[Big Annoucement!]
[Hi, everyone!! months since I talked directly here xD, not really the best talker (maybe because I spend all day reading...) anyway! as how prices of everything is going up and everyday life is getting expensive I decided to reduce the price of my sub on P@tr30n.
I don't want to make my readers stop having a good time so this is the least I can do.
To coushion a little the lost of money I added a tier for people that want to support me and have access to the polls for new fanfics and incoming events. Just a 1 buck one xD.
The next event will be a poll to pick one of my fanfic to get 10 extra chapters!
Thanks for your support!]
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the atmosphere in the office finally returned to normal.
Teizawa sat in the guest seat, casually crossing one leg over the other.
In his hand was a cup of tea Shizune had just brewed for him.
He looked thoroughly at ease,
as though the shameless rogue who had lunged forward to hug the Hokage a moment ago had been someone else entirely.
Across from him,
Tsunade sat in the seat of honor, studying him with a scrutinizing gaze.
She was beginning to realize that she could not quite make sense of this young man.
He was clearly younger than Kakashi,
yet there was something about him that made people instinctively wary.
Especially when she thought of the intelligence reports concerning Teizawa.
Tsunade reminded herself once again that she had to deal with him carefully.
After several seconds of silence, she was the first to speak.
"Lord Kazekage."
Her voice had regained the steady composure expected of the Hokage.
"What exactly do you intend to do about the Four-Tails?"
She knew perfectly well that resolving the crisis brought by the Four-Tails was the top priority.
Auctioning off the Four-Tails in Konoha?
This man really dared to think of anything.
At her question, Teizawa merely set down his teacup and smiled faintly.
Then he even gave Tsunade a wink.
The gesture was flirtatious in just the right measure.
It did not seem crude, yet it carried a strange hint of intimacy.
"Didn't I already say so?"
His tone was completely matter-of-fact.
"I'm going to auction it."
One corner of Tsunade's mouth twitched.
"My lord…"
She drew a deep breath and patiently continued,
"Do you not realize what the Four-Tails means to Iwagakure?"
Teizawa spread his hands, looking innocent.
"I do."
He paused, and the smile on his lips deepened.
"That's exactly why I'm auctioning it."
Tsunade was left speechless.
She looked at Teizawa's youthful face, at the gleam flickering in those deep eyes,
and was suddenly overcome with a sense of helplessness.
This bastard clearly understood everything,
yet he insisted on playing dumb.
With a sigh, she softened her tone.
"Kazekage, you should understand that the Four-Tails is a strategic weapon of Iwagakure."
"If you put it up for auction, you'll be forcing Iwagakure into desperate measures."
She paused and looked straight at him.
"If this is not handled properly, the entire ninja world could be thrown into turmoil."
Teizawa looked at her.
He looked at the grave expression on that mature, alluring face.
He looked at the concern flickering in those amber eyes…
and then, involuntarily, his gaze dropped slightly lower.
Mm.
They really were big.
He sighed inwardly to himself.
Tsunade noticed where he was looking, and her face darkened.
But with the setting what it was, she could not explode on the spot, so she could only grit her teeth and continue.
"Lord Kazekage, please show some restraint!"
Teizawa withdrew his gaze.
The carefree mockery on his face receded a little.
"I know," he said.
"So I am listening seriously."
Tsunade took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to punch him again.
"Then what do you intend to do?"
Teizawa thought about it for a moment, then said, "Could it be that Lady Hokage wants me to return the Four-Tails to Iwagakure?"
Tsunade went silent for a moment.
Then she let out a sigh.
"If it can prevent conflict in the ninja world, that would naturally be for the best."
Teizawa curled his lip.
"Well, I could do that."
Tsunade's eyes brightened at once.
"But who's going to take responsibility for Sunagakure's losses?"
Teizawa spread his hands again.
"The Four-Tails attacked our border, killed our people, and destroyed our outposts."
"We worked hard to capture it, and now you're telling me to just hand it back?"
He shook his head.
"If I do that, how am I supposed to explain it to my villagers when I return?"
Tsunade fell silent.
She had to admit that Teizawa had a point.
Iwagakure was in the wrong first.
Making him return the Four-Tails for nothing really was impossible to justify.
"Lord Kazekage…"
At that moment, Shikaku suddenly spoke up from the side.
"How about Konoha taking the lead and having Iwagakure provide Sunagakure with financial compensation?"
"That way, Iwagakure's dignity can be preserved, while Sunagakure's losses are also repaid."
Teizawa turned to look at Konoha's strategist.
A hint of appreciation flashed through his eyes.
As expected of Konoha's chief adviser. His mind really worked fast.
"So what do you think…"
Teizawa asked with clear interest,
"they'd be willing to pay?"
Shikaku answered his question with another.
"How much does Lord Kazekage want?"
Teizawa smiled.
The smile was bright and harmless.
"Not much."
He held up five fingers.
"Five billion."
"That also happens to be my opening bid."
The corners of Tsunade's mouth twitched violently.
The smile froze on Shikaku's face.
Shizune's grip on Tonton tightened, and Tonton let out a startled grunt.
Koharu nearly lost her cane again.
Five billion?
What kind of concept was that?
It was enough to cover Konoha's payroll for two years, enough to build three ninja academies…
"You…"
Tsunade drew in a breath and tried her best to keep her voice steady.
"Are you serious?"
Teizawa gave her another wink.
"Of course."
Then he added,
"If Iwagakure won't pay, I'll sell it to someone else."
"I'm sure Kumogakure and Kirigakure would both be happy to pay that price."
Tsunade was completely speechless.
She realized there was simply no way to continue negotiating with this man.
His way of thinking was not on the same wavelength as normal people at all.
In the end, the meeting concluded without any real result.
Teizawa rose to his feet, preparing to leave.
When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped and looked back.
"Oh, right, Lady Tsunade."
His tone suddenly became casual.
"I heard that aside from gambling, you're also rather fond of good liquor?"
One of Tsunade's eyelids twitched.
"How about we share a few drinks tonight?"
Teizawa said with a grin.
Tsunade instinctively wanted to refuse.
She was old enough to be this brat's grandmother, and he wanted to drink with her?
But before she could say no, Teizawa continued.
"A guest has come from afar."
He gave her no room to reject him.
"Shouldn't the Hokage show a little hospitality?"
Tsunade opened her mouth,
only to find that she could not come up with a reason to refuse.
This guy's words really were watertight…
He was the guest, and she was the host.
Inviting a guest for a drink was perfectly reasonable.
If she refused, it would only make her seem petty.
"All right… fine."
She nodded helplessly.
Teizawa smiled and pushed the door open to leave.
Behind him, Tsunade rubbed at her temples, feeling her headache starting up again.
Shikaku looked at the closed door, his eyes thoughtful.
Shizune quietly asked,
"Lady Tsunade, are you really going to drink with him?"
Tsunade sighed.
"What choice do I have?"
After a pause, she added, a trace of helplessness in her voice,
"I want to see just what this guy is really trying to do."
Outside the window, the sunlight was perfect.
The man who had given all of Konoha a pounding headache was currently humming a tune as he walked away.
There was still a drinking session waiting for him tonight.
And he was already looking forward to it.
"I wonder if Tsunade will really get drunk…"
Teizawa murmured softly to himself, growing more and more expectant.
(End of Chapter)
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