Chapter 99: Quality comes with a price!

"Hmm? Are Itachi going to eat that?"

the Root-shi looked at Yagura Karatachi with a puzzled expression.

(Note: This line is a promotional tag for a group chat; omitted as per instructions.)

"It just so happens I can't finish this bowl myself."

Bang!

Yagura Karatachi snatched the Ichiraku Ramen from the Root-shi’s hands, slammed it heavily onto the table, and said with a stern face.

"We can barely afford to pay the pensions for our fallen ninja now."

"And yet, Itachi spent over ten thousand ryo on such an outrageous bowl of noodles?"

"If Itachi wanted ramen, couldn't Itachi have just bought some from a street stall?"

the Root-shi said, looking slightly aggrieved.

"But I wanted to try it."

"I’ve always heard how delicious the deluxe ramen at the Hidden Leaf Village is."

"Now that things are finally peaceful, I could finally order a bowl to taste."

"Otherwise, during wartime, the shipping fee alone would be ten thousand ryo."

Yagura Karatachi said crossly.

"Then how much is the shipping fee now?"

"Two thousand ryo."

Ten thousand ryo for ramen...

Yagura Karatachi took deep breaths, terrified that he might lose his breath and faint right there.

This price was simply absurd!

Was this ramen mixed with gold? Why was it so expensive!

This one bowl of noodles was enough to cover a family of three's expenses for over a month!

"the Root-shi, from now on, Itachi are forbidden from buying takeout!"

"Especially takeout from the Hidden Leaf Village!"

Yagura Karatachi warned him solemnly.

the Root-shi nodded pitifully, his longing eyes fixed on the ramen.

"Yagura, it won't taste good if the noodles get soggy."

"Let me have a bite first, we can talk about the rest later."

Who was it that said a Kage shouldn't be impatient?

To think Itachi, a former acting Mizukage, could say such a thing!

Look at yourself now!

Being so extravagant and wasteful!

Don't Itachi see that some families are struggling to put food on the table?

It’s truly detestable!

Yagura Karatachi cursed inwardly, berating the Senju Takeout service thoroughly.

But since things had come to this, he could only sigh and tell the Root-shi to eat slowly.

Then, driven by curiosity, Yagura Karatachi also ate half a bowl.

He had to admit, the taste was incomparable to street-side ramen.

It was truly delicious.

But Yagura Karatachi still felt that ten thousand per bowl was too expensive.

Perhaps only those wealthy folks in the Hidden Leaf could afford such a luxury.

After finishing the noodles, the Root-shi went off to rest.

Yagura Karatachi planned to head to the Mizukage’s office to continue his work.

On the way, he saw the envoy sent to the Hidden Leaf, Mangetsu Hozuki.

He was also one of the current Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, the wielder of the twin blades Hiramekarei.

Beside Mangetsu Hozuki was a handsome, dashing man with a slender build.

"This guy is so handsome! He’s even better looking than me!"

Yagura Karatachi was secretly surprised, then he saw another masked man.

Yagura Karatachi recognized this person.

It was Boss Kakuzu from Senju Real Estate!

Then the identity of this handsome man must be the current Senju Clan Head, Senju Senju Senju Xingye Senju, right?

Yagura Karatachi saw Senju Senju Senju Xingye Senju and the others, and naturally, Senju Senju Senju Xingye Senju saw Yagura Karatachi as well.

Mangetsu Hozuki’s expression turned ugly.

The two parties met in the middle of the street.

Mangetsu Hozuki immediately introduced the two sides.

"Lord Mizukage, this is the head of the Hidden Leaf’s Senju of the Forest, Lord Senju Senju Senju Xingye Senju."

"And this is the owner of Senju Real Estate, Mr. Kakuzu."

"Greetings, Lord Mizukage. I didn't expect the Mizukage to be so young."

Senju Senju Senju Xingye Senju said with a smile.

Yagura Karatachi nodded and said.

"I know of Itachi both, and I am very honored to meet Itachi here."

"This isn't the place to talk. Why don't Itachi two follow me to the conference room to sit for a while?"

"No problem."

Senju Senju Senju Xingye Senju replied.

So, Yagura Karatachi led the way, entering a spacious conference room in the Mizukage Building.

Closing the door, only four people remained in the room.

Yagura Karatachi got straight to the point.

"Since the Senju Clan Head came here personally, I assume it’s about the peace treaty?"

"I wonder what price we need to pay?"

Senju Senju Senju Xingye Senju nodded but didn't speak, instead turning his gaze toward Mangetsu Hozuki.

Mangetsu Hozuki hurriedly leaned into Yagura Karatachi’s ear and explained the conditions from the Hidden Leaf side.

"What?! Two billion!"

Yagura Karatachi shouted in panic, completely lacking the composure expected of a Mizukage.

"Impossible! The Hidden Mist Village cannot come up with that much money! Even if the entire village worked themselves to death, it would be impossible to pay that in a year or two!"

"This is simply too much money!"

He turned to look at Senju Senju Senju Xingye Senju and said with difficulty.

"The Hidden Mist’s treasury cannot pay this amount right now. Is it possible to grant us some time?"

"There's no need for such trouble."

Senju Senju Senju Xingye Senju said with a smile.

"My Senju Bank offers low-interest loans. If Itachi borrow two billion, the interest is forty percent per term, with one term per year, for a total of three terms."

"In other words, Itachi only need to pay back four point four billion after three years."

*Only?* Just pay back?

Yagura Karatachi resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

This was practically robbery!

The amount would double in three years after the loan?!

This was too outrageous!

Yagura Karatachi shook his head and refused directly.

"No, I cannot accept such a price."

"In that case, we have nothing left to discuss."

Senju Senju Senju Xingye Senju stood up and walked toward the door.

This decisive action left Yagura Karatachi stunned.

Wait, why aren't Itachi haggling?

Shouldn't Itachi be negotiating the price?

If Itachi negotiated, I would know your target price!

Yagura Karatachi was completely baffled.

How did Mangetsu Hozuki end up with a two-billion debt after one trip to the Hidden Leaf?

And why did Mangetsu Hozuki agree to it?

Could it be that Mangetsu Hozuki betrayed him?

Yagura Karatachi was filled with suspicion.

But now was not the time to think about that.

Seeing Senju Senju Senju Xingye Senju about to leave without looking back, Yagura Karatachi hurriedly called him to stop.

"Wait."

"Clan Head Senju, let’s talk this over."

Senju Senju Senju Xingye Senju turned back, his brows slightly furrowed.

"What does the Mizukage wish to say?"

Yagura Karatachi sighed and said.

"I can take the loan, but can the interest be lowered a bit?"

Senju Senju Senju Xingye Senju nodded.

"Sure."

Yagura Karatachi was overjoyed.

"Then..."

"I'll reduce it by one percent, so thirty-nine percent interest."

The smile on Yagura Karatachi’s face froze instantly.

Itachi might as well not have offered that discount!

Forget it, something is better than nothing.

"Thirty-nine percent it is."

"Bring the agreement, I’ll sign it."

With no other options, Yagura Karatachi had to accept Senju Senju Senju Xingye Senju’s proposal.

Otherwise, the next thing waiting for the Hidden Mist Village would likely be another war.

If the Hidden Leaf invaded the Hidden Mist directly, they wouldn't be able to withstand the assault.

Even if the Hidden Leaf didn't send all their Kage-level experts, the Hidden Mist wouldn't last more than a few days.