Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 581 The New Order

The document, titled "Compensation Agreement Regarding the War Against the Land of Lightning by Sunagakure and Iwagakure," lay quietly in the center of the table.

Onoki and Chiyo recognized every single character on it.

But when these words are combined into a dazzling string of numbers, they transform into a ferocious beast that preys on its prey.

That's not just an astronomical figure; it's an amount that Iwagakure and Sunagakure would need to raise over the next five or even ten years.

This is hardly a compensation agreement.

This is a contract of servitude.

Onoki felt a buzzing in the back of his head, and his body felt weak.

Chiyo's hands, those skillful hands that could control countless exquisite puppets and kill without a trace, were now clasped on her knees.

Humiliation, resentment, anger... all sorts of emotions surged within her, but ultimately turned into a deathly silence and paleness.

She knew they had lost.

The defeat was even more devastating than when he was crushed by Sakumo Hatake on the battlefield.

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't urge him. He simply picked up his teacup quietly, gently blew on the floating tea leaves, and his leisurely demeanor made the atmosphere in the tent even more tense.

Time passed by, second by second.

Every second was torture for Onoki and Chiyo.

Finally, a few barely audible syllables were squeezed out of Onoki's dry throat.

"...No objection."

These three words seemed to drain all the strength from his body.

After he finished speaking, he hunched over, making his short body appear even smaller.

Chiyo nodded with difficulty, without saying a word.

Any words seem pale and powerless in the face of an absolute difference in strength.

Seeing the two submit, the Fourth Raikage, A, let out a cold snort, but ultimately refrained from doing so because Hiruzen Sarutobi was present.

Just when Onoki and Chiyo thought the public execution was about to end, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sitting in the main seat, suddenly smiled.

That smile, like a gentle spring breeze, instantly dispelled the chilling killing intent within the tent.

"Seeing how cooperative you two are, I can't be too heartless."

He slowly put down his teacup and said in a consultative tone, "This compensation is indeed a huge amount. However... Konoha can help you find a way to reduce the burden."

Upon hearing this, a look of utter bewilderment appeared in Onoki's eyes for the first time.

help?

Can you come up with a less burdensome solution?

He'd lived to such an old age, participated in countless negotiations, seen people who were obsequious and hysterical, but he'd never seen anything like this.

One second they're sharpening their knives, ready to chop them up and feed them to the dogs, the next they're all smiles, saying they'll help them find a more comfortable way to die.

What kind of approach is this?

His brain, which had been immersed in countless conspiracies and intrigues for decades, was now showing signs of being overworked.

Every brain cell was screaming wildly, warning him that there was a trap, a huge conspiracy!

Chiyo next to her wasn't much better off.

Her wrinkled face was stiff, like a puppet that had lost its soul.

He even subconsciously moved his fingers, only to find that his fingertips were icy cold, and he couldn't even muster the basic strength to control the puppet strings.

Even A, the Fourth Raikage and an ally, was completely bewildered at this moment.

His thick eyebrows furrowed into a knot as he turned his head and looked at his strategist, Tsuchishiro, with a questioning gaze.

Ai couldn't understand what the Hokage was really up to.

Tsuchishiro didn't speak, but subtly shook his head at him, signaling him to calm down.

In the midst of this almost frozen silence, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke again, breaking the deadlock.

"Of course, when I say help, I don't mean reducing or waiving compensation."

His casual remark ruthlessly shattered the glimmer of hope that had just begun to rise in everyone's minds.

Onoki and Chiyo's hearts sank again.

Sure enough, things didn't turn out that way.

"Not a single penny less in reparations. This is a matter of principle, an explanation to the souls of those who died in the war."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone remained calm, yet carried an undeniable air of authority.

He glanced at the expressionless Lei Ying Ai, who gave a heavy snort, which was taken as an expression of agreement.

"but,"

Hiruzen Sarutobi abruptly changed the subject, the oppressive aura dissipating, replaced by a sincere demeanor full of goodwill, as if offering advice to a friend. "Besides cash, if we can't afford to compensate, we can use other methods. Iwagakure is rich in various rare ores, and Sunagakure's wind metal is also an excellent material for crafting ninja tools, as well as some unique products. Konoha can take the lead in establishing a joint development project team."

"Joint development?"

Ōnoki squeezed out those words through gritted teeth, instinctively sensing a dangerous undercurrent.

"That's right."

Hiruzen Sarutobi snapped his fingers, seemingly quite pleased with the term. "You provide the resources and manpower; Konoha provides the technology, equipment, and management talent. We'll mine and smelt together, and the value created will be used partly to offset your war reparations. The remainder will be split proportionally. This way, we not only solve the reparations problem but also boost your village's economy and create more jobs. A win-win situation, isn't it wonderful?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke with such nonchalance, yet every word he uttered was incredibly alluring.

But to Onoki and Chiyo, it sounded no less like the whispers of a demon.

Provide resources and manpower?

Does Konoha produce technical expertise and management skills?

Isn't this a modern-day version of economic plunder?! What do they take their village for? A source of raw materials and a cheap labor market?

Onoki was so angry that his beard was trembling. He was about to slam his fist on the table and rebuke him for his delusions.

But he swallowed the words back down his throat.

Because he saw that after Hiruzen Sarutobi finished speaking, he picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and stared at him calmly with his deep black eyes, devoid of any emotion, yet seemingly able to see through everything.

That was the look of someone in a superior position when looking at a chess piece.

You are angry, you are roaring, but you are still on my chessboard.

A chill ran from the soles of Onoki's feet straight up to the top of his head.

He suddenly realized that he didn't even have the right to overturn the table.

Chiyo's reaction was more direct. She gave a bitter smile and asked in a hoarse voice, "And then? Our mines became Konoha's backyard, and our ninjas became laborers working for Konoha. Isn't that right, Hokage-sama?"

"Elder Chiyo, you flatter me."

Hiruzen Sarutobi put down his teacup, smiled, and shook his head. "My vision goes far beyond this. A few mines are nothing to Konoha."

He stood up and slowly walked to the map in front of the camp.

That was a huge map of the ninja world.

"Look at this continent."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's finger lightly traced the five great nations on the map. "For so many years, all we've done is fight and prepare for war. Today you attack me, tomorrow I attack you. For what? Resources, land, and that ridiculous hatred."

Can war solve problems? Perhaps. But what is the cost? Countless precious lives, countless broken families, mountains of hatred, and the seeds for the next war.