After about ten minutes, Yahiko spoke without raising his head, his voice very raspy, "Why resurrect me?"
Hiromi said, "My parents were devoted to Konoha, yet they were assassinated by Konoha and died."
Yahiko's pupils shrank to pinpricks. He was devoted to the Land of Rain, yet he fell into a trap in the Land of Rain and died. His resurrection suddenly made perfect sense.
But did Hiromi have other calculations?
"What do you want me to do?" Yahiko asked in a suppressed tone.
"Are you thinking I'll use you to deal with the Akatsuki?" Hiromi laughed.
"The weak use human hearts to improve their odds, but the strong do not imitate the weak."
Hiromi paused for a second and said, "From today onwards, you can leave Konoha and go wherever you please. However, two of your teammates will follow you. If you feel any gratitude, you can give me your diary, that is what I want most."
Yahiko fell silent again.
After a dozen seconds, he seemed to have thought everything through. He stood up and bowed deeply to Hiromi. "Today, I will write down all my thoughts and actions from my resurrection until now. After I leave the village tomorrow, I will also write a diary every day and send it to you until I die."
Hiromi narrowed his eyes.
Going to see Nagato with the mindset of facing death?
Indeed, someone who has died once loses their fear of death.
"Very well, the deal is struck." Hiromi looked away from him.
Yahiko no longer kept his head down. He picked up a pen, the scratching sound of writing filling the paper as he recorded his thoughts.
Shisui took a glance and was reminded of Shikaku.
Choices...
Hiromi never forced people onto his side. For instance, when he took the heads of Koharu and Homura, he could have easily made other clans do the deed but he never did.
Because he was proud.
He stood right here. Those around him could choose to walk by his side, but they could not be dragged there. Though it might simply be because Hiromi found it beneath him. Yet this kind of charisma was the most attractive.
Suddenly, he remembered something. "Hiashi proposed that the Uchiha move back to the clan compound, but I refused him."
Hiromi asked, "During the meeting?"
"He told me privately."
"He seems smart enough."
"It seems he wants to stand with us." Shisui paused and asked, "If enemies try to defect to our side later, what should we do?"
He asked this naturally, but his heart was very tense. He didn't want Konoha to become an enemy, so he had informed Shikaku. However, Hiromi didn't know about this, so...
Hiromi was stunned for a moment upon hearing this. He then smiled helplessly at Shisui. "Nii-san, there's no need to test me. We're family."
Shisui froze for a full ten seconds.
Then, it was as if his former self had returned. His expression cleared, and he made no attempt to hide his feelings in front of his kin.
He gave a sheepish laugh, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Sorry, I think I was a little afraid of you before."
"Afraid I'd kill everyone in Konoha? I don't have that much bloodlust."
If Hiromi really wanted to kill, really didn't care about the Uchiha clan, and was truly unscrupulous, he would have been invincible long ago.
Currently, he was happy to lead those who walked to his side. It was a form of amusement, a kind of expectation called 'raising' something. Although he let them grow wild, it didn't stop him from enjoying the show.
"Mm, I know. I was just overthinking. My mistake." Shisui apologized, but he smiled happily, the corners of his lips curling up uncontrollably.
—
The next day.
Hokage Building, Conference Room.
Shikaku sat in the main seat, with two subordinates standing behind him.
The envoy leaders from Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure also had two subordinates behind them, ready to begin formal negotiations.
Shikaku glanced at them and spoke, "Everyone, we have heard something regarding the Daimyo's trade."
The envoy leaders' brows twitched.
Heard something?
Meaning they didn't know before?
They felt a sense of unease, but no matter how they thought about it, they couldn't tell where it was coming from.
'Could Konoha truly dare to defy the Daimyo's orders?' They sneered in their hearts.
At that moment, Shikaku said, "Regarding this matter, the Daimyo has admitted his error and apologized. All items obtained from the trade have been returned to their respective nations."
Envoy leaders of Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure: "???"
No matter how foolish a Daimyo was, it was impossible for them to admit a mistake, as that would represent a blow to their authority—their very foundation.
So, was this a bluff?
Kumogakure and their Daimyo had always been close, so they were more aware of such matters, and at the same time, they had slightly less reverence for the Daimyo than other villages.
Thus, the Kumogakure leader asked with a mocking, half-smile, "Shikaku-san, are you sure about that?"
Shikaku glanced at him and stood up under the watchful eyes of the envoys from Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure.
"You all should go back and investigate first. We will talk again tomorrow."
Having said that, Shikaku left without looking back, leaving the envoy leaders of Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure to stare at each other, their expressions filled with shock and uncertainty.
"Is that for real?!"
...
"I wonder how the negotiations are going."
"At the very least, they have to pay some reparations. Otherwise, how will the Ninja World look at our Konoha?"
"Yeah. I hope the Fifth Hokage is a bit more forceful."
Amidst the villagers' distrust and worry, five days passed quickly.
On the sixth day, the envoys from Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure left with dark expressions.
The villagers were curious about what had happened, but even more curious about the results of the negotiations.
"The notice board is up!"
The villagers rushed over in a buzz of excitement, seeing that the first item was, unsurprisingly, a ceasefire agreement. But starting from the second item, their mouths hung wide open.
Kumogakure's compensation—two hundred million ryo.
Iwagakure's compensation—three hundred kilograms (660 pounds) of precious minerals.
Kirigakure's compensation—three ninja tools comparable to the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist's swords.
Although a village could technically provide this, handing over this much would certainly be a major blow to their foundations.
The villagers were in disbelief over the two hundred million in reparations, while the ninjas were salivating over the three hundred kilograms of precious minerals and the three ninja tools comparable to the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist's swords.
Weapons had always been able to significantly boost combat power. In a weapon clash, even if you can't cut through the opponent's weapon, being able to notch it or ruin its sharpness is a massive advantage.
They didn't dare dream of the three ninja tools comparable to the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist's swords, but out of three hundred kilograms of precious minerals, surely they could personally get half a kilogram? What? No? Then a quarter... even fifty grams would do.
But what they didn't know was that these were only part of the reparations.
Kumogakure spent four hundred million ryo to buy back Eight-Tails and Two-Tails.
Kirigakure also wanted to buy theirs back, but Three-Tails, along with Yagura, had been melted by Hiromi until not even a bone remained, leaving them to lower their heads in frustration.
Konoha was now incredibly wealthy, and the high-level officials who knew the truth were grinning so wide every day that their gums showed.
The villagers, unaware of the four hundred million and only knowing about the two hundred million, were also very happy.