Ruri stood still, feeling the overwhelming surge of chakra flow through his body. It was as if he had become a vessel of unimaginable power, akin to the Gedo Statue itself. The chakra emanating from him latched onto Chōmei, the Seven-Tails, like a vacuum sucking in every ounce of the beast's energy.
The Seven-Tails struggled instinctively, sensing the danger, but in its weakened state, fresh out of the incomplete seal, it couldn't escape. The dragon-like streams of chakra Ruri unleashed wrapped around it, pulling it in as if dragging it into an inescapable abyss.
"Roaaaar!" Chōmei screeched, wings thrashing as its chakra was relentlessly siphoned away. The red, toxic glow of its Tailed Beast chakra streamed from the spectral dragons into Ruri, merging with his own reserves.
"What kind of sealing jutsu is this?"
The Kage were stunned.
"Could the Taki Kage really possess such a powerful sealing technique?" Ishikawa muttered in disbelief.
Even the seasoned Raikage's eyes narrowed. "I didn't know anyone outside the Uzumaki Clan could pull off a seal this strong."
The Kage had all fought Tailed Beasts before and knew well the difficulty of controlling them. Defeating one was challenging but feasible. However, sealing one was an entirely different feat—especially with finesse like this.
In the shinobi world, few could master complex seals. The Uzumaki Clan was the only group known for producing true masters of sealing arts. Even Hashirama's methods, though effective, relied on brute force Wood Release to suppress Tailed Beast chakra.
Tobirama's scowl deepened. He had intended to expose Ruri's lack of mastery over Wood Release, but instead, the Taki Kage had displayed an extraordinary sealing ability.
Ruri, fully aware of the attention, completed the Nine Phantom Dragons Seal. The last remnants of Chōmei's chakra swirled into him, and the beast itself was reduced to a compact wisp of energy, bound deep within his body.
Inside Ruri's mindscape, Chōmei grumbled in frustration. "Damn it... this chakra... it's just like the Ten-Tails!"
Ruri could feel the raw power coursing through him. It wasn't just a containment; the beast's chakra felt accessible—like a personal reservoir he could tap into at will.
"This sealing technique is top-tier," Ruri thought, impressed. It wasn't just on par with the Eight Trigrams Seal or Four Symbols Seal—it was leagues beyond. Not only had it sealed the beast, but it had also granted him access to Chōmei's power.
Ruri now understood why people sought to become jinchūriki. With this chakra flowing through him, he felt an overwhelming urge to test his new strength. Would he now have a chance of challenging Hashirama? What shinobi wouldn't be tempted by a fight after gaining new power?
However, Ruri reined in his thoughts. This was neither the time nor the place to indulge in fantasies of battle.
"Let's get back to business!" Hashirama said cheerfully, as if nothing had happened. Despite the missed chance to observe Ruri's Wood Release, the display of sealing mastery had only increased Hashirama's respect for him.
Tobirama, standing silently behind his brother, analyzed every detail of Ruri's actions. His initial plan to expose Ruri's abilities had failed, but now he was sure of at least one thing: Ruri wasn't just proficient in space-time ninjutsu—he had mastered it.
The conversation turned to trade. Hashirama outlined his simple plan: peaceful cooperation, mutual trade agreements, and the delineation of territories to streamline missions for the villages.
The idea was straightforward: the Land of Water would provide seafood and maritime trade, the Land of Earth would supply building materials and labor, the Land of Fire would offer agricultural produce, and the wealthy Land of Lightning could invest capital. Even the Land of Wind, though resource-poor, would trade its rare minerals.
However, trade between nations was easier said than done. During the Warring States period, trade was practically non-existent—caravans would be raided by enemy shinobi long before they reached their destinations. A stable peace was necessary for trade to flourish.
The other Kage now turned toward Ruri.
"If the Land of Taki can't offer anything worthwhile for trade," Byakuren said, "it would be as if the Great Nations were simply propping you up."
Ruri gave a carefree shrug and smiled. "It's true that the Land of Taki doesn't have much to offer in terms of trade value. We'll also need help acquiring resources—and we just spent a fortune on the Seven-Tails. So, I hope you'll understand our situation."
The Raikage leaned forward, eager to seize an opportunity. "If you sell the Seven-Tails to us, we'll provide the Land of Taki with unconditional support for both your commerce and agriculture."
Only the Land of Lightning, flush with wealth, could make such an offer. With two Tailed Beasts already purchased, the other nations had little funding left for further deals.
Ruri chuckled. "Thank you for your generous offer, Raikage-dono, but the Land of Taki will manage on its own. We just need fair trade like everyone else."
In truth, Ruri's underground trading network held far more wealth than the Raikage's treasury. But that was a secret he had no intention of sharing.
Byakuren narrowed his eyes. "If trading with Taki brings us no benefit, why should we bother at all?"
Retto, the Kazekage, remained silent. He was secretly hoping Ruri would offer the Hero Water in exchange—it was a resource he had coveted for years.
But Ruri had no intention of using the Hero Water as a bargaining chip. The supply was limited, and the diluted version given to Retto in the past had already been a rare gift.
Ruri's carefree demeanor persisted. "Didn't we just sign a peace treaty? As allies, isn't it natural for us to help one another? There may not be any immediate benefit, but there's no harm in it either, right?"
"That may be true..." Byakuren started.
Ruri interrupted with a sly grin. "Besides, if you trade with us, you'll earn my goodwill!"
The Kage exchanged skeptical glances. Goodwill? Is that really worth anything?
But then Ruri dropped a pointed remark:
"Look, we've agreed to peace. But the Land of Fire still holds the most fertile land and resources. If we enjoy ten or twenty years of peace, and the Land of Fire grows even stronger—what happens if it becomes powerful enough to take on all five of us at once?"
The room fell silent as the Kage processed Ruri's words.
Was it really impossible for one nation to grow so strong it could challenge the rest?
The thought gnawed at them. Even if Hashirama was sincere now, what about after his death? And what of Madara Uchiha, whose ambitions could not be so easily dismissed?
Ruri's seemingly lighthearted remark hit a nerve. The Kage had all fought too many wars to ignore such a possibility. Though Hashirama's intentions were noble, the same couldn't be guaranteed for future generations.
"You raise a good point," Ishikawa finally muttered, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "It's in all our interests to maintain balance."
Reluctantly, Byakuren nodded in agreement. "Fine. We'll trade with the Land of Taki."
The Raikage gave a curt nod. "As long as it's fair trade, we have no problem."
Retto remained quiet, though he was clearly disappointed that Ruri hadn't offered the Hero Water.
Hashirama beamed. "Excellent! Then let's build a future together, starting with trade."
Tobirama, still skeptical, kept his gaze locked on Ruri. This man… there's more to him than meets the eye.
Ruri smiled inwardly. The first step is complete. Now, let's see how far I can push this peace.