"Clan Head. Jiraiya-sama."
Toyoma calmly sat down on a nearby chair.
The earlier tension inside the camp eased slightly.
Raizen and the other Hawk members slowly relaxed their grip on their weapons.
The atmosphere remained tense—
but no longer on the verge of violence.
"We are not trying to make things difficult."
Toyoma's voice remained calm.
"But throughout this entire war..."
His eyes slowly moved toward Fugaku.
"...from supplies to reinforcements, all we received were promises."
The camp became quieter.
"And in the end..."
His expression hardened slightly.
"...nothing sufficient arrived."
A brief silence followed.
"That failure cost the Hawk faction eighty-five lives."
The words landed heavily.
Toyoma continued looking at Fugaku.
"I believe you are aware of that number, Clan Head."
Fugaku's expression softened slightly.
He could understand Toyoma's anger.
Eighty-five Uchiha lives had been lost under his faction.
For someone as young as Toyoma, carrying that burden alone was enough to push him toward extreme decisions.
The anger from earlier gradually faded.
"Toyoma..."
His voice became calmer.
"War is a place where loss is inevitable."
Several Uchiha lowered their eyes.
Fugaku slowly looked toward Raizen and the others.
"I am saddened by every loss suffered by the Hawk faction."
His gaze remained steady.
"For me, there is no Hawk or Dove."
The evening wind quietly passed through the camp.
"There are only Uchiha."
"My people."
For a brief moment—
Many Uchiha silently looked at him.
Some seemed relieved.
Some appeared uncertain.
And others remained completely expressionless.
Fugaku continued,
"I will do everything in my power to ensure their sacrifice is not forgotten."
Nearby, Jiraiya silently nodded.
That was how a konoha's clan leader should think.
Not as factions.
But as one people.
Then Jiraiya stepped forward.
"Toyoma."
His voice carried less frustration than before.
"You don't need to worry about compensation."
"Konoha will not allow the sacrifice of its shinobi to become meaningless."
But before he could finish—
Toyoma interrupted him.
"Jiraiya-sama."
His voice remained polite.
Yet cold.
"We do not trust Konoha."
The atmosphere instantly changed.
Several shinobi exchanged looks.
Toyoma continued without hesitation.
"The losses we suffered were not accidents."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"They were the result of deliberate decisions made by Hiruzen Sarutobi and those around him."
The camp fell silent.
"That's a serious accusation, Toyoma."
Fugaku's eyes narrowed.
"In the previous wars..."
Toyoma's voice became firmer as he didn't look at Fugaku.
"...the Uchiha received no meaningful compensation."
A bitter smile appeared on his face.
"So we have no intention of repeating that mistake."
Then he slowly gestured toward the Mist prisoners.
"The Uchiha were the primary force responsible for breaking the Mist offence."
"Therefore, any compensation gained from this conflict must pass through us first."
Even Jiraiya's expression changed slightly.
Toyoma then turned toward the gathered shinobi.
Not only Uchiha—
But members of other clans and civilian shinobi were also watching.
"I want every shinobi who fought on this border to hear this clearly."
His voice echoed across the camp.
"If compensation is secured from the Mist..."
He paused briefly.
"...it should go directly to the people who paid the price."
Several shinobi quietly straightened.
"Not disappear into the hands of village leaders who swallow it in the name of the will of fire."
A few people's expressions immediately became complicated.
Toyoma's gaze hardened.
"The theft and misuse of resources by certain leaders in Konoha is already known to everyone."
Then he slowly looked back toward Jiraiya and Fugaku.
"And I refuse to allow more resources gained through the blood of our dead..."
His voice became colder.
"...to be used to strengthen the same people's family, who are responsible for those losses."
Jiraiya's expression darkened after hearing Toyoma's words.
"We do not trust Konoha leadership."
The camp became silent.
Then Jiraiya slowly stepped forward.
He glared at Toyoma with red eyes full of anger.
"And what exactly are you trying to say?"
His voice remained calm.
"That every sacrifice made by Konoha shinobi is meaningless?"
"No."
Toyoma answered immediately.
Jiraiya continued before he could say more.
"You keep talking about compensation."
His eyes narrowed.
"But do you know what happens when every clan starts demanding payment for its losses separately?"
Several shinobi frowned slightly.
"The moment that happens, Konoha stops being a village."
His voice became heavier.
"It becomes nothing more than a collection of clans fighting over rewards."
The atmosphere quietly changed.
Jiraiya looked directly at Toyoma.
"The Uchiha suffered losses."
"Yes."
"The Hyuga suffered losses."
"Yes."
"The Aburame suffered losses."
"Yes."
"Even civilian shinobi died protecting this border."
His voice echoed across the camp.
"So tell me."
Jiraiya's eyes hardened.
"Who gave the Uchiha the right to decide compensation for everyone?"
For a brief moment—
Even some Hawk members became silent.
Then Fugaku stepped forward.
His expression remained calm.
But his voice carried authority.
"Toyoma."
"You are making a dangerous mistake."
The camp became quiet again.
Fugaku slowly looked toward the imprisoned Mist shinobi.
"Right now, these prisoners are leverage."
