novelhk Chapter 136 Ye Cang, the Scorching Release user who came to my doorstep, naturally won't be pol
Chapter 136 Ye Cang, the Scorching Release user who came to my doorstep, naturally won't be pol
Chapter 136 Ye Cang, the Scorching Release user who came to my doorstep, naturally won't be polite to my brother Cheng.
After an hour or so of heated debate and haggling,
This contract, destined to be recorded in the annals of the ninja world, has finally taken initial shape.
Makoto Gojibana meticulously recorded the final revised terms one by one on a brand-new scroll, his handwriting neat and tidy. Hiruzen Sarutobi, standing to the side, felt his heart ache and his mind trembled as he watched.
It was as if each stroke was not ink, but a cleaver cutting into the ancient tree of Konoha!
"Lord Hokage, please review this. If there are no objections, the contract can be formally signed tomorrow."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took the scroll and reread it word by word.
The basic framework of the treaty has been finalized, but Hiruzen Sarutobi knows that the real test is yet to come.
After signing the contract tomorrow, he will need to return to the village with this humiliating agreement, face the questioning of the Konoha ninjas, the anger of the people, and the disappointment and incomprehension of the entire Land of Fire.
As the Hokage, he had to shoulder all of this.
"Captain Gouju, I generally agree to the terms of the treaty."
"Very good." Makoto Kujira nodded in satisfaction: "Regarding the contract details, I will entrust Jonin Ao and Jonin Terumi Mei to liaise with your side."
They are all professionals and will conduct consultations in accordance with the principles of fairness, impartiality, and transparency.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's lips twitched slightly.
""
The contract has already been signed like this, and you still call it fair, just, and transparent? What's so transparent about it?!
"I understand."
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly closed the scroll and handed it back to Makoto Karatachi.
"Well then, if there are no other matters, Jonin Minato and I will take our leave. I will be there on time for the formal signing tomorrow."
"Hail, Hokage." Makoto Karatachi rose and nodded politely. "I apologize for any offense I may have caused today. Once the contract is signed, Kirigakure is willing to join hands with Konoha to create a new era of peace in the ninja world."
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't speak, but gave Makoto Karatachi a deep look.
Without a doubt, this guy is far more dangerous than Yagura.
Yagura is a pure powerhouse, a sharp blade of Kirigakure, capable of direct confrontation and decisive battles.
But the honest mandarin orange—
He not only understands war, but also politics, people's hearts, and how to transform power into tangible benefits.
Add to that the bloodline limit of God's Hand!
Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly understood why Danzo was so determined to get rid of this person.
Once such a person fully matures, he will be a huge variable for the existing structure of Konoha and even the entire ninja world.
Unfortunately, by this time, Gouju Cheng had already grown strong enough.
It's too late.
The initial details of the meeting were immediately sent back to the village by Gouju Cheng.
The villagers were actually prepared for a protracted war. After all, they had no experience in negotiating reparations with Konoha, and probably no one in the entire ninja world had any experience in that.
Unexpectedly, Gouju Cheng handled the negotiations very quickly.
"As expected of A-Cheng."
The Third Mizukage smiled and handed the scroll to Yagura beside him: "To achieve such great results from just one negotiation shows that Konoha must be really desperate."
"According to intelligence, the attacks from Iwagakure have become increasingly fierce over the past two days, and several of Orochimaru's summoned snakes have died."
"Without Hiruzen Sarutobi, their pillar of strength, they simply cannot withstand the attack from Iwagakure."
"Ohnoki is really going all out."
The Third Mizukage looked sentimental. Among the three Kage of the ninja world, he was the most senior and the only one who served as a bodyguard at the First Five Kage Summit.
However, whether in terms of strength or life experience, he was almost always at the bottom.
-
The other three generations of Kage either fought against thousands on the battlefield, or were known as the strongest Kage, ruling over the entire village.
On the contrary, he became a puppet, harming both himself and others.
"Thank goodness you brothers are here—"
"What's wrong, Third Hokage?"
Yagura looked at the muttering Third Mizukage with some curiosity.
"No, it's nothing." The Third Mizukage smiled and shook his head, looking at the scroll in his hand: "The terms of the contract with Konoha this time are basically like this, but just signing it isn't enough. The key is how to implement it."
