Hiruko had effectively turned the banquet into a mass grievance session.
Seeing the leader of the Grass Village take the hint, the representatives of other small hidden villages followed suit, launching into scathing tirades against their respective Daimyos. Of course, insulting the Daimyos wasn't the ultimate goal; the real purpose was to air their grievances, awaken the dormant dissatisfaction within the shinobi, and stir their consciousness of resistance.
Why should ninjas, with their overwhelming strength, not be the masters of their own nations?
What makes a Daimyo so special?
Can they use ninjutsu?
Do they possess powerful Kekkei Genkai?
In ordinary times, such talk was taboo, a line no one dared cross as it touched upon the delicate structural balance between hidden villages and their parent nations. But this particular gathering for the Five Kage Summit consisted entirely of shinobi; there wasn't a single "civilian" politician in the room. Under the catalytic influence of alcohol, words that had been suppressed in the depths of their hearts naturally spilled out.
Since the Grass leader had broken the ice, the others felt it was safe to join in. After all, who would dare play the snitch in a room full of peers? They were just drinking and blowing off steam—completely normal behavior.
As the Grass representative finished his lengthy complaint, the Sand Village joined in, specifically targeting the issue of funding. The Land of Wind had recently slashed Suna's budget; the Sand representative had tried to endure it, but eventually, he couldn't help but curse the heavens.
Kitsuchi of the Stone, remembering past slights, slammed his fist on the table in agreement. Even Killer Bee of the Cloud was so incensed he crushed his table with his bare hands, forcing the staff to bring a replacement.
"Those fools agreed to a fixed price for supplies! That rule has stood for years, and they never lost a Ryo on us!" Bee shouted huffily. "But just because we lost one battle, they tell us they're cutting us off to find 'other partners'!"
"We tried to keep them, tried to keep the cooperation going! We even lowered our commissions to the floor, but what do they want? Some high official actually demanded I personally escort a dog to another city, saying the pay was 'fair'!"
"That dog was hideous! One looked like the Earth Daimyo, and the other looked like his wife! The damn thing actually peed on me! They insisted a Kage-level figure from the village execute the mission. Even if the money was good, it's a blatant insult!"
In the haze of the afternoon, the complaints became a flood. In his rambling, Bee even forgot his initial hostility toward Hiruko, focusing entirely on the humiliations suffered following their defeat. He didn't know if it was the strength of the liquor or if he was just emotionally intoxicated, but he vented everything.
The venting lasted until the sun began to dip toward the horizon. At that moment, Hiruko suddenly shifted gears.
"Alright, everyone has had their fill," Hiruko announced. "Now, let's discuss the matter of the Grass Country."
For a first meeting, this was enough; pushing too deep into sensitive territory too fast could be counterproductive. For Hiruko, the goal was achieved the moment someone spoke their first grievance aloud and triggered the collective sentiment. For the others, the sudden shift from relaxed venting to serious business was jarring—a psychological "cold shower" that ensured they wouldn't easily forget the afternoon.
In this meeting, Minato Namikaze acted more like a prestigious mascot, while everyone else sharpened their focus on what Hiruko had to say.
Hiruko had long envisioned a united "Shinobi World Community," but he knew it would be difficult. Given the current blood feud between the Cloud and the Leaf, the Cloud would likely oppose anything the Leaf proposed out of spite, regardless of its global benefit.
However, Hiruko was a master of the "carrot and stick" approach. He believed that if you let these ninjas taste enough sweetness, there was no "mad dog" that couldn't be tamed. This grievance session was a necessary step, using a grand narrative to shift their focus away from petty feuds and toward a shared enemy.
Humans are strange creatures. Looking at the gourmet food before them and realizing that nobles ate like this every day—perhaps throwing away a whole fried chicken for every one they ate—filled them with resentment. They didn't dare challenge the Daimyos directly yet, but by planting a seed of cooperation in their hearts, Hiruko was ready to cut to the chase.
