Aiding the Tyrant, Senju Tobirama Becomes an Accomplice!**
Too small.
His vision had been too small.
At this moment, Senju Tobirama genuinely felt that his own perspective had been painfully limited.
He had thought that demanding eighty billion ryō was already outrageous—an unmistakable case of extortion.
Yet compared to Uchiha Makoto, he was still far too restrained.
Fifty billion ryō.
Makoto had swallowed it in one bite—without even blinking, as though that money had always belonged to him in the first place.
Terrifying.
For the first time in his life, Tobirama encountered someone like this.
Faced with such an astronomical sum, even he couldn't help but hesitate.
He was tempted—deeply so—but he was also worried about the Fire Daimyō's reaction.
Even if Makoto swore that he could fully represent the Daimyō…
Can the words of a "naturally dangerous" Uchiha really be trusted?
Vigilance was mandatory.
"This… isn't very appropriate, is it?" Tobirama said cautiously.
Makoto smiled.
"If you don't say anything, and I don't say anything, who would ever know?"
Hashirama frowned.
"But this is deceiving the Daimyō—and by such a huge amount…"
"Oh, I see," Makoto said suddenly.
"So you're saying it's too much?"
"In that case, Konoha can just take the eighty billion. I can take seventy billion myself."
"If you don't want it, I do."
With a laugh, Makoto casually prepared to pocket the twenty billion ryō that had originally been meant as hush money to placate Konoha.
As for Hashirama and Tobirama's concerns?
He didn't care in the slightest.
One hundred and fifty billion ryō would indeed make even the Fire Daimyō wince—but that was state money, not the Daimyō's personal treasury.
The Fire Daimyō had always been clear about public and private finances.
Painful, yes—but tolerable.
More importantly, the Daimyō was currently terrified of Konoha.
Paying money to avoid disaster was a bargain.
"No—no—this is fine! This is fine!" Tobirama immediately shook his head like a rattle drum.
That was twenty billion ryō!
How could he possibly let Makoto take it all?
Not to mention the fifty billion ryō Makoto had already embezzled from Konoha's share!
This inherently dangerous Uchiha brat—
He's even worse at corruption than I am!
So that's why he'd been acting so arrogantly, like a newly rich tycoon.
Turns out he was spending Konoha's money all along!
Utterly despicable!
"No problem," Makoto said cheerfully, nodding.
Just like that, the two reached an agreement.
Moments ago, they had been on the verge of tearing into each other.
Now, both wore broad smiles.
Money truly was the best lubricant.
Makoto's use of it had lubricated Tobirama so thoroughly that even his legs nearly gave out.
Leaving Hashirama and Tobirama in the room, Makoto went alone to report the negotiation results to the Fire Daimyō.
"Your Highness—disaster!"
"I almost came to blows with Senju Hashirama just now!"
The moment Makoto burst into the room shouting, the Fire Daimyō nearly fell off his chair in shock.
"Makoto! What happened?!"
"Did the negotiations collapse?"
"Is Hashirama planning rebellion?!"
The Daimyō fired off questions in panic, clearly terrified of ninja violence.
Makoto then gave a thorough explanation.
Strictly speaking—
He made it all up.
An enraged Senju Hashirama, savage and ferocious.
Senju Tobirama, aiding tyranny with ruthless malice.
They had come to the capital demanding answers.
How dare the Daimyō and the nobles squeeze Konoha like this—are you tired of living?!
"And then?" the Daimyō asked nervously.
"Then I reasoned with them at great length," Makoto said solemnly.
"I even invoked the Uchiha Clan's position, and only then did I manage to restrain Hashirama."
"Good… good!" the Daimyō sighed in relief.
"The Uchiha Clan truly is loyal to the bone!"
The Fire Daimyō couldn't help but praise them.
Yes, the Uchiha were hot-tempered—
But they were loyal.
"However," Makoto continued smoothly,
"Konoha still demanded an outrageous sum."
"Senju Tobirama—Hashirama's naturally dangerous younger brother—insisted on three hundred billion ryō to calm the situation."
"I bargained it down with great difficulty. In the end, we settled on one hundred and fifty billion ryō."
Makoto seized the opportunity to smear both brothers equally.
"Three hundred billion?!" the Daimyō gasped.
"Konoha's appetite is enormous!"
"The Senju brothers are utterly insatiable!"
"Makoto—thank goodness you were there!"
The Daimyō's expression darkened, but he could only sigh helplessly.
What couldn't be obtained on the battlefield would never be won at the negotiating table.
Konoha was simply too powerful.
"One hundred and fifty billion ryō—it will be paid."
"Let this be money spent to avert disaster."
"Makoto, your Akatsuki Village must grow stronger as quickly as possible."
"I don't want to be threatened like this ever again."
The Fire Daimyō looked at Makoto with deep emotion.
Hashirama and Konoha were no longer even pretending.
They dared to threaten him directly in the capital.
Who knew how arrogant they would become in the future?
"Rest assured, Your Highness," Makoto said earnestly.
"I will give everything I have."
"All of this is for the Land of Fire."
His sincerity moved the Daimyō deeply.
Makoto—truly loyal beyond reproach!
"These are all the agreements reached today. Please review them, Your Highness."
"Very well."
The Fire Daimyō read through the documents one clause at a time.
When he reached the section stating that Konoha and Akatsuki Village would jointly defend the Land of Fire and uphold the Daimyō's authority, he couldn't help but sneer inwardly.
Protect me? Protect the Land of Fire?
When Konoha grows strong enough to completely control the country, those words will mean something very different.
There can be only one who commands the winds and rain in the Land of Fire—and that is me.
And only one village that truly shields the realm—
Akatsuki Village.
Konoha will, sooner or later, become a rebel.
Words are not to be trusted.
"Makoto, you've done excellently."
"I'll leave everything to you."
With a grand wave of his hand, the Fire Daimyō entrusted all agreements to Makoto.
If Makoto saw no issues, the Daimyō would affix his golden seal immediately.
"Thank you for your trust, Your Highness."
Things had gone even more smoothly than Makoto had anticipated.
Between the Daimyō's preconceptions, Hashirama's overwhelming strength, and Makoto's persistent promotion of the "Hashirama Conspiracy Theory," the Fire Daimyō had already concluded that Senju Hashirama was a smiling tyrant with a black heart.
Under that logic, Makoto's story contained no contradictions at all.
Unless—
The Daimyō had personally been present.
Unfortunately.
The room had contained only Uchiha Makoto, Senju Tobirama, and Senju Hashirama.
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