After the Konoha negotiation team of five left the main camp, they headed towards a certain oasis to the north.
Entering the oasis, the Sand ninja had already cleared the Land of Wind residents from the surrounding area.
Under the harsh sunlight, three large parasols were set up. Beneath them sat the three parties for the negotiations.
Under the central parasol was the Land of Wind Daimyō's special envoy, acting as a witness for these talks.
Under the western parasol, the Sunagakure representatives were already in place.
Yōkō looked over. It was Ebizō, Rasa, Matsu, two aides, and one Sunagakure Anbu member.
Ebizō stared intently at Copper Fox, watching him take his seat.
Within Sunagakure, they referred to Hatake Sakumo as the White Fang. They didn't know why the White Fang hadn't come.
The title 'White Fang' would slowly spread, just like 'Copper Fox', remembered by every Sand ninja.
The muscles on Ebizō's face twitched as he suppressed his rage.
For these talks, his sister Chiyo had originally intended to come. Ebizō had gone to great lengths to calm her down and prevent her from attending.
He was precisely afraid that if they encountered the White Fang or Copper Fox here, his sister would turn the meeting into a revenge mission.
His nephew was actually dead. His nephew's puppet skills were so exquisite; even his sister couldn't claim certain victory against him.
The Land of Wind Daimyō's special envoy seated in the main position, the Left Minister of the Taiseiin, Ashikaga Sadakaze, put down his fan and said to the Konoha side:
"Clan Head Rokaku, you've had a long journey. It must have been arduous."
"Please, Clan Head Rokaku, Konoha's Commander, negotiate properly with Sunagakure."
"I will first state the Daimyō's position on his behalf. The Daimyō believes the war should end."
After speaking, Left Minister Ashikaga Sadakaze said no more.
From his subtle praise of the Konoha side, it was clear the Land of Wind Daimyō was extremely dissatisfied with Sunagakure's war performance.
Training puppet masters consumed far more resources than training ordinary ninja.
The Land of Wind sent steel and expensive Yellow Hardwood to Sunagakure, only for the trained puppet masters to be utterly vulnerable before Konoha's powerful ninja.
Sunagakure's widely praised genius puppet master Toci got himself killed, leading to the White Fang bringing reinforcements to the main battlefield.
How could the Land of Wind Daimyō not be furious?
I gave you Sunagakure all the support you asked for. What have you given me in return?
The destruction of Saba Port? A crushing defeat on the battlefield?
No wonder the Land of Wind Daimyō was disappointed. In a war between hidden villages, being weak is the original sin.
Nara Rokaku spoke:
"Lord Ashikaga Sadakaze, Special Envoy of the Land of Wind Daimyō, Elder Ebizō."
"I represent Konoha today for the 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 perform missions must obtain Konoha's permission, complete procedures, and pay taxes and fees."
Ebizō slightly lowered his head, looking at the table surface.
During the over half-year duration of the war, Sunagakure lost nearly 2000 ninja, and in the end gained nothing.
He had no choice but to agree to Konoha's first demand.
Nara Rokaku continued:
"Second, do not interfere with the Yoshimizu River."
"The Yoshimizu River is a major river flowing through the capital of the Land of Rivers. Sand ninja must not divert water from the limestone caves into the northern Land of Wind, nor damage the Yoshimizu River section within the Land of Rain."
"A hydroelectric power station has been built on the Yoshimizu River now, making it even more important."
"Any action by Sunagakure to damage the Yoshimizu River will directly trigger a declaration of war from the Land of Fire and Konoha."
Ashikaga Sadakaze suddenly spoke:
"Clan Head Rokaku, there's no need to be so absolute on this matter."
"His Highness the Land of Wind Daimyō has already dispatched envoys to visit the Land of Fire Daimyō and the Land of Rivers Daimyō."
"The Yoshimizu River has abundant water flow. Planned, small-scale diversions of some water from beneath the Yoshioka Mountain Range shouldn't significantly impact the Land of Rivers' capital."
"The Land of Wind hopes for another oasis in the north. Since this demand cannot be met through war, my Land of Wind does not mind paying some resources, paying the diplomatic cost to resolve this through negotiations with the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers."
