Chapter 133: Negotiations Collapse
Three hours passed in the blink of an eye. That amount of time wasn't enough for anything substantial, and since shadow clones were handling training and research anyway, Hiruko and Ritsu didn't go elsewhere. They first found a newly opened ramen shop, resolved their lunch, then returned to the Hokage building office to study Hiruko's responsibilities and authority as Hokage Advisor.
As Hokage Advisor, Hiruko had his own independent office in the Hokage building. More importantly, Minato hadn't given him an elevated but powerless position. He'd granted Hiruko genuine authority—assigning him responsibility for diplomatic work and directing him to establish a professional diplomatic department.
Previously, Konoha had no such department. Administrative affairs had handled everything. But the Fourth clearly didn't intend to accept such a chaotic, muddled administrative system. Recognizing diplomacy as critically important, he split it off separately and entrusted it to Hokage Advisor Hiruko to build this new structure from scratch. This was plainly using the Hyuga clan as a chicken to lay eggs for the village.
But neither Hiruko nor the Hyuga clan would refuse being used to lay eggs, because they'd also reap concrete benefits in the process.
When the time was about right, his main body joined Ritsu and they returned to the embassy once more.
"Vice Envoy Yaku, have you reached a decision?"
Hiruko got straight to the point the moment he arrived, skipping pleasantries and greetings.
Seeing this, Yaku answered in a low voice, "Hiruko-dono, four billion ryo in reparations is pure extortion. One billion ryo—that's the absolute limit our Hidden Mist Village can shoulder. Beyond that amount, our Hidden Mist Village simply lacks the capacity."
"One billion ryo? Cutting it in half and then in half again. Vice Envoy Yaku, your bargaining skills leave me in awe."
Hiruko shook his head. "But one billion ryo isn't remotely enough to compensate our Konoha for the losses suffered during your invasion. I can take it upon myself to reduce the amount by one billion ryo. In other words, you need only pay three billion ryo in reparations, and our two villages can sign a mutual non-aggression peace treaty immediately."
"That's impossible!"
Yaku refused categorically.
Never mind that his personal target was one billion ryo—even the Mizukage-sama's upper limit was only two billion ryo. He absolutely couldn't agree to such extortion. If he dared accept such terms, he'd become the village's criminal.
Hiruko looked at Yaku, whose expression was exceptionally firm, and said, "Vice Envoy Yaku, I'll only ask one more time. Do you accept three billion ryo in reparations?"
Yaku's attitude was exceptionally resolute. He shouted sharply, "I said it's impossible. Hiruko-dono, our Hidden Mist Village absolutely will not accept this unreasonable extortion!!"
Hiruko laughed, though his smile was ice-cold. "If you say we're being forceful, I won't deny it. But unreasonable? No wonder you became vice envoy of a diplomatic delegation at such a young age. When I was your age, I didn't have such thick skin."
"Let's go, Ritsu. Since they're unwilling to accept our goodwill, we'll just have to take what's owed to us with our own hands!"
Hiruko stood and left immediately. This time, he didn't even touch the tea on the table.
Ritsu looked at Yaku with a smile and followed his teacher out.
Yaku stood in the room without moving. Both sides' bottom lines were unacceptable to the other. This meant unless one side broke through their limits to accommodate the other, they could talk themselves hoarse without any result.
He stood by the window, watching Hiruko and Ritsu walk out of the embassy. Then he immediately returned to the table. He had to hurry and notify the village. Perhaps in the very next second, the Konoha ninja guarding outside the embassy would rush in to slaughter or capture them.
He hastily wrote the words "Negotiations collapsed" on paper, sealed the letter roughly, then swiftly performed the Summoning Jutsu. He summoned the albatross again and stuffed the letter into the cylinder on its back.
Then he released the summoning and watched the albatross disappear. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief. Now even if Konoha ninja rushed in the very next second, there was nothing to worry about. He'd already done everything within his power.
What surprised him somewhat was the lack of any movement from outside. The Konoha ninja continued merely guarding outside the embassy, showing no signs of rushing in.