"We can start preparing for many of these regulations in advance!"
"yes!"
Yagura nodded solemnly.
The initial finalization of the treaty details served as a rough conclusion to the war that had lasted for more than half a year, but it was only the beginning.
Signing a contract is only the first step.
Gouju Cheng had gone to great lengths to sign such a generous treaty for them, and they naturally wanted to translate the terms on paper into tangible benefits.
For example, the garrison at Fengming Valley.
Every step here is a battlefield without gunfire!
"What are you looking at? Is there something on your man's face?"
Makoto Koji remained seated in the Japanese-style room, reviewing the completed contract terms.
Mei Terumi sat opposite him, occasionally looking up at Makoto Karatachi.
"I wonder when you'll stop being so glib!" Mei Terumi said irritably, her ears slightly red. "You really called over a dozen people from media and television stations over here."
"Yeah, this is definitely the front page news in the ninja world, I certainly won't miss it."
"Aren't you afraid that Hiruzen Sarutobi will resort to desperate measures? They've already signed these terms, and you still want to humiliate him?"
"What do you mean by 'such a clause'? I've already been very merciful, okay?" Makoto Kuraki raised his head, looking completely innocent. "If anyone else had done this, they would have been ripped off by Hiruzen Sarutobi."
"Look at this treaty! Fifty billion down to twenty billion, bloodline limit live specimens changed to specimens, cession changed to lease—I'm practically a philanthropist of the ninja world!"
Mei Terumi's lips twitched.
philanthropist?
-
Master Cheng is truly a kind-hearted philanthropist; he only asked for two billion taels!
However, she also knew what this treaty meant for Wuyin.
Two billion taels in reparations, even if paid in ten years, would be enough to greatly alleviate the extremely strained finances of Kirigakure caused by the war, to provide compensation for the dead, to reward those who had made meritorious contributions, and even to have the capacity to carry out some long-term projects.
As for the others.
Whether it's bloodline research, garrisoning troops in Wind Valley, or anything else, it's all for the future development of Mist Village.
It can be said that once this contract is signed, Kirigakure will have a dominant geopolitical advantage in its relationship with Konoha for decades to come!
"The Third Generation has replied; they are very satisfied with the treaty's contents, and the elders have no objections. Lord Yagura wants you to complete the signing as soon as possible, and then—um, be careful."
"My cousin still thinks about me quite a bit."
Gouju Cheng smiled, a warm feeling welling up in his heart.
Just as he was about to say something, Qing's low and urgent voice suddenly came from outside the door.
"Captain, something's up."
Gouju Cheng's eyes narrowed.
"Come in and speak."
Qing pushed open the door and entered, his expression solemn.
He glanced at Mei Terumi, and without any hesitation, reported directly to his superior: "Just now, the sentries we set up on the outskirts of Namino Town discovered a group of suspicious individuals of unknown identity."
"Has your identity been confirmed?" Gouju asked honestly.
"Confirmed." Ao took a deep breath. "They're from Sunagakure. The leader is called Yura, a Jonin from Sunagakure."
"Sunagakure?"
Makoto Goji's eyebrows were slightly raised.
At this critical juncture, why are the people of Sunagakure not fighting against Konoha at Kikyo Mountain, but instead coming to the Land of Waves?
It couldn't be that you advised him against making peace with Konoha, could it?
That's not right.
The relationship between Sunagakure and Kirigakure is not so good. In the early stages of the Third Shinobi World War, and even before the Fourth Shinobi World War broke out, the two ninja villages had already developed a lot of grudges.
They can't have come here now just to sabotage the peace talks, can they?
After all, both Konoha and Kirigakure can be considered enemies of Sunagakure.
If the two enemies were to cease hostilities, it would certainly not be a good thing for Sunagakure.
Where are they?
"We've been stopped on the outskirts," Qingbao reported. "The other side hasn't shown any hostility. The leader, Jonin Yura, proactively removed his ninja tool bag and requested formal contact with Kirigakure. He said he has important matters to discuss with you."
"ha?"
Were we not here to cause trouble?
Even Makoto Goji was a little confused now.
Yura Sunagakure.
He vaguely remembered the name.
The Sand Village Jonin later seemed to have some connection with Akatsuki—but now is not the time to recall the details from the original work.
