Having said that, Nara Shikatsune picked up another list from his side and gently placed it on the table:
"As for mission shares... the Land of Hot Springs, the Land of Frost, and the Land of Rice Fields—Kumogakure's activity in these three countries itself posed a serious threat to Konoha's border security, and this war further proved that point."
"Reclaiming the primary control of missions in these areas is a necessary step for Konoha to maintain its own security. If not for the peace and tranquility of the entire Ninja World, our demands would be far more extensive."
"Perhaps, we would demand that Kumogakure completely withdraw from weapon trade in the Land of Iron and relinquish its maritime navigation rights with the Land of Water."
Furui's forehead was covered in a fine sheen of cold sweat.
The other party not only wanted to continuously exploit them economically but also to firmly grasp Kumogakure's throat strategically, and even openly covet Kumogakure's Ninjutsu inheritance!
He felt a wave of dizziness, as if he could see Kumogakure's continuous decline over the next few decades due to endless huge reparations, depletion of internal resources, and shrinking mission shares...
"Resource offsets... the price must be fair! It cannot be unilaterally set by Konoha!"
Furui made his final struggle: "And the Ninjutsu scrolls, this touches upon the very foundation of Hidden Cloud Village, there can be absolutely no concession!"
"The price can be negotiated."
Nara Shikatsune unexpectedly relented, but his tone immediately turned cold:
"However, the standard for pricing needs to refer to existing market prices in the Ninja World and be subject to Konoha's final approval. As for Ninjutsu..."
"Lord Furui, which is more important: those rigid Ninjutsu scrolls, or a Village that is in urgent need of stability after the war, requiring resources and strength to rebuild?"
"I believe you and the Third Raikage of your Village are intelligent people and will make the wisest choice."
"Rebuild the Village"—these four words were like a heavy hammer, shattering all of Furui's psychological defenses.
Konoha already knew! They knew everything!
They were clearly using this disaster to brazenly extort Kumogakure!
Furui slumped back against the chair, as if all the strength had been drained from his body.
He closed his eyes, and the Third Raikage's heavy and urgent gaze before his departure flashed through his mind. After a long while, he reopened his eyes, his voice hoarse, filled with endless exhaustion and humiliation:
"...For the direct reparations, the initial payment of three hundred million ryo... Kumogakure can raise that, but a hundred and twenty-five million ryo annually for the subsequent eight years... is truly unbearable. Can the period be extended, and the annual payment lowered?"
"The period is already the bottom line."
Nara Shikatsune did not back down, "But considering your genuine difficulties, if your side can provide an additional fifty million ryo worth of Chakra metal as a 'sincerity deposit' within one month..."
"Konoha can consider postponing the payment of the first batch of reparations by half a month, to allow your Village more time to raise the funds."
In reality, given Kumogakure's consistently poor reputation, Nara Shikatsune and Senju Mori estimated that this treaty would probably only last about five years before Kumogakure would tear it up once its strength recovered.
But that was already enough; the total compensation of one and a half billion ryo was already a huge profit. As for the remaining five hundred million ryo, it could be considered payment for the justification of the next war.
Furui, however, almost vomited blood. In his opinion, this was not a concession, but an intensified plunder! Konoha not only demanded reparations but also an upfront extortion of a huge 'deposit'!
But he knew he had no choice.
The towering figure of the Eight-Tails Gyuki appeared in his mind; every second of delay meant an increase in casualties for the Village.
"...Alright... I... on behalf of Kumogakure... accept the terms."
These few short words seemed to exhaust all the strength of his life. His hand trembled as he picked up the writing brush, which felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.
On the official document pushed over by the assistant, he slowly and heavily signed his name stroke by stroke. Then he took the seal given to him by the Raikage, dipped it fully in ink, and pressed it down firmly.
The bright red seal, like a brand forged in blood, was forever engraved upon this humiliating treaty.
Nara Shikatsune watched him complete the signing and calmly signaled the scribe to collect Konoha's copy of the document.
