Naruto: Limit Breaker

Chapter 85: This Cake is Round and Big

Of course, Ryosuke wasn't going to stand the whole time.

At Gato invitation, he and the others took their seats at a long, extravagant table. The main seat remained empty, while people were only seated along the sides—like it was some sort of negotiation table.

But despite the layout, the atmosphere inside the castle was far from tense or formal.

The bright, opulent hall overflowed with luxury. The long table was piled with mouthwatering food—birds from the sky, beasts from the land, and fish from the sea. Expensive wines lined the center, brands that nobles from various countries fought over. There were entertainers on both sides: beautiful dancers in skimpy outfits showing off their figures, while behind gauzy curtains, refined geishas played soft, graceful tunes on guqins.

In just this one hall, Gato had made it very clear: he was no petty merchant. The version of him standing before them now was a far cry from the thug of the original timeline. This Gato flaunted the wealth of his Shipping Chamber of Commerce to perfection.

"No food or drink for us," Hizashi said coolly.

He didn't touch anything on the table. He didn't even glance at the dancers. The entire Hyuga group sat upright, stone-faced.

Under Ryosuke's control, Hyuga Hizashi gave a faint, polite smile. "Let's get to business."

Since Hizashi didn't resist the genjutsu and actively cooperated, the chakra consumption for Ryosuke's Byakugan-based illusion was minimal. With his current reserves, he could keep this act going comfortably through the whole negotiation.

Gato chuckled and clapped lightly. "As expected of Konoha's ninja. Always professional."

The subtle flattery was smooth—no trace of mockery. Then Gato got down to it.

"I actually heard about the Hyuga clan sending representatives to the Land of Waves a while ago," he said. "But my staying here wasn't about disrespect or conflict. On the contrary—I saw a chance for cooperation."

He signaled to the maids to clear the table of food and wine, leaving a clean surface.

"Cooperation?" Hizashi kept his smile. "Let's hear it."

"Ahem." Gato cleared his throat and nodded to the Jonin standing beside him.

The man—Akutagawa—unfolded a large map across the table. Gato stood and gestured for the others to have a look.

"Now, the Land of Waves might look like a small, barren fishing village with no population or resources, but geographically... it's a gold mine," Gato said.

"In my view, treating it as a 'country' is a waste."

He traced a circle on the map, highlighting how the Land of Waves sat perfectly between the Fire, Water, Iron, and Hot Springs countries.

"This isn't a nation—it should be a trade hub. A center for distributing goods to every surrounding nation."

Gato's pitch was thorough. He broke down the geographical value, proposed a development strategy, and painted a grand vision of a trade center that could revitalize the entire region's economy.

He ended his speech with a generous helping of flattery, suggesting that only a noble clan as ancient and prestigious as the Hyuga should manage such a vital location.

For someone unfamiliar with modern business language—or anyone who hadn't lived through the age of the internet and rapid info flow—Gato's presentation would've been utterly convincing. It was beautiful, polished, and airtight on the surface.

But Ryosuke? He'd heard pitches like this before.

Behind the silky words, he saw the real translation:

"This is a massive deal, covering most of the ninja world. Our Shipping Chamber of Commerce can't handle it alone. So we're looking for powerful partners."

"You Hyuga—an old clan with history—are the perfect pick. Work with us, and we'll give you a cut of the profits."

"But in return, you'll protect our operations. Be our enforcers. Our shield."

Classic bait. A beautiful pancake—perfectly round, golden-brown, and sweet-smelling... but way too perfect to be real. No matter how tempting, you knew not to take a bite unless you wanted a mouthful of ash.

Ryosuke leaned forward and had Hizashi speak up, cutting off Gato mid-spiel.

"Pardon the interruption," Hizashi said. "But if this is all your plan amounts to, then I'm afraid we have no reason to cooperate."

He looked Gato dead in the eyes. "You don't sound like a qualified businessman. More like a man selling dreams in a paper bag."

Gato blinked in surprise. Across the table, others turned toward Hizashi, stunned. Even some of Ryosuke's own companions looked confused.

"Nine minutes and eight seconds," Hizashi muttered as he stood, still smiling. "That's how long I've sat here, listening to your grand vision. And in all that time, you've told me nothing of substance."

"As a businessman, isn't your first job to act ahead of the market? Predict trends? Seize opportunities before others do—and pull out before it crashes?"

"If you don't even understand that, how exactly did you get where you are?"

He paused briefly, scanning Gato's face.

"And risk. You haven't mentioned risk at all. Isn't risk management the most basic instinct for someone in business? Avoiding danger, chasing fortune—it's fundamental."

"If the Land of Waves really becomes the kind of hub you're describing, how many people do you think will come running to snatch that piece of cake?"

He tilted his head.

"I don't think the Hyuga clan has the strength to fend off all those eyes—especially not the major nations. Even if we have Konoha and the Land of Fire behind us... we're not built to protect your Chamber of Commerce from what's coming."

"In short: You are not a qualified businessman. Working with you wouldn't benefit us—it might just get us killed."

There was one thing Ryosuke didn't say aloud, didn't have Hizashi speak.

Gato was treating them like idiots. He'd laid out the dream but kept all the fine print to himself. The core issues—how profits would actually be split, how risks would be absorbed—he'd completely avoided.

If Ryosuke had let that part slip from Hizashi's mouth, the deal would've ended right then and there.

But despite the performance, Ryosuke didn't think the offer was entirely useless. The idea wasn't bad. There was potential here—just not like this.

This cake was too round, too big, and way too fake. No smart person was going to eat it as-is.

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