Uchiha Yusuke's calm words fell—
and the entire hall dropped into dead silence.
Both Konoha and Kumogakure's people were completely stunned by how casually he spoke.
A copy of Kumo's forbidden techniques compendium?
That was the crystallized wisdom of generations of Kumo's predecessors.
And the Amber Purifying Pot that could seal tailed beasts?
After the Gold and Silver Brothers incident, Kumo's Six Paths Treasures were down to only this one.
War reparations: thirty billion ryō—and that's "not much"?
That was basically an entire year of Kumogakure's income!
The Kumo delegation broke into cold sweat on the spot.
This "Flame Demon" of Konoha was opening his mouth like a lion.
"No way. Absolutely no way!"
"The conditions you're asking for are far too harsh. Kumogakure can't agree to them!"
Dodai snapped back to his senses and stood up, protesting with an agitated expression.
What Yusuke demanded had gone way beyond what he could mentally prepare for.
He had assumed that even if Konoha demanded compensation, it wouldn't be much—
but reality slapped him in the face.
Uchiha Yusuke not only dared to think it—
he dared to say it out loud and push it into action.
Dodai truly hadn't seen that coming.
The Third Hokage had already agreed to return the Eight-Tails for free.
How dare Yusuke step over him and dictate terms like this?
"Ahem."
While Kumo's group reeled in disbelief, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi coughed lightly and stepped in.
"Yusuke…"
"Kumogakure has already agreed to resolve this peacefully."
"Don't you think your conditions are… a bit too harsh?"
"Let's take our time and discuss this properly."
The moment Hiruzen finished speaking, Yusuke immediately fired back.
"This war started because Kumogakure provoked Konoha."
"We tried to reason with them—and they refused to listen."
"Kumo tried to bully us with force. Konoha only fought back in self-defense."
"If Konoha had lost, would Kumo have shown mercy?"
"Asking for that level of compensation is completely reasonable. There's nothing to discuss!"
Hearing how firm Yusuke was, Hiruzen's face tightened with difficulty.
If he demanded compensation the way Yusuke insisted,
his "benevolent Third Hokage" image would take a serious hit.
The disagreement was now out in the open.
Hiruzen turned toward the clan heads, hoping to pressure Yusuke by gathering everyone against him.
He took a deep breath and spoke in a heavy voice:
"What does everyone think? Speak your minds."
The message was obvious:
Choose your side.
In the past, meetings like this were basically Hiruzen's personal stage.
He spoke, everyone nodded.
But since Uchiha Yusuke burst onto the scene, the clan heads' attitudes had begun to shift.
After Hiruzen's words, Hiashi Hyuga stood first.
"Third Hokage, I believe Yusuke is right."
"Kumogakure is at fault. They should compensate Konoha for our losses."
The moment Hiashi finished, Fugaku Uchiha stood as well.
"This war began from Kumogakure's selfish ambitions. The Uchiha lost over a hundred lives because of it."
"I also support Yusuke. Kumo must compensate Konoha."
Two heavyweight figures openly supporting Yusuke—
Hiruzen's expression turned ugly.
But before he could even take a breath, Shikaku Nara—who was usually close to the Konoha leadership—also stood up.
"Third Hokage, during the war, the frontlines received no reinforcements from Konoha."
"As a result, the clans suffered heavy casualties."
"If Kumogakure wants to redeem the Eight-Tails, it's only fair that we take some compensation."
Shikaku's words carried a sharp edge.
He wasn't just supporting Yusuke—
he was also warning the Third Hokage.
When we were bleeding on the frontlines, someone behind us was pulling strings.
Kumo owes us.
And Konoha's leadership owes us too.
That reminder snapped Hiruzen fully awake.
He was indeed in the wrong.
And more importantly—Yusuke was fighting for everyone's benefit.
If Hiruzen stubbornly refused reparations, his reputation could collapse.
Hiruzen's expression shifted again and again.
After weighing it repeatedly, he finally softened.
He turned to Dodai with a pained look.
"You've heard what everyone thinks…"
"So perhaps…"
He didn't say the words outright—
but the demand for compensation was obvious.
Dodai shot Hiruzen an annoyed look.
Just a moment ago, you agreed to return the Eight-Tails for free.
Now you're changing terms because your people are arguing?
Are you putting on a two-man act here?
Hiruzen knew this would offend Kumogakure—
but the arrow was already on the string. He had no choice but to release it.
Dodai said bitterly:
"Fine. We can provide some compensation."
"But Konoha's terms are far too harsh."
"If you insist, Kumogakure would rather fight to the end!"
Dodai was a veteran negotiator.
While bargaining, he also threatened them:
Don't push us too far—Konoha won't enjoy the consequences either.
If both sides bleed each other dry, the only winners are the other three great nations.
Clam and snipe fighting—fisherman profits.
Dodai's logic was sound.
But Yusuke didn't buy it for a second.
Before Hiruzen could even begin haggling properly, Yusuke flipped the table.
"So you don't want to talk?"
"Then we're done here."
"You want to fight to the end?"
"I'll take my people and march straight into Kumogakure!"
Then he added coldly, without giving them time to respond:
"If we're going to war, you don't need to go back at all."
"Picking you off on the battlefield one by one is too much trouble."
"I'll just settle it here—on the spot."
After those two lines, Dodai froze like his soul left his body.
I'm just trying to bargain—
why are you refusing to follow any negotiation rules?!
Only now did Dodai remember:
Uchiha Yusuke was the kind of ruthless man who had already wiped out a Kumo delegation before—leaving only one survivor to crawl back with the news.
Staring at Yusuke's killing intent, Dodai broke into a cold sweat.
But he carried the burden of a nation—he couldn't lose face completely.