He stood up, adjusted his robes, and his gaze swept over Furui, who looked as if his bones had been removed, then said indifferently:
"The agreement takes effect immediately. After Kumogakure pays the first batch of reparations, Konoha will gradually arrange for troop withdrawal. We hope your side will abide by the agreement and cherish this hard-won peace."
With that, he turned first and, with the Konoha delegation, walked steadily out of the tent.
Outside the tent, the sun was bright, illuminating the calm and unhurried backs of Nara Shikatsune and the others, forming a stark contrast with the deathly silence and despair of the Kumogakure representatives inside the tent...
Furui didn't know how he walked back to the Kumogakure fortress.
All the way, he felt light-headed, and the treaty scroll in his hand felt like a red-hot branding iron, making his entire body and soul tremble.
The Cloud Hidden Ninjas clearly showed no unusual looks, but Furui always had the illusion of being excluded, as if everyone was silently blaming him.
In a room on the top floor of the fortress, Third Raikage A stood alone, his towering back appearing especially heavy in the dim light.
When Furui silently knelt on the ground, holding the treaty high above his head, the air in the entire room solidified.
A slowly turned around, took the scroll, but did not open it immediately. He only asked in a deep voice: "Is it settled?"
"This subordinate... is incompetent."
Furui's throat was dry, his voice seemingly forced out, "Konoha's terms, not a single one changed..."
A barely maintained his composure and gradually unrolled the scroll.
But as his gaze swept across it, his fist clenched tightly, and the hard scroll shaft creaked under the strain.
"Good... what a Nara Shikatsune!" A's voice was squeezed through his teeth, every word carrying a thunderous rage.
"What a Senju Mori!"
However, to Furui's surprise, the expected thunderous fury did not descend. A merely stared fixedly at the treaty, his chest heaving violently, but in the end, it turned into a long sigh.
"You did well." A's voice suddenly became terrifyingly calm, "In this situation... if it were me, I would also have no choice but to sign."
These words were like the last straw, breaking Furui's taut nerves.
"Precisely because of this... this subordinate cannot forgive himself even more."
Furui slowly raised his head, his eyes filled with a dead, ashen despair, "I personally handed Kumogakure's future... to the enemy."
"Whoosh!"
A flash of golden lightning, and A's figure had already appeared before Furui. The short sword in Furui's hand was firmly grasped by A, its sharp blade unable to even cut A's palm, which was covered in Lightning Release Chakra.
"Foolish!" A's voice was like a thunderclap, "Do you think death can wash away this shame?"
Furui stubbornly looked up, his eyes full of determination: "At least... it can show my attitude to the Village!"
"Your attitude?" A snatched the short sword and casually threw it into the corner, "Your attitude is to live, to personally witness the moment Kumogakure rises again!"
Seeing Furui's still stubborn gaze, A's tone softened slightly:
"Listen, Furui, what Kumogakure needs most right now is not martyrs, but Ninjas who can bear heavy burdens. What else can your death bring besides making Konoha laugh?"
Furui's body trembled slightly, and he finally collapsed, lowering his head:
"But... Lord Raikage, I... I truly cannot face the Village's future..."
"Then face it with me!"
A's tone was decisive.
"This shame needs to be washed away by all Cloud Hidden Ninjas together. I want you to live, live to personally see Konoha's defeat, to see the moment Konoha pays the price for what it has done today!"
A helped Furui up and said in a deep voice:
"Furui, your responsibility is not over yet. The Eight-Tails is rampaging through the Village. We must protect the Village, protect Kumogakure, protect those we cherish."
"Order the entire army to return to the Village immediately."
After briefly comforting Furui, A didn't even have time for much anger before he hurriedly led his army back towards Hidden Cloud Village.
He did not retain any troops at the border, bringing all the Ninjas under his command back to Hidden Cloud Village.
This was not out of trust in Konoha, but because he understood that in his absence, his Ninja army, even if defending from the fortress, would not be able to stop Senju Mori and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Rather than being indecisive, it was better to withdraw completely and do his best to return to the Village to deal with the rampaging Eight-Tails.