The negotiation hall was tense enough to suffocate an ordinary person. Scrolls, documents, and war reports lay scattered across a long wooden table carved with protective seals. Powerful shinobi from three great villages sat facing each other, their eyes sharp and wary, each holding a different agenda inside their hearts.
Yet the one who shocked the entire room…
was not Uchiha Makoto.
It was Senju Tobirama.
Until today, many of the people present had no idea what the Second Hokage was truly like in person. They had heard legends, of course—stories of his brilliance, his battle prowess, his innovation, his governing ability. But legends were one thing, seeing the man in action was another entirely.
And right now, Senju Tobirama was assaulting the negotiation table with the same ferocity he once unleashed on battlefields.
His words were sharp enough to cut steel.
His tone was cold enough to freeze wind.
And his logic… was ruthless to the point of cruelty.
Even the two towering figures from the other great nations—the First Tsuchikage and the Second Raikage—were caught off guard. Small clan representatives sitting along the wall exchanged horrified glances. None of them expected the famous inventor of countless jutsu to launch such an explosive verbal attack.
But the most awkward thing was…
Konoha hadn't even participated in the war.
From beginning to end, the Uzumaki Clan and the Akatsuki Village had shouldered the entire burden, fought the battles, spilled the blood, and achieved victory. By comparison, Konoha was simply a spectator, a massive power sitting on a mountain, exerting influence through its reputation rather than action.
So when Tobirama suddenly turned aggressive at this negotiation table…
Everyone felt displeasure.
The Second Raikage pressed a hand to his forehead, exhaling sharply.
The First Tsuchikage frowned deeply, his old wrinkles tightening.
Several representatives from smaller clans whispered among themselves, barely hiding their irritation.
"Greedy."
"Shameless."
"This is why Konoha is feared."
And yet… none of them voiced these thoughts aloud.
Because Konoha was strong.
Strength ruled the world—ever since the Warring States period, this rule had never changed.
Weak clans vanished every year.
Even now, with the establishment of great ninja villages, the law of survival had only shifted shapes, not disappeared.
Konoha had the right to demand spoils because it remained completely intact after the war.
Because it was a superpower.
Because power meant privilege.
Still, something subtle and dangerous rippled under the surface.
The small clans who originally hoped to curry favor with Konoha quietly shifted their gazes… toward the Akatsuki Ninja Village.
Yes.
Uchiha Makoto had made harsh demands.
Excessively harsh, even.
But no one was surprised by that.
The Akatsuki Village had every right to be severe.
They were the ones who crushed the Shinobi Alliance.
They were the ones who fought on the front lines.
They were the ones who negotiated in goodwill, only for Uchiha Makoto to be nearly assassinated at the table by a shameless Kumogakure attacker.
If the Akatsuki Village retaliated fiercely, no one could truly blame them.
But Konoha?
Konoha didn't fight.
Konoha didn't bleed.
Konoha didn't lose resources.
And yet it wanted a seat at the winners' feast?
"Following the Akatsuki Village is better," a small clan elder murmured quietly.
"At least they have integrity. Konoha… feels like it would eat us alive the moment we show weakness."
"If Konoha treats the Hidden Cloud like this, then what about us? They would swallow us whole."
Their opinions shifted.
Power was important—yes.
But choosing a patron required more than strength.
It required stability and trust.
No small clan wanted a powerful protector who might wake up one day and decide to devour them simply because he was hungry.
---
The Negotiation Erupts
"Senju Tobirama, that's enough!"
The First Tsuchikage finally spoke, slamming a hand onto the table.
"Hidden Cloud has suffered heavy losses in this war. They still contributed to peace. These conditions—these demands—are far too severe!"
The Second Raikage nodded stiffly, adding, "This is unreasonable! Konoha has no right to—"
Tobirama's eyes flashed dangerously.
His chakra surged slightly, heavy and cold like water at winter's peak.
"You dare lecture me about what is reasonable?" he asked, voice icy.
The room fell silent.
The First Tsuchikage bristled, but his words held no true force. They were not fairness; they were diplomacy—a thin disguise for protecting Hidden Cloud's interests.
The truth of the negotiation table was simple:
No fairness existed.
Only self-interest did.
The First Tsuchikage's stance had been clear from the beginning.
He must minimize Hidden Cloud's losses.
Because after this war, they would be allies.
Hidden Cloud might be acting foolish, but that didn't matter.
Allies must protect each other.
He would help Cloud even if Cloud couldn't help itself.
---
Meanwhile, Uchiha Makoto sat silently, observing the storm with calm amusement.
Beside him, the whirlpool shinobi Shinji twitched with frustration.
"Why am I still acting invisible?" Shinji whispered.
