The next morning, a thick fog rose over the main gates of Konoha.
Senju Tobirama, carrying a travel bag, left the village quietly and alone, without alerting anyone. The moisture in the morning fog dampened his bag and blurred the road ahead.
His figure gradually faded into the dense fog.
Alone, exuding an unspeakable loneliness and heaviness.
For Senju Tobirama, this trip was truly perilous!
"Uchiha Makoto, you bastard... sooner or later, you'll have to come begging to me like this too!"
"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west..."
"But a man under the eaves has no choice but to bow his head!"
"How should I deal with Uchiha Makoto's difficult demands... Give in and admit defeat directly? Shout 'Lord Kōkage, forgive me, this humble one was confused' as soon as we meet?"
That seems too obsequious!
How can I be so servile!!
"Use the tiger's skin to scare the fox, use my brother's name to suppress Uchiha Makoto's arrogance first?"
No, that's too much.
Uchiha Makoto might not buy it!
"Dear Kōkage, it's all a misunderstanding. We are practically brothers from different mothers!"
"Your little brother apologizes to you!"
Playing the relationship card?
How disgusting!
I have to proactively call Uchiha Makoto brother?
Senju Tobirama complained all the way.
Countless thoughts collided in his mind. Facing the predicament before him, he simulated countless meeting scenarios in his heart, but none of them satisfied him.
Inadvertently...
Senju Tobirama had already arrived at the outskirts of the Akatsuki Ninja Village. It hadn't actually been that long since he last left, but as he looked around, he felt that the development speed of the Akatsuki Ninja Village seemed to have accelerated quite a bit.
"Halt!"
"Strange ninja entering the Akatsuki Ninja Village need to be inspected!"
The Akatsuki ninja responsible for patrolling the area quickly spotted Senju Tobirama and stopped him directly.
"I am an envoy from Konoha..."
Senju Tobirama first announced his name, then underwent the inspection by the patrol ninja according to procedure.
And this news was immediately conveyed to Uchiha Makoto, who was working in the Kōkage's office.
"Senju Tobirama, he came after all."
"A few days later than I imagined... Pass down the order, take Senju Tobirama to the already full reception room, and then leave him be. I want to let him stew for a while!"
A corner of Uchiha Makoto's mouth curled up, a smile appearing on his face, and he even couldn't help but hum lightly—he had waited too long for the day Senju Tobirama would come to his door and submit.
Now it had finally arrived!
However, Uchiha Makoto wasn't in a hurry to see Senju Tobirama. He planned to dampen Tobirama's spirit first!
Asking for a favor, how could it be so simple?
If it were before.
If Senju Tobirama wanted to see Uchiha Makoto on behalf of Konoha, it was always the first priority. He didn't need to queue; he could just kick open the door of his office and walk in.
But now.
Senju Tobirama was here to apologize, and the Akatsuki Ninja Village was currently the hottest thing in the Land of Fire. High-yield crop seeds and fertilizers were in short supply. Too many wealthy merchants and nobles were breaking their heads trying to get goods, even traveling to the Akatsuki Ninja Village personally to beg for a meeting with Uchiha Makoto.
Let him wait in line obediently with this group of people first!
Soon, Senju Tobirama successfully passed the inspection by the patrol ninja, and the ANBU ninja who arrived later took him into the interior of the Akatsuki Ninja Village.
"This isn't the route to the Kōkage building. I want to see Uchiha Makoto. Where are you taking me?"
"Lord Kōkage doesn't have time to see you right now. If you want to see Lord Kōkage, you have to wait in line first!"
"What... wait in line?"
"I have to wait in line to see Uchiha Makoto?"
Senju Tobirama had been to Uchiha Makoto's office more than once, but the ANBU ninja in front of him clearly didn't intend to take him in that direction.
Relying on his ninja keenness, he couldn't help but ask the ANBU leading the way.
However, the answer he got made him extremely unhappy—last time he came to the Akatsuki Ninja Village, he could go to Uchiha Makoto's office whenever he wanted, even kicking the door to let Makoto hear it. Now that he wanted to see Uchiha Makoto, he actually had to wait in line?
Clearly.
Uchiha Makoto had already started to make things difficult for him!
Then... Senju Tobirama chose to endure.
—Endurance is to be open-minded and to withstand!
"This is it."
"Please."
The ANBU ninja took Senju Tobirama to the door of the reception room.
As soon as he entered the room, Senju Tobirama attracted everyone's attention. His ninja attire was truly eye-catching.
Senju Tobirama glanced around.
There were quite a few people in the reception room, a full seven or eight. He then found a corner seat and sat down, thinking about how to deal with the difficulties Uchiha Makoto might present next.
