trade agreement, which had already been revised over twenty times. He said in a hoarse voice, "Lord Tanaka, we have felt the sincerity of the Land of Fire."
"We are very grateful that the Land of Fire is willing to open exports of white sugar, silk, and refined sea salt to our countries."
"However..."
He changed his tone sharply. He pointed to one of the clauses in the draft.
"Regarding the establishment of a trade transit station on the border of the three countries, with construction led by the Land of Fire and jointly funded by the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind..."
"This point, we absolutely cannot accept!"
Beside him, the Land of Wind's envoy also nodded in agreement. His eyes were narrowed, flickering with the unique vigilance and cunning of a desert people.
"Exactly right," he said.
"Trade should be free. Merchants should be able to carry their goods and travel freely between their respective towns."
"Why must a fixed trade station be established?"
"This sounds less like trade to us."
"It sounds more like building a military fortress for the Land of Fire right on our borders."
This accusation was as sharp as a blade.
Tanaka's smile remained completely unchanged.
Instead, a young man sitting beside him stood up smoothly.
The young man was barely in his early twenties. He had a handsome face, and his brand-new official uniform made his posture appear upright and professional.
Facing the envoys of the two countries, he remained as steady as a mountain.
This man was Asaba Toru. He was a trusted confidant who had followed Shin throughout his rise to power.
He bowed slightly to the envoys. Then he spoke in a clear voice, neither humble nor arrogant in tone.
"Honored sirs, I believe you have misunderstood our intentions."
"The reason for proposing the establishment of a trade transit station is not to restrict freedom. On the contrary, it is specifically designed to ensure the freedom and safety of traveling merchants."
He analyzed several issues one by one. Banditry problems on the borders. Trade route security concerns. Tariff barriers between nations.
He also carefully compared the long-term expenditure of constantly issuing protection missions with the one-time investment of establishing a permanent transit station.
In his words, he painted a compelling blueprint. One of efficiency, safety, and mutual benefit for all three nations.
His arguments were watertight and logical.
However, the envoys of the two countries were clearly well-versed in negotiation tactics. They did not fall for it so easily.
"Easy to say!" The Land of Wind's envoy snorted coldly. He placed his teacup down heavily on the table.
"Young man, your eloquence is impressive. But we are discussing national interests here, not empty promises and pretty words!"
The Land of Earth's envoy added firmly, "Construction led by the Land of Fire is inherently unfair from the start."
"By the time it's finished, whether the trade station contains shops or military barracks will probably not be up to us to decide."
"We cannot accept this proposal under any circumstances!"
The negotiations instantly reached a complete stalemate.
The air seemed to solidify around them. Asaba Toru's brow furrowed slightly with concern.
Just then, Tanaka, who had been silent this entire time, finally spoke up. "Honored envoys, please don't get angry!"
He looked at Asaba Toru with what appeared to be reproach on his face.
"Asaba, your idea is good. It truly is for the common prosperity of all three of our countries."
"But you are still too young and inexperienced. When considering important issues, you cannot only approach them from the perspective of our Land of Fire alone. You must also understand and respect the legitimate concerns of these two distinguished envoys."
These words sounded like criticism of his subordinate. But they also cleverly eased the tense atmosphere in the room.
The expressions of the two envoys improved somewhat.
Tanaka then continued smoothly, "Since you both have serious doubts about this particular point, then... why don't we all take a step back?"
"The trade station still needs to be built. For everyone's safety and economic interests, this fundamental point cannot be shaken."
"However, the method of construction can certainly be changed and adjusted."
Looking at the surprised and uncertain gazes of the two envoys, Tanaka presented his alternative plan.
"How about this proposal. The construction of the trade station will be jointly supervised by representatives from all three of our countries! The number of garrison shinobi stationed there must also be completely equal. No country can have more, and no country can have fewer!"
He paused deliberately. He looked at the increasingly serious expressions of the envoys. Then he continued to add more weight to his proposal.
"Furthermore, the highest administrative officer of the trade station will not be appointed by any single country. Instead, a management committee composed of representatives from all three of our countries will jointly manage the entire trade station!"
"In this way, everything will be open and transparent, with equal power for all. You two gentlemen should be reassured by such an arrangement, correct?"
In a secret room just a wall away from the negotiations, Shin observed everything with great interest through a specially made one-way crystal window.
Excellent! He thought with satisfaction.
This good cop, bad cop routine was being executed perfectly.
First, throw out harsh and difficult conditions to test the other side's bottom line and draw their fire.
When the opponents react strongly and negotiations reach a stalemate, then voluntarily make concessions and propose a plan that has already been carefully prepared in advance.
This strategy gives the opponents the illusion that it was their own strenuous struggle and firm stance that forced the other side to make these concessions.
Indeed, the older ginger is always spicier, as the saying goes.
As Shin expected, in the auxiliary hall, after a brief moment of stunned surprise, the eyes of both envoys immediately showed undisguised delight.
Joint supervision? Equal shinobi numbers? Joint management by committee?
Wasn't this the most ideal plan they had hoped for in their minds?
They never expected it to be proposed by the Land of Fire itself!
The Land of Earth's envoy spoke with unconcealed excitement in his voice. "Is this truly what you're offering?"
"Naturally, it's true!" Tanaka acted with perfect righteousness. He waved his hand dismissively.
"For peace, for the lasting friendship between our three countries, what are a few gains and losses? Our Land of Fire is willing to make this concession!"
"Excellent!" The Land of Earth's envoy slapped his thigh enthusiastically.
"Lord Tanaka is highly principled! On behalf of the Land of Earth, I agree to these terms!"
The Land of Wind's envoy also nodded repeatedly with satisfaction. "Our Land of Wind also agrees completely!"
Next came the natural conclusion. The representatives of the three parties signed the trade agreement with proper ceremony.
A seven-day trade negotiation concluded in an atmosphere of universal joy and satisfaction.
Shin contentedly put down his teacup and stood up, preparing to leave the secret observation room.
Just then, Takeshi suddenly entered quietly. He whispered in Shin's ear, "My Lord, the Fourth Hokage's proposal just arrived from Konoha!"