The important question is, what exactly does Sunagakure want from us at this critical juncture?
"Let him in."
"Yes."
Qing accepted the order and left.
A moment later, Qing led three people in.
The leader was a man in his early twenties. He wore the standard dark brown vest of a Sand Village Jonin, was lean, wore a white headscarf, and his skin was slightly rough from years of exposure to wind and sand. He had a beard on his chin.
It's Yura!
Yura first bowed respectfully, then raised his head and looked directly at Makoto Karatachi, who was sitting in the main seat.
"Yura, a Jonin from Sunagakure, has come to pay his respects to Lord Makoto Karatachi from Kirigakure, on the orders of the Fourth Kazekage."
"The Fourth Kazekage?"
Gouju Cheng's eyes flickered slightly.
Fourth Kazekage: Rasa!
The man who rose to power by stepping on the Hidden Cloud Village during the Third Shinobi World War, and who could use Magnet Release: Gold Sand to extract large amounts of gold from the desert, was later assassinated by Orochimaru, and his body was even resurrected by Edo Tensei to work as a laborer.
However, Luo Sha is currently in power and is in the prime of his life.
"Did Luo Sha send you?"
"Yes," Yura replied respectfully. "Lord Kazekage specifically ordered me to come here in the hope of easing tensions with Kirigakure and resolving our long-standing feud."
"For this reason, Sunagakure is willing to offer its utmost sincerity."
"Oh?"
Gouju Cheng leaned back in his chair.
"Although Sunagakure and Kirigakure have not formally declared war, border skirmishes and small-scale conflicts have never stopped."
"I remember last year you hijacked one of our transport fleets and killed several squads of our ninjas, right? Now you're here trying to mend relations?"
"Well."
A thin layer of sweat appeared on Yura's forehead: "I have come here precisely to resolve these long-standing grudges."
"Lord Kazekage is well aware that there have indeed been unpleasant incidents between Sunagakure and Kirigakure in the past few years. But those were unavoidable actions during the war, and both sides suffered losses and had blood on their hands."
"The situation in the ninja world is changing rapidly. Although Konoha has suffered a setback for the time being, its foundation remains. Iwagakure and Kumogakure are also eyeing it covetously. At this time, if Sunagakure and Kirigakure continue to oppose each other, it will only allow other ninja villages to benefit."
"Lord Kazekage believes that instead of perpetuating meaningless hatred, we should join hands and work together to cope with future changes."
Makoto didn't speak. Yura paused for a moment, and seeing that Makoto didn't intend to interrupt, he continued.
"For this reason, Lord Kazekage is willing to offer two things as a token of Sunagakure's sincerity."
"Firstly, Sunagakure is willing to sign a ten-year non-aggression pact with Kirigakure. At the same time, Sunagakure is willing to open some border trade ports to Kirigakure, allowing Kirigakure merchants to conduct duty-free trade within the Land of Wind. Kirigakure can purchase the Land of Wind's specialty gold dust, spices, and precious medicinal herbs at preferential prices."
Gouju Cheng didn't even lift his eyelids.
"Sounds good. But with Rasa's placer gold-mining techniques, panning for gold in the desert is easier than digging sand. Would he really care about such a small profit from trade?"
Yura gave a wry smile: "The Kazekage's abilities are ultimately limited."
"The distribution of placer gold veins, the cost of refining, and the burden on chakra from frequent use—are far from as easy as the rumors suggest."
"Furthermore, Sunagakure is, after all, a village that needs to support tens of thousands of people. Relying solely on the Kazekage is not a long-term solution."
Gouju nodded, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
"And the second one?"
Yura was silent for a moment.
He took a deep breath, raised his head, and spoke in a low, clear voice.
"Secondly, to show our sincerity, Sunagakure is willing to hand over the Scorching Release ninja, Pakura, to Kirigakure for disposal."
"To quell the anger of the Hidden Mist and put an end to the conflicts of the past."
Upon hearing this, the entire room fell silent.
Gouju Cheng finally realized what was happening.
Good heavens, we made it in time!
Yekura!