Rasa then spoke:
"Lord Ashikaga Sadakaze, the Land of Wind's total resources are fixed. We must absolutely not cede too much in the negotiations."
"Otherwise, from where does His Highness the Daimyō plan to compensate for the losses?"
Ashikaga Sadakaze looked at Rasa more closely. This Jonin has a good head on his shoulders, asking the key question. Ashikaga Sadakaze said:
"Jonin Rasa, I am merely a pot-bellied noble. It wouldn't take you three seconds to kill me."
"However, I hope you will also face the interests of the Land of Wind squarely."
"There is hope for a large oasis to appear in the north of the Land of Wind. His Highness the Daimyō and all the nobles in the capital were so excited upon hearing this news that they discussed it all night."
"Once the large oasis beneath the Yoshioka Mountain Range is completed, it will bring substantial food, population, and wealth."
"At that time, we can support Sunagakure even better."
"However, before that oasis is fully developed, Sunagakure will unfortunately have to endure some hardship and tighten its belt along with us."
Only then did Ebizō understand. To pay the compensation to the Land of Fire and Land of Rivers for the oasis beneath the Yoshioka Mountain Range, the Daimyō intended to reduce funding allocated to Sunagakure.
Noting Ebizō's unfriendly gaze, Ashikaga Sadakaze continued:
"Elder Ebizō, in this war, my Land of Wind could not be said to have lacked full support."
"The steel you requested – the Daimyō even decided to supply 20% more."
"The Yellow Hardwood you requested – we supplied it all as well, and the price of Yellow Hardwood was 6 times the pre-war price."
"The extra,above-budget procurement costs were all borne by the Land of Wind."
"The Land of Wind's desire to establish an oasis in the north... we have done everything possible."
"Even the destruction of Saba Port, the sinking of His Highness the Daimyō's 20 ships – the Land of Wind is prepared to silently absorb those losses."
"We have a clear conscience. Our support for Sunagakure has been exhaustive."
"The war was lost. Now we have no choice but to change the terrible situation in the northern desert through other means."
"For this reason, I formally inform you, Elder Ebizō, that we will have to cut all funding."
"The main hall of the Daimyō's Tenshu Castle, construction in the capital, the paving of the Land of Wind's main roads, including the funding for Sunagakure – all will be reduced."
"I will subsequently proceed formally to Sunagakure to explain the Daimyō's decision to the Kazekage-sama."
"We are also forced into this situation. What do you say, Elder Ebizō?"
Since transmigrating, Yōkō had met two major nobles: the Land of Fire's Ōkura-kyō (Minister of the Treasury) Itada Hatada, and the one before him now, Ashikaga Sadakaze.
Both these nobles were quite capable.
Ashikaga Sadakaze was pot-bellied, but his thinking was clear, his exposition logically connected.
Yōkō thought carefully but couldn't come up with a good counter-strategy that would allow Sunagakure to righteously refuse the Land of Wind Daimyō's decision.
Sunagakure could just kill both the Daimyō and Ashikaga Sadakaze.
But if they did that, the Land of Wind would collapse first.
The One Country, One Village system is a partnership; the collapse of one side is not good for the other.
Ebizō closed his eyes, frowning slightly. After some mental storming, he had to accept it.
Rasa beside him was the same.
He certainly could easily kill Ashikaga Sadakaze. He had killed many nobles who defied Sunagakure.
But in this matter, Sunagakure truly had no moral high ground.
Who told them they lost the war?
If they had defeated Konoha and captured the Land of Rivers, then the Yoshimizu River issue wouldn't be a problem at all.
If the Land of Rivers Daimyō dared say one word too many, 'Rain ninja' would use puppets to slaughter that Daimyō.
Killing nobles can solve some problems, but not all problems.
When the Land of Wind Daimyō's attitude is firm and his reasons justified, even Sunagakure has to concede.
The funding cuts weren't targeting Sunagakure specifically; the entire Land of Wind, from top to bottom, was sharing the hardship.
Ebizō sighed and said, "Lord Ashikaga Sadakaze, I understand. I will apologise to the Kazekage-sama and seek forgiveness from the Daimyō."
Ashikaga Sadakaze turned and said, "Clan Head Rokaku, please continue."
***
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(Chapter End)