The Five Kage Talks were at a stalemate. The Third Hokage refused to budge.
"One hundred million taels per village," he said firmly, exhaling smoke from his pipe. "That's the minimum compensation. If you're unwilling to pay, we'll act as though these talks never happened."
The room was tense.
The Third Kazekage's expression twitched, barely hiding his frustration. Ōnoki openly cursed, slamming the table in anger. The other Kage sat in varying degrees of discomfort. A hundred million taels was a staggering sum, even for the wealthier villages.
The Hokage Stands Firm
The Third Hokage leaned back, calm and collected. "You think 100 million is excessive, but let me remind you—restricting our puppets would increase our losses in manpower and resources during war. The cost of defending against such attacks would far exceed what you're proposing to pay."
He took another drag from his pipe. "War is expensive. A ledger in your mind will show the truth."
The Third Raikage frowned. "Hokage, surely there's room for negotiation."
The Hokage shook his head. "Not on this. If I lower the price, how would I explain it to Shinki? He's already made concessions."
His words carried weight. Behind his refusal lay the need to mend his strained relationship with Shinki. The Hokage wasn't just negotiating for Konoha—he was protecting a potential future ally.
A Sudden Interruption
The tense discussion was interrupted by the hurried arrival of Rasa, the Third Kazekage's apprentice. The young ninja looked alarmed as he handed an urgent scroll to his master.
"Teacher, this just arrived from the village."
The Third Kazekage opened the scroll, his face darkening with each line he read. The other Kage watched with curiosity and suspicion. When he reached the end of the message, the Kazekage slammed the table and stood up.
"Hokage!" he roared. "What is the meaning of this? During these talks, your village sent puppets to attack Sand Village!"
The Revelation
The room fell silent. The other Kage looked at the Third Hokage, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief.
The Hokage, however, remained calm, exhaling another puff of smoke. "Oh, that? Shinki acted on his own initiative. He felt targeted by these talks and wanted to send a message. You should be thankful it was just an appetizer."
The Third Kazekage's hands trembled in rage. "An appetizer?! You call the destruction of my village's Kazekage office an appetizer?"
The Hokage shrugged. "Be grateful Shinki didn't use more puppets. He's nearly out of expendable ones. If he had more at his disposal, your village would be in far worse shape."
He leaned forward slightly, his tone icy. "And he wanted me to remind everyone here: restrictions come with a price. If there's no sincerity in your demands, the next village to face an 'appetizer' might be Rock, Mist, or even Cloud."
"Is That a Threat?"
The Third Raikage slammed his hand on the table. "Hokage, are you threatening us?"
The Hokage met his gaze with a faint smile. "A threat? No, Raikage. This is merely a warning."
The tension in the room thickened. Onoki, ever pragmatic, narrowed his eyes. "Does Hyuga Shinki still have more puppets? Or was this a last-ditch effort?"
The Hokage chuckled. "Shinki is resourceful. While he's out of expendable puppets for now, he's been working on new materials for his creations. I imagine his stock will be replenished soon enough."
"How many does he have left?" Onoki pressed, his voice laced with unease.
The Hokage took another drag from his pipe. "Well, let's see. He's used most of the puppets made from ninja corpses. Perhaps he still has a special one—like Hanzo of the Salamander."
The Demigod's Puppet
The room grew even quieter. Onoki's face paled slightly. The thought of Hanzo, even in puppet form, was unnerving.
The demigod of the ninja world might not have been invincible, but his poison was legendary. A single misstep against him could spell doom, even for a skilled shinobi. The idea of such a puppet being used in battle was terrifying.
"Hokage," Onoki said, his voice low, "this isn't funny."
The Hokage smirked. "Oh, I'm not joking. But relax, Onoki. Hanzo's puppet is just a rumor—for now."
The Fallout
As the Third Kazekage read the details of the attack, his anger turned to frustration. The damage to Sand Village was severe, but it could have been worse. It was clear that Shinki's attack was calculated—a warning, not an all-out assault.
The other Kage exchanged uneasy glances. Konoha had demonstrated its capability and resolve. No one wanted their own village to suffer the same fate.
The Third Hokage leaned back, observing the unease on their faces. "So, shall we continue discussing the compensation? Or would you prefer to risk another… reminder?"
Conclusion
The Five Kage Talks were no longer about negotiations. They had become a test of wills, with Konoha holding the upper hand. The other villages had a choice: pay the price or face the consequences of their defiance.
For the Third Hokage, this wasn't just about money—it was about sending a message. Konoha wouldn't be bullied or coerced. And for Shinki, this was only the beginning. If the villages thought this was a threat, they had no idea what a true appetizer looked like.
The Five Kage stared at each other, each wondering who might be next if they didn't tread carefully.
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