A scorching ninja from Sunagakure, hailed as a hero of Sunagakure, a genius of the bloodline limit of Sunagakure's scorching ninja, he was defeated by Rasa in the battle for the Fourth Kazekage. In the end, he was tricked by Rasa into going to Kirigakure under the pretense of a diplomatic mission, where he was surrounded and killed by Kirigakure ninja.
Her body was later brought back to Sunagakure, but instead of a hero's funeral, she faced the machinations of her political enemies and the oblivion of the people.
So, it's right now.
The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Makoto Koji narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze falling on Yura.
"The Scorching Escape Technique: Ye Cang".
"yes!"
Yura lowered his eyes, adopting an extremely humble posture: "Jonin Yekura has achieved extremely outstanding results in several battles against Kirigakure."
Therefore, the Kazekage believed that handing her over to Kirigakure would best express Sunagakure's sincerity in reconciling with Kirigakure.
Gouju Cheng did not respond immediately.
Yekura's name may not be widely known in the ninja world, but in Kirigakure, especially among the veteran ninjas who experienced those bloody battles, she was an enemy etched into their bones.
Scorching Escape: Over-Steam Kill!
Those struck by that attack will have all the moisture in their bodies evaporated instantly, turning into a charred, cracked, and paper-thin dried corpse.
In several conflicts between Kirigakure and Sunagakure on the border, Pakura alone killed dozens of Kirigakure ninja.
Her hands were stained with Wuyin's blood.
But now, Sunagakure says: We'll give her to you to quell your anger.
Suddenly, Gouju Cheng smiled.
"Let's set aside the feud between Kirigakure and Pakura for now. Pakura was, after all, a hero who made great contributions to Sunagakure, and the Fourth Kazekage just sold her off like that. Jonin Yura, your Kazekage really has some nerve."
"this----"
Yura fell silent for a moment, then spoke in a low voice: "Lord Makoto Karatachi, I am only here on the orders of Lord Kazekage to deliver a message, and I dare not interfere with the village's decisions. But since Lord Kazekage has made his decision, I will naturally convey it truthfully."
"There is indeed blood debt and deep-seated grudge between Sunagakure and Kirigakure. Jonin Pakura—her hands are indeed stained with the blood of Kirigakure ninja."
"That is why the Kazekage believes that handing her over to Kirigakure for disposal is the greatest show of sincerity that Sunagakure can offer."
Makoto looked at Yura, as if he was amused.
He was all too familiar with that tone.
Politics is always a cruel game.
Yekura lost to Rasa and failed to become the Fourth Kazekage. Now, she is even being stripped of her right to live as a remnant of the current dynasty.
Instead of killing them outright, that would be too ugly and leave too much room for gossip.
It's a gift.
They used her as a bargaining chip, as a sacrifice, to give to their former enemy.
In this way, Yekura's death was not a purge by Rasa, but a necessary sacrifice for the peace of the village.
Clean and tidy, pure and innocent.
Wow, that's impressive.
"interesting."
"So, what are your conditions? It's not an unconditional gift, right?"
"yes!"
Yura paused slightly, then replied, "The Kazekage wishes to ease tensions with Kirigakure and turn hostility into friendship. If a non-aggression pact can be reached, it will be beneficial to both Sunagakure and Kirigakure."
"That's all?"
Gouju Cheng raised an eyebrow.
Yura paused for a moment, then nodded.
That's all!
Makoto Karatachi looked at the Sand Village Jonin in front of him, a half-smile playing on his lips.
He picked up the teacup on the table, took a slow and deliberate sip, and spoke in a calm and unhurried manner.
"Yura Jounin."
"I admire the vision that Sunagakure hopes to ease tensions with Kirigakure and turn hostility into friendship."
"It's true. The ninja world has been fighting for so many years, you fight me and I fight you, when will this cycle of revenge end? We, the Hidden Mist Village, love peace the most."
Yura nodded quickly.
"Yes, yes, Your Excellency Kojiro is truly wise and understanding—"
"but."
Makoto Karatachi raised his hand and gently interrupted him: "This matter concerns the two great ninja villages of Sunagakure and Kirigakure. A verbal agreement is not enough."
"In that case, I need formal diplomatic documents, the kind with the Fengying seal, and the contents must be clearly stated."
