Chapter 159: Diplomatic Cost
After Konoha’s negotiation team of five left the camp, they headed toward a certain oasis in the north.
Entering the oasis, the Sand Ninja had already cleared out the Land of Wind residents around the oasis.
Under the scorching sunshine, three large umbrellas were set up, and beneath the large umbrellas were the three parties to the negotiation.
Under the umbrella in the front was the Daimyo of the Land of Wind’s envoy, serving as the witness for this negotiation.
Under the umbrella on the west side, the Hidden Sand Village personnel were already in position.
Yoru looked over and saw Ebizo, Rasa, Mache, two assistants, and one Hidden Sand Village Anbu.
Ebizo stared fixedly at Copper Fox, watching Copper Fox take his seat.
Inside the Hidden Sand Village, Hatake Sakumo was called White Fang, but they didn’t know why White Fang hadn’t come.
The title White Fang would slowly spread, just like Copper Fox, remembered by every Sand Ninja.
The muscles on Ebizo’s face twitched as he strongly suppressed his anger.
For this negotiation, his older sister Chiyo was originally supposed to come, but Ebizo had gone to great lengths to appease her and keep her from coming.
He was afraid that if she encountered White Fang or Copper Fox here, she would turn the talks into revenge.
His nephew had actually died, and his nephew’s Puppet Technique was so exquisite that even his older sister wouldn’t dare say she could steadily win against him.
The Daimyo of the Land of Wind’s envoy sitting in the main seat, Ashikaga Sadakaze, the Minister of the Left of the Land of Wind’s Grand Council, put down his fan and said to the Konoha side:
“Kakuno Clan Head, you’ve had a hard journey coming from afar.
Please have Kakuno Clan Head and Konoha’s Commander-in-Chief negotiate well with the Hidden Sand Village.
I will first state on behalf of the Daimyo that the Daimyo believes the war should be over.”
After speaking, Minister of the Left Ashikaga Sadakaze said no more.
From his faintly praising the Konoha side, it was clear that the Daimyo of the Land of Wind was extremely dissatisfied with the Hidden Sand Village’s war performance.
Cultivating Puppet Masters consumes far more resources than cultivating Ninja.
The Land of Wind sent steel and expensive yellow hardwood to the Hidden Sand Village, but the Puppet Masters they ultimately cultivated were no match for Konoha’s strong individuals.
The genius Puppet Master Tora, whom the Hidden Sand Village praised unanimously, died himself, leading White Fang to lead a team to support the main battlefield.
How could this not anger the Daimyo of the Land of Wind?
All the support the Hidden Sand Village wanted, I gave, but what did the Hidden Sand Village give me in return?
Suna Harbor destroyed? Major defeat on the battlefield?
No wonder the Daimyo of the Land of Wind was disappointed; in ninja village wars, being weak is the original sin.
Nara Shikaku spoke up, saying:
“Lord Ashikaga Sadakaze, Daimyo of the Land of Wind’s envoy, Advisor Ebizo.
I represent Konoha today to conduct post-war negotiations.
Our demands are as follows.
First, end the war and return to the pre-war situation.
The Land of Rivers is under the Land of Fire’s protection; Sand Ninja entering the Land of Rivers to carry out missions must obtain Konoha’s permission, go through procedures, and pay taxes.”
Ebizo slightly lowered his head and looked at the table.
During the more than half a year of war, the Hidden Sand Village had nearly 2000 Ninja killed in battle, and in the end got nothing.
He had no choice but to agree to this demand from Konoha.
Nara Shikaku continued:
“Second, no tampering with the Jishui River.
The Jishui River is an important great river running through Kyoto, Land of Rivers; Sand Ninja must not divert water from the cave into the northern Land of Wind or damage the Jishui River section within the Land of Rain’s borders.
At this time, a hydroelectric power station has been built on the Jishui River, making it even more important.
The Hidden Sand Village’s sabotage of the Jishui River will directly provoke a declaration of war from the Land of Fire and Konoha.”
Ashikaga Sadakaze suddenly spoke up, saying:
“Kakuno Clan Head, this matter doesn’t need to be stated so absolutely.
Lord Daimyo of the Land of Wind has already sent an envoy group to visit the Land of Fire Daimyo and the Land of Rivers Daimyo.
The Jishui River has abundant water volume; a planned, small amount diverted from the foot of the Ji Gang Mountain Range will not have too great an impact on Kyoto, Land of Rivers.
