"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"
Senju Tobirama snapped back almost on reflex. There was no way he would agree to Uchiha Makoto's proposal. Thick-skinned and black-hearted as he was, Tobirama knew exactly what benefits Konoha would reap if the plan went through, almost gathering every clan in the Land of Fire without shedding a drop of blood.
Uchiha Makoto only smiled and held his tongue.
Of course he knew Tobirama could never accept a plan that touched Konoha's core interests. But negotiations are about asking for the sky and settling on the ground. He was laying the groundwork for demands to come.
Such tactics are common at the table.
The three fell into silence. Whoever spoke first would be on the back foot.
In the end, circumstances forced Tobirama to bend.
"Fine. Konoha can jointly establish the mission distribution platform with Akatsuki Village. Afterward, missions will be divided between Konoha and Akatsuki according to an agreed ratio."
Truth be told, Tobirama had made a huge concession.
Before coming to the Land of Fire, he hadn't even known there was such a two-bit village here. In fact, Akatsuki Village was exactly that so far, not even able to muster a handful of jōnin.
Makoto was abusing his authority. If he hadn't prepared the daimyo in advance, there would be no chance of elevating Akatsuki to Konoha's level or calling it a partner. At best it would lick the scraps off Konoha's plate.
Makoto nodded, accepting Tobirama's framework. For Akatsuki's current situation, this delivered both face and substance.
"So how should our two villages split the missions."
"Best to make it clear now."
"Provisional seventy-thirty. Konoha takes seventy percent, Akatsuki takes thirty."
Tobirama paused, then named the ratio.
"No."
"Fifty-fifty."
Makoto pressed his advantage. He split profits fifty-fifty with the Land of Fire's daimyo in business, and he wanted the same with Konoha.
"Impossible."
"That is already the ceiling."
It took all Tobirama's self-control to keep his temper in check.
He would never accept an even split. If not for the daimyo's face, Akatsuki wouldn't even qualify to sit at the table.
"Sixty-forty."
"Or we walk away. Think carefully about Konoha's present situation. I can state the daimyo's position. You can leave right now if you like. The daimyo has already decided to support Akatsuki. Our village alone can handle this."
Makoto said it straight.
It was a killing move spoken for Tobirama's ears.
What Konoha could do didn't mean Akatsuki could. Makoto wasn't the God of Shinobi. Desperate clans wouldn't dare strike nobles, but they would dare attack Akatsuki Village.
And even in a fifty-fifty split, Akatsuki lacked the manpower to fulfill that many missions. Thirty percent was already a mountain, since the pool covered the entire Land of Fire and even neighboring countries. Akatsuki simply didn't have the people.
"What's wrong."
"Cat got your tongue."
Makoto feigned nonchalance and pushed to the limit with classic hardball.
If Tobirama really stormed off
Heh.
Just teasing. Seventy-thirty it is.
"No."
Tobirama almost ground the words out. At seventy-thirty Konoha would already be bleeding. More importantly, he could not keep retreating before Makoto.
Stubborn, Makoto thought with a twinge of regret. It was too hard to swindle any more out of Tobirama, so he changed tack.
"In that case, I'll step back as well.
"Given Akatsuki's small size, we can temporarily implement a seventy-thirty split. But that is not permanent. If Akatsuki grows, the ratio must be renegotiated.
"As the price of my concession, if Akatsuki is attacked in the future, Konoha must dispatch troops unconditionally. This will be written into the agreement and witnessed by the Daimyo of the Land of Fire."
Makoto yielded in turn.
Akatsuki was still too weak. Turning money into real fighting power would take time. The innocent who carries jade invites trouble. Now that Akatsuki had become a fat cat, it needed a strong patron to watch its back.
"Hmph. At least you know your place."
Tobirama snorted. He hadn't expected Makoto to change his face so quickly.
He agreed nonetheless. He had full confidence in Konoha's might. With his big brother around, sheltering an unknown small village was nothing. What irked him was that Akatsuki would stand as Konoha's equal in name.
Thus the two sides reached accord.
With the core issue settled, the rest became easier.
On behalf of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, Makoto granted political recognition to Konoha and would issue a statement. In turn, Konoha and Akatsuki would recognize each other's legal status in the Land of Fire and, on the principle of equality and mutual benefit, jointly establish the mission platform.
Within the Land of Fire they would implement a one-country, two-villages system. Konoha and Akatsuki would jointly safeguard the daimyo and uphold his rule.
All of this was almost unchanged from the original plan, only adding Akatsuki Village. Tobirama had prepared thoroughly. Makoto read the proposal he brought, nodded, and raised no objections.
"Senju Tobirama, how much financial aid does Konoha require."
With politics done, they turned to money.
Building a village from nothing is painfully expensive. Makoto knew that well. Without support from the daimyo, Konoha's days would be extremely hard.
"As for financial aid, I can speak for the daimyo in full," Makoto added.
Damn it. Has this naturally evil Uchiha brat bewitched the daimyo. How can he decide everything. When the negotiation ends and we see the daimyo, I must check his condition.
So thinking, Tobirama watched Makoto once again use the authority the daimyo had granted him to secure more benefits for Akatsuki.
"Senju Tobirama, if you agree to work for me, I can take a far more lenient stance on the economic aid Konoha is asking for."
Makoto fixed his eyes on Tobirama and spoke slowly.
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Naruto: I Devoured Ōtsutsuki Isshiki at the Start
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