Naruto: The Ninja World's Life Buyer

Chapter 155 The Fourth Raikage, Conditions for Compensation

Ten kilometers to the north.

This is true hell.

During their retreat, the Third Raikage and Killer Bee encountered the true main force of Iwagakure.

Not five hundred people.

There were a full three thousand Iwa ninja!

Red vests covered the entire mountainside, completely surrounding the Third Raikage and Killer Bee.

Onoki was a ruthless man. He schemed against not only Konoha but also Kumogakure. The troops he deployed on the border of the Land of Grass were a feint; his true main force had long been lying in wait in the Land of Rice Fields, just waiting for this opportunity.

"Lord Raikage—there are so many people! Damn it!"

Killer Bee leaned against the Third Raikage, looking at the densely packed enemies around him, his eyes behind his sunglasses becoming serious.

His chakra was somewhat disordered due to the suppression of Fugaku's eye technique, and he has not yet recovered, so he is unable to transform into a tailed beast.

The Third Raikage, on the other hand, had lost an arm, was covered in wounds, and had consumed a great deal of chakra.

This is desperate.

"Compare."

The Third Raikage's voice remained deep and resonant, showing no sign of weakness.

"That brat Ai—is dead."

"Hmm—" Killer Bee lowered his head.

"Kumakure cannot exist without the Raikage."

The Lightning Release armor on the Third Raikage once again erupted with dazzling light.

He turned around and patted Killer Bee heavily on the shoulder with his intact hand.

"From this moment forward, you are the Fourth Raikage."

"Lord Raikage?!" Killer Bee looked up in shock.

"Stop talking nonsense!"

The Third Raikage grabbed Killer Bee and, like throwing a sandbag, hurled him toward the weakest point in the encirclement.

"Let's go back to the village! Let's help Kumogakure survive!"

"No!!!"

Killer Bee roared in the air, but he could not resist the immense power.

"Trying to run away?!"

The Iwagakure ninjas wanted to intercept Killer Bee.

"Who dares to touch him?!"

A roar shattered the surrounding rocks.

The Third Raikage stood alone, blocking the path of three thousand Iwa ninja.

The lightning on his body transformed into black lightning. It was a final burst of energy, bought with the burning of his life force.

"You scum from Iwagakure!"

"I am right here!"

"Want to kill my son? Get over my dead body first!"

"Hellfire Thrust - One-Shot Punch!"

boom!!!

The Third Raikage charged into the enemy ranks.

He was like a meat grinder, leaving limbs flying and rivers of blood in his wake.

Ninjutsu was ineffective against him, and swords and blades chipped and dulled when they struck him.

With his one arm, he single-handedly carved out a vacuum in an army of three thousand.

one day one Night.

The battle lasted for a full day and night.

The corpses of the Hidden Rock were piled up into a small mountain.

In the end, the Third Raikage died from exhaustion.

But he did not fall.

He remained standing, his eyes wide with anger, staring intently ahead.

Behind him was the direction in which Killer Bee escaped.

The strongest shield in the ninja world, at the cost of his life, protected the last hope for the Hidden Cloud Village.

In the distant Land of Earth, lies the Hidden Stone Village.

Tsuchikage's office.

Onoki held the latest battle report in his hand.

"Lord Tsuchikage, the Third Raikage—confirmed dead."

The intelligence ninja's voice trembled.

"Our casualties—"

"No need to read it anymore."

Onoki waved his hand.

"As long as he's dead, it's worth it no matter how many people die."

If that monster doesn't die, Iwagakure won't be able to sleep peacefully.

"Father, why are we doing this?"

Huang Tu, standing to the side, asked, puzzled.

"Shouldn't we join forces with Kumogakure to fight against the Land of Fire that exploits us?"

"snort."

Onoki touched his red, bulbous nose, his eyes terrifyingly deep.

"Young man, you're looking at things too superficially."

"The Land of Fire's monetary hegemony is indeed hateful. But that's an economic issue."

"Economic issues can be negotiated and compromised through war."

"But Raikou Village—that's a matter of survival."

Onoki flew to the window and looked out at the barren, rocky land.

"Those barbarians from Kumogakure are far too aggressive. If we don't take this opportunity to break their backbone, they'll devour Iwagakure first after this war ends."

"As for Konoha—"

Onoki gave a cold laugh.

"They won tactically this time, but lost strategically."

"Minato Namikaze is dead. He was a genius who could have succeeded him as Hokage."

"Although the Uchiha clan was not wiped out, the rift between them and the village is irreparable after this betrayal."

"That dark guy Danzo didn't hesitate to kill so many of his own people in order to eliminate dissidents."

"These leaves are rotting from the inside out."

Onoki turned around, his eyes gleaming with cunning and shrewdness.

"And do you think that's the end of it?"

"No."

"It's time for Kirigakure to make their move."

"Four nations are besieging the Land of Fire. This is the real trap."

"At that time, the Land of Fire will have no choice but to compromise. Their monetary system will collapse, and they will have to give back all the benefits they have gained over the past year."

Onoki looked at a document on the table.

That was an investigative report about the "Takaya Shokai".

"However, this businessman named Takaya Sousuke—"

Onoki squinted.

"That's interesting."

"They were able to navigate this war successfully and provide Konoha with so many supplies."

"Send someone to make contact."

"Since he's a businessman, he must have a price."

"If we can poach him, or bribe him—Konoha's logistics will be half taken over."

Leaf.

Rainy.

The Uchiha clan's territory was covered with black curtains.

Of the three hundred Uchiha warriors who went to war, fifty-two returned.

Clan leader Uchiha Fugaku died in battle.

This was the most tragic day in the history of the Uchiha clan since the village was founded.