"Yes, write that Sunagakure voluntarily transfers the Scorching Release ninja Pakura to Kirigakure as a sign of goodwill. After the transfer, Kirigakure will have full authority to decide Pakura's fate, and Sunagakure will not interfere or raise any objections or demands on Kirigakure on this basis."
"Then you can have Ye Cang bring it back, and I'll take the documents and the person down with me, how about that?"
"this----"
"Is there a problem?"
Makoto Koji raised an eyebrow: "You were the ones who wanted to use Yekura as my fire extinguisher, so why are you disagreeing now?"
"It's not that I disagree—" Yura gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice, "I will report the truth to Lord Kazekage, and then Lord Kazekage will decide everything!"
"Okay, that's settled then. I'll wait for your good news."
Yura bowed deeply, then turned and quickly left.
The room fell silent again.
Mei Terumi's gaze remained fixed on the doorway, her brows furrowed and her red lips pressed tightly together.
"Are you planning to take Yekura in?"
She turned her head to look at Gouju Cheng, her tone carrying a hint of complexity.
Gouju Cheng glanced at her, picked up the slightly cooled tea, and slowly took a sip.
"What's wrong, are you jealous?"
"You know that's not what I meant." Mei Terumi glared at him. "I just—"
"I'm worried that if you bring that Sand Village hero who killed dozens of our comrades into Kirigakure, it will put you in a difficult position."
Rasa was clearly trying to send Yekura to her death, but Makoto Kari insisted on a handwritten document and the Kazekage's stamp. Wasn't he obviously trying to use this to recruit Yekura?
Let that so-called Ye Cang see clearly Luo Sha's true colors of being a cunning dog who is discarded after the rabbit is caught, and then take advantage of the situation to capture him.
Mei Terumi saw through this operation at a glance.
But she wasn't jealous; she was worried.
Makoto Karatachi is currently riding high, with countless eyes on him. Konoha hates him to the core, Danzo sees him as a thorn in his side, and even Kirigakure is not a monolithic entity. Although Yagura's position as the Fourth Hokage is a foregone conclusion, he is not yet the Fourth Hokage.
Besides, even if Yagura becomes the fourth generation, he is still Yagura, not Makoto Karatachi.
If we bring back a Sand Village hero who has killed countless Kirigakure ninjas to the village at this time, what will the families of the fallen think? What will the veterans who fought alongside Pakura on the battlefield think?
"You're worried about that?"
Gouju Cheng put down his teacup, his tone relaxed, but his eyes became more serious.
"Ming, I have a question for you."
"you say."
Why do you think Rasa gave Yekura to us?
Mei Terumi pondered for a moment: "Political purge. Yekura is a rival for the Fourth Kazekage position, and her prestige and achievements are too great; Rasa can't control her. Rather than letting her become a threat in the country, it's better to use us to eliminate her and also get a peace treaty in return."
"Yes, but not entirely."
"
Gouju Cheng stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the shimmering sea outside.
"What Rasa wants is not just to get rid of Yotsuya, but also to squeeze every last drop of value out of her and use her life to achieve reconciliation with Kirigakure."
"But what gives him the right?"
Makoto Kuraki turned around and looked at Mei Terumi.
"If I follow Rasa's wishes and execute Yekura as a spoil of war, what will I gain?"
"A corpse, or a moment of venting anger?"
"Then, the name Yekura will become a tragic symbol of Sunagakure, and Rasa can use it to unite the people's hearts and minds, and in the end, he will completely dump all of this on the heads of Kirigakure."
"But what if I do it the other way around?"
"Yakura is a user of Scorching Release, a bloodline limit ninja, and a powerful individual capable of taking on a hundred enemies on the battlefield. Most importantly, she was the one who lost to Rasa in the competition for the Fourth Hokage."
"In Sunagakure, she possessed a certain degree of political capital."
Mei Terumi's pupils suddenly contracted.
"Makoto, you mean—"
If things really develop according to Makoto Karatachi's suggestion, they might even be able to intervene in the power struggles within Sunagakure.
Regardless of how much power they seize, they will certainly stir up trouble and cause some problems for Sunagakure. "Hehe."
"9
Makoto Koji grinned: "Actually, the reason I said all this is simply to cover up the fact that I'm a back fetishist, and Yoko has a beautiful back—"
Holy crap, don't slap me in the face!