While waiting, a wealthy merchant dressed in brocade proactively approached Senju Tobirama to get close to him.
"Brother, you look unfamiliar. Judging by your bearing, you're a ninja, right? That's rare—are you also here to see Lord Kōkage to discuss cooperation?"
Senju Tobirama responded faintly: "En."
The wealthy merchant looked him up and down and lowered his voice: "How is the contract amount prepared? If it's less than ten million Ryo, Lord Kōkage won't even show his face. If it's not enough, I advise you to go back early to avoid waiting in vain."
"Ten million Ryo?"
"Uchiha Makoto's appetite is getting bigger and bigger. He only sees people for such a big business?"
Senju Tobirama raised his eyebrows, deliberately chatting idly with the wealthy merchant, unable to help but complain about the ridiculous amount, but the merchant opposite him looked accustomed to it.
"Then the contract amount prepared by your ninja village..." The merchant changed the subject, probing further.
"Trade secret." Senju Tobirama interrupted unceremoniously and rolled his eyes.
He understood now; this merchant was just here to spy on intelligence, treating him as a competitor.
Seeing his intention exposed, the merchant wasn't embarrassed. He chuckled twice and sat back in his original seat. He took out a small mirror and practiced smiling in front of it as if no one else was there, studying his expressions and demeanor, looking as if he wouldn't stop until he had formed muscle memory.
Meeting Lord Kōkage was a big deal.
Absolutely no carelessness allowed!
This made Senju Tobirama look at him a few more times. Seeing this, the merchant took out a small mirror from his pocket and handed it to Tobirama.
"Meeting is fate. Don't be so serious. Being able to negotiate a deal and make money is better than anything!"
"Making money isn't shameful!"
Senju Tobirama hesitated for a moment.
He remembered that his purpose in coming to the Akatsuki Ninja Village today was to smile apologetically to Uchiha Makoto.
But should he take it?
I am the Shadow Hokage of Konoha. Holding a small mirror and practicing smiling for Uchiha Makoto in front of so many people would be more painful than killing him!
"No need. It's just Uchiha Makoto!"
Senju Tobirama still maintained his toughness.
The merchant pursed his lips and then continued practicing.
Time passed bit by bit.
Soon, the people in the room received notifications one by one and walked out, leaving Senju Tobirama sitting alone in the room.
Only the ticking sound of the clock remained in the air, exceptionally piercing.
Senju Tobirama was originally pondering countermeasures, but as time passed minute by minute, his initial anxiety was gradually replaced by impatience.
The sunlight outside the window moved from a slanted beam to the center, then gradually tilted westward. The warm yellow light fell on him through the window lattice.
"Uchiha Makoto, this bastard, deliberately leaving me hanging for so long!" Senju Tobirama tapped his fingertips unconsciously on the edge of the chair. He could imagine that Uchiha Makoto was probably sitting leisurely in his office in the Kōkage building right now, maybe even waiting to see his exasperated look.
Just as he was about to lose his patience and get up, wanting to storm directly to Uchiha Makoto's office and kick the door down, the reception room door was finally pushed open. The ANBU ninja who had led the way earlier walked in and said expressionlessly: "Lord Senju Tobirama, Lord Kōkage has time to see you now. Please follow me."
Soon, they entered the Kōkage building and arrived at the office door without hindrance.
The ANBU stopped, made a "please enter" gesture, and turned to leave.
Senju Tobirama stared at the closed door, countless meeting scenarios flashing through his mind in an instant. He raised his hand, paused, and finally, instead of kicking the door as usual, he knocked gently.
"Come in."
Uchiha Makoto's careless voice came from inside, carrying a hint of mocking laughter.
Senju Tobirama pushed the door open and entered. He saw Uchiha Makoto sitting behind a large desk, holding a teacup, looking up at him: "Ah~ It's the Shadow Hokage!"
"What business brings you to the Akatsuki Ninja Village this time?"
Uchiha Makoto began to ask knowingly, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"I... Uchiha Makoto, stop pretending. You really want to laugh, don't you?"
"Regarding the previous cooperation between Konoha and the Akatsuki Ninja Village, where you used my brother's Wood Style to cultivate high-yield crop seeds... My brother sent me here to renegotiate this cooperation with you."
In the end, Senju Tobirama couldn't bring himself to speak humbly to Uchiha Makoto, so he played the Senju Hashirama card.
But Uchiha Makoto didn't care at all.
Uchiha Madara had already written to inform him in advance—Senju Hashirama had sent Senju Tobirama to the Akatsuki Ninja Village to offer a humble apology. He could be bolder in his methods, and he didn't need to worry about Senju Hashirama. If anything happened, Madara would take responsibility!
