Chapter 130: The Ambitious Fourth Hokage
Looking at that murderous young face, Akimichi Torikaze momentarily didn't know what to say. Inuzuka Gaku, with a large dog crouched at his feet, spoke up. "Hyuga Clan Head, isn't this... somewhat exaggerated? The Mist ninja aren't weak. Such threatening words probably can't make them submit."
His words were tactful, but his meaning was clear—he felt Ritsu was underestimating the Mist ninja too much. No matter what, they were one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages with many experts among them. How could just two people teach the Mist ninja a lesson?
However, his words drew no agreement.
Minato spoke. "Gaku-senpai, if the Hyuga Clan Head and I joined forces, forget causing Hidden Mist Village massive damage—we could absolutely retreat unscathed without any problems."
Akimichi Torikaze also sighed leisurely. "Once, the First Hokage single-handedly dominated the shinobi world. Though the Hyuga Clan Head's Wood Human Technique doesn't yet match the First Hokage's, merely entering and exiting Hidden Mist Village shouldn't present any obstacles!"
Hearing them speak thus, Inuzuka Gaku immediately realized his perspective was somewhat narrow. He could also sense that Minato strongly agreed with the Hyuga Clan Head's suggestion.
He didn't immediately change his tune. After brief consideration, he said, "If the Hyuga Clan Head and Hokage-sama have sufficient confidence to accomplish this, we could use it to threaten the Mist ninja. However, the Mist ninja may not necessarily believe we can do it. If we insist on demanding reparations, I'm uncertain whether it will ultimately succeed. But this would inevitably drag negotiations out."
"And now the Cloud ninja are restless. Yesterday, a small-scale conflict reportedly erupted. If we can't sign a treaty with the Mist ninja before full-scale war breaks out with the Cloud ninja, once fighting starts, the Mist ninja will likely immediately renege. We might end up fighting on two fronts again."
"Therefore, my suggestion is we can demand reparations, but regarding the amount, we can negotiate with the Mist ninja to find an upper limit they can accept. We should quickly resolve the Mist ninja trouble and concentrate forces to deal with the Cloud ninja."
Inuzuka Gaku made slight modifications but still firmly expressed his view.
He also realized his perspective might be somewhat insufficient compared to everyone present. But having accepted the Advisor Elder appointment, he had to fulfill his duties conscientiously. Whatever views and opinions he had should be voiced. He absolutely couldn't stay silent like a mute gourd out of fear of embarrassment from shallow remarks.
Everyone could hear that Inuzuka Gaku's words came entirely from public spirit, conclusions reached from purely considering the village's perspective.
Nara Shikaku also spoke up. "Elder Inuzuka is correct. Though the Cloud ninja lost their Third Raikage to the Stone ninja, their overall strength remains intact. They harbor evil intentions. If they sense Konoha's weakness, they'll bite down without hesitation like vicious wolves!"
"Therefore, I also suggest we sign the treaty with the Mist ninja as quickly as possible."
After hearing Inuzuka Gaku and Nara Shikaku's successive suggestions, Minato's expression remained unchanged. His gaze shifted and fell upon Akimichi Torikaze.
Sensing the Hokage's inquiring look, Akimichi Torikaze, this elder, lowered his eyes in thought for a moment before slowly speaking. "I actually think the Hyuga Clan Head is correct."
"The Mist ninja suffered a major defeat this time and have no possibility of resuming hostilities short-term. We can leisurely control the situation and demand reparations. As for the Cloud ninja—those barbarians excel at bullying the weak and fearing the strong. As long as we make them understand Konoha hasn't weakened to the point where they can freely bully us, this war might not materialize."
As soon as he finished speaking—
Minato's lips curved slightly upward before immediately smoothing. He turned to look at Hiruko and asked, "Hiruko-senpai, what's your view?"
Hiruko sneered coldly and immediately answered. "Originally, the Mist ninja actively instigated this war. Now that they've lost, they want to act like nothing happened? Where in the world is there such a good deal? The Mist ninja must compensate for all losses they caused Konoha through war. If the Mist ninja refuse, then Hokage-sama, send Ritsu and me to Hidden Mist Village. We'll take it ourselves."
"As for the Cloud ninja—after finishing with the Mist ninja, we can go deal with these bullying barbarians. Hokage-sama, I'm willing to serve as vanguard against the Cloud ninja afterward."