Weren't the Konoha ninja afraid he'd send word back so the village could be vigilant and prepared?
Yaku furrowed his brow, unable to help thinking this.
Hiruko and Ritsu paid no attention to Yaku's actions. If he wanted to send warning, let him send warning! Such things held no meaning. They'd never intended to catch the Mist ninja completely unprepared with a surprise attack.
If they'd planned to do that, they never would have attempted to obtain reparations through negotiation from the start.
The master-student pair arrived at the Hokage's office and told Minato about the exchange. After hearing Hiruko's account, Minato tapped his fingers on the desk and said quietly, "Looks like the Mist ninja haven't realized their mistake at all!"
Ritsu said, "Probably because of the Third's past displays of compromise and weakness toward the Sand ninja and Rock ninja. Their impression of our Konoha still remains stuck in that time when we won wars but acted like losers, swallowing the bitter fruits of war."
Minato didn't respond.
Right now, Sarutobi Hiruzen was receiving the highest level of care at Konoha Hospital. He didn't want to speak ill of the Third behind his back. That was, after all, Jiraiya-sensei's teacher and still a Hokage. He deserved to keep some dignity.
Even though Minato strongly agreed with Ritsu's assessment.
The Mist ninja clearly hadn't recognized the changes in Konoha.
Minato called out, "Someone."
A full four-person ANBU squad appeared in the office and knelt on one knee before the desk, awaiting Minato's orders.
"Split up and find Jiraiya-sensei, Orochimaru-senpai, and the Uchiha Clan Head. Ask them to come to my office as quickly as possible. There's something very important to discuss with them. Also send someone to notify the two Advisor Elders and Shikaku. Ask them to come as well."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
The ANBU acknowledged and immediately departed to execute their missions separately.
Before long, Advisor Elders Akimichi Torikaze and Inuzuka Gaku, along with Jonin Commander Nara Shikaku, walked in together. Their offices were all in the Hokage building. After receiving the ANBU's summons, they'd set out immediately and met on the way.
"Hokage-sama, have the negotiations concluded?"
After entering, Akimichi Torikaze saw Hiruko and Ritsu and immediately realized why they'd been summoned.
Minato nodded. "The Mist ninja's vice envoy stubbornly and resolutely refused our goodwill. They haven't realized at all what a foolish mistake invading our Konoha was."
Hearing this answer, Inuzuka Gaku cursed, "Ungrateful bastards. Looks like we'll have to make them suffer properly before they understand how foolish refusing our kindness is."
He looked at Minato and asked, "Fourth, I suggest we launch a surprise attack on the Mist ninja as quickly as possible." Though previously he'd suggested trying to negotiate with the Mist ninja to concentrate forces against the Cloud ninja threat—
That was when soliciting suggestions before Minato made his decision. He'd honestly stated his views. But now that Minato had already decided, he wouldn't question it further. He'd only unwaveringly carry the Hokage's orders through to the end.
Minato nodded. "I've already arranged for people to contact Jiraiya-sensei, Orochimaru-senpai, and the Uchiha Clan Head. Everyone sit down and wait a moment. They should arrive soon."
At the same time, Konoha Hospital.
In a single-occupancy room on the top floor, multiple ninja from the Uchiha and Hyuga clans stood guard. However, when they saw Jiraiya approaching with a bag of apples, everyone silently moved aside.
Jiraiya reached the hospital room door, raised his hand, and knocked, calling out a greeting. "Old man, I'm coming in!" Without waiting for a response, he turned the doorknob and pushed the door open.
The room was quite spacious—large enough for three beds, though only one was actually placed there. A cabinet sat by the headboard, two chairs on the floor, and nothing else except pristine white ceiling and walls.
At this moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen lay quietly in the bed, staring at that white ceiling, completely ignoring Jiraiya's entrance.
Jiraiya walked over and placed the apples on the bedside cabinet. Looking at Sarutobi Hiruzen, he asked, "Old man, still angry?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen acted as though he hadn't heard.
Jiraiya pulled over a chair and sat down. He looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen and said, "Old man, Minato is already the Fourth Hokage. He's only just taken office, so I can't tell yet whether he'll do well or poorly. But I think he'll be an excellent Hokage. I believe in the future he'll definitely do better than you, old man!"
