DevilHex
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Chapter 796 : Hiruzen's substitutes?
🕑 Added 2024-11-11 19:13:31 +0000 UTC[A/N: 180 votes for dashed lines against 59 votes for 3 line space. I'm going with dashed lines from here onwards. However, since several of you listen with text-to-speech, I'll limit the number of dashed lines.]
“Another tiresome day…” Shikaku sighed as he let out a yawn. His wife looked at him and chuckled, “Your work won't decrease just because you sigh and complain. In fact, it always has the opposite impact.”
Shikaku tiredly replied, “It's all that brat's fault. Until Lord Jiraiya brings back Lady Tsunade, I'll have to suffer irrespective of how much I sigh…”
His laziness soured his wife's mood and she immediately scolded, “You should show more enthusiasm. Your laziness has been influencing Shikamaru. He is already showing signs of the same laziness as you and complains about everything!”
Shikaku knew very well that anything he said would only make his wife more upset. As such, he just listened to her nagging before falling onto his bed. Within moments, he fell asleep. While he always complained, he had really been working a lot as he was handling the Hokage's duties along with his duties at the same time!
Unfortunately, merely a minute after he fell asleep, his eyes opened up as their bell rang. Shikaku immediately became serious and got up. He quickly moved to the door while thinking, ‘To contact me at this hour, did something happen? However, what can be so important? Our armies are back in our territories and the negotiation team shouldn't have reached yet.’
Shikaku's mind immediately analyzed a few dozen scenarios before opening the door. An Anbu ninja handed him a scroll and reported, “We just received an extremely important message from Suzuki Fujin. He added a small note to hand the scroll to you directly and immediately.”
Shikaku accepted the scroll and said, “Alright, I'll look into it.”
The Anbu ninja flickered away while Shikaku entered his house again. He opened the scroll and laid his eyes on the contents inside. As soon as he did, his eyes twitched as he wondered, ‘Did he have to use this cipher or did he do it just to increase my workload? The cipher team can't decode this message. I'll have to do it all by myself… Sigh, I hope this message is actually important and solves some of my troubles instead of increasing them.’
Though unwilling, Shikaku spent half an hour decoding the message before reading the entire scroll. His eyes widened as he thought, ‘This… Shit! I told him to decrease my workload, not increase it! Why did he order the death of over 200 Kumogakure ninjas? And what does he mean by doing it silently? It may not have been obvious the last time, but it is very obvious this time.
Besides, just because they couldn't react the last time doesn't mean that we can keep poking them. At some point, they'll explode in our faces even if it hurts them! I'll have to now calculate how they'll react and if we need to prepare for any attacks from them as well!’
Shikaku wanted to cry. He had just pawned off the work of negotiations on the Elders and hoped to have a few easy days at last. If Tsunade returned to the village in those days, he'd be free again. Unfortunately, Fujin denied him that luxury by needlessly antagonizing Kumogakure again! Even if Tsunade returned, Shikaku would have to pay attention to Kumogakure's movements.
——
Unlike Shikaku, who had a sleepless night, Fujin slept soundly. By the time he woke up, Konoha's negotiation team had already arrived in the camp. Fujin freshened up before walking into the main tent, where the elders, clan leaders and the leaders of the army had already gathered.
Fujin yawned and muttered, “You guys are up awfully early.”
Fujin's comment earned an irritated look from the ones present. The negotiation team had arrived even before the Sun rose. They wanted to discuss some matters before heading to the Fire Capital. However, Fujin instructed his guards to not disturb him unless an enemy attacked.
While the Elders and the clan leaders were very respected, their charisma fell quite short of Fujin at the moment, especially among the ninjas Fujin led to two quick victories. The fact that Orochimaru ran away without even facing Fujin improved his image in their hearts even more. Considering that Orochimaru was one of the Sannins, many rated him even above them! As such, no one was allowed to disturb him.
Koharu commented snarkily, “Not all of us can afford to sleep as long as we want.”
Fujin took his seat and lazily replied, “Maybe if you chase the snake around for a week, perhaps you might be forced to.”
Fujin's comment left Koharu speechless instantly. She didn't think Fujin would retort in this manner. Homura's left eye twitched as he thought, ‘His tongue has gotten even sharper… Sigh, I hope Shikaku talked some sense into this boy. Otherwise, it is very likely that he'll start a war between the two villages single-handedly.’
Hiromasa smirked and thought, ‘As sharp as ever. Still, this isn't the first time he retorted this sharply to the Elders. Does he have some animosity towards them? It can't be just because they sided with Danzo. After all, he has a decent relationship with Homura…’
Inoichi and Tsume watched the interaction with amusement as well while Hoka, Konomi and Illumi were shocked. None of them expected Fujin to talk back to one of the elders in such a manner. After all, Koharu's comment, though uncalled for, wasn't particularly harsh considering that Fujin made them wait for over 3 hours.
Fujin ignored everyone's reactions and asked, “Anyway, why did you call me here? Sunagakure's negotiation team should be at least 3 days away, assuming they dispatched them by now.”
Homura answered, “That is true, but we need to prepare so that we are on the same page during the negotiations.”