Opportunities would be plenty. Once these ninjas seized control of the economy and integrated military, political, and financial power, Hiruko wanted to see if they were truly the obedient slaves everyone claimed they were.
The meeting officially turned to the formation of a giant cross-national merchant guild.
"Thank you all for coming such a long way," Hiruko said from the head of the table, his voice calm and resonant. "Following the Fourth War, our nations have entered a rare period of peace. But peace must be maintained; it requires a bond of shared interest."
Bee interrupted him with a rap: "Yo, yo! Stop with the fluff and the empty talk / Tell us your plan or take a walk! Rap~"
Hiruko didn't take offense; his smile widened. "Killer Bee, always direct. Very well—I propose the formation of the United Shinobi Merchant Guild. It will be co-managed by the Five Great Nations to coordinate trade and share resources and technology."
The hall erupted in an uproar.
"Absurd!" Bee slammed the table. "The Cloud won't accept these chains! We have our own routes, we don't share our gains! Yeah~"
The Sand representative immediately countered, "Lord Bee, a united guild is extremely beneficial for smaller nations. It reduces conflicts sparked by resource competition. Suna fully supports the Leaf's proposal."
Kitsuchi and Mei Terumi exchanged a look. Kitsuchi spoke slowly, "The Stone requires more details. How exactly would this guild operate?"
As Hiruko prepared to answer, Bee interrupted again: "Details? Why discuss? / The Cloud says no, so end the fuss! Drop the mic~"
The atmosphere grew thick with tension. Hiruko took a deep breath. "Bee, the guild isn't about stripping autonomy. It's a platform for mutual benefit. For instance, the Cloud's metallic ores could be traded for the Sand's rare medicinal herbs. The Mist's aquatic products could..."
"Enough!" Bee waved him off. "Cloud doesn't do losing deals. Who's to say this isn't just the Leaf's way of controlling everyone else?"
The Sand representative stood up angrily. "You're insulting the Leaf's sincerity! Since the war ended, the Leaf has worked tirelessly for peace. Suna can testify to that!"
Mei Terumi gracefully raised a hand to calm the room. "Gentlemen, bickering solves nothing. Lord Hiruko, I understand your intent, but the Mist must ensure the Land of Water's trade isn't negatively impacted."
Hiruko nodded. "Of course. The guild will have regional branches. Existing trade relations will be preserved; we are simply adding a channel for cross-border cooperation."
Kitsuchi looked thoughtful. "If we truly complement each other's resources, it would greatly help improve the livelihoods of the Stone's people..."
"You've all been fooled by the Leaf's facade!" Bee suddenly stood up, his chair clattering to the ground. "The Leaf wants to control the world through money! The Cloud won't fall for it! Peace out~"
He turned to leave, but Hiruko's voice turned cold and sharp. "Bee, are you sure you want to walk out like this?"
Bee spun around, his eyes defiant. "What? Is the Leaf going to force me to stay?"
Hiruko shook his head. "No. But I think you should see this first."
He pulled a scroll from his sleeve and placed it on the table. It unrolled automatically, revealing a detailed map and several documents.
"What's this junk?" Bee frowned.
"This is the Cloud's troop deployment map along the Land of Lightning's border over the last three months," Hiruko said. His voice was steady, but the words hit like a hammer. "And here are the secret military alliance treaties your village signed with several small hidden villages."
The hall fell into a deathly silence. Bee's face turned grim, like a sky before a storm. "Where did you get these?"
Hiruko didn't answer directly. "The Cloud rejects a peace proposal while actively preparing for war. Does this not suggest that your village is the true threat to global peace?"
The expressions of Kitsuchi and Mei Terumi turned stern, their eyes fixing on Bee. The Sand representative pointed a finger at him. "So that's it! The Cloud never intended to keep the peace!"
In this moment of peak tension, the door burst open. A ninja from the Grass Village rushed in, panting, and knelt. "Forgive the interruption! Urgent intel!"
"Speak!" Kitsuchi demanded.
