Naruto: Tenseigan Eye

"Eighty. No less."

"Ten. That's it—no more, no less. For me, it doesn't matter whether I trade or not. I'm not fond of items from such a backward era. At most, I'll sell them to the village to make some money to buy materials for puppet-making."

"Chiyo, let me be clear. The number will not increase. It's ten—take it or leave it. If you're willing to trade, we'll proceed. If not, let's pretend this conversation never happened."

Shinki was too lazy to argue further. Ten was his final offer. There would be no bargaining.

The firm tone and unwavering stance left Chiyo no room for negotiation.

Trade or no trade?

"Then, happy cooperation."

After a long standoff and realizing Shinki would not budge, Chiyo reluctantly conceded.

"Happy cooperation," she echoed.

Shinki smiled, assuring her, "I value honesty. The puppets I'm trading will have no hidden issues. Whether your village uses them or experiments on them is up to you. However, I expect the same honesty from your side. If I discover any defects or intentional concealment of key intelligence, I'll come personally to demand an explanation—and I'll expect compensation."

His tone was calm but firm. Don't make me visit your village to settle disputes. Be sincere and avoid unnecessary trouble.

Chiyo's lips twitched as she listened, her face darkening. "Our village keeps its promises. Rest assured."

"It's better that way," Shinki replied.

Promises? Whether or not he believed them was another matter entirely. Chiyo's expression told him enough.

But Shinki was prepared. If the Sand Village dared to play games, he wouldn't hesitate to confront them directly.

Chiyo, sensing the futility of any hidden schemes, decided to comply with the terms. The transaction proceeded smoothly, and both parties got what they wanted.

A Trade Well Made

"A storage scroll for numerous others—did I lose or gain?" Shinki pondered.

To demonstrate her sincerity, Chiyo also provided extensive notes and techniques on puppet crafting and control, free of charge. In return, Shinki gifted her an additional puppet, leaving both parties feeling satisfied with the deal.

The exchanged scrolls were promptly sent to the Hokage's office. Shinki washed his hands of the matter. How they were used or profited from was no longer his concern. However, he planned to monitor the accounts closely to prevent any misuse of funds.

"If even with oversight, someone dares to exploit loopholes," Shinki thought, "then I'll admit they're truly bold!"

Post-War Negotiations

In the following days, Chiyo and the Hokage continued negotiating the release of prisoners. Once all terms were agreed upon, Chiyo left with her delegation and the prisoners, escorted back to Konoha.

Although the terms were settled, the Hokage wasn't entirely pleased. Most of the benefits Konoha received were long-term investments rather than immediate gains.

For instance, while the Sand Village agreed to send a team of puppet masters to Konoha to teach puppet techniques and assist with crafting parts, it came at a cost. Konoha had to pay them, feed them well, and even provide lodging.

"It's like they're cutting a piece of Konoha's meat," the Hokage thought bitterly.

Despite his discontent, the Hokage didn't reject the terms outright. Civilian ninjas in Konoha had started using puppets to improve their income, which indirectly boosted the village's finances. That alone justified tolerating the discomfort.

The Endless Financial Strain

In the Hokage's office, the mood was tense. A high-level meeting focused on a single pressing issue: money.

"The pension reserve, rewards for returning combat ninjas, and other funding are all pending approval from the Ministry of Finance," reported Mitokadu Homura.

Shinki coughed lightly, suppressing a smile. "What about the development funds for the Anbu? When can we expect that money to be allocated?"

Utane Koharu, recovering from her injuries, added, "The medical department also needs funding for expansion. At the very least, we need to reward our medical ninjas for their efforts during the war."

Nara Shikashin, representing the senior ninja class, hesitated to speak but was swiftly interrupted by the Hokage, who was already overwhelmed.

"Funds for the senior ninja class will be deferred for now," the Hokage said tiredly, effectively silencing Shikashin.

"Deferring everything isn't solving anything," Shikashin thought grimly but chose not to argue further.

Prioritizing Needs

The logistics department was next on the list. Although they had their own requests, the Hokage decided to delay their funding, reasoning, "The war is over. Immediate replenishment isn't necessary. Other departments should take priority."

Mitokado Homura, ever pragmatic, agreed. "That's reasonable. The logistics department can wait."

With this, the meeting continued, each department's requests piling onto an already strained financial system. The Hokage's headache grew with every passing moment.

Money—always money.

>>>>>

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[Naruto: Maelstrom Of the Uzumaki]