Under immense pressure, he forced out:
"Konoha is asking for too much."
"I can't decide this. I need to consult the Raikage first."
Hearing that, Konoha's side finally breathed easier.
Just now, people genuinely feared this would turn into another bloodbath—
thankfully, Kumo's representative backed down.
The moment Dodai said he needed to consult the Raikage, Yusuke instantly changed expressions.
"What are you standing around for?"
"Hurry and prepare communication equipment for our guests!"
An ANBU behind the Third Hokage finally smacked his own forehead.
"Yes, Lord Yusuke."
"I'll arrange it immediately."
Hiruzen opened his mouth—
but had nothing to say.
Providing communication equipment for visiting diplomats was perfectly reasonable.
Dodai glanced at Yusuke, fuming inwardly.
This guy's mood swings are insane.
The second I said I needed to consult the Raikage, he suddenly became warm and helpful?
Are you doing face-changing theater on us?!
Since Kumo needed to ask the Raikage for instructions, the peace meeting could only pause.
The Third Hokage declared the session adjourned and postponed it.
Konoha's people rose to leave, ready to go enjoy some quiet.
On the way home, Hiashi Hyuga and Shikaku Nara walked beside Yusuke, talking enthusiastically.
"Yusuke, what you did today was satisfying."
"The Third Hokage actually wanted to return the Eight-Tails for free—he's really gotten senile."
Shikaku, usually so restrained, was openly criticizing Hiruzen right in front of Yusuke.
Yusuke smiled lightly.
"The Hokage really is old."
"And today… I have you to thank as well."
Shikaku's face brightened at Yusuke's politeness.
"Come on."
"You're doing this for everyone's benefit."
"Of course I had to step in and back you up."
Yusuke nodded.
Shikaku didn't explicitly say he was supporting Yusuke personally—
but his stance was obvious.
Seeing Yusuke's relationship with Ino–Shika–Cho improving, Hiashi's mood lifted too.
The stronger Yusuke's foundation became, the more secure the Hyuga clan's position would be.
Once Yusuke became Hokage, the Hyuga would finally shake off the leadership's restraints.
For years, the Hyuga had endured too many humiliations under the higher-ups.
Even if Konoha's leaders didn't dare force them too hard—
there was never a shortage of times the Hyuga had to swallow anger and read people's faces.
Take the last Kumo incident:
Even though the Hyuga were the victims, they still had to sacrifice a branch-family member to satisfy the leadership's decision.
If Yusuke hadn't interfered, Hyuga Hizashi's body would likely have been delivered to Kumo as an "apology gift."
The Third Hokage loved to preach the Will of Fire as "protecting every villager."
But in the end, he chose to sacrifice innocents just to buy temporary safety for himself.
Yusuke saying the Will of Fire had "gone sour" wasn't exaggeration at all.
If it had been the First or Second Hokage, they never would've agreed to sacrifice comrades for peace.
When surrounded, the Second Hokage chose to die so his comrades could live.
Hiruzen chose to sacrifice comrades so he could keep standing.
If he truly wanted to protect Konoha, his name should've been carved on the Memorial Stone long ago—
instead of rising again and again, clinging to power for decades, never letting go.
And don't tell anyone "Konoha has no successors."
Tsunade and Jiraiya are still out there.
Hiashi steadied himself and asked about something else.
"Yusuke…"
Yusuke shook his head.
"Getting everything I asked for is unrealistic."
"But getting half is very possible."
Hiashi's eyes lit up immediately.
Yusuke's opening demand was clearly a sky-high starting bid.
If they could secure half, that was already an enormous victory.
In Konoha's long history, they often paid heavily in war and gained little in return.
If Yusuke set a precedent, he would win massive support.
Who wouldn't want to follow a bold and capable leader?
People were already tired of the "three days hungry, nine meals missing" life under the Third Hokage.
Hiruzen had tricks, sure—
but in ambition, even Danzo beat him.
At least Danzo dreamed of becoming Hokage and rewriting shinobi history.
The Third Hokage only wanted to run a family business.
His eldest son led ANBU.
His second son, Asuma, was sent off to serve as one of the "Twelve Guardian Ninja" protecting the Fire Daimyō.
The Sarutobi clan had grown to over two thousand ninja—possibly larger than even the Uchiha or Hyuga.
Danzo didn't build a family empire like that.
The Shimura clan was practically dying out.
As they walked, Yusuke, Hiashi, and Shikaku chatted happily.
Meanwhile, Konoha's "F4" were in a terrible mood.
Hokage Office
The Third Hokage, Danzo, and the two advisers stared at each other in silence.
After a long pause, Hiruzen spoke first.
"Uchiha Yusuke has begun to slip beyond our control."
"We must find a way to eliminate this unstable factor."
Danzo stepped forward, voice cold—
but Hiruzen shook his head.
Moving against Yusuke recklessly was too risky.
One mistake and Yusuke would seize the excuse and strike back.
Hiruzen sighed.
"You understand Konoha's current situation."
"This matter—table it for now."
The next day, the peace talks resumed in the Hokage Tower, exactly as Yusuke had predicted.
After fierce bargaining and verbal sparring, Kumogakure finally agreed to hand over:
Lightning Release Chakra Mode, andthe Amber Purifying Pot.
As for money, they cut Yusuke's demand from thirty billion ryō down to fifteen billion ryō.
They had gotten what mattered.
As for Killer B, they handled it according to the Third Hokage's decision.
With this compensation deal, Konoha gained a massive windfall—an instant leap in strength.
Yusuke then proposed that the pensions for the fallen and the disabled be doubled.
Once the decree was issued, Uchiha Yusuke's name spread through the village once again.
The hero who ended the war—
Uchiha Yusuke—
had all but become Konoha's national idol.
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