"An elite Cloud unit is massing at the Grass border, seemingly ready for a surprise strike!" the ninja gasped.
"What?!" Kitsuchi and Mei stood up simultaneously, faces full of shock and wariness. Bee's face shifted through a kaleidoscope of colors—red, white, then a sickly green.
The hall dissolved into chaos. Small-village representatives whispered in fear, while others glared at Bee with hatred.
"Silence!" Hiruko's voice boomed, a surge of powerful chakra suppressing the noise. "Gentlemen, this is exactly why we need the United Merchant Guild. Mutual suspicion and secret maneuvers only lead to new wars. Only through economic interdependence can we build true trust."
He turned to Bee, his gaze like a branding iron. "Does the Cloud still oppose the guild? Or are you willing to be the villain who triggers the next World War?"
Bee's voice was low. "I... need to contact the Raikage."
"Of course," Hiruko nodded. "But in the meantime, as the Cloud's representative, do you have the authority to provisionally agree to the discussion of the guild? At least to show the Cloud's sincerity toward peace?"
All eyes were on Bee.
"...Fine," he gritted out. "The Cloud... agrees to the discussion."
The tension in the hall evaporated. Kitsuchi and Mei visibly relaxed. Hiruko offered a gratified smile. "Thank you for your wise decision, Bee."
The meeting lasted until midnight. While it didn't produce immediate results, everyone sensed that the Cloud was now in a defensive, passive position against the Leaf. The gap between the villages was no longer just about top-tier combatants; it was a systemic lag. As the Leaf galloped forward, the Cloud was trudging through the mud under a heavy burden.
The question was: Should we change our attitude toward the Leaf? Some already had an answer; others refused to face it. But they all knew the world was changing. Those who didn't choose would be left behind.
Notably, Tsunade's hemophobia had been cured after Hiruko helped her resolve her inner trauma. It wasn't that she suddenly stopped fearing blood, but that she found a reason to keep fighting even when she faced it.
In the original story, a teenaged Naruto had persuaded a despondent old woman with a few words. In reality, Tsunade—who had seen and done more than Naruto could imagine—wasn't so easily swayed by "hot-blooded" rhetoric. She had stayed because a part of her wanted to be convinced, to return to the only home the Senju had left.
She chose to stay, much to Hiruko's delight. Having a capable assistant like her made life much easier.
After the summit, Hiruko returned to his quarters. In the lounge, the lighting was soft. Hiruko leaned against the headboard, reading. Tsunade, having finished cleaning the dishes, sat at the edge of the bed. She was elegant, her black-stockinged legs pressed together, her fingers nervously tugging at her skirt.
Hiruko put down his book and lay back, resting his head on Tsunade's lap. Unlike the feeling he got from Samui, Tsunade's thighs were soft and supple, carrying a unique scent.
Tsunade brushed her hair back, plucking a single golden strand. She twined it between her fingers before slowly reaching into Hiruko's ear, twirling it gently. The faint scratching sound against the ear canal was all that filled the silence. Her focus was entirely on the man in her lap; the warmth of his cheek against her skin made her heart flutter with a mix of tension and shy affection.
"Is this... appropriate?" she whispered, her hand pausing.
Hiruko looked up at her and smiled. "What is it, Tsunade? Uncomfortable?"
Her face flushed as she shook her head. "No... no."
"Good. Because tonight, I want to try something special." Hiruko sat up.
The "PK" with Tsunade began.
The ropes bit deep into her slender wrists, swaying slightly with every impact like a silent plea. His offensive was like a thunderstorm, every touch carrying an irresistible force. Tsunade could feel the chakra radiating from his knuckles—hot, arrogant, seeking to crush her resistance. Her breath grew frantic, her silhouette swaying in the lamplight, her blonde hair matted against her neck in a suffocatingly beautiful curve.
When the final surge hit, her consciousness blurred, leaving only her jagged gasps echoing in the night.
"Ngh!!"
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