At this point, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't take it anymore. He turned his head and glared at Jiraiya, asking coldly, "Jiraiya, did you come specifically to anger me?"
Jiraiya's expression didn't change. "Old man, others may not know what kind of person I am, but I don't believe you don't know. Do you think I'd come specifically to anger you when I have nothing better to do? I came only to tell you—old man, you can stay angry for two days, but that's about enough. It's time to let it go. Leave the village to Minato and these young people! After you're discharged, go home and enjoy your retirement. Stop worrying about those endless concerns!"
The muscles on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face twitched. He said hoarsely, "What? Jiraiya, do you also think I'm too power-hungry?"
Jiraiya's and Sarutobi Hiruzen's gazes collided in the air.
This master-student pair looked at each other, yet both felt the other suddenly seemed somewhat unfamiliar, not quite matching the image in their memories.
Jiraiya sighed softly. "Sensei, rest well."
Finished speaking, he stood and walked toward the exit.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stared fixedly at Jiraiya's back, watching him disappear beyond the door. He clenched his teeth, struggling to suppress the accumulated emotions in his chest, his eyes continuing to stare at the ceiling.
Right now, he couldn't do anything. Hyuga jonin were continuously using Gentle Fist to seal his chakra pathways, transforming him into an ordinary person who couldn't use even a trace of chakra.
Jiraiya didn't leave Konoha Hospital.
Instead, he went to the hospital rooftop, leaning against the railing and looking down at the pedestrians coming and going on the street before Konoha Hospital. So many people should have looked lively, but instead he felt exceptionally lonely and bored. He didn't even have the interest to take out binoculars and observe the beautiful sights neatly arranged in the women's bathhouse.
Just then, however, movement behind him brought him back to awareness. Turning, he saw an ANBU appear.
"Jiraiya-sama, the Hokage requests your presence in his office. There's an urgent matter to discuss."
The ANBU knelt on one knee on the rooftop floor, faithfully transmitting Minato's orders.
Jiraiya narrowed his eyes slightly. "What happened?"
But before the ANBU could answer, he shook his head. "Never mind, don't say anything. I'll find out when I see Minato anyway. Does Minato want me to go right now?"
"The Hokage requests you come immediately."
"Understood."
Jiraiya took a deep breath, suppressing all those terrible emotions. Then he stood and leaped toward a nearby residential rooftop, jumping and sprinting across roof after roof, rushing to the Hokage building at maximum speed. Downstairs, he happened to encounter Uchiha Fugaku, who'd also arrived hastily.
Seeing Jiraiya, Uchiha Fugaku stopped his urgent steps and nodded in greeting. "Jiraiya-senpai."
The Uchiha clan's pride was directed at the weak. For someone as powerful as Jiraiya, they showed appropriate respect.
Jiraiya looked at Uchiha Fugaku thoughtfully and asked, "Uchiha Clan Head, were you also summoned by Minato?"
Uchiha Fugaku immediately nodded and asked in return, "Jiraiya-senpai, you as well?"
"Me too."
Jiraiya nodded and called out, "Then perfect. Let's go up together."
The two ascended together and arrived at the Hokage's office. Upon entering, they immediately saw Hokage Advisor Hiruko, Hyuga Clan Head Ritsu, Advisor Elders Akimichi Torikaze and Inuzuka Gaku, and Jonin Commander Nara Shikaku.
Such a lineup made both immediately confirm their suspicions. Something major was happening!
As the Fourth's teacher, Jiraiya didn't need to be so formal before Minato. He directly asked, "Minato, what's going on? Is there a problem at the Yu no Kuni front?"
Minato immediately shook his head and explained, "There've been some minor skirmishes at the Yu no Kuni front these past days, but nothing serious. It's the Mist ninja. The Mist ninja refused to pay the reparations they owe our Konoha. So I'm planning to organize an elite small-scale force to attack Hidden Mist Village and make the Mist ninja recognize their mistake and honestly pay what they owe us!"
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