Kūga stood outside the grand samurai hall. Patience wasn't usually his strong suit, but at the moment, he was content to wait. After all, the fate of a potential alliance hung in the balance, and he needed to be calm when the general finally calles him in.
As he watched the samurais guarding the japanese themed house, his thoughts wandered into less serious things. He smirked to himself as he reflected on his current state.
Power? Check. He was stronger than most shinobi and samurai combined.
Looks? Check. He was undeniably handsome, and Reifū had made that clear more than once, even though she tended to hide behind her usual tough-girl exterior.
But then his smirk faltered as a humbling realization struck him.
"I'm broke."
The absurdity of it hit him like a punch to the gut. Of all the things he could lack in life—money? He almost laughed out loud at the irony of it. The great Kūga Seiryu, the man who could manipulate aether and bend the elements to his will, had not a hundred ryo to his name.
"Well, damn," he muttered, shaking his head with a chuckle. "Of course it'd be money."
It wasn't like he needed it, though. Kūga could hunt, fish, build shelters, and camp with ease. He could go weeks without eating thanks to the aether, and even when he did, it was more for the enjoyment than necessity. He had his own house—if he ever bothered to stay in it—and he was perfectly capable of living off the land if need be.
But wasn't there some kind of saying about "the richest guys get the hottest girls"? Well, he already had the most beautiful woman by his side—Reifū—and she didn't seem to care about wealth. Still, something about having no money bugged him.
"Is it my pride?" he wondered aloud, tapping his feet.
His mind wandered to all the ways he could remedy his ryo-less existence. Bounty hunting? Sure, he'd get plenty of opportunities during wartime. But the idea of constantly chasing bounties for his income didn't sit right with him. It felt... too tedious. Besides, why limit himself to just that when his aether powers could open up far more lucrative avenues?
"What kind of business could I run?" he mused, his thoughts racing with possibilities.
Water. That was the first thing that came to mind. He could create fresh drinking water using aether—he'd done it countless times before. But this wasn't just any ordinary water; it was pure, crisp, and completely free of contaminants. If he sold that to the people of Sunagakure, he'd make a fortune. Water was a precious resource in the desert, and he could practically conjure it from thin air.
Although, he wouldn't sell it to Konoha. No, he'd make sure every single person in Konoha—citizens and visitors alike—had access to free, clean water. 'Because I'm a pioneer.' He grinned at the thought. He'll build water fountains throughout the village, a gift from Kūga Seiryu to the people of Konoha.
"I'm a hero," he muttered sarcastically, though the thought did give him some satisfaction.
And it didn't stop there. His mind churned with ideas. He could use his aether abilities to create high-quality materials—metals, for instance. Stainless steel. He knew the blacksmiths of this era couldn't produce anything as refined or smooth as what he could conjure. He could sell stainless steel products—water bottles, plates, spoons, and forks—that were of such superior quality that they'd be considered revolutionary. His metal wouldn't corrode, wouldn't dull. It would be a marvel of craftsmanship that no one could compete with.
He smirked as the idea began to take shape. With a little advertising, he could make millions.
"No time at all," he whispered to himself with a sly grin. The possibilities were endless, and while he might have been broke right now, that wouldn't last for long. A few clever moves, and he'd be one of the wealthiest men in the shinobi world.
The thought of it filled him with a strange sense of pride. He could almost hear Reifū's teasing voice in his head, calling him arrogant. And maybe he was, but it wasn't unwarranted. After all, he was Kūga Seiryu.
As the wind howled through the snowy peaks, Kūga chuckled to himself again, his grin widening. He might be waiting for a meeting that could change the course of the war, but that didn't stop him from imagining all the ways he could dominate a different kind of battlefield—the one of wealth and influence.
"Why stop at being strong?" he thought with amusement. "Might as well be rich too."
Just as his mind started to drift back to more important matters, the door to the grand house creaked open, and Sasaki stepped out, giving Kūga a nod.
