Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent for a few seconds.
He looked at the giant silver-white wolf before him, at its calm and confident golden eyes, and suddenly realized—
This was not an ordinary summoning beast negotiating with him.
This was the leader of one faction speaking with the leader of another.
"You established a Ninja Village?"
His voice carried a hint of complexity.
"Right here in this forest?"
Yue Xiaming nodded.
"Yufu Forest, Wolf Ninja Village, over a hundred villagers, and more than twenty Wandering Ninja."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's brow twitched slightly.
"You want Konoha Village to recognize your Village?"
Yue Xiaming shook his head.
"Not recognition."
His gaze became sharp.
"It is to establish diplomatic relations."
"Your Village remains your Village, and my Village remains my Village. We are not subordinate, not dependent; we are simply—in a trading relationship."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was silent.
This condition was much smarter than he had anticipated.
It was not begging for recognition, but demanding an equal dialogue.
This wolf... is it really just a wolf?
"Continue," he said slowly.
"Second—" Yue Xiaming extended his second claw, "Resources for people."
"Food, ironware, medicine, Ninja tools, even orphans, in exchange for your Konoha Ninja."
"How shall we trade?"
"It depends on Konoha Village's sincerity. I won't cheat you," Yue Xiaming laughed.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at him without speaking.
Yue Xiaming continued, "Third—"
He paused.
"I want a batch of Wandering Ninja."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's brow furrowed.
"What do you mean?"
"My Village needs population," Yue Xiaming said candidly. "Konoha Village is the head of the Five Great Ninja Villages; I believe catching some Wandering Ninja won't be a problem."
"Don't be in a hurry to refuse. If you can't do it, you can leave it to Danzo Shimura to handle. After all... that is how you distribute work, isn't it?"
"This—"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was silent for a long time.
He took a puff from his pipe and slowly exhaled smoke.
"You know quite a bit about us."
Yue Xiaming smiled.
"I manage."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at him.
Looking at the giant silver-white wolf, looking at those golden eyes that seemed to see through everything.
After a long while, he spoke slowly:
"I can consider your conditions."
"But there is one prerequisite—"
He paused, his gaze becoming sharp.
"I want to see your Village with my own eyes."
Yue Xiaming's mouth curled slightly, and he shook his head.
"No rush."
"Once you bring the items, won't you be able to see it?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's brow furrowed slightly.
This wolf... refused very decisively.
Yue Xiaming ignored his expression and continued:
"Oh, right—"
He extended his claw and made a gesture.
"At least one hundred Wandering Ninja."
"Not a single one less."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's brow furrowed even deeper.
"Are you so certain that I will agree?"
Yue Xiaming tilted his head, a hint of playfulness flashing in his golden eyes.
"Twenty Konoha Ninja in exchange for one hundred Wandering Ninja and some supplies—"
"Is this a bad deal?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not answer.
Because it was indeed not a bad deal.
No matter how many Wandering Ninja there are, they cannot compare to Kakashi, Kurenai Yuhi, the young lady of the Hyuga Clan, and others.
Moreover, there were those dozen or so Chunin.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was silent for a long time, and finally nodded slowly.
"Fine."
"I hope Kakashi and the others are unharmed, otherwise you cannot bear my fury."
Yue Xiaming's mouth curled up.
"Rest assured, as long as the items arrive, those Ninjas will return to Konoha Village safe and sound."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said nothing more.
He took one last look at Yue Xiaming and turned to leave.
His figure quickly disappeared into the depths of the forest.
Yue Xiaming stood where he was, watching the direction he had left, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his golden eyes.
"Tsk—"
He licked his lips.
"In a little while, the Wolf Ninja Village mission will be completed."
One hundred Wandering Ninja; Konoha Village agreed quite readily.
Although it will take some time, it is worth it.
"And..."
He paused, his mouth slowly curling into a meaningful arc.
"If nothing unexpected happens, by the time of the trade, the faith of Kakashi and the others should be mostly converted."
The "Faith Infiltration" of the wolf god statue works every single day.
It might not be noticeable in a day or two, but the things Konoha Village is preparing certainly won't be ready that quickly.
It is enough to change the faith of those Konoha Ninja.
When Hiruzen Sarutobi comes to collect the people, what he takes back will be a group of Ninjas who are physically intact but have had the seed of the "Wolf" planted in their hearts.
Yue Xiaming narrowed his eyes.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi, I will return the people to you safe and sound—"
He muttered, his voice carrying a hint of playfulness.
"But as for their faith..."
