Naruto: Yes, Uchiha-sama.

Chapter 182 Being Lord Light and Shadow's dog is the greatest honor! (Tobirama Senju grins: Woof woof woof)
Uchiha Makoto had just entered the venue not long ago.

The room gradually quieted down, and the initial clamor quickly turned into whispers.

Numerous ninja factions cautiously observed Uchiha Makoto.

Their feelings were complex, filled with awe, fear, and flattery.

The prosperity of Akatsuki Village has exceeded their expectations; they have witnessed it with their own eyes.

It's not the description given on paper by intelligence personnel.

Even the Kage of those major ninja villages were amazed by the prosperity of Akatsuki Village, let alone the ninjas from these smaller ninja factions!

I want to be the dog of the master of light and shadow!

To be Lord Light and Shadow's dog is the greatest honor, unlike some stray dogs that run around the ninja world without knowing who their master is—I offer my loyal teeth and mouth to Lord Light and Shadow!

Unfortunately, there were too many people at the scene, and too many competitors who wanted to be the dog of the Light and Shadow Master.

Therefore, many ninja factions did not rashly approach Uchiha Makoto to talk to him. Instead, they looked at him with eager anticipation, thinking about how to establish contact with Akatsuki Village in secret.

Uchiha Makoto was also looking around.

Generally speaking, major ninja villages only have three ways of dealing with ninja forces in the ninja world: treat them to a meal, behead them, or take them in as dogs.

Akatsuki Village urgently needs to recruit a group of dogs from across the ninja world to run errands for them.

"That's... Takigakure Village?"

in the venue.

A group of ninjas from Takigakure became the center of attention.

They quickly caught the attention of Uchiha Makoto.

It wasn't that the ninjas from Takigakure did anything particularly outrageous at the event; rather, they were holding up advertisements for a cannery and relentlessly promoting canned goods to the surrounding ninja factions.

Ah, Takigakure Village is in a terrible state.

The village's high-ranking officials were almost all slaughtered by Kakuzu, and later Konoha dealt with them severely, leaving them with a large debt.

In the end, it was Makoto Uchiha who pleaded with Tobirama Senju, giving them a chance.

So ever since the higher-ups of Takigakure signed several large orders for canned food with Akatsuki and secured some distribution rights, they have been desperately urging the village's ninjas to buy canned food in order to prevent the village from collapsing.

In the initial period of time.

The leaders of Takigakure set an example by doing their best to promote canned food in the village.

They eat canned fish for all three meals every day.

The higher-ups are already eating canned fish every day, so why don't the village ninjas buy some?
Admittedly, canned fish tastes really good, but they can't stand eating it every day. They've gotten so sick of the sight of fish that they feel nauseous.

However, this approach did indeed produce very good results.

The ninja community of Takigakure can afford canned fish, and it tastes pretty good on its own.

Although eating canned fish every day might get a bit greasy, it's a great source of high-quality protein.

And no matter how bad it tastes, it's still better than eating those awful culinary rations every day!

So the first batch of orders was quickly sold out in Takigakure Village.

After selling the first batch of canned goods, the executives at Takigaku did some calculations.

The price of canned fish is among the lowest in the village.

In order to promote and stabilize the morale of the Akatsuki ninja village, the higher-ups also sent out some canned fish as a welfare benefit for the Takigakure ninja.

But in the end, they still managed to make some money and get through the Lunar New Year.

During the Lunar New Year, the Takigakure ninjas didn't have a bad time; they were just getting by, barely managing to survive.

So, selling canned fish can actually make money!

This truly gave the higher-ups of Takigakure a glimmer of hope for the village's future.

So naturally, the leaders of Takigakure Village started thinking about expanding the market and selling delicious canned fish to the people of Takigakure.

Because the initial cost of canned fish is not high, the price is already very affordable.

In addition, they have already established channels with the ninjas.

The ninjas of Takigakure always bring their own ninja beasts to transport goods. Bandits generally don't dare to target the ninjas. As for the ninja beasts, they don't even need to pay for feed; they just let them out to find their own food when they rest along the way.

It's a bit embarrassing that a perfectly good ninja was turned into a deliveryman.

But making money isn't shameful!
This series of actions significantly reduced various transportation costs.

With its low price, delicious taste, and well-defined market positioning, canned fish quickly swept through the seafood markets of Takigakure.

The leading figures in the fisheries industry in Takinokuni were dealt a heavy blow by this sudden competitor.

Without any choice.