Hiruko was extremely interested in dealing with the Cloud ninja.
His Chimera Technique wasn't yet perfected. He still lacked one final Kekkei Genkai for true success. The last Kekkei Genkai he'd set his sights on was Hidden Cloud Village's Storm Release.
Even if the Cloud ninja didn't come this time, he'd have to find a way to visit Hidden Cloud Village eventually.
"Sensei's meaning is my meaning. Whether dealing with the Mist ninja or resolving the Cloud ninja, Hokage-sama, give your orders as you see fit."
At this moment, Ritsu also smiled and voiced agreement.
"Then that's settled!"
Minato decisively finalized the decision. He said, "The Mist ninja must pay corresponding prices for their wrong decisions. Otherwise, they won't recognize peace's preciousness. We might even let them look down on us. This time, we absolutely must make them deeply taste pain."
At this moment, his differences from Sarutobi Hiruzen were fully displayed. Perhaps due to different ages and resulting mental states, if Sarutobi Hiruzen were here, nine times out of ten he'd lean toward Inuzuka Gaku's suggestion. But Minato, in his prime with vigor not yet worn away by years, obviously appreciated Ritsu's hardline stance more.
"Kakashi, go notify the Finance Department. Have them compile how much military funding we invested in the eastern battlefield total. It doesn't need to be too precise—just an approximate figure. Oh, and don't forget to include subsequent pension payments."
Minato instructed.
Kakashi immediately departed with the order.
Because Minato himself was too young, he hadn't had time to train disciples capable of shouldering heavy responsibilities. Currently, only Kakashi was available. However, Kakashi was talent with great potential—already a jonin. What he lacked wasn't strength but mental tempering, learning how to navigate the world.
After Kakashi left, Minato continued. "Hiruko-senpai, the upcoming negotiations with the Mist ninja envoys—I'll trouble you to handle it!"
"I'll manage this matter well."
Hiruko nodded in acknowledgment.
He was mentally prepared. After assuming the Hokage Advisor position, he'd definitely have to contribute and work. He couldn't simply collect this exceptionally generous salary for nothing.
Previously, being busy with such affairs would inevitably mean neglecting training. Even though Shadow Clone Technique could help balance things, chakra was finite. Plus, sufficient chakra had to be reserved for sudden changes. So most people couldn't handle affairs while simultaneously maintaining training.
But now was different. Using the Chimera Technique, Hiruko had seized four Kekkei Genkai, especially the Wood Release obtained from White Zetsu. It made his chakra abundant and vigorous, not inferior to genuine Senju or Uzumaki.
Though his true body sat here discussing matters, over ten shadow clones were each busy elsewhere—some researching his Kekkei Genkai, others continuing to decipher the Hyuga clan's Caged Bird seal. Not a moment was wasted.
Minato turned his gaze toward Ritsu. "Hyuga Clan Head, we can't definitively predict how the Mist ninja will react. But if the Mist ninja intend to resist stubbornly, we'll need to strike them immediately to ensure no possibility of the Mist ninja colluding with the Cloud ninja to cause harm!"
"Therefore, during this upcoming period, please maintain your condition and prepare for combat. Once needed, we'll launch immediately!"
"Hokage-sama, summon me anytime. I'm always prepared."
Ritsu answered calmly.
Defeating Sarutobi Hiruzen in direct confrontation gave him fairly clear understanding of his level. Breaking into current Hidden Mist Village to cause major havoc, then retreating unscathed shouldn't present problems.
In current Hidden Mist Village, only two people were truly formidable, worthy of his serious attention—Fourth Mizukage Yagura and the Six-Tails Jinchuriki. Everyone else wasn't in his eyes.
"Oh, another matter—the chief envoy of the Mist ninja diplomatic delegation, Hyakubei, colluded with Shimura Danzo, attempting to frame the Hyuga Clan Head and instigate Konoha internal strife. I've ordered his execution. When Hiruko-senpai meets with the remaining Mist ninja delegation members, you can deliver his corpse along with everything else."
"Good!"
Hiruko casually acknowledged.
Envoys represented a village's face. Generally speaking, no matter how brutally two villages warred, they wouldn't mistreat each other's dispatched envoys. But the premise was that the envoys behaved properly and didn't invite disaster.
