Watching the Hidden Leaf shinobi below, still busy transporting supplies, it was clear that stripping this city clean would take some more time.
Gento simply found a secluded corner, closed his eyes, and focused his mind, sinking his consciousness into his thoughts.
"Draw."
[D-rank reward 40%, C-rank reward 50%, B-rank reward 10%]
The wheel spun and slowly came to a stop.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for obtaining a D-rank reward: Slight increase in Chakra limit.]
A gentle life force surged from deep within his body.
Gento sensed it slightly and found that the total amount of Chakra in his body had indeed increased.
Still, this increase was probably only enough for him to cast two or three more C-rank Ninjutsu.
"The first time I've drawn a D-rank reward, and the gap compared to before is way too big."
Gento couldn't help but frown.
He pondered inwardly.
It seemed that after returning, he must strive for the position of clan head and find a way to raise the family's prosperity level.
Otherwise, with these odds, it would truly be a waste of the hard-earned draw opportunities.
He couldn't help but recall the S-rank luxury treasure chest he had obtained the first time he engaged in Dual Cultivation with Kurenai.
"Perhaps… It's time to look for another Kunoichi."
Just as he was thinking this, the system notification sounded in his mind once again:
[Ding! Main Quest triggered.]
[Main Quest issued: Unequal Treaty]
[Mission Description: This war has yielded enormous profits. Negotiate peace with the Hidden Sand and sign a treaty, demanding compensation of no less than five billion Ryo.]
[Mission Reward: Draw Chance ×1.]
"Negotiation… It's about time."
Gento understood clearly.
With only a few hundred shinobi under his command, capturing the Hidden Sand Village was simply unrealistic.
But how to force them onto the negotiation table?
Very simple.
Fight until they can't take it anymore.
He stood up and looked down at the troops below, who had basically finished looting, and gave a loud order:
"Form up! Move to the next target!"
Over the next five full days, Gento led his forces across the Land of Wind, continuously plundering twelve towns and three cities.
This was achieved despite the vast, sparsely populated terrain of the Land of Wind, where the shinobi had to rely on the Inuzuka clan's ninja hounds to locate targets in the desert.
…
Meanwhile, the Hidden Sand Village.
Inside the high-level conference room.
At the head of the long table sat two advisors: Chiyo and Ebizo.
Below them sat Rasa, Maki, Baki, Pakura, and other Jonin.
Satetsu lowered his head, reporting the course of the battle in a heavy tone.
Beside him lay the envoy whose legs had been crippled and hands destroyed by Gento. His miserable state caused many present to frown.
"…In short, for some reason, the Hidden Leaf had prior knowledge of our attack route and planted a massive number of explosive tags. Otherwise, we would never have suffered such a crushing defeat!"
After hearing this, Chiyo turned to her younger brother.
"You were responsible for intelligence secrecy. Why was it leaked?"
Ebizo sighed.
"It's too late to pursue that now.
"The Hidden Leaf shinobi are currently wreaking havoc within our territory. The Feudal Lord has already sent people to pressure us repeatedly. We must resolve this as soon as possible."
Satetsu slammed the table excitedly.
"Give me another batch of shinobi! I can definitely defeat them!"
The red-haired young man, Rasa, spoke in a low voice:
"The Feudal Lord has been cutting funding year after year. The number of shinobi the village can mobilize is already limited. Right now, we simply cannot squeeze out any more forces to invest in this war."
Everyone could see that Rasa, who possessed Magnet Release, was the strongest candidate for the next Kazekage, so his words carried great weight.
In the end, Chiyo spoke slowly:
"Then we will gather another five hundred from various places. I will personally lead them and go negotiate with the Hidden Leaf."
Her gaze swept across the room.
"Rasa, Pakura. You two will accompany me."
With that, the matter was settled.
---
When Chiyo led the Hidden Sand forces to find Gento, the Hidden Leaf shinobi were in the midst of looting yet another town.
Amid the broken walls and ruins, faint cries could be heard.
Several Sand shinobi saw this and their eyes nearly burst with rage, but Chiyo raised her hand to stop them.
She stepped forward with Rasa and Pakura, calmly speaking toward the Hidden Leaf:
"Please have Gento Uchiha come out and meet me. I am Chiyo of the Hidden Sand Village, here to pay a visit."
A stir ran through the Hidden Leaf ranks. Soon, Gento stepped out with Shisui, Hishu, and Shinku.
Gento's gaze was drawn to the Kunoichi beside Chiyo.
She wore a backless, form-fitting combat outfit that accentuated her slender waist and long legs, with a large expanse of smooth, jade-like skin exposed on her back.
Her dark brown hair was tied into a sharp, high ponytail, with loose strands brushing against her heroic brows.
Most eye-catching of all was her striking figure; curves rising and falling beneath the tight combat suit, combining mature allure with a bold, wild charm.
It was none other than Pakura of Scorch Release.
[Ding! Suitable Dual Cultivation target detected.]
[Name: Pakura]
[Bloodline Limit: Scorch Release]
[Strength: Jonin]
[Overall Evaluation: S-rank]
An S-rank as well!
Didn't that mean that if he engaged in Dual Cultivation with her, he could obtain another S-rank luxury treasure chest?
Since the system had rated her as S-rank, then this person… he was determined to obtain her.
His thoughts raced. A smile formed on Gento's face as he greeted Chiyo:
"What wind has blown even the Hidden Sand's advisory elder all the way here?"
Chiyo's expression was cold, her voice suppressing anger as he said:
"I would like to ask instead… what is the meaning of the Hidden Leaf's actions? The ink on the ceasefire agreement has barely dried, yet your village has openly invaded the Land of Wind, burning, killing, and looting.
"Gento Uchiha, is your Hidden Leaf trying to start another great war?"
As if hearing a joke, Gento burst out laughing.
"Old hag Chiyo, if you've gone senile, you should retire early and let someone with a clear mind come negotiate."
His smile vanished, his gaze turning sharp.
"Wasn't it the Hidden Sand who first barged into the Land of Fire, forcing us to retaliate? What? You're allowed to invade us, but we're not allowed to strike back?
"And besides, even if Leaf really wanted to start another war, would your Sand Village even be able to handle it?"
Chiyo's son and daughter-in-law had both died at the hands of the Hidden Leaf. She harbored old hatred toward them, and now, being mocked to her face, her fingers tightened slightly.
Yet she knew Gento was telling the truth.
Even if Leaf started another war now, Sand could not likely respond.
The loss of about a thousand shinobi was a severe blow even for a great ninja village like theirs.
To cultivate that many shinobi again, Sand would need many years of recovery.
Rasa stepped forward half a pace and took over the conversation:
"Even if the Hidden Sand struck first, we only looted a few border towns. Yet in these five days, Leaf has plundered nearly twenty towns and cities in succession. Isn't that excessively cruel?"
Gento sized up this future Fourth Kazekage and sneered.
"How ridiculous. If you hadn't been unable to defeat Leaf, would your shinobi have stopped after looting just a few towns?
"Now that you've been beaten into stray dogs by Leaf, you come here accusing us of cruelty?
"Bah! Disgusting!"
Rasa's expression immediately turned ugly.
Chiyo was about to speak again, but Gento waved his hand impatiently:
"Enough nonsense. You came all this way. What exactly do you want?
"Spit it out. My time is valuable. Every extra town we loot is another source of income."
Chiyo's anger surged within her, yet she forcibly suppressed it and spoke in a deep voice:
"I have come to conclude a peace treaty.
"As long as Leaf withdraws, everything you have done in the Land of Wind… the Hidden Sand can choose not to pursue it."
...
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