Some of them wanted to raise money to issue missions in Takigakure to directly eliminate their competitors on a physical level. However, the mastermind behind the Land of Takigakure's push for canned fish into the seafood market was none other than Takigakure.

Indeed.
The money that Takigakure earns every day is just a small sum for Akatsuki Village.

But what is the size of Akatsuki Village?
What is the size of Takigakure Village?
Faced with this sudden situation, the Takigakure executives simply held a meeting.

We all looked at the recent accounts together.

After reviewing the recent sales figures and profits of their canned food business, they immediately resolved to eliminate all those who were hindering their profits!
"Takigakure Village can pay off its debts completely in two or three years at most!"

"If we tighten our belts and work hard for the next two or three years, everything else will be sweet!"

The higher-ups of Takigakure were saying this to the ninja of Takigakure.

Ninjas are indeed taught to be patient and to endure hardship. A ninja is someone who can endure suffering – ninjas are not afraid, ninjas can endure hardship!
The suffering is for the sake of the eventual sweetness. No one would really dare to make a ninja suffer indefinitely, would they?

If you do that, believe it or not, ninjas will come and kill your whole family in the middle of the night!
And now, the hope for a wonderful life that the Takigakure ninja have been longing for is right before their eyes!

Having tasted the benefits, how could Takigakure possibly let these people go!

then
Those who hindered the expansion of canned fish in the Takigakure were dealt with by the Takigakure ninja who were obsessed with making money!
After eliminating a large number of competitors.

The fish canning business of Takigakure Village is booming in Takigakure Country, and it is already showing signs of becoming the dominant force in the country's seafood industry.

Makoto Uchiha blinked.

Watching the Takigakure ninjas enthusiastically promoting their products—they really know how to hitch a ride!

However, Makoto Uchiha admired the way Takigakure constantly strived to become wealthy.

After all, Takigakure only made a small profit, while Akatsuki Village made the real big profit!
Moreover, the more vigorously they publicized it, the more ninja forces learned the truth. In a sense, this can be seen as a testimonial – following Akatsuki really does bring benefits. Even if you're a dog, a dog's ultimate goal isn't to eat bones, but to eat meat!
Therefore, Uchiha Makoto turned a blind eye until the negotiations officially began.

"Please, Mizukage, your seats are over there."

Uchiha Makoto pointed to the seats in the center of the venue, and the seats directly opposite the Mizukage's group were occupied by the people from Iwagakure.

This is truly a case of enemies meeting with intense hatred.

It was only because Makoto Uchiha was personally present to quell the situation that it did not spiral out of control.

If the two sides meet in the wild, a major fight is inevitable.

As Shuiying officially took his seat.

The atmosphere in the room quickly became tense, and even the whispers began to gradually disappear.

Uchiha Makoto sat down in the seat between Kirigakure and Iwagakure.

Tobirama Senju, representing Konoha, also found a seat, choosing to sit directly opposite Makoto Uchiha. "Why are there always endless disasters in the world, forcing ninjas to wander amidst ruins and tears?"

"When complete strangers are forced to point knives at each other, what is the meaning of the faces reflected in the pool of blood?"

"War conveys hatred, and hatred is chained; a chain of hatred turns the world into hell."

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am very pleased that you are participating in this negotiation. I hope that everyone can remain rational in the following negotiations and work together to come up with a solution that is acceptable to both sides to resolve this crisis."

"Akatsuki Village will steadfastly remain the ballast of peace in the ninja world, and those who deliberately sabotage peace will not have a good end!"

Uchiha Makoto began his speech, setting the stage for the negotiations.

They clearly expressed their stance: the ninja world wants peace, not war!
His words eased the tense atmosphere in the room.

The ninja factions present were also reassured – those who deliberately disrupt the peace of the ninja world will not have a good end!

This is a naked threat.

But it sounds very reassuring.

Tobirama Senju felt a strange unease listening to these words, and looked at Makoto Uchiha with an odd gaze—Makoto Uchiha, you are the instigator of the first large-scale war in the ninja village era!
You were the evil element who deliberately destroyed the peace of the ninja world!

Without Konoha backing you up, who knows how the Cloud Village War would have ended? It might still be going on!

Makoto Uchiha quickly noticed Tobirama Senju's gaze and began to retaliate with his own eyes.

Tobirama Senju was not to be outdone.

Uchiha Makoto: "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Tobirama Senju: "What are you looking at?"

Uchiha Makoto: "Do you want to fight?"

Tobirama Senju: "Come on!"

Uchiha Makoto: "You just wait!"