"It won't be that bullshit Will of Fire of yours anymore."
"But rather—"
He paused, a deep light flashing in his golden pupils.
"My wolf followers."
As soon as he finished speaking.
He turned around and looked at the Root Ninja lying scattered on the ground.
Twelve people, some still groaning, some already unconscious.
Yue Xiaming raised his front paw.
Zzz zzz zzz—
Blue lightning surged from his claw tips, transforming into twelve slender lightning chains in the air.
The chains slithered like living creatures, precisely wrapping around each Root Ninja's wrists, ankles, and waists, binding them tightly.
Those who were still groaning, upon being touched by the lightning, convulsed all over and became completely docile.
Yue Xiaming retracted his claw, the other ends of the twelve chains connected to his body.
He turned and walked toward Wolf Valley.
Behind him, the twelve Root Ninja, dragged by the lightning chains, followed like prisoners.
Just then—
[Ding—mission Accomplished: Capture Root Ninja]
[Obtained mission Reward: 2000 EXP, 2000 Points, Beginner Physique Enhancement Chance * 5]
—
Konoha Village, Hokage Office Building.
Hiruzen Sarutobi pushed open the door, his expression terrifyingly gloomy.
Inside the office, Danzo Shimura was sitting in the guest seat, holding a teacup, looking leisurely. Hearing the door open, he looked up, a faint smile still playing at the corners of his mouth.
"Hiruzen, you're back."
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not answer.
He walked up to Danzo Shimura and looked down at him.
That gaze was as cold as ice.
Danzo Shimura's smile gradually stiffened.
"Hiruzen, you—"
"Bang!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed his palm onto the table, giving Danzo Shimura a huge fright.
Even the teacup in his hand fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.
Tea splashed all over Danzo Shimura, but he couldn't care about that, glaring at Hiruzen Sarutobi with an angry face.
"Hiruzen, what are you doing?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was low and cold, as if squeezed out from between his teeth:
"Danzo Shimura, did I not say—not to act rashly?"
Danzo Shimura's single eye narrowed slightly.
"I did that for Konoha Village—"
"For Konoha Village?" Hiruzen Sarutobi interrupted him, "Or for your Root Ninja?"
"Twelve elites, not one left, all captured!"
"Is this the result of your 'for Konoha Village'?"
Danzo Shimura's expression changed.
"All captured? Impossible! They brought barrier and sealing techniques—"
"Barrier? Sealing techniques?" Hiruzen Sarutobi sneered, "That wolf possesses the strength of a Kage. Even I only fought it to a draw; your barrier didn't even touch a single hair on it!"
Danzo Shimura was silent.
A flash of gloominess crossed his single eye, but he quickly returned to calm.
"...Then what do you intend to do?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart.
He turned around, walked to the window, and stood with his back to Danzo Shimura.
"I have already made a deal with that wolf."
"In exchange for one hundred Wandering Ninja and a batch of supplies, to get all the captives back."
Danzo Shimura's brow furrowed.
"One hundred Wandering Ninja? Are you crazy? That's one hundred—"
"That's one hundred pieces of trash in exchange for Kakashi, Kurenai Yuhi, the young lady of the Hyuga Clan, as well as so many Chunin, and your Root Ninja members." Hiruzen Sarutobi interrupted him, "Is this a bad deal?"
Danzo Shimura was silent.
It was indeed not a bad deal.
"One hundred Wandering Ninja—"
Hiruzen Sarutobi turned around, his gaze staring at Danzo Shimura like a blade.
"Leave it to you to handle."
Danzo Shimura was stunned.
"Me?"
"Yes, you."
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly approached, looking down at Danzo Shimura sitting in the chair.
Danzo Shimura's single eye narrowed slightly.
"Aren't you afraid that I—"
"Afraid of what? Afraid you'll send Root Ninja to their deaths again?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice suddenly turned cold.
"Danzo Shimura, I am warning you—"
He spoke word by word, each word striking Danzo Shimura's heart like a hammer.
"Before Kakashi and the others are returned, if you dare to act rashly again—"
"I don't care who you are, or what your reasons are."
"I will personally lock you up in the Konoha Village prison."
Danzo Shimura's pupils contracted violently.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but couldn't say anything.
He took one look at Hiruzen Sarutobi and turned to walk toward the door.
When he reached the door, he stopped.
"Hiruzen—"
His voice was hoarse and low.
"You will regret this."
The door slammed shut.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood by the window, looking at the darkening sky outside, and took a deep puff of his pipe.
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