Hiashi Hyuga's face darkened as he listened to the Fourth Raikage's words.
"We will naturally investigate this matter thoroughly."
What the other party said could indeed be verified with relative ease—so it must be verified.
If there truly was a traitor among them, then the Hyuga clan was in serious danger.
It would be a clear sign that Konoha's upper echelon was displeased with the Hyuga clan.
In the ninja world, such betrayals were all too common. These sorts of underhanded methods were typically reserved for traitorous ninjas or those guilty of grave crimes. But Hiashi believed firmly—his Hyuga clan had never wronged Konoha in any way.
Meanwhile, Fugaku had already begun to believe the Fourth Raikage's claims. His expression was grim.
To think the village leadership had actually made a move against the Uchiha clan—worse yet, using outsiders to do their dirty work.
Ryosuke had once captured the son of the Third Hokage—Sarutobi Asuma—this had to be retaliation.
Otherwise, why specifically target Ryosuke for assassination?
Luckily, they had Ryosuke on their side.
If not, the Uchiha clan might have suffered irreparable losses.
Even while fighting off an external enemy, the village leaders had planned such a despicable scheme.
Now Fugaku finally understood why the higher-ups had refused to send military support—
They had hoped the two clans would exhaust themselves and fall to the enemy.
"Despicable Konoha elders," Fugaku cursed silently.
Ryosuke, on the other hand, wasn't particularly surprised.
Although this incident didn't exist in the original plotline, his presence had already altered the world's trajectory.
He felt it entirely plausible that this was orchestrated by Konoha's leadership. If not the Third Hokage, then definitely that shadowy figure—Danzo Shimura.
They had always regarded the Uchiha clan as a threat that needed to be eliminated.
Maybe they even believed that peace in Konoha could only come once the Uchiha were gone.
They might have even thought that losing to the Hidden Cloud was less important than wiping out the Uchiha.
It was becoming more and more evident—
A clash between the Uchiha and the village leadership was inevitable.
The oppression had reached its limits.
Ryosuke spoke sternly.
"We'll do as the Hyuga Clan Head suggested. We'll confront Mabui and verify her claims later."
"But this information isn't worth much on its own. Are you trying to provoke a civil war between us and Konoha's leadership?"
"Let's talk about what really matters—your Hidden Cloud's compensation."
Even though he was leaning toward believing the claims, he couldn't act rashly and march into the village now.
There was no concrete proof—just a single letter.
Acting on that alone would bring disaster.
Many ninja in the village were blindly loyal. If Ryosuke killed the Third Hokage or Danzo, it would provoke backlash.
Sure, he could eliminate those opponents with force, but it would be chaotic, and Konoha would know no peace afterward.
That wasn't the kind of Konoha Ryosuke wanted.
The Fourth Raikage hadn't expected Ryosuke to interpret it that way, even though everything he said was true.
It did sound like a ploy to drive a wedge between them and Konoha leadership.
But if they didn't believe it, there was nothing more he could do.
At this point, he could only prepare to bleed wealth.
"Tell us—what will it take for you to release our Hidden Cloud shinobi?"
Ryosuke answered bluntly:
"Hyuga Hiashi wants to execute all of you. I can't blame him—after all, we're enemies."
"But I'm not eager to cause a massacre."
"You're all our captives now. Pay a ransom, and we'll let you go. We're not looking to make your village our mortal enemy."
Hearing that, the Fourth Raikage felt a bit of relief.
As long as they were spared, no price was too high.
If they refused, they'd be sold off to the black market instead—a fate they couldn't accept. So, paying up was the better option.
Seeing the Raikage had no objections, Ryosuke continued:
"Ten million ryo for a Chūnin. Thirty million ryo for a Jōnin."
"As for you, Fourth Raikage—and your two Tailed Beast Jinchūriki—I'm grouping you under the Jōnin category. Consider that a sign of respect. So, thirty million ryo each."
He paused, then added:
"Also, your Hidden Cloud owes the Hyuga clan compensation.
Two hundred million ryo will do."
The Fourth Raikage's face grew darker with every word.
To lump him—the mighty Raikage—and two Jinchūriki under the same price as a regular Jōnin?
It was insulting.
Then again…
He recalled how easily Ryosuke had defeated him earlier.
Maybe he was no better than a Jōnin in comparison.
Even if their strength was being looked down on, they had to accept it.
But that ransom amount—
A single Chūnin cost ten million.
A single Jōnin cost thirty million.
He'd brought around 400 shinobi on this mission.
By conservative estimates, that would cost six billion ryo in total.
Plus another two hundred million for the Hyuga clan's compensation.
6.2 billion ryo.
That was ten years' worth of Hidden Cloud's entire budget.
Even if the whole village stopped eating and drinking, it would take them a decade to pay it off.
This was daylight robbery.
Fuming, he gritted his teeth and said:
"6.2 billion ryo is outrageous. Hidden Cloud doesn't have that kind of money."
"I'll give you a final offer—1.2 billion ryo, paid over six years."
"That includes compensation for the Hyuga clan. We honestly can't offer more than that."
Hiashi Hyuga looked genuinely surprised.
1.2 billion ryo was an enormous sum.
Even if the Hyuga clan only received 30%, that would be about 400 million ryo.
That kind of money could fund the clan's development for decades, even while maintaining excellent living standards for all members.
The offer was tempting. But it wasn't what Ryosuke had asked for.
Hiashi held back his excitement and scoffed.
"Trying to buy us off with just 1.2 billion ryo? Do we look like we're hurting for cash?"
"Ryosuke, just kill them already."
The Fourth Raikage clenched his fists in rage.
"Just" 1.2 billion ryo?
That kind of money could feed every shinobi in Hidden Cloud for two years.
It was like asking the entire village to work for the Hyuga and Uchiha clans for free—
And still, it wasn't enough?
But no matter how frustrated he felt, he dared not retaliate.
Judging from their tone, the Hyuga clan truly hated Hidden Cloud.
They might really slaughter every last one of them.
Yes, Hidden Cloud had started the conflict—but this level of bloodlust was frightening.
What shocked him even more was the realization that this young man—Uchiha Ryosuke—was the one mentioned in the intelligence they'd received.
The one the Konoha leadership had marked for death.
The one who, surprisingly, was also willing to negotiate a peaceful resolution.
He finally understood—
Only the Uchiha and Hyuga had come to face them.
It was all part of a false narrative fed by Konoha's elders.
They had wanted him to believe that Konoha was weak, that the Uchiha were a threat, and that war would be easy.
But it was a trap.
The truth was, Konoha's leadership had misled him.
And now, because of them, he had launched a war he didn't even want.
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