"It's not really the best deal we could get, I would say. I can instantly think of a few more additions to the deal on top of my head." Claire started, her face shifting into her administrator self. "But when we took the circumstances, our limitations, as well as Ludwig's stance, into account, it's the best we could do."
Kushina went silent for a heartbeat, probably trying to digest what she heard. Looking at that, Ludwig couldn't help but think about what happened to her again. But now, after being reassured, another thought popped into his mind.
She personally tried to change.
His thoughts then slipped into the day she visited the restaurant again after all the Konoha debacle. She looked smarter back then. She even stated she needed the Hokage to clarify a few things for her.
Even in the chaotic scenes of so many things happening around the bar back then, she sat in a relaxed and composed manner. She still talked with her usual teasing and upbeat self. But there's also something budding back there.
It was her trying to listen and think about what she heard. But now, that was no longer just a mere budding; It had bloomed. She changed.
Ludwig took a breath and let his eyes roam to Kushina's face. Once, she was just a curious and bright-eyed girl who loved food a little bit too much. But now, aside from her flawless skin and still bright eyes, there's also contemplation and deliberateness in her face.
It was a sign that she had grown.
However, rather than completely feeling happy for her growth, Ludwig felt a sting in his chest. He knew she came from a world where kids were trained to kill, and reaping their first life could be said to be a rite of passage to adulthood. But her losing the small innocence she still had left quite a sting in him. It's like watching his little sister finally know the bitter side of love.
But he knew this was the better outcome than the many others. If he had just followed Claire's words to eradicate Hiruzen and all the ninjas he brought to attack the restaurant to make an example, he wouldn't have known what Kushina would be right now.
She might have turned into someone better than this, but at the same time, she would also carry a guilt so big that it would weigh her down for her entire life. And he didn't want that. Thankfully, Claire could understand his reasoning back then.
If only I were bolder before things spiralled to that point. Ludwig sighed.
He knew it wouldn't change much. But at least he was sure it would make Hiruzen stop himself from attacking the restaurant. Well, in the process, he knew a lot of other ninjas would also die.
"I see." Kushina finally spoke. "From your answer, can I take that we can take a slightly losing deal if it aligns with what we want?"
Ludwig snapped into focus as she said so. He could see Claire did the same. But this time, it was not because they were worried about her. Rather, it was because they were surprised and glad at the same time.
But after coming to her senses, Claire did not answer immediately. She watched Kushina more. Only after a heartbeat passed did she open her mouth.
"You can." She said. "But if I were in your shoes, I would ask another question."
Kushina's brows drew together, not in confusion, but clearly in thought.
However, even without giving her time to reach the answer, Claire continued. "That question will be 'What kind of loss is acceptable?'"
Silence fell around them. Then Claire continued again. "Is it something you can take back later, or something you hand over permanently? Does it cost you resources, or does it cost you how they see you?
"If you accept a deal beneath what you could have secured, the other side will remember that."
Her eyes flicked toward Ludwig, then returned.
"Next time, they will start from there."
Kushina's lips parted slightly. She seemed about to respond, then stopped herself. The pause stretched, but it did not feel empty.
Finally,
"I-I see." Kushina murmured. "So a deal is never about what we will lose now, huh?"
A small smile appeared on Claire's face before she answered. "It rarely is."
But then her face went serious once again. "However, you can't keep doing that. If in one negotiation you gave them a leeway, in the next negotiation, you should go hard on them, lest you want them to think that's what they can expect from you."
Kushina nodded slowly, but from how the frown still adorned her face, it was clear she still couldn't grasp the concept well. Probably also thinking the same, Claire opened her mouth again.
"You still remember the content of our deal with Agent Looker?"
Kushina nodded.
"Just like you said, we conceded to him. But Kushina, that point will be our way to benefit more later."
Kushina moved her gaze from the floor towards Claire.
"If, any renegotiation took place later, by that time I think we will have already gained some credibility. In other words, we have enough rapport with Agent Looker. So, we will try taking more from him. For example, a wider range of movement or more ID slots for people from the restaurant. And you know, I don't think he will refuse. Do you know why?"
Kushina contemplated it. It was visible on her face that she was looking back at the deal Claire told her a few minutes ago.
Then, her face lit up. "Because after you guys successfully fought any disaster from Legendary Pokemon, more people from this restaurant will only mean more manpower to be dispatched in emergencies!"
"Correct." Claire smiled before drinking the rest of her glass and gave it to Ludwig.
Ludwig took the glass from Claire and replaced the ice inside. In the next moment, he summoned the bottle with his free hand and poured another round of whiskey into it.
