Naruto: Dual System Power At The Beginning

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The Fourth Raikage did not expect the other party to actually think this way, but what he said was true.

Although he himself felt that it was quite like a scheme to sow discord.

If others didn't believe him, there was no way to help it; this time, he could only bleed heavily.

"Speak, what exactly do you want before you are willing to let our people from Kumogakure go?"

At this time, Ryosuke also spoke, "The Hyuga clan head wants to kill all of you, and I think this is very reasonable."

"After all, we are enemies, but I am unwilling to cause a large-scale massacre."

"Now that you are already our captives, just pay some ransom and you can be released. After all, we don't want to become blood enemies with your Kumogakure."

Hearing this, the Fourth Raikage finally felt relieved.

As long as they were released, even at a great price, it was acceptable. If they didn't accept, they might end up being sold to the black market, which was absolutely unacceptable, so a hefty compensation was still preferable.

Seeing that the Fourth Raikage had no objections, Ryosuke continued speaking.

"Ten million ryo can redeem one chūnin, thirty million ryo can redeem one jonin."

"As for the Fourth Raikage, plus the two tailed beast jinchūriki, I will count you as jonin as well. I am even giving you face; just pay thirty million ryo in ransom."

"Additionally, your Kumogakure should also give an explanation to the Hyuga clan. A compensation of two hundred million ryo will do."

The more the Fourth Raikage listened, the darker his face became.

To actually value him, the Fourth Raikage, and two tailed beast jinchūriki at the ransom price of mere jonin—was this looking down on their strength? Fine, thinking back to how the other party had attacked him, indeed, in front of them, he was no different from a jonin. If his strength was belittled, then so be it. But this compensation was simply too massive.

A single chunin required ten million ryo, and a jonin required thirty million ryo.

This time, he had brought many people, with a conservative estimate of at least 400. That would require a total ransom of sixty billion ryo, plus an additional two hundred million ryo for the Hyuga clan.

This was equivalent to ten years' worth of Kumogakure's financial expenditures.

Even if the entire village of shinobi went without food or drink, it would take ten years to pay off this debt.

This was simply an outrageous demand. Feeling indignant, he said,

"Sixty-two billion ryo is far too much. Our Kumogakure simply does not have that much money to pay."

Then, gritting his teeth, he said, 'A flat price of twelve billion, to be paid off over six years. Naturally, this includes the compensation for the Hyuga clan. Any more, and we really can't afford it."

At this moment, Hyuga Hiashi was somewhat surprised to hear "twelve billion ryo."

That was a huge sum of money. Even if they only got thirty percent, that was still at least four billion ryo.

Such an amount would be enough to sustain the future development of the Hyuga clan for decades.

And that was under conditions where clan members were given generous benefits.

While the number made his heart flutter, it was not the amount Ryosuke wanted. He could only suppress his joy and say with a face full of disdain,

"A mere twelve billion ryo, and you want to brush us off? Do we look like people who care about just twelve billion ryo?"

"Ryosuke, just kill them instead."

The Fourth Raikage was furious. A mere twelve billion ryo? The Hyuga clan sure dared to say such things. That amount of money was enough to sustain all of Kumogakure's shinobi for two years.

That was equivalent to the entire Kumogakure shinobi force working for these two clans for free for two years.

Yet the other party was still not satisfied. How could he not feel stifled?

But now, he didn't dare to mock this guy.

From what had just happened, it was clear that the Hyuga clan deeply hated the shinobi of Kumogakure and even wanted to kill all of them.

Kumogakure was indeed at fault first, but wasn't their killing intent too excessive?

And what made him even more agitated was realizing that the young man who had defeated him was Uchiha Ryosuke.

The one mentioned in that letter—the one they were supposed to kill in exchange for favorable peace negotiations.

Knowing that only these two clans had come and that the intelligence was leaked by Konoha's higher-ups—this was why he had decided to launch a large-scale war.

But he never expected this Ryosuke to be so terrifying. The bastards in Konoha's upper echelon had misled him.

