Hokage's Office.
Minato looked at Shimura Ken in front of him, then at the list he presented, his brow slightly furrowed.
On the list were the names of all eligible young shinobi of the Shimura, twenty-seven in total.
Next to each name, four characters were marked in vermillion ink, "At your disposal."
"Elder Ken, what is the meaning of this?" Minato's voice betrayed no emotion.
Shimura Ken's posture was very humble.
"Hokage-sama, Danzō… his sins are monstrous. He has brought indelible shame upon our clan."
"But the loyalty of the rest of the Shimura to the Land of Fire and to Daimyo-sama has never wavered."
"We… we, the Shimura, also wish to serve Daimyo-sama."
He suddenly looked up, his cloudy old eyes abruptly becoming sharp.
"Is there still a path for the descendants of a criminal to serve the country?"
"We beg Hokage-sama to show us a clear way."
Minato fell silent.
He looked at the old man, his thoughts churning.
The Daimyo had not issued any orders specifically targeting the Shimura.
But this silence was like a blade that could fall at any moment, making the entire Shimura live in constant dread.
Now, they could no longer bear it.
Minato was inclined to agree, for he was not blind. Everyone in Konoha knew what kind of life the Shimura led when Danzō was alive.
However, he could not make the decision on this matter.
"I will report your intentions truthfully to Daimyo-sama."
"As for whether Daimyo-sama is willing to give you a chance, I cannot guarantee it."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama. Thank you, Hokage-sama." Even a vague answer gave Shimura Ken hope.
He bowed respectfully, performed a deep salute, then tremblingly withdrew.
Watching Shimura Ken's hunched back, Minato picked up the weighty list with a sigh.
Once upon a time, the Shimura were also a prominent clan in Konoha. When had they ever been so humble?
He organized this application, along with the lists from other clans, and sent someone to deliver them to the Fire Capital at the fastest possible speed.
The fate of the Shimura would be decided by that monarch with a single word.
Meanwhile, far away in the Fire Capital, negotiations were underway.
Daimyo Manor, Auxiliary Hall for Political Affairs.
The hall was warm as spring.
But the atmosphere was tense.
Finance Minister Tanaka Shigeru wore a slight smile.
Across from him were the negotiating representatives from Iwa and Suna.
Iwa's envoy was a solidly built middle-aged man, but his face looked haggard.
Clearly, these seven days of negotiations had consumed a great deal of his energy.
He pointed to the draft trade agreement, which had been revised over twenty times, and said in a hoarse voice, "Lord Tanaka, we have felt the sincerity of the Land of Fire."
"We are very grateful that the Land of Fire is willing to open exports of white sugar, silk, and refined sea salt."
"However…"
He changed his tone, pointing to one of the clauses in the draft.
"Regarding the establishment of a trade transit station on the border of the three countries, led by the Land of Fire in construction, with Iwa and Suna jointly funding it…"
"This point, we cannot accept."
Beside him, Suna's envoy also nodded in agreement, his eyes narrowed, flickering with the unique vigilance and cunning of a desert people.
"Exactly."
"Trade should be free, with merchants carrying goods and traveling between their respective towns."
"Why must a fixed trade station be established?"
"This sounds less like trade."
"It sounds more like building a military fortress for the Land of Fire on the border."
This accusation was as sharp as a blade.
Tanaka's smile remained unchanged.
Instead, a young man beside him stood up.
The young man was barely in his early twenties, with a handsome face, and his brand-new official uniform made his posture appear upright.
Facing the envoys of the two countries, he was as steady as a mountain.
This man was Asaba Toru, a trusted confidant who had followed Arashi throughout his rise.
He bowed slightly, then spoke in a clear voice, neither humble nor arrogant.
"Sirs, I believe you have misunderstood."
"The reason for proposing the establishment of a trade transit station is not to restrict freedom. On the contrary, it is to ensure the freedom and safety of traveling merchants."
He analyzed issues such as banditry on the border, trade route security, and tariff barriers one by one.
He also compared the long-term expenditure of issuing missions with the one-time investment of establishing a transit station.
In his words, he painted a blueprint of efficiency, safety, and mutual benefit.
His words were watertight.
However, the envoys of the two countries were clearly well-versed in this and did not fall for it.
"Easy to say."
Suna's envoy snorted coldly, placing his teacup down heavily. "Young man, your eloquence is good. But we are discussing national interests, not empty promises."
Iwa's envoy added, "Construction led by the Land of Fire is inherently unfair."
"By then, whether the trade station contains shops or barracks will probably not be up to us to decide."
"We cannot accept this proposal."
The negotiations instantly reached a stalemate.
The air seemed to solidify, and Asaba's brow furrowed slightly.
Just then, Tanaka who had been silent, finally spoke. "Envoys, please do not get angry."
He looked at Asaba, feigning reproach.
"Asaba, your idea is good. It is for the common prosperity of our three countries."
"But you are still too young. When considering issues, you cannot only approach them from the perspective of our Land of Fire. You must also understand the concerns of the two envoys."
These words sounded like criticism, but they also eased the tense atmosphere.
The expressions of the two envoys improved somewhat.
Tanaka then continued, "Since you both have doubts about this point, then… why do we not both take a step back?"
"The trade station still needs to be built. For everyone's safety and interests, this point cannot be shaken."
"However, the method of construction can be changed."
Looking at the surprised and uncertain gazes of the two envoys, Tanaka presented his plan.
"How about this, the construction of the trade station will be jointly supervised by representatives from our three countries. The number of garrison shinobi must also be completely equal. No one can have more, and no one can have less."
He paused, looking at the increasingly serious envoys, and continued to add weight to his proposal. "Furthermore, the highest administrative officer of the trade station will not be appointed by any one country. Rather, a management committee composed of representatives from our three countries will jointly manage the trade station."
"In this way, it will be open and transparent, with equal power. You two should be reassured, right?"
In the secret room just a wall away.
Arashi observed with interest through the specially made one-way crystal.
Excellent.
This good cop, bad cop routine was perfectly executed.
First, throw out harsh conditions to test the bottom line and draw fire.
When the other side strongly reacts and negotiations reach a stalemate, then voluntarily make concessions and propose a plan that has already been prepared.
This will give the opponents the illusion that it was their strenuous struggle that forced the other side to make concessions.
Indeed, the older ginger is spicier.
As expected.
In the auxiliary hall, after a brief moment of stunned surprise, the eyes of the two envoys immediately showed delight.
Joint supervision, equal shinobi numbers, joint management.
Was this not the most ideal plan they had in mind?
Unexpectedly, it was proposed by the Land of Fire itself.
Iwa's envoy said with unconcealed excitement, "Is this true?"
"Naturally, it is true."
Tanaka acted righteously, waving his hand. "For peace, for the lasting friendship of our three countries, what are a few gains and losses. Our Land of Fire concedes."
"Good."
Iwa's envoy slapped his thigh. "Lord Tanaka is highly principled. On behalf of Iwa, I agree."
Suna's envoy also nodded repeatedly. "Our Suna also agrees."
Next, naturally, the representatives of the three parties signed the trade agreement.
A seven-day trade negotiation concluded in an atmosphere of universal joy.
Arashi contentedly put down his teacup and stood up, preparing to leave.
Just then, Gen suddenly entered and whispered in his ear, "My Lord, the Fourth Hokage's proposal just arrived."
(To be continued.)