Naruto: Tenseigan Eye

"The village has no extra funds, so we'll have to barter," Chiyo declared, setting the tone for Sunagakure's position.

Buying outright was impossible for the financially strapped Sand Village. The only option was an exchange of resources.

Following Chiyo's lead, Onoki added, "Iwagakure will also choose to barter."

Sunagakure was poor, but Iwagakure wasn't much better. With their limited budgets reserved for military development, spending money on intelligence was out of the question. Bartering resources seemed like the most practical solution.

And what resources did Sunagakure and Iwagakure have to offer? The answer was simple: mines. All kinds of ores and minerals. They figured if Konoha needed these resources, an exchange could be negotiated.

The Third Hokage nodded thoughtfully. Konoha did need ores and usually spent heavily to purchase them, so a resource exchange was acceptable. However, the specifics of the trade would need to be hammered out.

"The Cloud Village can accept that," the Third Raikage said nonchalantly, raising a hand. It didn't matter much to him. Whether bartering or paying in cash, Cloud had the money and resources to outbid the others.

His dismissive attitude immediately angered both Onoki and Chiyo.

Shinki, watching from the sidelines, nearly burst out laughing. The Third Raikage might seem like a straightforward brute, but he was clearly a shrewd and calculating man. If anyone underestimated him, they were bound to lose.

Bartering required careful negotiations over quantities and valuations, but Cloud Village's wealth meant they could sidestep these complications. While the discussions dragged on, Shinki quietly slipped away.

A Break from the Chaos

Shinki didn't expect the Third Raikage to follow him.

"Senior, what brings you here?" he asked, confused.

"Aren't you going to treat me to a meal?" the Raikage said with a grin, blatantly angling for a free meal.

Shinki sighed. It was clear the Raikage wasn't here just for food—he wanted information too. "Fine. What do you want to eat, senior?"

"The barbecue here in Konoha is unique. Let's go with that."

Agreeing, Shinki took him to the Akimichi Barbecue Restaurant. After ordering, the two settled in. Shinki sipped on his drink and asked, "Alright, what's the real reason you followed me?"

Pouring himself a glass of sake, the Third Raikage chuckled. "Why waste time listening to Sand Village and Rock Village haggle over numbers? Let them sort it out, and when they're done, we'll pay the price they settle on."

Shinki gave him a thumbs up. "You win, Senior."

They chatted casually over the meal, discussing trivial matters. Toward the end, the Third Raikage revealed his true purpose.

"Shinki, does Konoha have any thoughts about forming an alliance?"

Shinki didn't hesitate. "Yes. Compared to unreliable allies like Sand Village, Hokage-sama and the other senior officials are looking for a true partner."

"Good to hear," the Raikage said, satisfied. With that information, he confidently left, certain that Cloud Village was Konoha's best choice for an alliance.

Kushina's Concerns

After the meal, Shinki returned to find Kushina eagerly waiting for news. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "How did it go?" she asked, clearly hoping for a juicy update.

Shinki ruffled her hair. "Don't be impatient, Kushina. Negotiations take time. After the intelligence deal, the alliance talks will follow. The village is leaning toward forming an alliance with Cloud Village."

Kushina's face fell. "Huh? What about my revenge?"

The news was a blow to her. Forming an alliance meant treating Cloud as an ally, and exacting revenge on an ally was frowned upon.

Shinki smirked. "What revenge? Your grudge is personal. The village won't interfere."

He deliberately avoided mentioning the potential diplomatic repercussions. If Kushina knew her actions might complicate the alliance, she might hesitate—and Shinki wanted her to act freely.

"A gentleman's revenge can wait, but a villain's revenge is never too late," Shinki quipped, making Kushina laugh despite her frustration.

Seven Days of Negotiation

The negotiations between Konoha, Sand Village, and Rock Village dragged on for seven long days. Sand and Rock Village opened with low offers, while Konoha demanded high prices. Both sides haggled endlessly over resources and quantities.

Meanwhile, the Third Raikage maintained his confident stance, staying out of the fray. His approach was simple: let the other villages argue, and once they settled, Cloud Village would accept the agreed-upon terms without question.

"Why should I waste my energy on petty negotiations?" he remarked. "If they want to cheat me, so be it. As long as it doesn't harm my village, I'll accept the terms."

Chiyo and Onoki hated this approach but could do little to counter it. They couldn't afford to sabotage their own deals just to spite the Raikage. The possibility of Konoha offering Cloud Village a favorable price further limited their options.

After seven exhausting days, the negotiations finally concluded. Onoki and Chiyo looked visibly drained, and even the Third Hokage and his advisors bore heavy dark circles under their eyes.

The Third Raikage, meanwhile, was as energetic as ever. "Good thing I stayed out of that mess," he remarked smugly.

When it was Cloud Village's turn, the negotiations were quick and straightforward. The Third Raikage agreed to the same terms as the other villages, confident his resources and wealth would cover any shortfall.

The whole ordeal left the negotiators from all sides exhausted, but for the Third Raikage, it was a decisive win.

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