While waiting for Pakura to enter the carriage, a system notification sounded in Gento's mind:
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for completing the mission: Unequal Treaty! Reward: Draw Chance ×1]
Looking at the newly added draw opportunity, Gento did not use it immediately.
The current reward probabilities were too low; it would be more worthwhile to wait until he became clan head and increased the Family Prosperity before drawing.
Right now, securing Pakura and unlocking the S-rank Family Treasure Chest was the top priority.
As he was thinking, the system's voice sounded again:
[Ding! Host has triggered a Main Quest.]
[Main Quest Issued: Become the Uchiha clan head!]
⟩ Mission Description: The Host has already accumulated sufficient achievements and reputation. Compete with Fugaku Uchiha and obtain the position of clan head.
⟩ Mission Reward: Unlock the Family System.
Looking at the newly issued system mission, Gento found it entirely reasonable.
It was indeed time to seize the position of clan head.
Once he returned to the village, the Third Great Shinobi War would come to a complete end.
The shinobi world would enter a brief period of peace.
That would be the perfect opportunity for him to develop the Uchiha clan and increase its prosperity.
As his thoughts shifted, the carriage curtain was lifted.
Pakura was brought in by a ninja, who then respectfully withdrew.
Only Pakura and Gento remained inside the carriage.
Gento leisurely sized up the woman before him from head to toe.
Pakura was still wearing that backless combat outfit.
The dark fabric clung tightly to her body, outlining her full chest and slender waist.
A large expanse of skin on her back was pale and smooth like jade.
Even with her Chakra sealed and her expression cold, the mature beauty mixed with a hint of wildness still rushed toward him.
Pakura felt extremely uncomfortable under his gaze and spoke first through gritted teeth.
"Gento Uchiha… why do you insist on having me?"
Gento smiled lightly.
"Of course, because I admire you.
"The name 'Scorch Release Pakura' is quite renowned in the shinobi world."
He leaned forward, deliberately closing the distance between them.
"I will become the Uchiha clan head in the future, and I just happen to be lacking a capable Kunoichi as a secretary by my side. What do you think?"
"You wish!"
Pakura glared at him furiously, her eyes nearly spitting fire.
Gento was not angered; he laughed.
Such a reaction from her was only natural.
If he wanted her to submit willingly, it would require gradual "training."
"Being abandoned by your village doesn't feel good, does it?"
He suddenly spoke, his tone calm.
Pakura's breathing hitched as she glared at him fiercely.
"That was all because of you!"
"Naive."
Gento shook his head, his tone turning colder.
"Even without me, Gento Uchiha, there would one day be an Uzumaki Gento or a Senju Gento forcing the Hidden Sand Village to make a choice. When that time came, you would still be the first to be abandoned.
"What matters isn't whether someone forces them; it's that your value is too low!
"In other words, your strength is too weak. Others can abandon you without paying any price at all!"
Pakura froze, her lips trembling slightly, unable to refute him for a moment.
After a while, she asked in a low voice:
"Then… how can I increase my value?"
Gento suddenly stood and walked in front of her, reaching out to lift her chin.
They were extremely close, close enough to hear each other's breathing.
"Follow me. Become the woman of me, Gento Uchiha!
"I, Gento Uchiha, will become the most powerful person in the shinobi world. When that time comes, no one will dare look down on you. You will receive everyone's awe."
Forced to tilt her head up, a flush of anger appeared on Pakura's cheeks.
"You… let go!"
At that moment, Shisui's voice came from outside the carriage:
"Gento-sama."
Gento released his hand and turned.
"Come in."
Shisui appeared inside the carriage in an instant, his gaze sweeping over Pakura with slight confusion.
"Gento-sama, there's something I don't understand. Why would you use this woman, who has no value at all, to exchange for fifty billion Ryo?"
In his view, using a possibly disloyal Jonin from an enemy nation in exchange for an astronomical indemnity was not a wise decision.
Even if this Kunoichi still possessed a Bloodline Limit.
At the side, Pakura heard Shisui directly say she was useless, and the corner of her eye twitched in anger as she shot a fierce glare at this mere twelve-year-old boy.