The memorial hall was set up at Nanga Shrine.

The atmosphere was so oppressive it was suffocating.

Every surviving Uchiha clan member had bloodshot eyes. Their three-tomoe jade ornaments spun wildly, emanating an ominous aura.

At the very front, a young man was kneeling.

Uchiha Souji.

The bandages around his eyes were a side effect of overuse of the kaleidoscope, resulting in severely impaired vision.

But the murderous aura emanating from him was stronger than anyone else's.

"The Hokage has arrived."

An announcement came from the doorway.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in black mourning clothes, walked in. He was followed by Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane.

As for Danzo—he didn't come. Nor did he dare to come.

"Sōji————"

Hiruzen walked to the altar, looked at Fugaku's portrait, and sighed.

"Fugaku sacrificed himself for the village. He is a hero."

"hero?"

Soji didn't turn around. His voice was as cold as ice.

"Lord Hokage, if the price of being a hero is being betrayed by one's own people, then it's better not to be a hero at all."

Hiruzen remained silent.

He certainly knew what was happening at the front lines. The Cloud Village's counter-ambush and the Iwa Village's encirclement were both orchestrated by Root.

But what could he say?

If they admit that the Konoha leadership betrayed the Uchiha clan, then Konoha will immediately descend into civil war.

"That was an intelligence failure—" Mitokado Homura tried to explain.

"That's enough!"

Zongsi suddenly turned around.

He ripped off the bandages from his eyes.

A pair of scarlet Mangekyou Sharingan eyes stared at the three high-ranking officials.

The cold, hateful, and destructive gaze in the eyes made the two advisors instinctively take a step back.

"Information error?"

"The Third Raikage and the Eight-Tails launched a counter-ambush! Five hundred Iwa ninja surrounded them! This is called an intelligence failure?!"

"Where is Danzo?!"

Zongsi roared.

The surrounding Uchiha clan members all stood up, their hands on the hilts of their swords. The murderous aura was so intense it seemed to lift the roof off.

Hiruzen's expression also darkened.

"Sōji, watch your attitude."

"Danzo has been placed under house arrest. The village will investigate this matter thoroughly."

"But before that, the Uchiha must remain calm."

This is a confrontation that is out in the open.

If it were the Uchiha clan of the past, they might have swallowed their anger.

But now, having just experienced hell, they have gone completely insane.

Just when the situation was about to get out of control.

"Mr. Sōji."

A calm voice came from the doorway.

Sosuke Takaya.

He was dressed in a black suit, with an eye patch over his left eye, and holding a bunch of white chrysanthemums in his hand.

He walked in, ignoring the tense atmosphere.

He walked to the altar, placed the flowers, and bowed deeply.

Then, he turned and looked at Soji.

"Have you forgotten Lord Fugaku's father-in-law?"

Zongsi regained some of his composure.

He took a deep breath, and the kaleidoscope in his eyes slowly faded, turning back into three tomoe, and finally into black.

"I haven't forgotten."

Zongsi gritted his teeth.

"Now that Jonin Takaya is here, let's talk about the issue of compensation."

Hiruzen breathed a sigh of relief.

If we can negotiate, things will be easier.

Half an hour later.

The secret room behind the shrine.

There are only six people here.

Hiruzen, two advisors, Sousuke, Sōji, and Mikoto.

Mikoto was deeply grieved, her face pale, but her eyes were resolute. As the widow, she had to be present.

Name your terms.

Sosuke sat in the middle, acting as the mediator.

Or rather, he was the Uchiha's proxy.

"First."

Zongsi spoke up.

"The police force needs to be expanded. We need to double the number of positions, with full stipends. And—we need to have independent intelligence capabilities."

"Impossible." Koharu, who was turning over the door, refused without hesitation.

Hijiri frowned.

"Independent intelligence control means breaking free from the Hokage's control. That won't do."

"Then let Danzo hand over his head." Sōji refused to budge an inch.

"Let's each take a step back."

Sosuke interrupted.

"The police and counterfeit police squad can be expanded. Intelligence authority still belongs to the secret police, but the police and counterfeit police squad has the right to conduct independent investigations when their own safety is involved."

"Furthermore, the village will allocate a special fund to rebuild the Uchiha's fighting strength."

Hiruzen pondered for a moment.

"Can."

This condition is still above the bottom line.

"second."

Sosuke looked at Mikoto.

Mikoto took out a document.

"The Uchiha clan has applied to open a new clan territory on the outskirts of the village, which is upstream of the Naka River."

"We want to build a factory."

"A factory?" Hiruzen was taken aback.

"Yes," Sousuke explained, "The Uchiha clan suffered heavy losses this time, and many orphans and widows lost their source of livelihood."

"The Takaya Trading Company plans to partner with the Uchiha clan to build a large ninja tool manufacturing plant and a medicinal herb cultivation base there."

"This requires land, a lot of land."

This is Sousuke's plan.

Transform the Uchiha clan from a purely violent organization into a massive military-industrial complex through business integration.

Once the Uchiha clan gains control of the economy, the village will have to think twice before trying to harm them.

Moreover, moving to the upper reaches of the Nanga River means greater strategic depth, and being farther from the village center makes surveillance more difficult.

"this----"

Hiruzen hesitated.

But when he looked at Mikoto's lonely and isolated state, he thought of Fugaku's death.

Guilt took over.

"Approved."

Hiruzen nodded.

"That wasteland is yours."

"third."

Sōji looked at Hiruzen.

"Fugaku Uchiha must be engraved at the very top of the memorial tablet. Furthermore, the village must publicly acknowledge his achievements."

"It was he who turned the tide and stopped the combined forces of Kumogakure and Iwagakure."

"That's how it should be."