Due to the aftermath of the Great Ninja Wars, mutual distrust reigned between shinobi villages. Even if countries signed trade agreements, they were usually short-term.
But this time, the trade agreement initiated by Satoru was to be signed for thirty years.
For the Land of Lightning, getting food from the Land of Fire was undoubtedly a boon. However, political situations could change easily; today's ally could be tomorrow's enemy.
So not only the Land of Lightning's Feudal Lord, but even the Raikage himself lacked full confidence.
"Satoru of Konoha, we're very glad you're willing to supply us food, but isn't thirty years too long?" the Land of Lightning's Feudal Lord said after a moment's thought.
The Raikage nodded too.
"We don't mean to offend. I just want to say no one knows what the future brings. We can guarantee short-term benefits, and that's already great. If no problems arise in the future, we'll naturally extend it."
The Land of Fire's Feudal Lord looked at Satoru, knowing the young man had something to say.
"Lord Feudal Lord of the Land of Lightning, Lord Raikage, please hear me out," Satoru drew everyone's attention, then continued.
"We'll get money and develop agriculture further. You'll get food. With plenty of food, you can naturally develop other sectors peacefully."
"If I offered a one-year contract, you'd doubt our intentions too. I think if we're aiming for peace, why not make it longer? Or... are you just afraid you'll become our enemies in the future?"
Satoru was a smart man. Current Konoha was in a phase of rapid development. Thanks to the recent education reform, the current generation of Leaf ninja had significantly improved combat levels. Plus, the Third Hokage, White Fang, and other influential figures belonged to the "dove" faction; they wanted a stable, peaceful Konoha. Moreover, the Third Great Ninja War was approaching, and before it began, Satoru wanted more friends and fewer enemies.
"There's truth in Satoru's words. We, the Land of Fire, are friendly—otherwise we wouldn't offer you food," the Land of Fire's Feudal Lord interjected.
"Five years. Five years is quite long for the turbulent shinobi world," the Third Raikage proposed.
"Fifteen years. It was originally thirty. We're offering you food for fifteen years—that's help to you, and you're still haggling over terms?" Satoru feigned displeasure.
"Ten years, no more. If we sign for ten years, we, the Hidden Cloud, can give Konoha something you'll be interested in," the Third Raikage naturally wanted the shortest possible term. If Konoha guaranteed food supplies, they'd happily sign for as long as possible.
"Something we'll be interested in?" Satoru grew very curious.
"Hm, Raikage, are you sure that's suitable for Konoha?" the Land of Lightning's Feudal Lord frowned.
The Third Raikage replied.
"Sorry, Lord Feudal Lord, but if Konoha keeps our agreements, handing it over would be mutual aid between allies, don't you think?"
"That makes sense. Fine, decide for yourself, Lord Third Raikage," the Land of Lightning's Feudal Lord ultimately delegated to his village leader.
Satoru asked curiously.
"What is this 'something'?"
"Part of the Hidden Cloud's military research technologies," the Third Raikage replied with a smile.
"We, the Hidden Cloud, treat friends sincerely. If we're confident you'll uphold the agreement, we're willing to share some of our military research technologies," the Raikage said.
"Of course, we must truly become allies. Ten years? How about it?"
Satoru looked at his Feudal Lord. He nodded. Only then did Satoru look at the Raikage and nod too.
"Fine, ten years it is. Next month, I'll personally deliver the first batch of food to the Land of Frost. Then we'll exchange: me—goods, you—money," Satoru extended his hand.
"Deal!" The Third Raikage shook Satoru's hand and smiled faintly.
Thus, Konoha and the Hidden Cloud concluded their first official trade agreement. In a sense, the Hidden Leaf Village and Hidden Cloud Village became allies, and the Land of Fire and Land of Lightning opened channels for communication and interaction.
Since food needed escorting, Satoru couldn't go alone. So he placed a large number of missions with the Third Hokage to hire ninja for guarding the cargo. The first batch of autumn harvest was so massive it could feed the entire Hidden Cloud population for three months!
Since it was a major deal, Satoru naturally hired many jonin and treated it with utmost seriousness.
Fortunately, the journey passed without major incidents. No ninja dared attack the food caravan.
There were bandits trying to rob them, but their fate was easily predictable.
"Hello, I'm Satoru. I've arrived to deliver the food to the Hidden Cloud's responsible person," Satoru arrived in the Land of Frost on time and contacted the Cloud representatives.
The Hidden Cloud's responsible person turned out to be Dodai—a young ninja with an eyepatch over one eye adorned with the "雷" (Lightning) symbol. During the Fourth Shinobi World War, he saved Naruto's shadow clone using Lava Release. He was also a loyal subordinate of the Third Raikage. Entrusting him with receiving this first food batch showed how much the Hidden Cloud valued this initial cooperation.
"Thank you, Lord Satoru!" Dodai treated Satoru with great respect. Cloud shinobi always respected the strong. Though hot-tempered, that was their true nature. Of course, this didn't mean everyone in the Hidden Cloud was good; every village had intrigue lovers and dirty tricksters like Danzou. That was normal.
"By the way, Lord Third Raikage tasked me with giving you three things," Dodai said.
"What are they?" Satoru asked.
"First: if you deliver the food, we'll increase your reward a bit. So there'll be a little more money this time. Consider it a sign of mutual trust."
"Second: on behalf of the Hidden Cloud, I hand you the promised military research technologies for Konoha."
"Third: this message. Lord Third Raikage issued an order to all Hidden Cloud ninja. If they encounter Satoru of Konoha in battle in the future, they must immediately retreat three shē (about 90 li). Consider it a kind of compensation for your kindness to the Hidden Cloud."
Dodai's words greatly puzzled Satoru. First—increased reward, simply put, more money. Actually, Satoru hadn't asked much for the food; the price was slightly below average. Maybe the Third Raikage thought it unfair and added some. That was fine.
Second—the technologies promised by the Third Raikage, so expected.
But the third message—retreat three shē at the sight of Satoru—that the young man truly didn't understand.
"Kindness... Looks like the Hidden Cloud needed food even more than I thought. Plus, the Third Raikage and Hidden Cloud must have realized my strength. So he ordered all his ninja to run immediately upon seeing me. If they're scared, they're scared—why phrase it as 'retreat three shē in gratitude'..."
Satoru grasped the true meaning of the Third Raikage's words but didn't voice it.