After leaving the main camp, the Leaf's negotiation quintet traveled toward a specific oasis to the north. Upon entering, they found that the Sand ninja had already cleared out all local residents of the Land of Wind from the surrounding area.
Under the scorching sun, three large parasols were pitched. Beneath them sat the three parties of the negotiation. Beneath the central parasol was the special envoy of the Daimyo of the Land of Wind, serving as the witness. Beneath the western parasol, the representatives of the Hidden Sand were already in place.
Yagami looked over. It was Ebizo, Rasa, Maki, two assistants, and an Anbu from the Sand. Ebizo stared fixedly at Copper Fox as the latter took his seat. Within the Hidden Sand, Hatake Sakumo was referred to as "White Fang," and Ebizo wondered why the White Fang hadn't come. That title would gradually spread, much like "Copper Fox," until every Sand ninja remembered it. Ebizo's facial muscles twitched as he struggled to suppress his fury.
Originally, his sister Chiyo was supposed to attend this negotiation. Ebizo had gone to great lengths to soothe her and prevent her from coming. He feared that if she encountered the White Fang or Copper Fox here, she would turn the conference into a bloodbath of revenge. Her son was dead—a man whose puppetry was so exquisite that even Chiyo couldn't claim a guaranteed victory against him.
Seated in the primary position, the Special Envoy of the Land of Wind, Left Minister of the Taiseiren, Ashikaga Sadakaze, lowered his fan. He spoke to the Leaf party:
"Clan Head Shikaku, you have traveled far. Please, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Leaf, speak with the Hidden Sand. I will first state the Daimyo's position: the Daimyo believes this war should end."
Having said this, Ashikaga Sadakaze fell silent. From his subtle praise of the Leaf, it was clear that the Daimyo of the Land of Wind was extremely dissatisfied with the Hidden Sand's performance. Cultivating puppeteers consumed far more resources than training ordinary ninja. The Land of Wind had funneled steel and expensive Yellow Ironwood into the Hidden Sand, only for their "genius" to be crushed by the Leaf's elite. Camel Thorn's death had directly led to the White Fang reinforcing the main battlefield.
How could the Daimyo not be incensed? 'I gave you the support you asked for; what did you give me? Shapo Port destroyed? A crushing defeat on the field?' In the wars of ninja villages, incompetence is the ultimate sin.
Nara Shikaku spoke:
"Minister Ashikaga, Advisor Ebizo. I am here today representing the Leaf for post-war negotiations. Our demands are as follows:"
"First, the war ends, and we return to the status quo ante bellum. The Land of Rivers is under the protection of the Land of Fire. Any Sand ninja entering the Land of Rivers for missions must obtain Leaf permission, process paperwork, and pay the required fees."
Ebizo lowered his head slightly, staring at the table. In the six months of war, the Sand had lost nearly 2,000 ninja and gained absolutely nothing. He had no choice but to agree to this.
Shikaku continued:
"Second, there shall be no tampering with the Jishui River. It is a vital waterway crossing the capital of the Land of Rivers. The Sand must not divert water through caves into northern Wind, nor damage the river segments within the Land of Rain. Currently, a hydroelectric plant has been built on the Jishui, making it even more critical. Any act of sabotage by the Sand against the Jishui River will be viewed as a direct declaration of war against the Land of Fire and the Hidden Leaf."
Ashikaga Sadakaze suddenly spoke:
"Clan Head Shikaku, there is no need to be so absolute. His Highness the Daimyo has already dispatched a mission to visit the Daimyo of Fire and the Daimyo of Rivers. The Jishui has an abundant flow; a planned, minor diversion of water from beneath the Jigo Mountain Range would not significantly impact the capital of Rivers. The Land of Wind desires a large oasis in the north. Since this cannot be gained through war, our nation does not mind paying resources and a diplomatic price to resolve this through negotiations with Fire and Rivers."
Rasa interjected, "Minister Ashikaga, the resources of the Land of Wind are finite. We must not cede too much in negotiations. Otherwise, how does His Highness plan to compensate for the loss?"
Sadakaze glanced at Rasa. This Jonin had a good head on his shoulders; he had asked the key question. Sadakaze said:
"Jonin Rasa, I am but a portly aristocrat. It wouldn't take you three seconds to kill me. However, I hope you respect the interests of the Land of Wind. The prospect of a large-scale oasis in the north has the Daimyo and the nobles of the capital excited to the point of discussing it through the night. Once the oasis beneath the Jigo Mountains is complete, it will bring immense food, population, and wealth. At that time, we can better support the Hidden Sand. However, until that oasis is built, the Hidden Sand must suffer along with us and tighten its belt."
Only then did Ebizo realize the truth: to secure the oasis, the Daimyo intended to slash the Hidden Sand's budget to pay the reparations to Fire and Rivers.
Noticing Ebizo's hostile gaze, Sadakaze continued:
"Advisor Ebizo, it cannot be said that the Land of Wind failed to support this war with everything it had. The steel you requested—the Daimyo even provided an extra 20%. The Yellow Ironwood? We supplied it all, despite the price being six times what it was before the war. Those excess costs were borne by the state."
"We have done everything possible to establish that northern oasis. Even after Shapo Port was destroyed and twenty of the Daimyo's ships were sunk, the Land of Wind prepared to bear the loss in silence. Our conscience is clear; our support for the Hidden Sand was total. The war was lost, and now we must change the status of the northern desert through other means. Therefore, I am formally informing you that we will have to cut all funding."
"The palace in the Daimyo's capital, the construction of the capital itself, the paving of major roads, and the budget for the Hidden Sand—all will be reduced. I will formally travel to your village later to explain this decision to the Kazekage. We are forced into this. Don't you agree, Advisor Ebizo?"
Since crossing into this world, Yagami had met two high-ranking nobles: the Finance Minister of Fire, Ida Haneda, and now Ashikaga Sadakaze. Neither was a fool. Sadakaze might be fat, but his logic was ironclad. Yagami tried to think of a counter-argument that would allow the Sand to righteously refuse the Daimyo, but he found none.
The Hidden Sand could kill the Daimyo and Sadakaze. But if they did, the Land of Wind would collapse. A nation and its village are partners; the collapse of one is never good for the other.
Ebizo closed his eyes, his brow furrowed. After a mental storm, he was forced to accept. Rasa was the same. He could easily kill Sadakaze—he had killed many nobles who defied the village—but in this matter, the Sand truly lacked any leverage. It was their fault for losing the war. If they had beaten the Leaf and taken the Land of Rivers, the Jishui River wouldn't even be a topic of discussion. If the Daimyo of Rivers dared to say a word, a "Rain Ninja" would have used a puppet to end him.
Killing nobles can solve some problems, but not all. When the Daimyo's stance was firm and his reasons justified, the Sand had to yield. The budget cuts weren't a targeted attack on the village; the entire Land of Wind was going to endure hard times together.
Ebizo sighed. "Minister Sadakaze, I understand. I will seek forgiveness from the Kazekage and the Daimyo."
Sadakaze turned back. "Clan Head Shikaku, please continue."
***
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