Seeing Shikaku about to bring up the old "deer incident," Wen Lan quickly coughed.
"Ahem… Minato-senpai, I think Shikaku-senpai's strategy is really excellent."
Such an obvious attempt to change the subject made Minato and the others burst out laughing.
Inoichi laughed so hard tears came out.
"Wen Lan, Shikaku was just teasing you. Their clan business is huge. Forget one deer—even ten would be nothing."
Wen Lan's face turned slightly red, about to argue, when Shikaku waved his hand with a warm smile.
"Next time you want venison, just say so. I'll deliver it personally."
The Mood Shift
The room had been filled with laughter—
But suddenly, all four of them simultaneously dropped their smiles and sat down coldly.
A few seconds later—
Footsteps.
The meeting room door opened.
Fugaku and several others entered, forming a circle around the Kumogakure delegation.
Hizashi stepped forward and bowed.
"Lord Hokage, my elder brother returned home. He was worried about his family."
Minato nodded gently.
"His daughter was abducted, and his wife is alone at home. Returning is only natural."
"Thank you for your understanding."
Everyone took their seats.
Minato's gaze swept calmly across the envoys.
Then he spoke:
"Since the Kumogakure delegation does not wish to behave properly in Konoha… then let us resolve the peace agreement tonight."
Pressure in the Room
The atmosphere froze instantly.
The envoys' expressions stiffened.
Tutai forced himself to stay calm, though sweat had already formed on his forehead.
He squeezed out a shaky smile.
"Lord Hokage is joking… Of course we prioritize peace."
But his trembling voice betrayed his fear.
During their stay in Konoha, they had gathered intelligence.
Wen Lan's reputation was enormous:
The youngest Kage-level powerhouseThe man who cut down a Tailed Beast Bomb during the Third Shinobi WarThe hero who saved countless ninja
Yet they had underestimated him—
Because of his age.
Now Tutai realized how foolish that was.
Anyone capable of becoming Hokage Advisor could never be simple.
Danzo's former Root organization had once dominated Konoha's shadows.
Kumogakure had tried to infiltrate it.
Every infiltrator disappeared.
Now Wen Lan held the same central authority—
And Minato trusted him completely.
His methods and intellect were clearly terrifying.
And more importantly—
His killing intent was real.
Tutai was certain:
If Minato hadn't stopped him earlier—
He would already be dead.
Especially after witnessing the Susanoo.
A power so overwhelming that even a Tailed Beast looked like a kitten in comparison.
And there were five of them.
Plus that monstrous humanoid summoning creature—
The Demonic Statue.
Just its presence radiated dread.
The Negotiation Begins
Shikaku stroked his chin, silent.
The room fell into a deathly stillness.
This was pure pressure.
Finally, Shikaku spoke:
"We have decided—"
"On top of our previous terms…"
"Kumogakure will concede an additional 20%."
Tutai nodded weakly.
"Accepted."
Shikaku continued:
"And the Land of Lightning will cede 300 square kilometers of border territory to the Land of Fire."
Immediate Rejection
"That's impossible!"
Tutai shot to his feet instantly.
He glared at Minato.
"Territorial division is absolutely unacceptable! Even if you kill us all—it will never happen!"
Minato remained calm, as if expecting this reaction.
Wen Lan said nothing.
But his thumb pressed lightly against the sword guard.
Shing—
The Grass-Cutting Sword slid out slightly.
That single sound made every Kumogakure envoy shudder.
Tutai's face turned pale.
His clothes were soaked with sweat.
Still, he forced himself to speak:
"Advisor… even if you threaten me, this is impossible!"
Wen Lan pushed the blade back into its sheath with a crisp click.
Then looked genuinely confused.
"I didn't say anything."
"I was just stretching my finger."
Honestly—
He really had been.
But no one believed him.
Not even a little.
The Real Strategy
The silence returned.
Heavy. Suffocating.
Shikaku inhaled slowly.
"Lord Tutai, the situation speaks for itself."
"If we fought today… you would all be corpses."
Tutai trembled.
He stared at Wen Lan—
Who had already turned to look out the window at falling maple leaves, as if nothing concerned him.
Finally, Tutai slumped back into his seat.
"That territory… truly cannot be ceded."
Minato raised his hand gently.
"We understand Kumogakure's difficulties."
"Konoha is not a nation that seizes land unjustly."
"So instead—"
"Let the two long-disputed border regions between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning be transferred to the Land of Fire."
The Concession Effect
This was a textbook negotiation tactic:
The Concession Effect.
Propose an extreme demand the opponent cannot acceptThen offer a more reasonable alternativeThe opponent feels relief—and agrees
Classic psychological leverage.
Tutai's eyes flickered.
He knew perfectly well—
Those two regions had always been Konoha's true objective.
But he had no choice.
After a long pause, he spoke hoarsely:
"…Those two regions… belong to you."
Minato smiled.
The tension in the room finally eased.
Sudden Intelligence
At that moment—
Wen Lan narrowed his eyes slightly.
He glanced at Minato and tilted his head, signaling he needed to step out.
Minato looked puzzled but nodded.
Wen Lan exited through the window into the corridor.
He immediately formed hand seals.
"Summoning Technique."
A black crow appeared—its feathers damp with rain.
It held a sealed letter in its claw.
Wen Lan opened it quickly.
It was from Obito.
Operation obstructed.
Amber Purifying Bottle not obtained.
Discovered by the Raikage.
Need to temporarily leave the Two-Tails in Konoha to buy time—
or abandon the mission.
Wen Lan frowned.
Obito's Kamui was nearly flawless.
How could he be detected?
Then realization struck.
Kumogakure wasn't just a ninja village—
They were weapons fanatics.
Multi-disciplinary warfare.
In the movies, they even developed a chakra cannon capable of blasting the moon.
Their technological and sealing capabilities exceeded other villages.
So of course—
A vault storing a Six Paths ninja treasure would be heavily protected.
Detection was inevitable.
Wen Lan's eyes hardened.
If they wanted to capture all the Tailed Beasts in the future—
They absolutely needed the Amber Purifying Bottle.
This mission—Had to succeed.
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