No one objected to the disposition of Mist ninja diplomatic delegation chief envoy Hyakubei.
At this moment, the office door opened. Kakashi strode in, holding a document folder.
"Sensei."
Kakashi walked before Minato and handed over the folder. Minato extracted two thin reports.
Minato looked them over and raised an eyebrow. "Including subsequent pension costs for all fallen ninja, nearly three billion ryo were invested total... Hmph, the Mist ninja must cough up this money!"
One doesn't know how expensive rice and firewood are until managing a household.
Honestly, Konoha's finances were somewhat tight now. Due to Sarutobi Hiruzen's policy of not demanding any war reparations, successive major wars with the Sand ninja, Stone ninja, and Cloud ninja had been pure expenditure without income. If not for the Land of Fire being most prosperous and Konoha Village having substantial reserves, the village's finances would collapse before the frontlines did.
But no matter how substantial the reserves, they couldn't withstand the gold-devouring monster called war. Considering that if the Cloud ninja truly invaded again to trigger major war, they had to quickly obtain funds. The village treasury's reserves were insufficient to support a new round of major warfare.
Therefore, Minato's approval of Ritsu's suggestion wasn't just personal preference but also cruel reality's inevitable requirement.
If they didn't recover from the Mist ninja, they'd have to find money elsewhere—either "cutting meat" from within the village or seeking help from the Daimyo.
Compared to those two methods, Minato preferred harvesting the Mist ninja.
Thus, Minato shook the reports in his hand, looked toward Hiruko, and said, "Hiruko-senpai, I'll have to trouble you to make this trip. Tell the Mist ninja that if they want to sign a mutual non-aggression peace treaty, they must first compensate our Konoha's three billion ryo in losses."
Hiruko responded. "I'll go now. Where is Hyakubei's corpse currently?"
"Kakashi."
Minato called out.
Kakashi immediately produced a scroll and placed it in Hiruko's hands. "Hiruko-senpai, the Mist ninja chief envoy Hyakubei's corpse is inside this scroll."
Minato then looked toward Ritsu and spoke. "Hyuga Clan Head, if you have nothing else keeping you busy, you could accompany Hiruko-senpai. After all, Hyuga Clan Head, you killed so many Mist ninja. Your appearance might make the Mist ninja recognize reality faster."
Hearing this, Ritsu stood up. "Then I'll accompany Sensei on this trip."
He didn't refuse Minato's request.
These Mist ninja diplomatic delegation members were ones he'd escorted to Konoha all along anyway. Now he could conveniently meet that vice envoy named Yaku again.
Ritsu reached out and took the scroll containing Hyakubei's corpse from Hiruko. Together with Sensei Hiruko, he walked straight out of the office.
Currently, the Mist ninja diplomatic delegation remained in the embassy. Everyone was forbidden from going out. Their activity range was limited to the embassy's entire area.
Therefore, before lifting the prohibition on the Mist ninja diplomatic delegation, they needed to visit the embassy to see the Mist ninja.
The master-student pair didn't delay on the road, proceeding directly to the village's embassy district. This entire area was specially partitioned for hosting envoys from various villages. No villagers lived around it, making it convenient to monitor these envoys' every move.
Currently, ninja from the Uchiha and Hyuga clans could be seen guarding the embassy's main entrance. Multiple Uchiha and Hyuga ninja were also concealed in the surroundings.
Logically, covertly monitoring the embassy was ANBU's function. The Police Force handled overt guard duties.
But the current problem was the village's complex situation. ANBU had been half-crippled by Ritsu's assault. Plus, Minato didn't trust this ANBU commanded by Sarutobi Hiruzen for years. Currently, ANBU as an entire organizational structure was semi-paralyzed. All ANBU work in the village had been suspended.
If not for considering that many ANBU members were executing missions outside and needed village support, Minato could disband and reorganize the entire ANBU. In fact, though Minato hadn't directly disbanded ANBU yet, he was using the opportunity Ritsu provided to organize new ANBU squads, planning to gradually replace Sarutobi Hiruzen's ANBU completely.
Of course, these matters had nothing to do with Ritsu.
What he needed to do now was negotiate with the Mist ninja envoys together with Sensei Hiruko—or rather, use overwhelming force to intimidate the Mist ninja, thereby compelling them to pay reparations.
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