Just as he placed it back in front of Claire, Kushina opened her mouth. "I see. You are not pushing hard from the start because you don't want Looker to be wary of you. After all, it seemed like he wielded quite an authority in his world. It's like taking one step back for 10 leaps forward."
"You have become quite a smart one." Claire chuckled.
Ludwig chuckled as well as soon as he saw Kushina's face turn almost the same colour as her hair. She indeed had become smarter. Well, smarter might not be the best word for it, as he knew just how good she was at Sealing Jutsu in the Canon. She now just used that brilliance to think about things she never bothered with before.
"By the way…" Kushina opened her mouth suddenly. "I get it that we can concede in a deal. But, in the deal you have with Konoha, don't you think you give them too much?"
Rather than answering immediately, Claire just tapped the side of the glass once with her nails. Then, her eyes went from the swirling liquid inde to Kushina. "I know. Ludwig gave them more than he should have. I tried to stop it, but you know the rest."
Kushina blinked. It seemed like she didn't expect the answer to come that easily. In the meantime, Claire did not even look at Ludwig before continuing.
"But that is not the part you should focus on. What matters is what that bought us."
Kushina's brows knit together again while Claire leaned back slightly.
"They cannot touch you." She said. "Not without any real consequence, no matter how they tried to call it something else."
Kushina stilled at the words.
"Danzo does not get to move in the dark anymore, either." Claire went on. "If he acts, it is no longer his decision alone. It becomes Konoha's."
Kushina's fingers tightened slightly against her sleeve.
"…So they can't hide it." She murmured.
"They don't get to." Claire's tone remained even as she said so.
Another small silence fell between them before Claire spoke once again.
"And if they cross that line… we are no longer negotiating."
Kushina looked up, and Claire met her gaze head-on.
"You know they already agreed to what that means."
Kushina's lips parted slightly, then closed. Her eyes drifted for a moment, then sharpened as the pieces began to settle into place.
"…So it's not just about what we gave them." She said slowly. "It's about what they're no longer allowed to do."
Claire inclined her head, just a fraction.
"Yes."
Kushina exhaled through her nose, her shoulders easing, though her expression remained thoughtful.
"…And if they still try." She continued, quieter now, "Then it's on them."
"Correct." Claire answered. "And before they reach that point, they now have to think about the potions, the treatment, and our retaliation."
"I see." Kushina sighed.
Ludwig moved his gaze from the two towards the bustling dining hall. The big table in the middle was now full of festive atmosphere compared to before. He could see Raon flying above the table, zooming from one guy to another while his siblings were sitting on Shuna's lap.
They had reached an agreement. Tempest would ally with the Dwarven Kingdom, and they would formalise it tomorrow. It's all progressing as he knew from the Canon.
The only thing that was different from what he knew was the Dwarven King's interest in him. He didn't simply feel it; he heard him talking with Rimuru about him. Thankfully, Rimuru just revealed what any other customers of Checkpoint knew about him; not one secret leaked from his mouth, which normally would have spilled anything.
Just like any other night, the restaurant was full again today. Some people even enjoyed their break on their feet rather than in a chair.
Looking at it now, it seemed like he needed to bring the plan forward. He could just use the current tables and chairs he had and add what Greito would give them in a few days to accommodate more people.
The private room would be added later when Greito was free.
Just as he thought so, he once again heard Claire's voice. "But Kushina, what happened to you? Why are you suddenly getting interested in negotiation?"
Kushina looked at Claire before she scratched one of her cheeks. "Well… After the attack, you know I grilled the old man for an answer, right?"
Claire nodded.
"After that, I thought about what I do. I mean, not just fighting because they won't let me do that. Then, I remembered how you and Ludwig took care of the old man and the Shinobis who came to attack the restaurant. You planned it beforehand.
"I tried to do that. But then I realized I don't even know where to start. So I decided to listen more. I walked around Konoha to see it with my own eyes about the state of the village. I also thought about it, not just mindlessly look at them."
Kushina stopped for a brief moment to catch her breath.
"After I learned about what happened inside Konoha, I talked with the old man. I asked him about the state of other villages and other stuff. And there's where I realized just how important a negotiation is.
"But because I can't just learn that from the old man because I don't trust him to guide me, I came here. I mean, we have you here, a leader of a village and a smart one amongst us, aren't we?"
Claire just looked at Kushina like he was an alien, while Ludwig could only offer a hollow chuckle. He was right. She was trying to change.
But it seemed like she was not just trying to understand why negotiating was important; she was trying to understand what happened behind running a village.
Is she trying to help Minato or trying to become a Hokage herself?
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