"Makoto-san, is it finally my turn to speak? I can help!"
Makoto subtly tapped Shinji's knee under the table, stopping him.
"No rush," he murmured with a smile.
"Let Tobirama-sensei keep going."
After all—
This was the perfect chance to let Konoha ruin its own reputation while still being useful.
Strengthwise, Konoha was too big to ignore.
Using that strength to apply pressure helped them.
And letting Tobirama take all the blame?
Even better.
Makoto glanced around at the small clan representatives.
Their reactions confirmed everything he predicted.
They were distancing themselves from Konoha…
and inching closer to the Akatsuki Village.
Makoto's lips curled faintly.
When one held true strength, smiles naturally appeared around them.
---
Tobirama Hits His Limit
Tobirama slammed his palm onto the table.
"DAMN IT!" he roared inwardly.
"Why aren't you two helping!?"
His eyes darted toward Uchiha Makoto and Shinji.
But Makoto only smiled politely and made a small gesture under the table—
a gesture that clearly said:
Keep going. We believe in you.
Tobirama nearly exploded.
"You evil Uchiha brat!!" he screamed internally.
"You're doing this on purpose! You're using me as a pawn again!"
He felt deeply wronged.
Ever since meeting Makoto, he had been dragged, cornered, schemed against, embarrassed, and weaponized repeatedly.
Even Uchiha Izuna hadn't made him feel this helpless.
He finally understood how Zhou Yu had felt facing Zhuge Liang.
Still, for the sake of Konoha's share of the war spoils…
Tobirama forced himself to charge forward.
---
The Three-Way Verbal War
What began as a discussion turned into a verbal battlefield.
Tobirama unleashed waves of pressure using both logic and sheer dominance.
The First Tsuchikage countered with political maneuvering and seniority.
The Second Raikage pushed back with stubborn pride.
Despite not participating in the war, Konoha's military presence was overwhelming.
Cloud had no leverage—they had lost repeatedly on the battlefield, and now they could only resist through the Tsuchikage's support.
After hours of heated debate, neither side gained ground.
The Second Raikage refused to yield.
Tobirama refused to retreat.
The Tsuchikage refused to compromise.
The negotiation was stuck.
Makoto decided the time was right.
---
Uchiha Makoto Steps In
Makoto slowly raised a hand.
His voice was calm, but each word carried weight.
"Since Kumogakure feels the compensation terms are too harsh," he said, "I can make a concession."
Everyone turned to look at him.
"We can reduce the reparations from forty billion ryo…
to thirty billion ryo."
A ten-billion discount.
Still crushing, but survivable.
"And," Makoto continued, "it can be paid in installments."
A ripple spread across the room.
"Other conditions may be adjusted in minor ways. Only wording changes. The fundamental requirements remain unchanged. This," Makoto said firmly, "is my bottom line."
Then he raised his voice slightly:
"If Cloud cannot accept this—
then we will continue the war."
He turned to Tobirama.
"Senju Tobirama. You agree, correct?"
Tobirama's eye twitched violently.
He wanted to scream, "NO!"
He wanted to bite Makoto.
But he could only grit his teeth and nod stiffly.
Makoto smiled inwardly.
Perfect.
---
Cloud Has No Choice
The Second Raikage and First Tsuchikage exchanged glances.
After all their arguing…
They had only managed to reduce the amount by ten billion.
But the alternative?
Continue the war?
Impossible.
They had reached their limit.
Their forces were exhausted.
Their supply lines were ruined.
Their morale was broken.
What they couldn't win on the battlefield…
they could never gain through negotiation.
The Second Raikage slowly lowered his gaze.
"…Then let it be decided."
His voice cracked with frustration.
He was signing a humiliation his predecessor would curse him for.
---
Makoto Finalizes the Treaty
Makoto took out a brush and unrolled the treaty.
"You all agree, yes?" he asked.
Silence.
That meant acceptance.
"Very well. Then I will make the necessary adjustments…"
He crossed out "40 billion" and wrote "30 billion."
He changed "our side" to:
Akatsuki Ninja Village
Uzumaki Ninja Village
Konoha Village
Everything else?
Left completely unchanged.
---
Tobirama Explodes Internally
The moment he saw the edits, Tobirama nearly leaped from his seat.
"MAKOTO! YOU ONLY CHANGED ONE LINE!?"
His internal screaming could probably be heard by ghosts.
"You brat! You conned me again!! You told me everything would be adjusted!"
Makoto lifted his head slowly.
Their eyes met.
Makoto's calm gaze said:
Did I ever promise?
Tobirama clutched his chest.
He wanted to vomit blood.
He wanted to dive across the table and strangle Makoto.
But he could only sit there.
Silent.
Humiliated.
Used.
Once again.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)