Chapter 060: Compromise

Sarutobi Hiruzen was a sly old fox. After listening to Hatake Kakashi's report and seeing the exhausted look on his face, he waved his hand and said, "I understand the situation. Go rest now. You've worked hard."

Hatake Kakashi shook his head. "It's my duty."

After all, it concerned Konoha's safety and reputation, and he was willing to contribute his meager strength.

Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled with relief. Though Konoha had people like Danzo who loved to cause trouble, it also had people like Kakashi who were willing to give everything for the village.

The Will of Fire would never be extinguished.

"Go rest for now," Sarutobi Hiruzen said. "I will handle this matter properly."

Hatake Kakashi nodded and left the Hokage building.

After thinking for a while, Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned Konoha's advisors, elders, and the heads of the major clans for a brief meeting.

After all, this matter concerned the village's income for the next ten years.

Even as Hokage, he could not make a decision on his own and had to consult everyone.

When Konoha's high-ranking officials learned the truth, they were indignant, gnashing their teeth in hatred toward Danzo.

No one had expected things to turn out this badly.

Everyone's expressions were grim.

Sarutobi Hiruzen turned his gaze to a man with a pineapple-shaped hairstyle. "Shikaku, what do you think of this?"

This man, named Nara Shikaku, was the head of the Nara clan. He possessed outstanding strategic thinking and judgment, which had been fully demonstrated during the Third Shinobi World War.

He was a man of considerable intelligence.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was now relying on his exceptional wisdom.

Nara Shikaku scratched his hair and sighed. "Now we have no choice but to accept their terms. After all, we are the ones in the wrong. Worse still, they have leverage over us. If we refuse, it will be very disadvantageous for Konoha. The worst outcome would be the collapse of the reputation and trust we have built over the years."

He paused briefly, glanced around at everyone, and continued, "I believe everyone here knows what will happen once our reputation and trust collapse."

Every single person present fell silent.

They were either Konoha's advisors, elders, or clan heads—no simpletons, all seasoned schemers. How could they not know the consequences?

"Is there no other way? Ten years of free labor is really too much."

"Yes, ten years of free labor is going too far."

"Can we negotiate? Maybe just three years of free labor."

Nara Shikaku looked at those present, sighed, and couldn't help but turn his gaze to Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Sarutobi Hiruzen tapped the table with his pipe, drawing everyone's attention. "As I said before, they absolutely refuse to negotiate. Konoha now has only two paths: one is to accept their demands, and the other is to go to full-scale war. However..."

He took a puff of smoke and said, "I believe you all know the consequences of war."

Everyone present remained silent. They were all part of Konoha, bound to it—loss for the village was loss for them, and gain for the village was gain for them.

The consequences of war were too great, especially since the enemy was no ordinary person but a ninja world magnate.

For a moment, everyone cursed Danzo over and over in their minds.

Finally, after several hours of discussion, they decided to accept the terms Wang Bo had set.

Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled and said, "I will have my son deliver this message. I hope everyone will do their utmost to cooperate and get through this crisis together."

Everyone nodded in unison.

...

A few days later, Wang Bo received Konoha's message of compromise and couldn't help but smile. He knew Konoha would give in, since he had leverage over them.

If they didn't want a fight to the death, they had to surrender.

However, Wang Bo was somewhat surprised that Konoha also made a request.

"You want to take Shimura Danzo back?" Wang Bo looked at Sarutobi Asuma standing before him and laughed heartily. "No problem. I can hand Shimura Danzo over to you."

Sarutobi Asuma breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Igarashi-sama."

"Hey, don't thank me yet." Wang Bo raised his hand to stop Sarutobi Asuma and said calmly, "The bounty on Shimura Danzo in the black market is about forty million ryo. As long as you give me forty million ryo, I'll hand him over."

Sarutobi Asuma was dumbfounded.

Konoha was already going to work for free for ten years, and now they had to pay forty million ryo to redeem Danzo. The village was going to take a huge hit.

"That's not good, Igarashi-sama," Sarutobi Asuma said reluctantly.

Wang Bo remained surprisingly calm. "It's only forty million ryo. Konoha is wealthy; you can't be short of that much money. You know, you've earned more than forty million ryo from me over the past few years."

Sarutobi Asuma smiled bitterly and finally said, "I need to go back and discuss this with the Hokage."

Wang Bo didn't stop him, smiling slightly. "Come back soon."

Sarutobi Asuma left helplessly.

A few days later, he returned, accompanied by Hatake Kakashi. The two of them met with Wang Bo, opened a sealing scroll, and released the seal.

With a dull thud, boxes appeared before Wang Bo.

"Igarashi-sama, here is the forty million ryo you requested," Sarutobi Asuma said expressionlessly.

Wang Bo thought for a moment and called Sato Ken and Haku into his office.

"Sato, go put this money away. Haku, take them to find Shimura Danzo and hand him over to them."

Haku nodded and turned to Sarutobi Asuma and Hatake Kakashi. "Please follow me."

Sarutobi Asuma and Hatake Kakashi exchanged glances and followed Haku.

Sato Ken watched the two leave and said with a grin, "After suffering this loss, Konoha surely won't make a move against us, right, sir?"

Wang Bo smiled. "As long as they're not stupid, they definitely won't make a move against us. After all, we have money."

What was the cause of the ninja world wars?

Wasn't it that other ninja villages saw the people of the Land of Fire living prosperously and became envious, wanting to take a bite and share the spoils?

Though this analogy may not be apt, there's no denying that money was one of the most important reasons.