Kurozai understood their reactions. After all, this was not a bad deal for the Land of Wind and Sunagakure at all. While the Land of Fire monopolized food in the ninja world, the other major nations also had their own advantages. The Land of Earth was the largest exporter of stone, granite, and other minerals and ores. Coal was another major resource, second only to the Land of Fire, and the Land of Earth also possessed various crystal resources.
The Land of Wind, on the other hand, was the largest exporter of gold and iron, as well as salt, sand, and fine clay. They also produced rare medicinal and poisonous materials, two sides of the same coin. Sand-based silica and glass production had not yet reached the level of a major industry in the ninja world, though the potential was enormous.
For the current Land of Lightning and Kumogakure, these resources were extremely desirable, even the ones not yet considered valuable by others. The Land of Wind's silica and fine sands, inexpensive crystals, and various minerals and metals, aside from iron, would all be traded to Kumogakure at favorable prices. Ron was already monopolizing many of these undervalued resources through the Land of Lightning's international trade networks. With formal agreements between nations, this would expand to an even greater scale and quantity.
Most importantly, Ron felt no guilt. The people of the Land of Wind, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Water would be the ones harvesting these resources, meaning more jobs and a stronger economy for them. Kumogakure would not exploit them by buying everything at dirt-cheap prices. Ron intended to pursue fair deals and sustainable development, not the complete exploitation of local populations, simply because he could; after all, he also wanted to do his part in the already tragic world. Of course, he was not a saint; he also wanted to raise the Natural Energy Level of the Ninja world.
Of course, Kurozai had another goal in mind.
"We have another deal. I hope you can take a look," he said as he handed out a second set of documents.
In the geography of the ninja world, the Land of Lightning lay in the northeast, and the Land of Wind in the southwest if viewed from the Land of Fire at the center of the map.
Roran sat at the far southwestern edge of the desert. Although it was mostly within the Land of Wind's desert region, Roran itself was only a small territory under its sphere of influence. If one traveled even farther southwest, crossing the sea, they would eventually reach the northeastern edge of the Land of Lightning.
The Land of Lightning wanted that territory.
Though it was not formally owned by the Land of Wind, allowing the Land of Lightning to occupy it would essentially extend Kumogakure's reach directly toward their borders. Under normal circumstances, such a request would be concerning.
But at this moment, neither the Third Kazekage nor the Daimyo felt worried.
They were trembling with excitement.
Because what Kumogakure was offering in exchange for that sandy, seemingly worthless piece of land was simply too difficult to refuse.
The Land of Lightning had listed many reasons for requesting that territory. Having control over that piece of land would allow Sunagakure and the Land of Wind to receive a direct supply line from the Land of Lightning, one that did not need to pass through the Land of Snow, the Land of Earth, the Land of Fire, or sea routes near those nations. All other paths were longer, forced them to skirt the borders of powerful countries, and were far more uncertain and costly, especially during wartime.
But Ebizo did not care about those logistical arguments.
He cared about what was being offered.
"Ten percent below market price for food… five percent for kunai, shuriken, and other war supplies… and in addition, you're offering the Daimyo's mansion thirty billion ryo? Or ten billion ryo plus two S-rank techniques, one of them wind-natured? Are you serious!?" Ebizo said, his shock evident.
Everyone turned to Kurozai.a
Kurozai simply nodded. "We know Roran has its own forces, but we do not plan to wage war. We only want Roran and a small portion of the surrounding desert territory, technically belonging to the Land of Wind, but no one lives there. It's pure desert, no oases, no settlements, just sand. We will negotiate with Roran and offer them proper conditions to come under the Land of Lightning's protection from now on. If you approve."
"Most importantly, Kumogakure has no intention of invading the Land of Wind. After Roran, it's nothing but a dead desert for a long stretch before reaching any habitable region. And yes, the money and the ninjutsu are real. We are offering them."
As Kurozai finished speaking, the room fell silent, but it wasn't hesitation.
It was a calculation.
The southwestern region of the Land of Wind was almost entirely a lifeless desert, with only Roran standing as an exception. Even if Kumogakure wanted to invade, it would be one of the worst possible routes. Completely impractical.
The Daimyo and his officials were already thinking: If only we could convince the Kazekage to skip the S-rank jutsu and simply accept the thirty billion ryo outright…
They knew it was impossible, but the temptation was overwhelming.
Meanwhile, the ninja side was thinking something entirely different:
How do we secure a portion of that ten billion ryo for the village?
Everyone had their own reasons to want the deal.
And none of them had anything to do with the desert, or the thought of rejecting, most importantly, even if Kumogakure invaded the desert was their home ground, but even the smart Ebizo thought this was unlikely, because these deals were going to make Sunagakure strong and wealthy especially with the ability of Kazekage's magnet release and other ninja clan who mastered the secret technique of sand manipulation.