The Land of Wind hopes for one more oasis in the north; this demand cannot be met by war, so the Land of Wind does not mind paying some resources and diplomatic costs to resolve it through negotiations with the Land of Fire and Land of Rivers.”
Rasa spoke up at this time, saying:
“Lord Ashikaga Sadakaze, the Land of Wind’s total resources are fixed and cannot be ceded too much in the negotiations.
Otherwise, from where does Lord Daimyo plan to make up for the losses?”
Ashikaga Sadakaze gave Rasa an extra look; this Jonin had a good head and had asked the key question. Ashikaga Sadakaze said:
“Jonin Rasa, I’m just a pot-bellied noble; it wouldn’t take you three seconds to kill me.
But the Land of Wind’s interests, I hope you will also take seriously.
The Land of Wind has hope for a large oasis to appear in the north; after the Daimyo and all the nobles in Kyoto heard this news, they excitedly discussed it all night.
Once the large oasis construction at the foot of the Ji Gang Mountain Range is completed, it will bring large amounts of grain, population, and wealth.
At that time, it can better support the Hidden Sand Village.
However, before that oasis is built, the Hidden Sand Village will have to endure hardship with us, tightening belts.”
Only then did Ebizo understand that the Daimyo, for the oasis at the foot of the Ji Gang Mountain Range, was going to reduce funding to the Hidden Sand Village to pay compensation to the Land of Fire and Land of Rivers.
Noticing Ebizo’s unkind gaze, Ashikaga Sadakaze continued:
“Advisor Ebizo, in this war, the Land of Wind cannot be said to not have fully supported you.
The steel you wanted, the Daimyo even decided to supply 20% more.
The yellow hardwood you wanted, we supplied all of it too, and the price of yellow hardwood was six times the pre-war price.
The extra cost of over-fulfillment procurement was all borne by the Land of Wind.
The Land of Wind wants to establish an oasis in the north; we have done everything we can.
Even Suna Harbor being destroyed and Lord Daimyo’s 20 ships sunk, the Land of Wind is prepared to silently bear the losses.
We have a clear conscience; our support for the Hidden Sand Village has been exhaustive.
The war failed, so now we have no choice but to change the dire situation of the northern desert through other means.
For this, I formally explain to Advisor Ebizo that we will have to reduce all funding.
The Daimyo’s Tenshu Castle’s main hall construction, Kyoto’s construction, the paving of the Land of Wind’s main roads, including funding to the Hidden Sand Village, will all be reduced.
I will soon formally go to the Hidden Sand Village to explain the Daimyo’s decision to Lord Kazekage.
We are also forced to do this; what do you say, Advisor Ebizo?”
Yoru had met two great nobles since transmigrating: one was the Land of Fire’s Lord of the Treasury Ida Haneda, and the other was the Ashikaga Sadakaze before his eyes.
These two nobles were not bad in level.
Ashikaga Sadakaze was pot-bellied, but his thinking was clear, and his exposition was tightly linked.
Yoru thought carefully but couldn’t come up with any good countermeasure that would allow the Hidden Sand Village to righteously refuse the Daimyo of the Land of Wind’s decision.
The Hidden Sand Village could kill the Daimyo and Ashikaga Sadakaze.
But in that case, the Land of Wind would collapse first.
One country and one village are in a cooperative relationship; one side collapsing is not good for the other.
Ebizo closed his eyes, frowned slightly, brainstormed, and had no choice but to accept.
Rasa beside him was the same.
He could indeed easily kill Ashikaga Sadakaze; he had killed many nobles who defied the Hidden Sand Village.
But on this matter, the Hidden Sand Village really didn’t have the moral high ground.
Who told them they lost the war.
If they could defeat Konoha and seize the Land of Rivers, the Jishui River issue wouldn’t be an issue at all.
If the Land of Rivers Daimyo dared say one extra word, the Rain Ninja would use puppets to slaughter that Daimyo.
Killing nobles could solve some problems, but not all.
When the Daimyo of the Land of Wind’s attitude was firm and the reasons justified, the Hidden Sand Village had no choice but to yield.
The funding reduction wasn’t targeted at the Hidden Sand Village; it was the Land of Wind from top to bottom living frugally together.
Ebizo sighed and said, “Lord Ashikaga Sadakaze, I understand; I will ask for punishment from Lord Kazekage and the Daimyo.”
Ashikaga Sadakaze turned his head and said, “Kakuno Clan Head, please continue.”
