Chapter 195: Chapter 197 : New Covenant?
Upon arriving at the elders' residence, Kazuhiko strode in without hesitation.
"Kazuhiko-sama!" Everyone rose from their seats and saluted.
Kazuhiko, accustomed to disregarding formalities, merely waved his hand casually.
Glancing at the spread of food and drink on the table, it was evident that dinner had already commenced. The servant by the side had swiftly set up the tableware upon Kazuhiko's appearance.
Despite not having eaten yet, Kazuhiko picked up his chopsticks and began to eat.
Seated nearby was Konoha's advisor, Elder Mitokado Homura.
In recent days, Mitokado Homura had come to recognize the formidable reputation of Kazuhiko, who had defeated the Third Hokage and secured four islands. The night of the Uchiha clan's revelry marked a staggering confrontation...
All of these incidents forbade him from underestimating the young man before him. They also revealed that the Uzumaki clan head was not only mighty but also possessed considerable intelligence.
In the past, when facing smaller nations, Mitokado Homura would exude an inexplicable arrogance, disregarding them entirely.
However, he dared not adopt such an attitude toward the Land of Whirlpools. It wasn't solely due to Kazuhiko's power but also the renowned sealing techniques of the Land of Whirlpools, which even garnered envy from Konoha.
After eating for a while, Kazuhiko feigned ignorance of Mitokado Homura's presence, as if he had solely come to eat.
A flicker of anger flashed in Mitokado Homura's eyes, feeling slighted by being disregarded in such a manner.
As the elder advisor of Konoha, the premier village of shinobi, he was accustomed to being sought after wherever he went. Previously, they were the ones who left others in the dust, but now they found themselves overlooked in the presence of Kazuhiko.
Though he clenched his fists in private, Mitokado Homura recalled Kazuhiko's awe-inspiring battle scars—the deep craters and upturned earth—and restrained himself.
Though Kazuhiko appeared indifferent, his senses remained attuned to Mitokado Homura's every move.
Mitokado Homura contemplated rising in fury, yet the elderly man, known for his irascible temperament, surprisingly held back.
The Uzumaki elders eagerly awaited its arrival. When the Land of Whirlpools delegation visited Konoha previously, Mitokado Homura wore a proud expression.
To them, it seemed like they were the impoverished relatives from the countryside, often enduring slight after slight.
But now, facing their young clan head, the tables had turned. Even the people of Konoha could only accept their loss gracefully, unable to put on airs of arrogance.
Witnessing this, the elders couldn't help but sigh inwardly. As their clan head had once declared in the Land of Whirlpools, true respect stems only from one's own strength!
This conviction strengthened their resolve to follow their clan head's lead, no longer relying on Konoha but rather focusing on strengthening themselves continuously.
As Kazuhiko nearly finished his meal, Mitokado Homura interjected hastily.
"Your Majesty, I've come to discuss the covenant between the Land of Whirlpools and Konoha."
Kazuhiko paused, surprised to see Mitokado Homura as if noticing him for the first time.
"Oh? Elder Homura, must we speak through our elders?"
Observing Kazuhiko's feigned ignorance, Mitokado Homura seethed inwardly, "Hmph, how audacious! He blatantly ignored me earlier! But he forgets he did the same to smaller countries in the past; now, it's just Kazuhiko returning the gesture. Yet, faced with a young Kage-level powerhouse, I dare not reveal my resentment. How ironic."
"It's indeed me, Your Excellency the clan head. Given the gravity of the matter, I hoped to confirm it personally with you, lest misunderstandings arise from your elder's explanation."
Kazuhiko nodded silently, then resumed eating grilled meat from the basin with his wooden chopsticks.
Mitokado Homura seethed at the notion of being spoken to as if a subordinate, but he pressed on.
"Your Excellency the clan head, are you considering re-signing the covenant with Konoha?"
"The covenant between the Land of Uzumaki and Konoha was signed by the First Hokage, symbolizing the friendship between our lands. Are you suggesting we re-sign it? Do you have objections?" Kazuhiko consumed two pieces of grilled meat and a sip of sake before responding.
"Indeed, I intend to sign a new covenant with Konoha."
"May I ask why?" Mitokado Homura scrutinized Kazuhiko's every expression, hoping to glean some insight.
But Kazuhiko remained impassive, seemingly engrossed in the roasting meat, turning it with his chopsticks to ensure even cooking. After a prolonged silence, he turned his gaze back.
"Because the strength of the Land of Whirlpools has far surpassed its former levels..."
With a slight smile, Kazuhiko looked directly at Mitokado Homura and spoke each word deliberately, "The Land of Whirlpools now has me, its own tailed beast, and its own perfected Jinchūriki! The previous agreement is null and void!"
As Kazuhiko's words sank in, Mitokado Homura's pupils contracted. He was aware that the Land of Whirlpools had already acquired its own perfected Jinchūriki, a fact Konoha was not oblivious to.
Yet, it was the boldness with which Kazuhiko now proclaimed it that caught him off guard.
However, a sense of relief washed over him. He naturally assumed that Kazuhiko intended to renegotiate their pact.
Acknowledging the current might of the Land of Whirlpools, and unsure of the precise strength of their perfected Jinchūriki, Mitokado recognized that even the presence of Kazuhiko alone demanded attention.
Hence, he didn't find it unreasonable for the Land of Whirlpools to seek an adjustment to their agreement. In fact, he deemed it quite sensible.
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