"Deal…"
"In that case, you should first tell me the details of the deal. I won't agree blindly without knowing the terms."
"If Konoha sincerely wants to form a cooperation or alliance with Nadeshiko Village, then I see no reason to refuse."
Tsuabaki was the first to express her stance, but her tone was unmistakably firm.
If Konoha wanted something from Nadeshiko, they would need to offer real benefits. There would be no such thing as getting something for nothing.
On the way here, Uchiha Hikaru had already gathered a rough understanding of the situation in Nadeshiko Village through conversations with Shizuka.
The village was located between the borders of the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Iron, though closer to the former. The village itself was small—around four to five thousand people—and consisted entirely of women. It could practically be called a nation of women.
The most astonishing fact was that nearly every resident was a warrior. Anyone capable of extracting chakra would become a kunoichi. Even those without talent for ninjutsu would participate in production and support work inside the village.
To maintain the rule of an all-female population, Nadeshiko Village remained isolated from the outside world. Only a limited number of approved trading caravans were allowed through, and their stay in the village was strictly timed.
As a result, life in Nadeshiko lagged far behind the rest of the shinobi world. Yet, because of their centralized leadership and unified decisions, they secured a small yet stable territory between the two nations.
Even during shinobi wars, Kumogakure never bothered with them—there were no valuable resources, no powerful kekkei genkai or secret techniques, and the proximity to the neutral Land of Iron discouraged any conflict.
Provoking Nadeshiko was like provoking a nest of lunatics—any duel could turn into a nightmare. If the challenger lost, their "seed" would be taken. If they won, they might still lose control and leave seeds behind themselves… (⌒_⌒;)
Thus, Nadeshiko Village maintained an extremely delicate balance with surrounding nations.
"Senior Tsuabaki , what I'm about to say may sound harsh. Don't take it personally." Hikaru's voice was calm and unwavering. "But if we cannot face the village's problems objectively, then any deal I propose would merely be a joke."
"But regardless of whether this agreement goes through or not, Konoha will cure your condition. Even if that simply means that Konoha and Nadeshiko Village become friends."
"After all, I would hate to damage the friendship between you and Jiraiya-sensei. Even if we can't cooperate, at the very least we can remain friends. Don't you agree?"
His words were flawless—carefully setting the stage. Even Tsuabaki, who had been poised and stern, couldn't help but smile.
A moment ago, the cure for her illness sounded like a bargaining chip—part of the exchange. But now, it felt like a goodwill gesture, a trial before purchase. If one was not satisfied, one could simply walk away.
Knowing that her life was no longer at risk removed a massive pressure from her shoulders. And her impression of Uchiha Hikaru shifted. Beyond his strength, he was frighteningly clever and calculating.
Shizuka, standing beside them, could not hide her excitement. She grabbed Tsuabaki arm and swung it enthusiastically.
"That's wonderful, Master! Your illness is finally cured! (≧▽≦)"
"Enough, stop fooling around. We're discussing important matters." Tsuabaki tapped Shizuka's forehead lightly, though her expression had softened.
Jiraiya exhaled deeply, relieved. He didn't want to watch an old comrade die helplessly. And in Jiraiya's eyes, Tsuabaki had always held her own beauty and charm.
With the mood eased and tensions loosened, Uchiha Hikaru began presenting the actual terms of negotiation on behalf of Konoha.
"Senior Tsuabaki , Nadeshiko Village is an independent shinobi village with no national backing. For many years, you've relied on long-standing traditions to survive between the Land of Iron and the Land of Hot Water. That alone is remarkable."
"But compared to the era before the Warring States Period, when merchants traveled freely without national restrictions, trade is now restricted by political conflicts. Whenever friction between great nations rises, Nadeshiko Village loses access to trade routes and even struggles with basic living needs."
"Your total population is around four to five thousand, including elderly and children—but nearly two thousand are kunoichi."
"Mathematically speaking, one civilian must support one shinobi. That situation is unhealthy and unsustainable. Wouldn't you agree?"
The words flowed one after another—sharp, direct, merciless. Jiraiya winced. How could Hikaru say such things so bluntly? Wasn't this stepping straight onto Tsuabaki landmine!?
Shizuka blinked, confused, deeply processing the statement. She recalled memories of hardship and instinctively nodded.
"Yes! Everyone in the village works so hard to make life better! And we kunoichi will protect them! (ง •̀_•́)ง"
But her smile abruptly froze. Her hand tightened around the armrest—wood creaked under her grip—but she forced herself to maintain composure.
"…Very well. You've made your point. Then tell me the actual terms of your offer."
"I'm aware of my village's problems. You don't need to elaborate. Go straight to the topic."
Seeing her composure remain intact, Hikaru exhaled silently. If she could accept criticism at that level, then she might accept what was coming next.
"As you've heard, Konoha recently established the Ninja Association."
"Although it was jointly founded by Konoha, Kumogakure, Sunagakure, Iwagakure, Kirigakure, and Amegakure, only the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain officially support it."
"To further expand its influence, we need more villages to join. In terms of both numbers and strength, Nadeshiko Village far surpasses the small villages of minor nations."
"When the association was first founded, we intended to send an invitation—but out of respect for Nadeshiko tradition, we refrained."
"So, Senior —" Hikaru's gaze met hers steadily. "Are you willing to join the Ninja Association?"
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