novelhk Chapter 135 Ceding Territory and Paying Indemnities: A Humiliating Loss of National Rights
Chapter 135 Ceding Territory and Paying Indemnities: A Humiliating Loss of National Rights
Chapter 135 Ceding Territory and Paying Indemnities: A Humiliating Loss of National Rights
Hiruzen Sarutobi experienced countless trials and tribulations throughout his life.
He had seen battlefields littered with corpses and seas of blood, faced vicious rogue ninjas, and after the Second Hokage's sacrifice, he took over the burden of Konoha from the ruins, nurturing this war-ravaged sapling into a towering tree.
He believed he had long since cultivated the composure to remain unmoved even if Mount Tai collapsed before him.
But at this moment, as he saw the terms and conditions on the scroll, his fingers holding the scroll still trembled slightly uncontrollably.
[I. Konoha shall pay a total of 5 billion ryo in war reparations for the losses caused to Kirigakure in this war. The reparations shall be paid in installments over a maximum of ten years, with an annual interest rate of ten percent.]
Five billion taels!
Hiruzen Sarutobi's temples throbbed.
A $-level mission only costs a few million taels, while Konoha's total annual fiscal revenue is only around two hundred million taels!
This also includes paying ninja salaries, maintaining the organization's operation, repairing infrastructure, purchasing weapons and equipment, and providing compensation to the families of the fallen—each of which is a huge expense.
Five billion ryo—without any subsidies from the daimyo, this sum equals Konoha's total fiscal revenue for over twenty years!
Plus interest.
This isn't compensation; it's squeezing every last drop of life out of Konoha!
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath and forced himself to continue reading.
[Secondly, because of the immense trauma Konoha inflicted on Kirigakure, Konoha needs to compensate Kirigakure for the large number of ninja killed in battle by sacrificing the bloodlines of ninjas with the Byakugan and Sharingan, in order to ensure Kirigakure's future development.]
"No, this is impossible!"
The moment he saw the second clause, Hiruzen Sarutobi blurted it out, his tone forceful.
"The Byakugan and Sharingan are the foundation of my Konoha bloodline clan, not commodities for trade, much less to be ceded as war reparations! Captain Karatachi, these conditions have exceeded our bottom line in negotiations!"
Although he was prepared to accept humiliation, he believed that such humiliation must not come at the cost of betraying his compatriots.
This is not only his bottom line, but also the foundation upon which Konoha was founded!
Minato Namikaze frowned but didn't say anything, only turning his gaze to Makoto Karatachi.
The young high-ranking official of Kirigakure was leisurely leaning back in his chair, toying with a pen he had pulled out from somewhere, seemingly having anticipated Hiruzen Sarutobi's fierce reaction.
"Third Generation, don't be in such a hurry. Let's negotiate. There always has to be a bargaining process."
"The Sharingan and Byakugan are both top-tier bloodline limits in the ninja world. We in Kirigakure have long admired them and would like to borrow some to conduct research and contribute to scientific endeavors. That's only natural, isn't it?"
"Besides, the Konoha clan is large and powerful. Sending a few clansmen over for exchange and learning is not a major event that will cause serious harm."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said in a deep voice, "This is not a matter of giving away a few clansmen. Bloodline Limits are the foundation of our Konoha ninja clan's heritage passed down through generations. To cede them as reparations would not only violate human ethics but also set an extremely dangerous precedent."
"If Kirigakure can use this as leverage today, will Kumogakure and Iwagakure follow suit tomorrow?"
"If this continues, the bloodline clans of the ninja world will never have peace!"
"Furthermore, even if I agreed today, the Uchiha and Hyuga clans would never agree!"
Gouju Cheng nodded, as if he had listened carefully to the other party's opinion.
Then he threw the pen on the table, leaned back, and crossed his arms.
"The Third Hokage makes a good point. Let's put this one aside for now and move on to the next one."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath and continued watching.
[III. To safeguard peace and stability and friendly exchanges between the two countries, the Land of Fire must voluntarily cede Wind Valley and its surrounding fifty-mile radius to the Land of Water and Kirigakure, as Kirigakure's legitimate military and trade base in the Land of Fire.]
Hiruzen Sarutobi's temples throbbed violently once again.
Wind Howling Valley!
Wind Valley is located on the eastern border of the Land of Fire, facing the Land of Waves across the sea. Its terrain is complex, with deep valleys. Strong winds blow through it year-round, producing a howling sound like a sob, hence its name.
