Chapter 182: Being Lord Light Shadow's Dog Is the Greatest Honor! (Tobirama Senju Grinning: Woof! Woof! Woof!)
Uchiha Makoto had only just stepped into the conference hall—
And the entire place gradually fell silent.The low chatter that had filled the room quickly faded into hushed whispers.
All the ninja representatives from various factions cautiously sized up Uchiha Makoto.Their emotions were a complex mix of awe, fear, and sycophancy.
The prosperity of Akatsuki Village was beyond anything they could have imagined—and now they were seeing it with their own eyes.
This wasn't just some exaggerated intelligence report written on paper—even the great village leaders themselves were shocked by what they'd witnessed here,let alone these small-time shinobi powers!
They all had the same thought burning in their hearts:
To serve Lord Light Shadow!
To be Lord Light Shadow's dog was the highest honor imaginable—unlike those stray dogs running around the ninja world,not even knowing who their master is.
"To Lord Light Shadow, we offer our loyalty! Woof!"
Unfortunately, the hall was far too crowded—and there were far too many competitors fighting for the chance to be Light Shadow's dog.
So none of the smaller factions dared to rush forward and speak with Uchiha Makoto directly.They simply stared at him with eager eyes, secretly plotting how to establish private ties with Akatsuki Village.
Makoto, meanwhile, swept his gaze around the hall.
Generally speaking, when a great ninja village dealt with smaller powers,there were only three options—Invite them, behead them, or make them dogs.
And Akatsuki Village currently needed dogs—a pack of loyal ones to run errands throughout the ninja world.
"Is that... Takigakure?"
Makoto's eyes fell upon a group in the crowd.
A cluster of Takigakure (Hidden Waterfall) shinobi stood out like sore thumbs—not because they were causing trouble,but because they were holding up banners advertising canned foodand enthusiastically promoting Akatsuki's canned goods to nearby villages.
Ah… how pitiful Takigakure had become.
After Kakuzu massacred most of their higher-ups,they were later crushed by Konoha and left with enormous debts.
It was only after Uchiha Makoto personally pleaded with Tobirama Senjuthat the village was granted a chance at survival.
So after signing several major canning-factory contracts with Akatsukiand obtaining partial distribution rights,Takigakure desperately threw itself into selling canned food—all to prevent the village from collapsing entirely.
At first, the Takigakure elders led by example.Three meals a day—every single one—was fish in a can.
If the higher-ups were eating it,then surely the ordinary shinobi couldn't refuse, right?
The taste of the fish cans wasn't bad at all,but eating the same thing day after day was nauseating—some of them couldn't even look at fish anymore.
Still, the effort paid off.
Most Takigakure ninjas could afford the canned food,and since it was both cheap and rich in protein,it became a welcome alternative to the dreaded military ration pills they'd eaten for years.
Soon, their first stock of canned goods completely sold out.
After crunching the numbers,the elders realized that even after giving away some cans for freeas welfare to boost morale and promote Akatsuki's name,they had still managed to make a tidy profit—enough to keep the village afloat through the New Year.
That was when the realization hit them:Selling canned fish could actually make money!
It was the first glimmer of hope Takigakure had seen in years.
Naturally, they decided to expand their market—to sell canned fish to the civilians of the Land of Waterfalls.
The cost of production was low,the price affordable,and the distribution channels efficient.
Their ninjas personally transported the goods using their summons as pack animals.Bandits didn't dare to target ninjas,and the ninja beasts didn't even need feeding—they'd just hunt along the way.
Sure, turning proud shinobi into glorified deliverymen was embarrassing—but money is money!
And the efficiency was unmatched.Transportation costs plummeted,prices stayed low,the product tasted good—and the market practically exploded.
In no time, Takigakure's fish cans swept through the entire fish industry of the Land of Waterfalls,crushing local seafood tycoons who couldn't keep up.
Desperate, those merchants tried to pool funds to hire assassinsto physically eliminate their new competition—but the "new competition" was Takigakure itself!
Of course…
Takigakure's profits were mere pocket change to Akatsuki Village.But for Takigakure, it was life-changing.
The village leaders held a meeting, looked over the ledgers,saw the growing profits, and made a bold declaration:
"Two or three more years of this, and we'll clear all our debts!""Let's tighten our belts for now—after that, everything will be sweet!"
And shinobi—being raised to endure hardship—accepted it readily.
After all, the whole point of enduring hardshipis to eventually enjoy the rewards.
If anyone tried to make them suffer forever without payoff,well—someone would sneak into their house and murder them by midnight.
Now, with their future in sight,the Takigakure ninjas worked harder than ever.
And those who got in their way—the ones obstructing the fish can business—were swiftly eliminated.
Soon, Takigakure's canned fish industrydominated the entire Land of Waterfalls.