Soon, the negotiations officially began.

The first Tsuchikage spoke first.

"Not long ago, a team of our ninjas came to the Land of Iron to carry out an escort mission, and then they were attacked by the Hidden Mist ninjas, resulting in heavy casualties among the ninjas of my Hidden Stone Village. The Hidden Mist Village must give me an explanation for this, otherwise my Hidden Stone Village will never let this go!"

"Where's the evidence? Do you have any evidence?"

"What makes you think we from Kirigakure did this?!"

"Your Iwagakure is completely framing my Kirigakure. You're deliberately trying to cause trouble. We Kirigakure are not to be trifled with!"

The First Mizukage used a very effective tactic—to deny everything.

This is also the attitude that Kirigakure clearly expressed from the beginning—that Iwagakure is simply framing Kirigakure and is deliberately trying to extort money from us.

They're just exchanging insults in the newspapers anyway.

Even if Kirigakure did start the incident, we should stir things up first.

Admit it right away?
How could such a thing be possible?

"Hmph, I see you have absolutely no attitude towards solving the problem!"

Do you really think we have no evidence?

The First Tsuchikage snorted coldly. He had anticipated this move and had made ample preparations beforehand.

Iwagakure (Hidden Stone Village) collected evidence of the battle at the scene.

The damage caused by those ninjutsu was clearly a common tactic used by the ninjas of Kirigakure.

The ninjas present were all experts and could easily identify it.

Battle relics of the Hidden Mist ninja were also found at the scene, including kunai, shuriken, and headbands bearing the Hidden Mist symbol. This evidence proves that the Hidden Mist ninja attacked the Hidden Stone Village ninja.

"What does this mean?"

"Perhaps someone is trying to frame Kirigakure."

"These can only be considered clues, not evidence."

The First Mizukage's wise eyes quickly scanned the evidence submitted by Iwagakure.

There are no witnesses!
Based on these facts alone, it's impossible to get Kirigakure to admit this!

Moreover, he has an extremely assertive personality, and his tone of voice is more like a provocation.

The First Tsuchikage started to become irritable.

Although if this matter were to be brought up in Iwagakure, without absolute evidence pointing to Iwagakure, he would definitely never admit it, even if beaten to death.

Once admitted, the negotiation will immediately be at a disadvantage.

But... your perspective is determined by your position.

People are all hypocritical.

The First Tsuchikage believed that the Mizukage had no problem at all.

So he looked at Uchiha Makoto, hoping he could uphold justice; they had already made a private agreement.

"Mizukage, let me say something fair."

“No one here is stupid. It was your Kirigakure ninjas who attacked the Iwagakure ninjas. If you want to resolve this issue properly, you should have the right attitude, instead of taking such an irresponsible approach.”

Having received a hint from the First Tsuchikage, Makoto Uchiha temporarily abandoned his "battle" with Tobirama Senju and spoke up.

When someone opens their mouth by saying, "Let me say something fair," it means that their attitude is very clear.

no doubt.

Makoto Uchiha has already admitted that it was the Hidden Mist Village ninjas who attacked the Hidden Stone Village ninjas.

Of course, this was only because the First Tsuchikage and Makoto Uchiha had made a deal in private.

Most importantly, as a mediator, you must adhere to three principles—fairness, fairness, but damn it, fairness.

Although Kirigakure refused to admit it, there was no direct evidence to prove that the Kirigakure ninja were the ones who attacked the Iwagakure ninja.
But the ninja forces present weren't idiots!
Makoto Uchiha's words clearly carried significant weight.

The prosperity that Akatsuki Village just displayed was not meant for the First Mizukage to see.

Akatsuki has already supported Iwagakure on this issue, and Konoha is also an ally of Akatsuki—there's no point in Kirigakure continuing to deny it.

When the First Tsuchikage heard Uchiha Makoto's words of support, a smile involuntarily appeared on his face.

I was absolutely right to make that decision back then.

It's impossible for Iwagakure to resolve this matter satisfactorily on its own; in the end, it will just be endless wrangling, fighting, and more wrangling.

"Perhaps it was done secretly by the Hidden Mist ninja, deceiving the Mizukage."

"I hope the Mizukage will go back and thoroughly investigate this matter."

Makoto Uchiha gave the First Mizukage a way out, so that he wouldn't be embarrassed.

The First Mizukage snorted coldly, which was considered an admission of Makoto Uchiha's statement.

And once this is acknowledged...

The rest became much easier, and we could directly move on to the stage of discussing compensation.

(End of this chapter)