Kitsuchi was escorted to the entrance by Kakashi Hatake. Kakashi stopped, turned slightly, and said calmly,
"Messenger of Iwagakure, please wait here. I will first seek Hokage-sama's instructions."
Kitsuchi nodded. "Please proceed, Kakashi-dono."
He stood with his hands behind his back, posture straight and composed. As the son of the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, and a renowned figure from the Third Great Ninja War, Kitsuchi carried both confidence and pride befitting his status.
Kakashi glanced at him once more before turning and entering the office. Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui stood one behind the other, watching Kitsuchi closely.
Before Kakashi went in, Uchiha Ran had specifically reminded them to be vigilant.
Although Kitsuchi looked ordinary—rugged, around thirty, with an unremarkable face—his strength was anything but. His Earth Release techniques, especially Earth Release: Sandwich Technique, were infamous. The technique could raise massive slabs of earth from both sides and crush large numbers of enemy shinobi in an instant.
Many Konoha ninja had died to it.
That alone was reason enough for Itachi and Shisui to stay alert.
A short while later, Kakashi emerged.
"Messenger Kitsuchi, you may enter to meet Hokage-sama."
Kitsuchi nodded and stepped forward. Pushing open the heavy doors, he entered the Hokage Office and instinctively swept his gaze across the room.
Hyūga Hiashi stood with his arms crossed, his Byakugan fixed coldly on Kitsuchi, silently exerting pressure.
Nara Shikaku looked down at him from his seat, eyes sharp and calculating.
Yamanaka Inoichi remained expressionless, his gaze locked onto Kitsuchi's head, making his intentions impossible to read.
Meanwhile, Akimichi Chōza was loudly chewing on a chicken leg—maintaining body mass was essential for his clan's techniques.
Kitsuchi's eyes finally settled on the center of the room.
More precisely, on the legs resting casually atop the Hokage's desk.
Even without clearly seeing his face, Kitsuchi bowed deeply.
"Kitsuchi, son of the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki of Iwagakure, greets Hokage-sama."
Only then did Uchiha Ran lower his legs and sit upright. Resting his chin on one hand, his three-tomoe Sharingan activated as he looked down at the bowing man.
"You're very polite," Ran said calmly. "I heard Ōnoki collapsed after returning to the village—fainted from shock. Is that true?"
Kitsuchi paused briefly before regaining his composure.
"The weather has been extremely hot recently. Tsuchikage-sama suffered heat exhaustion. I didn't expect Hokage-sama to be so well-informed about Iwagakure's internal matters."
Ran laughed softly.
"Isn't that normal? Just like how you, all the way in Iwagakure, knew the Uchiha Clan was preparing to seize the Hokage position—and discussed helping Hiruzen Sarutobi stay in power so Konoha would continue to weaken."
Kitsuchi's expression changed instantly.
The events at Konoha's gates were public knowledge—spies could easily learn of them.
But what Ran had just mentioned had taken place inside the Tsuchikage's office, a meeting attended only by Iwagakure's highest-ranking officials and elite successors.
That information was supposed to be absolutely sealed.
Kitsuchi's face paled.
Had Konoha already infiltrated Iwagakure's upper command?
If mishandled, this revelation alone could plunge Iwagakure into chaos.
Ran watched silently, satisfied as Kitsuchi's thoughts spiraled.
After a long moment, Kitsuchi took a deep breath and suddenly dropped to one knee.
"Hokage-sama, I have an audacious request."
Ran spoke before he could continue.
"Impossible. Some matters cannot be settled with money. And besides—"
"I am not the Third Hokage."
Kitsuchi's face went ashen.
Compared to Hiruzen Sarutobi, Uchiha Ran was far more dangerous. He didn't cling to rules—he decided them.
Kitsuchi had hoped to trade a large sum of money in exchange for the identity of the infiltrator within Iwagakure's leadership.
Ran had no intention of granting that.
Keeping Iwagakure in a state of suspicion—where no one knew who could be trusted—was far more valuable than any amount of silver.
"Messenger?" Ran frowned. "Are you finished thinking?"
Kitsuchi snapped back to reality and bowed again.
"My apologies, Hokage-sama. Please instruct me."
Ran waved his hand impatiently.
"Get to the point. What compensation is Iwagakure offering, and what are the treaty terms?"
Kitsuchi straightened.
"Honorable Hokage-sama, some time ago, Iwagakure forces entered Konoha's borders. Although no hostile actions were taken, the incident may have caused misunderstanding."
"As an apology, Iwagakure is willing to pay four hundred million ryō as compensation."
"The funds have already been delivered and are under ANBU supervision, awaiting Hokage-sama's inspection."
At the mention of the amount, several people in the room stiffened.
Konoha's treasury currently held barely over six hundred million ryō—enough for basic operations, but nowhere near sufficient for rebuilding and expansion.
This compensation alone would drastically ease the village's financial strain.
Ran's eyes narrowed slightly.
Now that, at least, was worth listening to.
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