I had come prepared to offer tribute — a few thousand tags annually. A simple transaction for permission, a quiet way to appease suspicion about my "lucky" acquisition of a mysterious summoning clan. Everyone here was sharp enough to know my story reeked of convenient lies.
But now… Danzō had turned the game into something else entirely.
Koharu's tone softened, her expression shifting from suspicion to reassurance. "It's not like that, Ren-kun. He just meant… that this matter must be handled carefully."
Of course. She was trying to patch the hole. But the damage was already done. They all knew what I was doing. They just couldn't figure out how to stop it.
They all knew exactly what I had done.
And yet, none of them could undo it.
I kept my gaze steady, neither defiant nor submissive. Just hurt. "I understand, elders. But please forgive me… words like those sting deeply for people who have worked day and night for this village. Whom you expect to bleed and sweat for the village?"
See. There's the trick. I hinted that I might lose loyalty to the village, but I didn't state it.
A silence followed. The kind that itches at the back of the neck.
If word spread that Konoha openly mistrusted or suppressed refugee clans it had taken in, it would destroy years of diplomatic groundwork — not to mention cripple their defecting spy network abroad. They had been using a lot of refugees around the land of fire to recover.
Homura adjusted his glasses, exhaling through his nose. "Your loyalty isn't in question, boy. It's your… methods that raise concern. Unregulated Fuinjutsu research, new summons, strange training programs—these things unsettle people."
"Then you admit it," I said, keeping my tone calm but cold, "that we are Konoha shinobi. You don't question a foreigner's methods. You only question a soldier's."
Hiruzen's lips twitched—half a smirk, half a warning. He knew I was pushing it. Refugees can not be a real part before at least one or two generations pass. They weren't even trustworthy unless they settled down with a family. He also knew that their loyalty was to me, not Konoha, for now. It was an extremely complicated question, but with Danzo's help, I had turned it into a simple Yes or No question. And saying an absolute No was not allowed.
Koharu leaned forward, her voice firm but measured. "Ren-kun, we recognize the value your clan has brought. But Danzō is right about one thing—unchecked power breeds danger. What guarantee does the village have that your new 'Yamigami bond' will not turn against us in some way?"
Dammit. That tore of all pretense. Now that the open bloodbath had begun, there were no rules anymore. I hadn't wanted to disclose it, but I went in strong anyway. This was because unless I gave something strong, Danzo and the council would keep on me for little things. The council wasn't showing it now, but through the last few exchanges, I understood that they weren't as comfortable with this as the other had been showing. And the risk of getting sent to root was real. Dammit, how did I forget about Hiruzen's thoughtful expression in the beginning? I knew these guys would rather kill wrongly from the anime.
"Guarantee?" I asked. "Simple. The soul bond ensures my control. I carry their death in my hand."
That earned a visible reaction. Even Danzō's single visible eye narrowed slightly.
I shrugged. "You wanted insurance, didn't you? I've provided it."
Homura's brows furrowed. "You mean, you can… end them?"
"Yes. Instantly. Without resistance.Just like the Hyuga. And lord Danzo's Cursed Tongue seal. I added for comparison. " That meant if they objected, I could pull the Caged Bird seal into the mud along with Danzo's methods of operations themselves. I paused, letting the weight of it linger. "They are my responsibility. Their power is my burden. You have nothing to fear from the Kurosawa."
For a few moments, nobody spoke. The silence pressed down like a seal.
Danzō broke it first, his voice low and sharp. "Even so. What about you? How can we be certain that you won't betray the village with so much power?"
I had expected that. I wanted that. Because now, he was pressing too far again.
"I am actually doing something absolutely similar to you Lord Danzo. Are you planning to betray the village?"
Danzo erupted in indignation. "You and I are completely different people, boy. I have bled for this village and proven myself for decades to be trusted so well."
"Yes, but you haven't had your mind read. I have. Yamanaka read my whole life not long ago and declared me one of the most loyal and diligent Shinobi of Konoha. Isn't that right Lord Hokage?"
Now it was a question of my loyalty only. So I roped in the Yamanaka too.
"Or are you saying that Yamanka lied to the Hokage?"
Hiruzen. Now irritated and seeing this going out of hand slammed his fist onto the table. "That's enough. All of you. I have decided. This ends here. The village has no right to interfere in your clan matters. Just make sure you pay all your taxes on time. You can go."
I was stunned. What's happening? So were the others. "But, Hiruzen.. " Koharu spoke but was silenced by his glare.
"I see," I said, bowing slightly. "Thank you, Lord Third." Something had gone very wrong. And I needed to fix it. Hiruzen had been Neutral so far, but suddenly now he was openly hostile. If I walked away now, I would have to pay no tribute. But it also felt like severing my ties with the Hokage. And that could not happen or Danzo would devour me.
So I threw a surrender on my own.
"Thank you for your trust, Lord Hokage. But I understand the elders' concerns. I will accept oversight and will happily hand over a copy of every seal formula we develop."
That got everyone's attention. Koharu blinked. "You will?"
This was me throwing away my present victory. Like Hiruzen had done with sand after the third war. Both aimed at a faraway goal.
"Yes," I said. "But with a condition."
Koharu sighed. "Of course."
"Every Fuinjutsu expert that emerges from my clan," I continued, "will contribute ten complete tags annually to the village armory. Not one less. That's far above the current contribution of most support divisions. In exchange, I request a small freedom."
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. "Which is?"
"The right to choose a few C-rank jutsus from the village archives. Common ones. For clan instruction and propagation."
Danzō's eye narrowed again. "You would spread Konoha techniques outside the village?"
"Inside the village," I corrected him, smiling faintly. "Inside my clan. I am training future Konoha shinobi, not mercenaries. You've all seen the reports—our children already qualify for genin evaluations in a month. I simply want them armed with techniques that make them useful to the village faster."
Homura exchanged a look with Koharu and Hiruzen. "He's not wrong. The investment is minimal compared to what he's offering." He was right. This was way too much. But the change in Hiruzen's tone had made me too wary. These had been the conditions I had initially prepared.
Koharu leaned back in her chair, fingers steepled. "Ten tags per expert, per year… and limited access to common C-ranks."
She looked at me. "You understand, Ren-kun, that this agreement will be binding. And you are doing this voluntarily."
"Yes, I understand," I said quietly.
A pause. Then, finally, Hiruzen nodded. But this time, his voice had lost its edge. "Very well. The agreement stands. I'll have the formal terms written by tomorrow."
The meeting dissolved soon after. Danzō left first, silent but fuming. Homura muttered something about "pragmatic youth." Koharu simply shook her head.
I tried to take my leave, but the Hokage stopped me. "Ren-kun. Stay a while.'