Makoto blinked as he watched the energetic salesmen at work.Now this—this was how you ride someone else's coattails.
But honestly, he admired it.He liked seeing people fight tooth and nail to make a living.
Besides, Takigakure's small profits meant massive gains for Akatsuki.The harder they worked,the more villages learned the truth—that joining Akatsuki's network meant eating well.
Even if they had to be dogs,these dogs weren't just gnawing on bones—they were eating meat.
So before the formal negotiations began,Makoto simply turned a blind eye to their antics.
"Please, Mizukage," he said, gesturing toward the center of the hall,"your seat is over there."
Directly opposite the Mist delegationsat the representatives of Iwagakure.
Enemies meeting face-to-face—the tension was thick enough to slice.
If not for Makoto's personal presence keeping things under control,the hall would've erupted into chaos already.
Once the Mizukage took her seat,the atmosphere grew tense and silent.Even the whispers faded away.
Makoto sat between the Mist and Stone representatives.Tobirama Senju, representing Konoha,chose a seat directly opposite Makoto's.
Then, Uchiha Makoto stood to speak:
"Why must there always be endless calamities in this world,forcing shinobi to wander between ruins and tears?"
"When strangers are compelled to raise their blades against one another,what meaning can we find in the faces reflected in the pools of blood?"
"War breeds hatred, and hatred spreads—a chain reaction that turns the world into hell."
"Everyone, I thank you for coming to this negotiation.I hope we can stay rational and craft a resolutionacceptable to both sides—to end this crisis peacefully."
"Akatsuki Village will stand as the ballast of peace in the shinobi world.And those who deliberately shatter that peace—will face dire consequences."
It was a perfect opening speech.
His stance was clear:Peace, not war.
The tension in the hall eased slightly.Many smaller factions exhaled in relief.
Those who break the peace will suffer!
It was clearly a threat—but somehow, it felt reassuring.
Only Tobirama felt an odd sense of irony.He glanced at Makoto with a twitching expression—
You? The man who started the first great shinobi war?You're talking about peace now?
If Konoha hadn't backed him back then,the Cloud War might still be raging even today!
Makoto caught Tobirama's glare and glared right back.
Makoto: "What are you looking at?"Tobirama: "Looking at you, got a problem?"Makoto: "You wanna fight again?"Tobirama: "Come at me!"Makoto: "You just wait!"
Fortunately, before they could start round two,the First Tsuchikage began to speak.
"Not long ago, a team of my ninjas was ambushed within the Land of Iron.They were attacked by Mist shinobi—many died.The Mist must give me an explanation,or Iwagakure will not let this go!"
The Mizukage shot back coldly:
"And your evidence?""What proof do you have it was us?""You're slandering Kirigakure—don't think we'll just sit and take it!"
It was the classic Mist Village tactic—deny everything to death.
Even if they had done it,they'd muddy the waters before admitting anything.
The Tsuchikage sneered."You think I wasn't ready for that?"
He presented detailed battle evidence—scorched terrain, water-style damage patterns,weapons marked with the Mist insignia,and even headbands recovered from the site.
All of it pointed to Mist shinobi.
But the Mizukage just crossed his arms and said,
"That proves nothing. Maybe someone planted those to frame us."
Without eyewitnesses,none of it was decisive proof.
And the Mizukage's tone was intentionally provocative.
The Tsuchikage's patience snapped.Of course, if the roles were reversed,he would also deny everything without proof—but right now, it was his people who had died.
And so, bias took over reason.
He turned toward Uchiha Makoto—their eyes meeting with a silent signal.
"Mizukage," Makoto said smoothly,"allow me to speak a word of fairness."
When someone says that,it's already obvious which side they're on.
And indeed—Makoto had taken Iwagakure's side.
He and the Tsuchikage had already made a private deal beforehand.
After all, as a mediator, Makoto always followed three sacred rules:fairness, fairness, and—damn it—fairness.
Mist could deny it all they wanted,but everyone in the room knew the truth.
And Makoto's words carried immense weight.
Even the Mizukage, who'd witnessed Akatsuki's overwhelming power earlier,understood what that meant.If both Akatsuki and Konoha backed Iwa,then there was no point in resisting.
The Tsuchikage grinned.His gamble had paid off.
Without Makoto's intervention,this conflict would've devolved into endless arguing and bloodshed.
Makoto concluded gently:
"Perhaps rogue Mist shinobi acted on their own,deceiving the Mizukage.I hope you'll investigate thoroughly once you return."
The Mizukage let out a cold snort—a reluctant but unmistakable acknowledgment.
And with that partial admission,the most difficult step was over.
The rest would be simple—the negotiations could now proceed to the compensation phase.
(End of Chapter)