"The general will see you now."
Kūga nodded, pushing his thoughts of water fountains and stainless steel aside for the moment. It was time to focus on the real task at hand.
Kūga nodded at Sasaki, smiling before stepping into the grand hall. As the large, wooden doors creaked shut behind him, his sharp eyes took in the interior of what he thought was a house. But as he ventured further inside, his face lit up with realization—it was not a house at all. This was a large office, a dignified space meant for important political affairs. The air inside felt heavy, as if weighed down by the serious decisions that had been made within its walls over the years.
He spotted a lone figure seated at the end of the room, behind a low wooden desk. The man exuded a calm, yet powerful presence. He had long, silver hair tied back into a neat ponytail, and a well-groomed white beard that framed his strong jawline. He wore a traditional kimono with intricate floral patterns embroidered on the fabric, adding a touch of grace to his otherwise imposing samurai aura. This was clearly no ordinary leader—this was Okamura Tsunemori, the general of the Land of Iron.
Kūga, however, was unfazed by the general's regal appearance. He approached casually, maintaining his carefree demeanor. The general looked up from some papers, his wise eyes locking onto Kūga's, and gave a small nod of acknowledgment.
"I am Okamura Tsunemori," the general introduced himself in a deep, steady voice. "You must be the representative sent by Hashirama Senju."
Kūga offered a relaxed smile. "Kūga Seiryu, at your service. It's a pleasure to you."
The general studied him for a moment before gesturing for Kūga to sit. Kūga complied, pulling out the scroll from his coat and handing it over to Tsunemori. The general carefully unfurled it and began reading.
A silence filled the room as Tsunemori's eyes moved steadily across the parchment. After a long pause, he finally spoke. "So, Hashirama wishes to form an alliance with the Land of Iron..."
His voice trailed off, his brow furrowed slightly. He leaned back in his chair, his hands resting calmly in his lap as he contemplated the proposal. Tsunemori's presence was serene, but there was an undeniable strength behind his calm exterior, a strength forged in countless battles and diplomatic decisions.
"We samurai have remained neutral throughout the conflicts between shinobi nations," Tsunemori continued, his voice steady but firm. "It has always been our way, and it is this neutrality that preserves the balance. An alliance with Konoha, or any shinobi village, would compromise that."
Kūga, far from being intimidated, leaned back slightly, his posture as relaxed as ever. His eyes, however, were sharp with thought. He knew that the Land of Iron valued neutrality above all, but he had a different idea in mind.
"I understand," Kūga replied, crossing his arms. "But humor me for a moment, General. How many people live here in the Land of Iron?"
Tsunemori raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled by the sudden shift in conversation. "More than two thousand," he answered cautiously. "Why do you ask?"
Kūga's lips curled into a grin. "Two thousand, huh? That's a lot of mouths to feed, a lot of people to keep warm, and a lot of resources to manage, especially up here in the mountains where supplies can be scarce." He leaned forward slightly, his grin widening. "What if I told you that Konoha could provide your nation with two hundred tons of fresh drinking water, every month, for six months? And all of it, free of charge."
Tsunemori's eyes widened, his usual stoic expression faltering for a brief moment as surprise washed over him. "Fresh drinking water… two hundred tons a month?" The general repeated, his voice betraying his disbelief. "How...?"
"You don't need to know the 'how,'" Kūga said with a wink. "Just know that we can. And with that, your men won't have to risk their lives sourcing water from the glaciers and lakes. It would give you one less thing to worry about while maintaining your precious neutrality."
There was a tense silence in the room as the general considered the offer. His eyes flickered with thought as he weighed the benefits against the consequences. For the first time, Kūga saw a crack in Tsunemori's unwavering resolve.
But after a few long seconds, the general sighed deeply and shook his head. "As tempting as your offer is, we must remain neutral. The Land of Iron will not be drawn into the shinobi wars. Our duty is to preserve peace, not to pick sides."