Gento, however, smiled and casually pinched Pakura's puffed-up cheek.
"See? Even Shisui thinks you're useless."
Only then did he turn to Shisui and said:
"Shisui, having a habit of thinking is a good thing. So let me ask you.
"What do you think is the amount of war indemnity the Hidden Sand Village can accept?"
Shisui immediately showed a troubled expression upon hearing this.
Gento did not make things difficult for him and said bluntly:
"It's fifty billion Ryo."
Gento spoke with firm certainty:
"The authority of Chiyo and Rasa is roughly around this number. It might be a little more or a little less, but it won't differ too much."
Shisui became even more puzzled upon hearing this.
"In that case, why did you directly ask for one hundred billion Ryo at the start?"
A trace of approval flashed in Gento's eyes.
Shisui was willing to use his brain; he was a seedling worth cultivating.
Since he would become clan head in the future, he would inevitably need capable right-hand assistants like this.
Thus, Gento developed the intention to nurture him and patiently explained:
"If I had directly asked for fifty billion, the Hidden Sand would definitely bargain with me and drag things out, and in the end, I might not even get fifty billion Ryo."
He continued slowly:
"But if I immediately ask for one hundred billion, they simply can't accept it. At that point, when I concede down to fifty billion, they'll instead feel like they've gained something. They might even give me a Jonin Kunoichi who possesses Scorch Release without feeling any regret."
"This… is the art of negotiation."
Shisui instantly felt enlightened upon hearing this.
"So that means… You used a nonexistent extra fifty billion Ryo to exchange for a Kunoichi, and even made the Hidden Sand Village think they got a huge bargain!"
"Correct!"
Gento nodded. Seeing Shisui fall into deep thought, he asked:
"Any other questions?"
Shisui shook his head and bowed respectfully.
"Thank you for your guidance, Gento-sama. I will take my leave."
With a flicker, his figure disappeared from the carriage.
Gento turned his head, only to find that after hearing their conversation, Pakura was frozen in place.
…
A few days later, news that Gento had led his forces to defeat the Hidden Sand and forced them to sign an unfair treaty rapidly spread throughout the entire shinobi world.
After hearing the news, the other three great ninja villages began to reassess the weight of the Hidden Leaf Village.
Seeing that there was no longer any profit to be gained and that the war had lasted far too long, the major ninja villages all developed the intention to negotiate peace.
Soon, the Hidden Cloud, Hidden Mist, and Hidden Stone successively made peace with the Hidden Leaf and withdrew their troops.
And therefore, the Third Great Shinobi War was officially brought to a complete end.
After the news returned to Leaf, the entire village erupted in celebration.
The long-lasting war had finally ended, and along with it, Gento's name was repeatedly praised.
Very quickly, he gained a new title: "Hero Who Ended the War."
On this day, the ninja force led by Gento finally arrived outside the Hidden Leaf Village.
A crowd surged at the gates, with villagers and shinobi lining both sides of the road to welcome them. Cheers rose and fell like waves.
Even teachers from the Ninja Academy brought young students to stand in lines along the roadside, pointing at Gento as they loudly told the children:
"Look, that is the hero who ended the war, Gento Uchiha!"
"You must all become great shinobi like him in the future!"
Pakura, who was being kept by Gento's side, caught sight of this scene and curled her lips in disdain.
Gento took in her expression and let out a light laugh.
"The enemy of the Hidden Sand is the hero of the Hidden Leaf."
Pakura fell silent.
After these past few days of interaction, she had gradually grown accustomed to this irritating man always speaking such philosophical words.
After entering the village, Gento ordered the team to disband.
Then, he personally escorted Pakura to a specially made prison deep within the Uchiha clan compound that isolated Chakra.
Through the iron bars, he said to Pakura:
"Stay here until you've thought things through.
"The day you are truly willing to submit, I'll let you out."
After speaking, he turned and left without the slightest hesitation.
It seemed that the day the two of them would engage in Dual Cultivation was not far off.
Next, Gento planned to report to the Hokage and handle the distribution of the spoils from this operation.
Just as he was about to set off, a member of the Uchiha clan hurried over and said to him:
"Gento-sama, the clan head requests your presence!"
...
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