He nodded slightly.
"That much is true."
Then his gaze sharpened.
"But leverage only has value when you can control its consequences."
Toyoma remained silent.
Fugaku continued.
"What happens if the Mist refuses?"
"What happens if they execute Konoha prisoners in response?"
"What happens if the peace talks collapse?"
The questions landed one after another.
"You speak of eighty-five Hawk shinobi."
A trace of sadness appeared in Fugaku's eyes.
"I remember every one of them."
Then his voice became firmer.
"But if your actions restart this war..."
His eyes locked onto Toyoma.
"...how many more children will lose their parents?"
"How many more clans will bury their dead?"
The cold wind passed through the camp.
Fugaku's voice became quieter.
"Do not confuse vengeance with responsibility."
For the first time—
Even the Hawk members did not immediately respond.
Jiraiya looked toward Toyoma.
"You accuse the Hokage of thinking only about politics."
His voice was calm now.
"But what are you doing right now?"
The atmosphere froze.
"You're gambling with peace itself."
His gaze slowly moved toward the prisoners.
"Because you believe you can get a better deal."
A brief silence followed.
Then Jiraiya spoke one final sentence.
"And if that gamble fails..."
His eyes hardened.
"...will you personally carry responsibility for every shinobi who dies afterwards?"
Jiraiya's eyes swept across Raizen, Toyoma, and the other shinobi standing nearby.
The atmosphere had become unusually tense.
Not only the Uchiha—
Even shinobi from other clans and civilian-born shinobi were watching now.
Many of them carried the same question in their eyes.
No one wanted the war to continue.
And Toyoma's actions looked dangerously close to provoking exactly that.
Toyoma silently felt those gazes on him.
Even among the Uchiha—
Some looked uncertain.
Some looked conflicted.
And some were quietly waiting for his answer.
Then he slowly looked toward Jiraiya.
"Our distrust did not appear overnight."
His voice remained calm.
"The village itself created it."
The camp became quiet.
Toyoma's gaze slowly swept across the gathered shinobi.
"Tell me, Jiraiya-sama."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Am I wrong when I say 'Uchiha have never been treated fairly'?"
For a brief moment—
Nobody answered.
Jiraiya's expression darkened.
The anger inside him was already nearing its limit.
But after seeing the Hawk members standing behind Toyoma—
hands resting near weapons—
He forcibly calmed himself.
The last thing they needed now was another conflict.
Then finally—
Jiraiya took a step forward.
His jaw tightened slightly.
"Then what the hell do you want?"
The words came out almost through gritted teeth.
"What will it take for this to end?"
The camp fell completely silent.
Everyone waited for Toyoma's answer.
Toyoma looked at him for several seconds.
Then—
He smiled.
Simply as if the answer was obvious.
"What do I want?"
"I want you to promise me something in front of the entire camp."
Toyoma's voice echoed calmly across the silent battlefield.
"No matter what happens during the peace talks..."
His eyes swept across the gathered shinobi.
"...whether we receive reparations from the Mist or not..."
Then he looked directly at Jiraiya.
"...you must ensure that every shinobi who fought here receives proper compensation."
Jiraiya blinked in surprise.
For a moment—
He looked genuinely confused.
"Isn't that what I've been saying this entire time?"
Toyoma slowly shook his head.
Then he pointed directly at Jiraiya.
"No."
His voice remained calm.
"I want an agreement from you."
The atmosphere instantly became quiet.
"Not from Konoha."
"Not from the Hokage."
"Not from the elders."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"I want a promise from Jiraiya of the Legendary Sannin."
Several shinobi exchanged surprised looks.
Toyoma continued,
"If the village receives reparations, make sure they reach the people who fought here."
Then his tone became even more direct.
"And if the village receives nothing..."
The cold wind quietly passed through the camp.
"...then I want you to compensate them yourself."
Jiraiya's expression froze.
"What?"
Several shinobi nearby also widened their eyes.
Toyoma calmly folded his arms.
"You are one of the most famous shinobi in the world."
His voice remained steady.
"You can afford it."
The corner of Jiraiya's eye twitched slightly.
After a long pause—
He finally sighed.
"...Fine."
His voice carried visible reluctance.
"I give you my word."
The atmosphere immediately became lighter.
Many shinobi looked toward Jiraiya with gratitude.
Some even appeared excited.
After all—
Receiving compensation directly from a Legendary Sannin sounded far more reliable than waiting for village officials.
Then suddenly—
A faint smile appeared on Toyoma's face.
"And if the village doesn't receive reparations..."
He paused briefly.
"...then you'll have to pay using the royalties from your perverted novels."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Jiraiya's face immediately darkened.
The corner of his mouth twitched violently.
Meanwhile—
Many shinobi suddenly found the sky extremely interesting.
Others stared at the ground.
A few awkwardly looked away.
Nobody wanted to make eye contact.
After all—
Everyone knew exactly which novels Toyoma was talking about.
************************************************************************************************
If anyone wants to join P@treon, they're welcome to.
Right now, P@treon chapters are available up to (Chapter 129: The Foundation of Authority).
P@treon - Hear_tteeth [18 +]
Thank you for the support and patience.