Kumogakure originally just wanted to exert pressure and then sign a peace agreement with more benefits. They had never actually intended to go to war. After all, Kumogakure's current situation wasn't great either.

But Konoha's upper echelon had provided them with false intelligence. This led him to wage the wrong war. It was all Konoha's higher-ups' fault.

At this time, Uchiha Fugaku also chimed in.

"It is indeed as the Hyuga clan head says. The Fourth Raikage only offering twelve billion to ransom so many shinobi, including two tailed beasts and himself, is truly insincere."

"Twelve billion ryo—what can that do? It's useless. Just sell them all to the black market instead. There are plenty of people in need of tailed beasts and experimental materials."

Hearing this, the Fourth Raikage was filled with rage.

Twelve billion ryo—was that not enough to sustain both of their clans for ten years? This was simply too excessive. They even wanted to sell them to the black market.

That place, where shinobi bodies were used for experiments and intelligence theft. The Uchiha clan was truly evil.

At this moment, Ryosuke looked at the dark-faced Fourth Raikage and spoke calmly, "Fourth Raikage, as you can see, the Hyuga clan head suggests killing you all, and my Uchiha clan leader wants to sell you to the black market."

"I, however, am giving you a chance to ransom your village's shinobi."

"You can make a choice, and you can also choose on behalf of your subordinates. After all, you are the Fourth Raikage, and you have the right to decide their fate."

The Fourth Raikage was filled with fury—this was blatant bullying, forcing such conditions on him while making him take the blame.

The Uchiha clan was truly evil.

But anger was one thing.

Right now, the other side had only given one option: pay sixty billion ryo in ransom plus two billion in compensation, or have all their elite jonin and chunin, along with their tailed beasts, either executed or sold off.

If all these people were killed or sold, then as the Fourth Raikage, he would become the greatest sinner in Kumogakure's history. As the leader, he absolutely could not let his village fall into such a state.

With no choice, he said, "Fine, I accept your terms. We will compensate according to your price."

Hearing this, Uchiha Ryosuke showed a hint of satisfaction.

"Good, then let's round it to an even sixty billion ryo. And so that you don't say we aren't giving Kumogakure time to pay, you can pay three billion ryo per year."

"You have twenty years to settle this debt. Once it is paid, you can return to your village to prepare the funds and deliver them to Konoha."

"Of course, I will leave a few Kumogakure shinobi behind to assist in our investigation of that letter."

"I trust the Fourth Raikage has no objections?"

At this point, the Fourth Raikage dared not have any objections. A few shinobi assisting in an investigation was nothing.

They even gave him an installment plan—this was ironclad proof they intended to make them pay.

In truth, he had considered defaulting on the debt as soon as he returned.

After all, even if he agreed, the various factions in Kumogakure might not accept paying such an enormous ransom.

But if he could think of it, could the other party not?

And they were so willing to let them return without any concern about them reneging—weren't they afraid of being cheated?

Thinking this, he couldn't help but ask, "You're just letting us leave so easily? Aren't you afraid we'll refuse to pay?"

Ryosuke, however, laughed heartily, "Before reneging, you should consider the consequences. Actually, I rather hope you default—then we would have a legitimate reason to annex Kumogakure and the Land of Lightning into the Land of Fire's territory. That sounds quite appealing, don't you think? It's much more profitable than sixty billion ryo."

"It's just that it would require killing more people, which is a bit troublesome."

Hearing this, Uchiha Fugaku was surprised—he hadn't expected Ryosuke to have such grand ambitions.

To annex the Land of Lightning into the Land of Fire—if that happened, the wealth they could gain would far exceed sixty billion ryo.

As expected of someone leading the Uchiha to glory—he truly had terrifying ambitions.

The Fourth Raikage's face changed, his heart trembling. The other party actually had such ambitions.

They truly wanted to annex the Land of Lightning into the Land of Fire's territory. If they did that, countless Kumogakure shinobi would rise up to resist.

Given their current power, it would likely result in heavy casualties.

"You dare to do this? The Uchiha clan is truly evil."

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