"Senju Tobirama, you naturally evil old Senju demon!"
"Initially, I personally discussed this business with Senju Hashirama, hoping that Konoha and the Akatsuki Ninja Village would cooperate."
"But Senju Hashirama rejected me because of you. Yet now you come to me saying, 'Uchiha Makoto, let's cooperate again.'"
"You don't have a shred of respect for me. You don't treat me as a friend. You're not even willing to call me Lord Kōkage."
"What exactly did I do to make you disrespect me so much?"
"Your attitude really makes things difficult for me!"
Uchiha Makoto said to Senju Tobirama while playing with the Two-Tailed Cat in his arms.
Senju Tobirama's face instantly turned red.
Although he had long expected Uchiha Makoto to show such a face, seeing this scene now, he really wanted to use the Flying Thunder God Slash to hack the arrogant and smug Uchiha Makoto to death.
But... he couldn't!
For the sake of Konoha, I'll endure!
"Lord Kōkage..."
"What did you say? Lord Kōkage didn't hear you!"
Senju Tobirama had no choice but to submit to Uchiha Makoto.
However, Uchiha Makoto deliberately put his hand to his ear, hoping Tobirama would speak louder. The veins on Tobirama's forehead were throbbing; he was about to lose it!!
"Lord Kōkage!"
"That's more like it."
"In the past, when you didn't need to beg me, you were always disrespectful. At that time, I didn't hold it against you when you called me Uchiha Makoto. But now, in front of me, you must address me by my title!"
"With that look on your face before, those who didn't know better would have thought you were the Hokage of Konoha. Truly disrespectful!"
"What, are you unconvinced?"
Opportunities to point at Senju Tobirama's nose and scold him without fear of retaliation were rare.
Uchiha Makoto's words became more and more presumptuous, constantly pointing and criticizing Tobirama. He just loved seeing Tobirama's exasperated yet helpless expression.
"I ask you, whose responsibility was this whole thing from beginning to end, you shameless bastard?"
"Who!"
"Speak, look in my eyes!!"
"It was me."
Senju Tobirama was still enduring. He repeated the mantra in his mind: endurance is to be open-minded and to withstand!
Then Uchiha Makoto subjected Senju Tobirama to a series of obedience tests.
Including but not limited to "Is this a deer or a horse?", "Liu Er, what's cooking in this pot?"...
Senju Tobirama knew Uchiha Makoto was deliberately disgusting him, but he still endured.
All for Konoha!
"..."
"Alright, that feels good."
"This time was really satisfying. Thanks to Senju Hashirama for signing the mission agreement back then, and thanks to Lord Madara for the assist..."
Uchiha Makoto had thoroughly enjoyed himself. He sighed, his mouth dry from talking so much. He picked up the teapot on the table, poured himself a cup of tea, and drank it all in one gulp.
Senju Tobirama let out a long sigh of relief in his heart. Finally, it's over!
Several times he had almost failed to hold back and fallen out with Uchiha Makoto.
Uchiha Makoto, you naturally evil Uchiha brat!
Mountains and rivers meet eventually.
You just wait!
Sooner or later, you will regret it. I don't believe there won't be a time when you have to beg me!
Taking advantage of the moment Uchiha Makoto was drinking water, Senju Tobirama secretly gave him a vicious glare—he only dared to do it secretly, afraid that Uchiha Makoto would deliberately create more trouble.
"Alright, Lord Kōkage, since you've vented your anger, should we renegotiate the cooperation?"
Senju Tobirama brought up the main business. He had endured Uchiha Makoto for so long, and finally, he was about to reap the fruits.
However, Uchiha Makoto revealed a malicious smile.
"What cooperation?"
"Did I ever promise you that after venting my anger, I would renegotiate the contract with Konoha?"
"Go back to Konoha. I believe Senju Hashirama is a ninja who keeps his promises, unlike you, who only knows how to badmouth me behind my back."
Uchiha Makoto displayed the ultimate move he had prepared.
The difficulties just now were merely appetizers; this was the main course. After all, he still hadn't seen Senju Tobirama truly break down.
"????"
"Uchiha Makoto, you f*cking... I'm going to kill you!!"
Senju Tobirama's eyes widened. He clearly hadn't expected Uchiha Makoto to play this game with him.
Damn it! You beast!
Playing me like this?
Having held it in all day, he finally couldn't take it anymore and broke down.
<><><><><><
Read Advanced Chapters on : patreon.com/Kaizo247
~ Every 150 PS = Bonus Chapter!
~ Push the Story forward with your [Power Stones]