When Konoha and Kirigakure went to war, there was a transit station in Kazemura Valley, but it was blown to ruins by Makoto Karatachi.
But the value of geographical location is eternal.
By ceding the Valley of the Wind and the surrounding fifty miles to the Hidden Mist, this move is undoubtedly a blatant disrespect to Konoha and the noble families of the Land of Fire!
"Captain Goji Berry".
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly placed the scroll on the table, his voice no longer gentle, but filled with the dignity and suppressed anger befitting a Hokage.
"The Valley of the Wind Howls is the territory of the Land of Fire. Although Konoha is a ninja village, it has no right to arbitrarily cede territory to a foreign country. This matter involves the Daimyo's residence in the Land of Fire, and it is not something I can decide alone."
Goji Makoto sighed, giving her an expression that said, "I knew you'd say that."
He lazily raised his hand and started counting on his fingers.
"Hokage, you said 5 billion in reparations was too much, you said you couldn't give me a bloodline limit, and now you say it's impossible to cede territory—"
"Then what are we talking about? How about this, you give me a straight answer: what exactly is Konoha prepared to use to pay for this war?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent.
He knew, of course, that Konoha would have to pay a price.
The defeated have no right to bargain.
But this list of terms and conditions is not just about paying a price, it's about cutting off your flesh and gouging out your heart!
"Excuse my bluntness, but this is not a peace treaty; it is a treaty of national subjugation."
Upon hearing this, Gouju Cheng not only did not get angry, but instead smiled.
His smile was genuine, as if he were simply discussing an academic issue with an old friend.
"Lord Hokage, you're being too polite."
"How can it be called a treaty of national subjugation? It should be called a 'Treaty of Peace, Development, Friendship and Mutual Assistance'."
"Think about it, the presence of Kirigakure troops in Kazekage Valley is actually beneficial to Konoha."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyebrows twitched slightly, clearly suppressing the urge to slam his fist on the table and stand up.
"benefit?"
"certainly."
Gouju Cheng's face was full of seriousness.
"First of all, with our elite Kirigakure troops stationed at the gate, any force attempting to invade the Land of Fire from the east will have to get past us first. Konoha has essentially gained a powerful border defense force for free, and it's even self-sufficient in terms of supplies."
"Secondly, there wasn't much to begin with in Wind Howling Valley, and I've already destroyed the only transit station."
"Reconstruction will require a lot of funds, materials, and labor. We can provide the funds from Kirigakure, and Konoha's merchants and craftsmen can take on the projects, boosting the local economy and creating jobs. Isn't that better than leaving it to fall into disrepair?"
"Finally, since our two garrisons are located next to each other, regular exchanges and sparring can help strengthen the friendship between young ninjas of both countries and cultivate successors for the future peace of the ninja world!"
"Killing three birds with one stone, why wouldn't the Hokage do it?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath.
He has lived for over sixty years and has seen shameless people, but he has never seen anyone as shameless as this.
To portray military occupation as poverty alleviation and education support, and to package strategic encirclement as good neighborliness and friendship—if this person doesn't enter politics, it would be a huge loss to the ninja and diplomatic communities!
But he knew that such verbal sparring was pointless.
Gouju Cheng was asking for an exorbitant price, waiting for him to come down and agree to a lower price.
This is the norm for negotiations.
The problem is that the asking price is so outrageously high that he doesn't even know how to negotiate.
Because no matter how much you repay, it's still like cutting off your own flesh.
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not answer, but continued reading.
[Konoha must publicly acknowledge full responsibility for this war and issue a formal apology statement to the ninja world, personally signed by the Third Hokage, promising never to initiate a war against Kirigakure again.]
[Konoha must release all Kirigakure ninja captured since the start of the war. Kirigakure will consider releasing some Konoha prisoners of war, with the specific list and exchange terms to be discussed separately.]
The war is over. To promote future development, the Land of Fire and the Land of Water should establish deeper cooperation, such as trade. To ensure the legitimate rights and interests of merchants from both countries, they should enjoy rights such as low tariffs and consular jurisdiction in each other's countries.
[Konoha is required to assist Kirigakure in establishing trade representative offices in the Land of Fire's capital and major cities, and to ensure the legality and security of their business activities.]
【——】
One by one, densely packed.
Every single one of them is digging up the roots of Konoha, draining its blood, and trampling its face.
After reading the last word, Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly placed the scroll back on the table.
He didn't speak immediately.
The negotiation room was so quiet that only the soft rustling of the sea breeze through the windows and the faint sound of distant waves could be heard.