Fujin nodded and said, “Yeah, Shikaku-san informed me. Let's go with the same tactic we used against Kusa…”
Homura coughed loudly to interrupt Fujin. He immediately said, “No, we can't treat Sunagakure as Kusagakure. The two villages are very different. So are the issues we are negotiating.”
Koharu added, “Kusagakure is just a minor village that specializes in diplomacy. Sunagakure, even though weakened, is still a great village. Thoug…”
Fujin cut her off and said, “Their Kage is dead, their Jinchuriki is unstable and still a kid and their only rank S ninja is even older than you two. The only two factors that differentiate them are their larger forces and a formidable terrain, both of which could be dealt with in several ways. So, there isn't much of a need to treat them differently.
While the situation is indeed different, it is even more favorable for us. They're the ones who attacked us and lost embarrassingly. It gives us so many more avenues of applying pressure on them.”
An awkward silence appeared in the room. Renjiro's eyes twitched as he thought, ‘I had this feeling yesterday. There is no doubt about it! He wants to carry out a few strikes on Sunagakure as well!’
At the same time, Hoka thought, ‘Even though they were the ones who attacked us, I can't help but feel bad for them now. Poor fellows. I guess this is karma.’
Konomi, who had seen how Fujin operated first-hand, wondered, ‘Does he plan on disarming Sunagakure's traps and eliminating their ambush squads one by one like how we did in the Land of Rice? A couple of weeks ago, I would have dismissed that idea as crazy. However, after what I have seen...’
Of course, the ones on the council wouldn't agree to Fujin's words. Hiromasa finally intervened, “Fujin, while your statements are logical, you're missing one aspect. That is pride.
Kusagakure is a minor village that specializes in diplomacy. Compromising isn't humiliating for them. However, Sunagakure has the pride of a great village. If we humiliate them too much, they'll refuse and go to war even at the risk of annihilation.
Even though we are in good shape right now, an all-out war against a great village is not something Konoha can afford to do. Anything short of a decisive victory like you had against Otogakure will be an open invitation for Kumogakure and Iwagakure to attack us. In fact, we believe they may already be in talks. So, let's calm down and discuss.”
A smile appeared on his face as he added, “Besides, even though our approach should be cordial, our demands will be very strict. So, relax and let's continue the discussion.”
Since Fujin had good relations with the Senju clan, Fujin didn't reply aggressively. Besides, while his ideas were good, Fujin didn't particularly care whether Konoha went to war with Sunagakure or not. He just wanted to mess with the two Elders since Hiruzen was out of commission and couldn't be bothered.
Fujin replied, “Alright.”
With Hiromasa playing the mediator, the tensions calmed down and the group finally started discussing their negotiation strategy.
Comments
Devil Hex
Don't know. Some others were commenting about the same... Maybe reply to them 😅
Zaoprimo
How do you listen to the chapter with text to speech?
Felosial
Ay is soon going to be kick out of the raikage office and want to take his anger out on Fujin and kills sasake
Devil Hex
Almost done writing. Still have to edit. Can assume 45-60 mins
Antonio Fazio
Any update?
Devil Hex
Thanks 👍
Devil Hex
Similar as yesterday, maybe.
Qt4x_
Eta
Jack Nathaniel Mikhail
Thanks for the chapter. Elders gonna learn how much MC tortured Hiruzen hahah
TrustZee
They may not be so bad in this fanfic, but most likely, they are simply afraid for their power. Danzo's situation is far from the best now, he does not stick his neck out once again. Hiruzen, who allowed them a lot and forgave them, is now seriously injured and now at most he will be an advisor or even retire to his grandchildren. So, now the advisors must be very careful in their actions and statements.
Kelevra
Perhaps in other fanfics. I don’t believe they are of the same obnoxious/annoying/resisting characters as they are normally portrayed as - in this fic
Mersh
I have a few ideas, just ignore em if you don’t like it. Fujin can suggest to move the elders to organize/manage a forward operating base against the Akatsuki to Tsunade or whoever becomes the Hokage. If it’s Tsunade, Fujin knows she will clash with the elders on decisions regarding the ninetails. Fujin and Tsunade can team up politically to move the elders out of the decision making of the village. With Fujin now slaying 2 Akatsuki members and having a reason to mention another strong sharingon user among the ranks, Fujin can suggest to raise the awareness against the group.
mateus batista
Did Fujin inform shikaku of the fight with akatsuki and Deidara's death?
Qweku_v
I can already imagine Tsunade cursing him out in her office 😂😂😂
Qweku_v
Fujin is a menace. 🤣
Devil Hex
Eh, that's a waste. Fujin and Shikaku would disagree. Why push them out when you can give them certain 'duties'?
Mersh
Hopefully Fujin and Tsunade will push all the elders out of the council. Yea there is wisdom with age but you tend to lose the edge to think/operate as a ninja when you become “ancient”. You also don’t give the younger generation the leadership roles they need to develop when you hog all the top spots for too long.
Qt4x_
Fujin 😂😂😂 After all the stunt he pulled, just imagining doing the same with tsunade is satisfying
Rei Lagea
Elders are shitting their pants wondering what they did to Fujin meanwhile he just wants entertainment 😭
