"Cough, cough!" Tazuna's face turned red from the pressure on his chest as he coughed violently.
He had already prepared himself for the mission details to be exposed.
At first, he thought Renji would just say a few words and let it pass.
But he never expected Renji, who usually appeared jovial, frivolous, and easygoing, to be so forceful.
From his outward behavior, it was impossible to judge him accurately.
Renji was clearly a smiling tiger.
"Teacher Renji, no matter what, Mr. Tazuna is already very old. Please move your foot so we can talk properly," Sakura Haruno said anxiously as she stepped forward, trying to stop him.
"Shut up, ugly woman. Leave it to Teacher Renji," Sasuke said as he raised his hand to block Sakura Haruno from approaching.
"Sasuke... but..." Sakura Haruno looked worried.
"Falsifying mission details is a serious crime. Even a small mistake can cause a ninja's death," Sasuke said calmly.
"With your brain, you should understand that much."
"If Teacher Renji hadn't been here earlier, and only Team 7 was escorting the client, we would probably all be dead already."
After fighting those black-clad ninja earlier, Sasuke clearly understood their strength.
They were at least around Chunin level.
Falsifying mission details that could lead to casualties was a serious crime in any village.
"Sasuke, you misunderstood. I'm worried about Teacher Renji's reputation," Sakura Haruno said with slight anger.
Of course she understood the seriousness of falsifying mission details.
But she was worried Renji might injure or kill Tazuna.
That would damage his credibility.
"You're no different from that idiot Naruto," Sasuke said coldly.
He had no interest in explaining further.
Since falsifying mission details was a serious crime, how could Renji's credibility be affected?
Renji even had the right to take Tazuna back to the village and hand him over to the Anbu.
"Sasuke, sometimes you're really annoying," Sakura Haruno muttered as a vein appeared on her forehead.
She really wanted to punch him.
Renji slightly increased the pressure of his foot on Tazuna's chest and looked down at him indifferently with a cold smile as he said, "Talk to me. Don't stay silent."
"You should know falsifying mission details is a serious crime. To put it nicely, it's a serious crime. To put it bluntly, you're sending us to our deaths."
Falsifying mission details meant sending ninja to die.
"I'm sorry. I never intended to harm those children," Tazuna said with a sorrowful expression as tears rolled down his cheeks.
"The Land of Waves is very poor now. All profitable ports have been monopolized by a corrupt company called Gato Corporation.
Now everyone struggles to survive, and some even starve to death. We no longer have the ability to pay high rewards.
The ten thousand ryo for this mission was our last hope." His voice became hoarse as he spoke.
Sasuke stepped beside Renji and asked calmly, "Why would Gato Corporation send ninja to hunt down someone like you?"
Strange.
Tazuna had nothing.
Why target him?
Tazuna clenched his fists tightly and said angrily, "Because Gato plans to control the Land of Waves and make everyone work for him.
And I am building a great bridge that connects to other nations. As long as the bridge is completed, Gato's ambition will be destroyed.
My son was killed by Gato's men while building the bridge. No matter what, I must finish the bridge so everyone in the Land of Waves can finally eat properly."
Tazuna knelt on the ground and pleaded sincerely, "I know falsifying mission details is a serious crime, but I still ask you to help me save the Land of Waves."
No matter what happened, the bridge had to be completed.
It carried the hope of the entire Land of Waves.
This was his final dream.
"Teacher Renji..." Sakura Haruno looked at him nervously.
Renji grabbed Tazuna's hair and forced him to look up as he said indifferently, "Stinky old man, I'm getting tired of listening to your pitiful story."
A bridge to dreams? Konan would probably give you a thumbs up.
"If people helped you just because you're miserable, the world would be far too convenient. I have no interest in pitying you. Just tell me how much you can pay."
Renji had no interest in playing the hero.
Everything required benefits.
Money first.
"I have no money," Tazuna said bitterly.
"If you have no money, then just wait to die or keep kneeling here pretending to be pitiful. Maybe some passerby will help you."
Renji replied calmly as he turned toward Team 7 and said, "Let's go, stinky brats."
No money meant no deal.
Helping the old man was meaningless without benefits.
It was better to spend money helping older sisters at the tavern instead.
Team 7 silently followed Renji.
They knew he was serious about returning to the village.
"Wait!" Tazuna shouted quickly.
"I'll give you one hundred thousand ryo as a reward. After escorting me safely back, I will gather one hundred thousand for you."
With everyone's help in the Land of Waves, they should be able to gather that amount.
"Stinky old man, you're quite the comedian. Is the Kirigakure Demon, an A-rank rogue ninja from kirikagura, only worth one hundred thousand ryo?"
Renji said coldly as he glanced at Tazuna, "Or are you saying my students' lives are only worth one hundred thousand ryo?"
One hundred thousand ryo? Was that supposed to be pocket change?
Continuing this mission meant facing the Kirigakure Demon and that Ice Release bloodline ninja Haku.
Were their heads only worth one hundred thousand ryo?
Ridiculous.
"I... I don't have any more money," Tazuna said helplessly.
"I told you I would raise the price," Renji said as he raised three fingers.
"Once you finish building that broken bridge, I want thirty percent of the Land of Waves' monthly profits."
Once the bridge connected the Land of Waves to the Five Great Nations, trade would flourish and the economy would skyrocket.
That thirty percent monthly profit was far more valuable than twenty million ryo.
It was stable income.
Team 7 stood there speechless.
Even though the Land of Waves was small, it was still a country.
Thirty percent of its monthly profits was an astronomical amount.
Teacher Renji's price increase was ruthless.
"How can I possibly agree to that?" Tazuna said in shock.
"The money can be negotiated, but I cannot decide the profits of the Land of Waves alone."
"Playing dumb won't help. I know you're the decision-maker of the Land of Waves," Renji said as he walked closer and bent down slightly with a cold smile.
"You still don't understand the situation. The Land of Waves is already on its last breath. If I abandon this mission, you will definitely die after returning.
The bridge will be destroyed and the Land of Waves will fall into the hands of greedy merchants. Stinky old man, you can only rely on me now."
He was not exaggerating.
Right now, he was the only one who could save the Land of Waves.
"I agree," Tazuna said as he let out a long breath and collapsed weakly.
He had no other choice.
The Land of Waves had nowhere else to turn.
"A very wise decision. Let's sign the contract," Renji said as he took out a scroll and handed it over.
"You... did you already know my mission had problems and planned to raise the price from the beginning?"
Tazuna asked in disbelief as he held the contract scroll.
The contract had already been prepared.
Renji must have known everything earlier.
"Who knows? This is a Daimyo contract, so breaking it won't work," Renji whispered near Tazuna's ear with a smile.
"Stinky old man, remember this. If you give me even one ryo less in the future, I will destroy the Land of Waves."
Tazuna swallowed nervously before signing the contract with trembling hands.
"Good. Let's continue our pleasant journey," Renji said as he stored the scroll and immediately changed his attitude before looking at Team 7 and scolding them.
"Don't just stand there foolishly. Help Mr. Tazuna up. He's an important client."
Team 7 stood speechless.
Teacher Renji's change in attitude was incredibly realistic.
Soon, Team 7 continued their journey toward the Land of Waves.
...
Author's Note:
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