Minato Namikaze, standing to the side, was already completely red-hot; that little sun was almost turning into a supernova!
"Sandaime!"
"I know, Minato, I know—"
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, slowly raised his head, and looked directly at Makoto Karatachi.
"Captain Goji Berry".
"I cannot accept a single clause of your treaty."
Gouju raised an eyebrow.
Not even one?
"Not even one."
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly shook his head, his tone as firm as a rock: "It's not that I'm unwilling, but that I can't."
"Even if Konoha were torn apart and sold off, we couldn't raise that amount of 5 billion ryo in reparations. Forcibly demanding reparations will only force Konoha to cut back on compensation and expenses, leaving countless ninjas who bled and sacrificed for Konoha and their families heartbroken. At that time, Konoha will be demoralized and its military will fall into disarray, and surrounding forces will surely take advantage of the situation."
"Bloodline inheritance? Absolutely impossible! The Uchiha and Hyuga clans are prestigious families that have survived since the Warring States period. Their bloodlines are not commodities, much less spoils of war. If they fight and bleed for Konoha today, and Konoha sells their bloodlines tomorrow, what face will Konoha have left?!"
"And then there's the matter of ceding Wind Howling Valley—"
"I can admit defeat, I can pay reparations, I can make huge concessions in economic and political terms, but I will never sign such a humiliating treaty that cedes our sovereignty!"
"...9"
After listening, Gouju Cheng neither immediately refuted nor became angry.
He simply stared silently at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was glaring angrily at him.
A moment later, Makoto Koji suddenly smiled.
"Lord Hokage, it seems you haven't grasped the situation yet."
"Konoha was the defeated party."
"You are not sitting here to bargain with Kirigakure, but to accept the ceasefire terms proposed by Kirigakure, which have been reviewed and approved by the Third Mizukage and the Elder Council."
"Of course, you can choose to refuse."
Gouju Cheng shrugged, his tone nonchalant, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.
"Then, you take Minato Namikaze back to Konoha and continue to organize the eastern defense, while I continue to lead the Mist Blade Squad and occasionally wander around your rear, checking out the supply lines, transit stations, and command posts."
"Oh, right, it seems you don't have enough troops to organize the Eastern Front. I almost forgot you still have to fight Onoki and B."
"Brothers, wow, it seems things have stabilized on Luo Sha's side. Oh well, it's alright. I'll talk to Luo Sha in a couple of days—"
"That's enough!"
Minato Namikaze's voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Makoto Karatachi's unfinished words.
This golden-haired man, known for his gentle and sunny demeanor, now had suppressed rage burning in his eyes, his hands clenched into fists, his knuckles white.
But Makoto only glanced at him before turning his gaze back to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Lord Hokage, look, even the most patient Minato is getting impatient."
"Excuse my bluntness, but no defeated nation can avoid paying a heavy price. Fifty billion taels is indeed an astronomical sum, but you can negotiate. Bloodline inheritance is also negotiable. For example, we could not require living members of the clan, but only blood samples or tissue sections from deceased individuals for research?"
"Even if you don't give it to us, it's fine. We've seized plenty of bloodline corpses on the battlefield, enough for our needs. But when we actually research something, you Konoha should just shut up."
As for Wind Howling Valley
Makoto Karatachi's previously playful tone suddenly changed: "The Land of Waves is already in our hands. Kazemura Valley is just across the sea from the Land of Waves. Whether you agree or not, the Hidden Mist's warships and ninjas will be stationed there!"
"I advise you to do me a favor and put it in writing, at least it will look better on the surface."
"otherwise--"
"Makoto Karatachi, you!" Minato Namikaze glared angrily at Makoto Karatachi. "Don't go too far!"
"Too much?"
Gouju Makoto sneered, "If I were really going too far, would you blondie still have a chance to negotiate with me here? I would have blown Konoha to smithereens by now! Don't push your luck!"
Minato Namikaze's face stiffened, while Hiruzen Sarutobi's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot, yet he couldn't utter a single word.
Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent for a long time before slowly speaking.
"Konoha can afford a maximum of 1.5 billion taels of silver in reparations, to be paid in ten years with no interest."
"1.5 billion?"
Koji Makoto chuckled: "Lord Hokage, are you trying to fob me off like a beggar?"
"1.8 billion, spread over ten years, that's the limit," Hiruzen Sarutobi said hoarsely. "Any more, and Konoha's economy will collapse!"
