Beyond the entrance lay the observation terrace, and below it, the Yoshimizu River surged with a deafening roar.
Even from inside the hall, the sound of rushing water was unmistakable.
Idaha Haneda spoke solemnly.
"The Fire Daimyō and the Council of State were extremely interested when they learned that the Land of Rivers had begun harnessing hydroelectric power. They immediately had engineers duplicate the blueprints from the Land of Rivers.
After studying them, our craftsmen confirmed that hydroelectric generation is indeed viable.
Kanishi, this is the Fire Country's official diplomatic document.
The Land of Earth is hereby forbidden from sabotaging the power stations in the Land of Rivers—or those in the Land of Fire."
Yako picked up the scroll from Idaha Haneda and walked toward Kanishi.
A Stone ninja intercepted it midway and placed it on Kanishi's table.
Kanishi didn't even bother to glance at it.
"Thermal power stations are essential to our coal industry," he said flatly. "We won't allow hydroelectric stations to exist."
"Heh... heh-heh." Idaha Haneda gave a dry chuckle.
"Konoha's shinobi have already pushed into your borders, and you still dare to speak like that?
Konoha's shinobi are too soft. Advisor Mitokado Homura has restrained them—ordered them not to kill too many of your nobles.
They say the founder of an organization leaves their imprint deep in its bones. Even after death, the organization continues to reflect their will.
Konoha is fine in many ways. But the First Hokage's ideals still cling to it—too idealistic, too gentle, too soft, too sunny.
In the war between Konoha and Iwagakure, they've limited themselves to ninja-only combat.
Kanishi, you don't feel pain, so you think you can talk to me like this.
I'll give you three seconds. If you don't lower your head, I'll formally request Konoha to escalate the war.
This time, everyone will be fair game—nobles, civilians, no one spared.
Take a good look at those pathetic Iwa-nin behind you. Think they can save your neck?"
Yako thought to himself, No wonder Danzo and Idaha Haneda get along so well. For all his portly appearance, this man's heart is pitch black.
He thinks Konoha is too sunny?
Yako had served in the ANBU long enough to know exactly how "sunny" Konoha was.
To him, Idaha Haneda's position was like a so-called conservative accusing radicals of being too conservative.
Yako had assumed Konoha was the war-hawk here—only to find that the Fire Daimyō and his nobles were the ones holding the shinobi back from massacres.
Now, he realized it was the opposite. The nobles found Konoha too restrained in foreign territory.
Perhaps the very first Daimyō of the Fire Country had once resented the First Hokage too—
"With that kind of power… why didn't you conquer the world for us?"
A flicker of fear crossed Kanishi's eyes.
He slowly lowered his head and opened the scroll.
Inside, it was clearly stated that the hydroelectric stations were considered vital infrastructure of the Land of Fire. Any attack by Iwagakure would be deemed an act of war.
The Land of Fire would then issue a full-scale war commission to Konoha—targeting the Land of Earth, not just Iwagakure.
Seeing the Daimyō's seal and signature at the bottom, Kanishi realized this wasn't a bluff.
He set the heavy scroll down slowly, glanced at the Daimyō of the Land of Rivers, then at Idaha Haneda, and finally at the ANBU who had just butchered so many of his Iwa-nin—the one in the fox mask.
"I understand," he said. "Lord Idaha Haneda, I will return to the Land of Earth at once and relay this edict."
"Good boy," Idaha Haneda said with a cold smile.
"Your country would be better off focusing its support on Iwagakure—deal with Konoha and Kumogakure as you must.
Konoha still has some semblance of restraint. But the shinobi from Kumogakure… they're far more brutal.
Now off you go. I have matters to discuss with the Daimyō of the Land of Rivers."
Kanishi took the scroll and departed with his Iwa-nin, heads lowered.
With the hall cleared of outsiders, Idaha Haneda visibly relaxed.
"Your Excellency," he said warmly, "let's talk about the hydroelectric collaboration properly."
The Land of Rivers was, after all, a vassal of the Land of Fire. This so-called "collaboration" was merely the delivery of a command.
"Your Excellency, the Fire Country has secured the blueprints. We'll send craftsmen to inspect your hydro station on-site.
In the declaration we just gave Kanishi, any attack on either the Fire Country's or the River Country's stations will result in war.
We may have taken the blueprints, but we're also offering protection.
Our first hydroelectric station will be constructed on the Yoshimizu River."
"The Yoshimizu originates in the Land of Rain, flows through the north of your country, and is the largest river in the Fire Country.
The first hydro station built on River Country soil—its profits will belong entirely to Your Excellency.
As for future stations, profits will be split 60/40—River Country receives 60%, Fire Country 40%. How does that sound?"
The Daimyō of the Land of Rivers waited.
No mention of profit-sharing from the Fire Country's own stations.
So River Country had no stake in those.
He nodded with a forced smile. "The Fire Country is most generous."
Yako, watching from the side, clicked his tongue silently.
So this is what dominance looks like. The Fire nobles are utterly unrelenting. A weak nation has no diplomacy. That rule doesn't change, no matter the world.
Seeing the Daimyō accept without protest, Idaha Haneda beamed.
"Next, I'll dispatch our engineers to your station site. Let them study the blueprints closely.
And speaking of those blueprints… the man who drew them was a genius.
Crisp lines, precise measurements, complete calculations—clearly the work of a master craftsman.
But more than that—he understood electricity. Knew how to turn a river into power."
Yako allowed himself a quiet smirk.
In his past life, he'd been a civil engineer who bolted from the worksite with a bucket in hand. He wouldn't claim to excel at much, but drafting and reading schematics?
That was his wheelhouse.
Hearing praise for his designs, even if they were from a past life of concrete dust and all-nighters, made it all feel worth it.
Idaha Haneda hadn't expected negotiations to go so smoothly. No haggling. No pushback.
He rose, preparing to take his leave. The Land of Rivers was at war—no point lingering.
"Wait! Lord Idaha Haneda!"
He paused, turning toward the voice.
It was the Daimyō's younger sister.
Don't tell me she found the revenue split unfair? His expression darkened.
But Chisa spoke rapidly, urgency in her tone.
"Lord Idaha Haneda, I request that Konoha's ANBU remain here for some time.
That fox-masked ANBU behind you—he defeated many Iwa-nin today. I wonder if I could request his protection… for the power station?"
"You want to hire him?" Idaha Haneda's expression softened instantly. Ah, not about the profits, then.
"No need for you to commission the job," he said with a grin. "That falls under my jurisdiction. The Fire Treasury will handle the payment."
He turned to Yellow Dog.
Yellow Dog nodded eagerly. "Understood, my lord."
Then addressed Yako directly: "Fox Squad is assigned to guard the hydro station until the Land of Earth formally declares it will cease attacks. This will be recorded as an A-rank mission."
While Konoha and Sunagakure were bleeding each other dry on the battlefield, Fox Squad was stationed in the capital of the Land of Rivers.
The team rotated in three shifts, posted right next to the station.
As for Yako—being the squad leader did have its perks. Rest came easier.
But he had other problems.
Bigger problems.
Like Lady Chisa, the Daimyō's younger sister—who, frankly, might prove even harder to deal with.