Kūga sighed in return, but his expression remained light. "Well, I had to try, didn't I? Too bad, though... I really thought the water deal would win you over."
He rose from his seat, giving the general a small, respectful bow. "Since I made the effort to get here, I'll at least show you Konoha's kindness and sincerity. The offer still stands if you change your mind."
The general gave a slow nod, his expression softening slightly. "I appreciate your efforts, Kūga Seiryu. Though our answer remains the same, know that Konoha has shown great respect in sending you."
With that, Kūga turned and made his way toward the door. As he stepped out into the cold mountain air, he spotted Sasaki standing nearby, waiting with curiosity written all over his face.
"So... how did it go?" Sasaki asked, crossing his arms.
Kūga chuckled, his breath visible in the cold air. "About as well as expected. Turns out neutrality's a tough nut to crack. But hey, I gave it a shot."
Sasaki sighed in understanding, his gaze drifting toward the horizon. "That's unfortunate. But at least you tried."
"Yeah, nothing ventured, nothing gained," Kūga replied with a casual shrug. "Well, time to head back. Maybe I'll figure something else out on the way."
Sasaki offered a respectful nod. "Good luck on your travels, Kūga-san."
With a grin and a playful salute, Kūga began walking away from the settlement, his mind already spinning with new ideas for his next plan.
.
After passing the samurais guarding the entrance of the settlement, Kūga continued walking a few more meters, his mind already made up on what to do next. Without wasting any time, he raised his hand and motioned it over the ground in a precise square-like pattern. The earth responded immediately, as though it were obeying his every command. Using his Aether manipulation, Kūga carved out a perfect cube from the ground, six meters deep and six meters wide, a pristine excavation that left the surface as smooth as glass. The earth inside the cube vanished as if it had never existed, leaving behind a hollow space.
With a flick of his wrist, he transformed the cube's inner walls and floor, coating them with glossy tiles that shimmered under the fading light. The momentary silence was broken when Kūga manipulated Aether once again, summoning an enormous amount of fresh, crystal-clear drinking water—207 tons of it—to fill the space he had just created. The sound of rushing water filled the air as the cube filled to its brim, the water calm and still once the process was complete.
Up on their posts, the samurais who had been guarding the entrance noticed the strange activity and rushed down, curiosity and concern etched on their faces as they approached Kūga. He stood by the edge of the massive cube, hands at his sides, his calm demeanor betraying none of the monumental task he had just accomplished.
"Don't worry," Kūga said, waving a hand dismissively as the samurais skidded to a halt beside him. "This is for the Land of Iron."
The two samurai exchanged confused glances, still trying to comprehend what they were seeing. Before they could ask further questions, Kūga raised his hand toward the water and declared with a smug grin, "Aether: Anti-Contamination..."
The samurais both sweatdropped at the name, exchanging incredulous looks. "Is that really what he's calling it…?" one of them muttered under his breath. A brilliant flash of blue-violet light washed over the water, and just like that, it was imbued with a protective quality, ensuring that the supply would remain pure and untainted for as long as it was needed.
Kūga then turned to the samurais, his tone casual yet confident. "Tell your general, this is my gift to the Land of Iron."
Without waiting for a response, Kūga floated effortlessly off the ground, not even bothering to glance back at the bewildered samurais. He gained altitude swiftly, his figure becoming a blur against the snowy sky. Then, with a sudden BOOM, he was gone, shattering the sound barrier and leaving behind a series of sonic booms that echoed through the mountain range.
The two samurais stood in stunned silence, staring at the place where Kūga had been moments before.
One of them finally snapped out of his daze and turned to his companion. "You go to the general quick! I'll keep watch here!"
"Y-Yes!" the other samurai stammered, dashing off towards the settlement, his heart racing as he prepared to report what had just transpired. Meanwhile, the remaining samurai kept his eyes fixed on the massive cube of water, standing guard over what would surely become a topic of intense discussion in the Land of Iron for years to come.