Gouju Cheng did not immediately refute, but tapped his fingers lightly on the table, as if he was pondering something.
"How about this, two billion, split over ten years, with an annual interest rate of five percent. That's the bottom line."
"If Konoha's finances improve in the future, the loan can be repaid in advance, and the remaining interest will be waived."
Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent for a long time.
Two billion, twenty years, annual interest rate of five percent.
This is still a heavy burden, but compared to the initial five billion, it is at least within an acceptable range.
"--Can."
He finally nodded.
Gouju Cheng smiled slightly and wrote it down in his notebook.
A preliminary consensus has been reached on the issue of compensation.
"By virtue of bloodline, we will concede and not ask for living members of our clan."
As Makoto Kujira spoke, his tone suddenly changed: "But Konoha must provide us with at least five blood samples of different bloodline limits."
Cellular tissue or intact eyeball specimens. This includes, but is not limited to, the Sharingan, Byakugan, and other bloodline limits of research value such as five sense manipulation.
"At the same time, Konoha shall not interfere with our acquisition of relevant research materials through other legal channels, such as the black market or private transactions."
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned deeply.
These conditions are extremely damaging to Konoha, especially for clans like the Hyuga and Uchiha who place great importance on bloodline inheritance.
The reason why Konoha has been able to maintain its position as the top ninja in the ninja world for fifty years is largely due to the role played by these bloodline ninjas. Putting aside everything else, just on the battlefield, the Byakugan, which is like a cheat code, makes Konoha's reconnaissance system rank first in the ninja world!
But as Makoto Karatachi said, given the extent of the battle between Kazama and Tani, Kirigakure already possessed those things; this was just another excuse.
"I grant your request."
Hiruzen Sarutobi finally lowered his head and agreed.
Gouju Cheng revealed a satisfied smile.
Next up is Wind Howling Valley.
"Lord Hokage, you just said that this matter involves the Daimyo's residence in the Land of Fire, and it is not something you can decide alone."
Makoto Koji leaned back in his chair, looked at the two men in front of him, and smiled, "Alright, let's not talk about cession, let's talk about leasing."
"Rent?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned deeply.
"Good, rent it."
Makoto Goji nods: "Wind Valley is still the territory of the Land of Fire, and nominally, sovereignty belongs to you. We, the Hidden Mist Village, are only temporarily leasing it. Once the lease expires, Wind Valley will be returned to you, how about that?"
"this--"
Minato Namikaze, standing to the side, frowned and asked, "Since it's a rental, what about the rent and the rental period?"
"Rent and lease term? The lease term is ninety-nine years, and the annual rent is a symbolic one tael. That's settled."
"What?!"
Minato Namikaze almost couldn't resist slamming his fist on the table and standing up.
What's the difference between this and ceding territory?
Ninety-nine years, three generations have passed! Still only one or two ounces a year? Who are you insulting?!
"Not satisfied?"
Gouju Cheng sneered, "I've already given you face. If you still want substance, that's a bit too greedy."
"But--"
"Minato, all set!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped Minato Namikaze, who was about to say something.
He slowly raised his head, his already cloudy eyes now appearing as if veiled by a layer of gray.
He looked at the young man in front of him.
This young man, who has been causing trouble for Konoha since the beginning of the war, destroying supply depots, killing his own son, single-handedly destroying the entire village, is now sitting at the negotiating table tearing at Konoha's flesh and blood.
He was very young, even a few years younger than Minato.
But this guy's ambition, this guy's greed, is like a young wolf king who has already tasted blood and knows that the prey is weak, and will never let go!
Hiruzen Sarutobi knew that he couldn't possibly escape unscathed from today's negotiations.
The defeated have no right to escape unscathed.
All he could do was preserve Konoha's last shred of dignity and prevent it from being completely lost—
future.
"A ninety-nine-year lease, with an annual rent of one tael."
Hiruzen Sarutobi repeated the condition, his voice hoarse yet unusually calm.
"Not bad." Makoto Kujira nodded, his tone frank: "Lord Hokage, this is already the biggest concession we've made, considering your high reputation."
"Cession becomes lease, invasion becomes rental, sovereignty still belongs to Konoha. I've given them more than enough face."
Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent for a long time.
He recalled the bustling streets of Konoha, the faces of the First and Second Hokage gazing into the distance from the Hokage Rock, and the young faces who sacrificed themselves for the village.
He thought of Shinnosuke, and he thought of Jiraiya.
Finally, the elderly Hokage closed his eyes.
"Can."
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