That evening, the representative of the Hidden Mist—Kisame Hoshigaki, who had escaped the previous battle—arrived at Shiraishi's inn to pay a visit.
"Maki, why don't you go back and rest for a bit?" Shiraishi said calmly.
Regarding the Hidden Mist's reaction speed, Shiraishi found it almost absurd. A violent conflict had erupted just that afternoon, and by evening, a plenipotentiary was already handling the fallout.
This suggested the Mist had prepared a "peace negotiation" contingency even before the ambush had occurred.
In reality, while the Mist leadership suspected Mangetsu and his team might lose, they hadn't expected such a catastrophic defeat. With top-tier talents like Mangetsu Hozuki and Tenyue Kaguya dead, the Mist found themselves backed into a corner.
"You intend to reclaim the Hiramekarei?"
Shiraishi, having just returned from the fireworks festival with Maki, was dressed in a purple yukata. He looked at the visibly uneasy Kisame with a touch of mockery in his tone. "And what price does the Hidden Mist intend to pay to exchange for such a thing?"
"This is what Master Fuguki Suikazan ordered me to bring."
Kisame retrieved an exquisite box from his pack. Upon opening it, fifteen skill cards were revealed, neatly arranged inside.
"I have already visited the Kitajima family earlier; they helped me perform a valuation," Kisame explained quickly, noting Shiraishi's gaze.
The Kitajima family's arms trade now spanned multiple nations, including high-level contacts within the Mist. Thus, Fuguki and Kisame made a point of consulting them regarding Shiraishi's tastes.
It was well known that, aside from powerful secret techniques, Black Mist Shiraishi had an obsession with collecting these rare cards. To other villages, these indestructible cards were little more than curiosities of negligible tactical value.
Fifteen cards—mostly white and green with a few blue—represented the absolute limit of what the Mist was willing to bid.
As Shiraishi's strength grew, he had become more selective; unless a card was of Gold quality or higher, he rarely bothered to train the skill.
While the Five Great Villages were aware of his hobby, they dismissed it as a harmless eccentricity. The Mist even felt they were getting a bargain, trading "useless" cards for a legendary Ninja Sword.
Kisame watched Shiraishi's unreadable face, his entire body tense. Being forced by Fuguki to negotiate with this man was terrifying; he genuinely feared Shiraishi might simply kill him and take the cards.
Despite Shiraishi not being inherently bloodthirsty, Fuguki was a fool—the Mist had no moral high ground here, and their "post-battle processing" was a joke.
"You think fifteen collector's cards are enough to buy back the Hiramekarei? Does the Mist value the sword so poorly?"
Shiraishi's words made Kisame's eyelid twitch. "Then, what is your meaning, Excellency?"
"In addition to the fifteen cards, I require three A-rank Water Release techniques."
Three A-rank techniques were within the Mist's "acceptable" loss range. Though highly valuable, a jutsu's effectiveness depended on the caster; at Shiraishi's level, the "rank" of a technique mattered less than its application. Shiraishi simply didn't want the Mist to get off easy.
"I cannot decide on three A-rank techniques. However, I can offer two A-rank and two B-rank techniques as an alternative," Kisame countered.
He wasn't a natural negotiator; having blurted out his bottom line immediately, Shiraishi accepted the terms.
After a brief deliberation, the deal was struck. The two B-rank techniques were Exploding Water Colliding Wave, which could create a localized lake, and Great Water Arm Technique, which utilized moisture to grant immense cutting power.
The first A-rank technique was Heavenly Weeping, originally developed by the Second Hokage and later stolen by the Mist. It launched high-velocity water needles from the mouth—an unexpected "rain" from a cloudless sky that targeted vitals.
The second was the Super Water Encampment Wall, an improved version of the standard Water Wall. It produced a violent, wave-like barrier that rotated to eliminate blind spots.
Unlike the standard version, the "Super" variant was more chakra-efficient and allowed the user to maintain visibility of the surroundings.
Just as the exchange concluded, lightning flashed, and thunder roared over the Land of Rivers' coastline. A sudden storm descended. Both men sensed a bizarre shift in the atmosphere.
The gale-driven rain lashed the port, putting guards on high alert. Suddenly, an eerie cry—resembling a prehistoric colossal whale—echoed across the city.
"That sound..."
The rain turned violent. A massive wave rose from the sea. As the whale's cry grew louder, the wave surged into a terrifying tsunami.
This was no natural disaster; it was being controlled by living creatures. Shiraishi's glasses system pinged, detecting a pod of marine life gathering outside the port. At the center was a whale-like creature of a stunning Purple grade.
At that moment, twelve Sand ninjas, including Shiraishi, simultaneously channeled Earth Release. A massive earthen rampart rose along the shore.
As the tsunami struck, Shiraishi's silver sand coated the walls, creating a composite defense that held firm against the crushing weight of the ocean.
As the waves shattered, the "Ancient Whale" let out an angry roar. The sea formed a massive whirlpool, preparing an even more violent assault on the human settlement.
Kisame prepared to slip away during the chaos, only to find Maki blocking his path. Multiple sealing scrolls unfurled behind her, and her expression was deadly serious.
Kisame lunged with a kunai, but it was intercepted by a barrier of scrolls. Maki retaliated with a Wind Release: Beast Wave Palm, the vacuum blades nearly catching Kisame off guard.
"Until the chaos in this city is settled, I must ask you to stay a while."
As a ninja of the Sand, Maki would do her part. While Shiraishi led the defense against the sea, she would ensure this Mist operative didn't cause further trouble.
The two faced off for a moment before Kisame lowered his kunai and shrugged. "Fine. But I must leave by dawn. I have my own orders from my village."
Recognizing her as a genuine Sand Jonin and not wanting further trouble in his current state, Kisame stood down.
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