Sasuke said, "This matter has nothing to do with Naruto."
"It has nothing to do with Naruto?"
Satoshi sneered, "Kumogakure attempted to abduct the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and the Uchiha clan's Sharingan. This is an egregious crime."
Naruto: ?
Sasuke: !
"Alright, you two can go back now." Satoshi waved his hand.
"Huh?" Naruto was a bit confused and turned to look at Sasuke.
Sasuke was a little smarter and understood. "I understand."
"Leave it to me." Satoshi put down the scroll. "You are Konoha ninjas. No matter what, I will protect you."
Hearing this, the tsundere Sasuke gave Satoshi a surprised look. When he noticed Satoshi looking at him too, he quickly averted his gaze.
"You two come to my house for dinner tonight. Kakashi-senpai will be there too."
Sasuke pulled Naruto away, while Naruto was still muttering softly, "Sasuke, what did you understand? Why don't I quite get it?"
"You don't need to understand too much. Just charge in fiercely when there's a fight."
Are you making fun of me?
Watching the two youngsters leave the office, Shikaku, who had been standing in the shadows, finally stepped out.
Ever since Satoshi took office, he had promoted many talented individuals from within the clan. Naturally, he wouldn't overlook a brilliant mind like Shikaku.
"Is this really going to be alright?"
Shikaku, ever cautious, quickly thought of several unfavorable outcomes.
Satoshi retorted, "What could be the problem? I'm already being merciful by not cutting that brute down with one strike. Do those brats from Kumogakure dare to come knocking for him?"
Shikaku's brows furrowed slightly, this was precisely his concern.
Back then, when the Hyuga clan's young lady was kidnapped, wasn't it Neji's father who ultimately had to be sacrificed?
And this time, the ones involved were the Hokage's two students, which made things a bit troublesome. This was no less troublesome than the incident back then.
Just as Shikaku habitually began to deduce various possibilities and countermeasures, his brain working at high speed, Satoshi had already neatly tidied up the documents on his desk.
"That's enough for today. We'll deal with tomorrow's matters tomorrow."
Satoshi once read a book that essentially said if you can't lead a team, you'll work yourself to death. So he delegated all the village's affairs, big and small.
Regardless of ninja clan, the capable would take charge.
The ninjas who received assignments were very happy, believing they had gained the trust of Hokage-sama.
Satoshi, who could now slack off, was also very happy. He could finally leave work on time.
A win-win situation.
—
Kumogakure, Raikage's office.
Meanwhile, A saw his subordinates, beaten beyond recognition.
"As expected, they fell for it." A snorted.
He knew Ōnoki considered him a hothead. But he believed he only looked foolish. In reality, he was very shrewd.
Of course, this was also thanks to his strategist, Dodai.
This active role as a pawn was also to secure his own interests.
If it really came to war, Kumogakure had the support of two other villages, so Konoha was nothing to fear.
Besides, would Hiruzen's chosen successor be able to fight?
Yes, he could fight a little.
But what good was being able to fight? This was war. They could bury him with sheer numbers.
Moreover, Satoshi was only tough in words. If it really came to a fight, he might end up like that softie Hiruzen.
Win and pay reparations.
Lose and also pay reparations.
For Kumogakure, it was a sure-win business.
A took out a letter he had prepared long ago and handed it to C.
"Go. The negotiations are up to you. Remember our bottom line."
"Please rest assured, Raikage-sama."
Two days later, C arrived at Konoha .
At this time, Konoha's high-ranking officials were engaged in a heated discussion about the next direction of development when an Anbu appeared at the door.
"Hokage-sama, the Kumogakure ninja C has arrived and specifically asked to see you."
Hearing that someone from Kumogakure had come, everyone's smiles faded.
Raikage A was a bit troublesome.
The incident with Hinata back then had made Konoha lose their reputation. Today, with his subordinate arriving, it surely meant trouble.
"Understood. Let him wait. Come, everyone, let's continue."
Satoshi held a small notebook, diligently recording every word everyone said. However, the conference room fell into silence.
The ninja clan representatives, who had been discussing fiercely just moments ago, all remained silent.
"Hmm?" Satoshi looked up and scanned the room. "Are you done?"
"Cough, cough, Hokage-sama, we have a guest. Perhaps we should..."
"Alright."
Satoshi poured a cup of hot water. It was a bit hot, he'd drink it later.
In the Hokage's office, C had been waiting for a long time.
"What is it?"
Satoshi walked to his desk, sat down, and asked straightforwardly.
C took out the letter and handed it to Satoshi. He then recounted the story of Naruto and Sasuke brutally beating their village's ninjas.
In the Ninja World, friction between villages was actually quite normal. Every day, it was either you beat me or I beat you.
But in the words of Kumogakure, Naruto and Sasuke became aggressors who actively provoked and indiscriminately killed innocent people. They disregarded Ninja World peace and severely trampled on Kumogakure's dignity.
"For this matter, we demand an explanation from Konoha."
"Kumogakure, what do you want?"
C's heart settled, thinking he had seized control of the negotiation's rhythm.
He stepped forward half a pace, staring intently at Satoshi. "Hand over the murderers, Naruto and Sasuke. We will take them back to Kumogakure and deal with them according to the law."
"What?"
Upon hearing this, Shikaku, who was standing nearby, looked at C in astonishment.
These brats must be crazy.
Naruto, Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
Sasuke, a member of the Uchiha, possessing the powerful Sharingan.
And both of them were the Hokage's students.
This was practically rubbing the Hokage's dignity in the dirt.
His brain worked at high speed.
Shikaku knew that the current Hokage was usually lazy, but deep down, he was a madman.
With C being so aggressive, if the verbal exchange got out of hand, the consequences would be unimaginable.
He had to find a way to stabilize the situation first, to buy time.
Just as Shikaku racked his brain, thinking of how to smooth things over and temporarily appease them.
"Get out."
C was stunned.
What did he hear?
Shikaku was also stunned. Did Satoshi just tell C to get out?
After a brief moment of dazed, C regained his composure.
"Hokage-sama, please mind your words."
"I told you to get out. I don't want to say it again."
C stared blankly at Satoshi.
It was said that when his village head negotiated with Hiruzen back then, Hiruzen softened after just a little scare.
But why wasn't this guy afraid at all? What gave him the right?
"Hokage-sama." C took a step forward.
"I hereby, on behalf of Kumogakure , formally demand the handover of..."
Satoshi moved. He teleported in front of C, and in the latter's horrified gaze, he kicked him.
Bang!
Crack!
Boom!
C was sent flying backward, violently smashing through the thick wall of the office and landing on the street.
"So painful..."
As soon as C landed, he was surrounded by a group of Uchiha.
Satoshi's figure appeared at the edge of the huge hole in the wall, looking down at the crowd watching.
"Deduct it. He has to pay for the wall repairs."
"Understood."
Tekka and Inaho punched C hard. "Where's the money!"
C was already dumbfounded.
The Ninja World said that everyone in Kumogakure had a bad temper, but compared to Konoha, they were practically a bunch of good kids.
Since ancient times, when had an envoy ever been detained during negotiations?
Do you Konoha people still have any sense of reason?
"Hokage-sama! You will pay for your actions! Ah!"
Inaho pulled out a short sword and brutally stabbed C in the thigh.
"Say one more word, and I'll skin you alive."
"Take him away."
Watching C being taken away, Satoshi returned to the conference room. He sat down and took a sip of water. Hmm, it was still warm.