Chapter 334: 279. Chapter 277: Inspection Complete, Talks a Resounding Success

279. Chapter 277: Inspection Complete, Talks a Resounding Success

Hearing Uchiha Gin's words, the several Kage stared at each other with wide eyes on the spot, looking helplessly at the massive Tailed Beasts before them.

Even though they knew these were now their own treasures, they couldn't bring themselves to be happy in the slightest.

There was no help for it; when they came to the Hidden Leaf Village to attend the talks, they hadn't brought many men, and they were simply unable to transport these Tailed Beasts back to their own lands.

Watching the several men with faces full of worry, Uchiha Gin stepped forward, a strange smile on the corners of his mouth, and said to the group,

"However, if you all are willing to pay just a tiny, tiny bit for shipping, it's not impossible for us in the Hidden Leaf to scrape together some manpower to provide door-to-door delivery~"

Uchiha Madara, who was currently discussing what to eat tonight with Hashirama, suddenly felt an inexplicable chill run down his back, making him subconsciously shrink his neck.

"Uh... you even want money? Can't you offer free shipping?"

Shi Zai was somewhat indignant; the Hidden Stone Village had already paid such a massive sum to purchase the Tailed Beasts, and you actually don't include free shipping? Do you believe I'll file a complaint against you?

"I'm sorry, we don't offer free shipping to remote areas."

Uchiha Gin looked at the indignant Shi Zai and shook his head with regret.

"Then just undo the hypnosis on the Tailed Beasts; we're in a hurry to get back."

Shi Zai, not wanting to spend this unjust sum of money, immediately put his hands on his hips, pointed at the Four-Tails and Five-Tails currently sleeping soundly, and said loudly,

"Wait, are you sure?"

Uchiha Gin couldn't help but be dumbfounded. Are all you people from the Land of Earth this brave?

These are Tailed Beasts, not piglets raised in your backyard; how can you just "hurry" them along? Do you believe the Five-Tails won't gore you to death on the spot?

"Who are you looking down on?"

Being able to unite the ninja clans of the Land of Earth and become the First Tsuchikage, Shi Zai naturally had some ability.

"Sigh, Great Cousin, friend from the Hidden Stone Village, you want to have some good fruit juice."

It is hard to persuade a ghost bent on suicide with kind words. Uchiha Gin turned his head and called out,

"Which one to release?"

Uchiha Madara, who had known his duty beforehand, didn't ask further; after flashing over, he spoke up to ask.

"Let's go with the Four-Tails."

"Got it~"

"You all get ready; if you can't hold on, just shout 'cut'."

After all, these guys hadn't paid yet; if they died at the hands of the merchandise they chose, that would be embarrassing.

"Hmph~ you're actually a pretty good person."

The mysterious bandaged man following behind Shi Zai gave a rare comment, but paired with his hoarse voice, it made Uchiha Gin feel like this guy was being sarcastic toward him.

Make a note: Mysterious bandaged man from the Land of Earth is being passive-aggressive toward me.

Uchiha Madara leaped, landing in front of the sleeping Four-Tails. His eyes instantly turned scarlet, and a blue phantom slowly emerged behind him.

The skeletal giant hand extended by the phantom clenched into a fist and, in the shocked eyes of the crowd, smashed fiercely onto the Four-Tails' large ape face.

"What kind of jutsu is that?"

The foreigners, who had never seen the divine might of the Susanoo, speculated one after another about the jutsu Uchiha Madara had used.

Seeing this scene, Uchiha Gin covered his forehead, speechless. I told you to undo the hypnosis, I didn't tell you to use physical awakening.

This kid Uchiha Madara, after hanging out with Hashirama for so long, has actually thrown away all the pride of the Uchiha clan.

Where is your genjutsu? Where is your Fire Style?

In a dream world filled with pink bubbles.

"Beauty~ I've finally caught you!"

The Four-Tails, who was chasing and playing with a female ape in its dream, had just caught a sturdy ape beauty wearing a pink bow and was preparing to kiss her,

When the next moment, the beauty in its arms turned into the blue giant it feared immensely, and at the same time, a massive fist smashed straight into its face.

"ROAR!!!"

The Four-Tails, feeling the pain, instantly woke up from its beautiful dream, shook its dizzy, large head, and let out a roar.

The scorching heat in the air was suffocating. Sensing a fatal threat, everyone except those from the Hidden Stone Village retreated from the battlefield, leaving plenty of space for the overconfident Shi Zai.

"Lord Shi Zai, watch out!"

As an excellent sensory ninja, the mysterious bandaged man Wu was tense all over. The moment after the Four-Tails roared, he issued a warning.

"Damnable humans, give me back my beauty!"

The enraged Four-Tails raised its five stiff tails, treating the only two humans in front of it as the culprits who disturbed its dream, and immediately opened its mouth wide, spewing out dark red magma.

You ruined Old Sun's dream, eat my blast!

"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"

With alarm bells ringing in his heart, Shi Zai immediately slammed his hands onto the ground. As he poured the refined chakra into the ground as if it were worthless, a stone wall several meters thick rose from the ground, blocking the two of them.

"Hiss~"

Under the scouring of the scorching magma, the stone wall let out bursts of groans. Seeing it was about to be corroded through, Shi Zai and Wu made a prompt decision, using their secret technique. In the astonished eyes of the crowd, their bodies slowly lifted off the ground and floated into the air.

"What kind of ninjutsu is that, to be able to fly?"

In the current ninja world, the technical skill of flying was truly very rare, so after Shi Zai and Wu used the Light-Weight Rock Technique, everyone present showed a bit of surprise.

"Phew~ is this the power of a Tailed Beast?"

Looking with lingering fear at the Earth Wall that had been annihilated under the magma, Shi Zai, floating in mid-air, frowned deeply.

Before, he had thought the people of the Hidden Leaf were exaggerating the strength of the Tailed Beasts, but after just one exchange, the opponent had forced him to flee into the sky.

"Lord Tsuchikage, should we use that?"

Wu, floating beside Shi Zai, asked in a low voice.

"No need. Your injuries haven't fully healed yet; don't force yourself to use that jutsu. Let me test its depth."

Hearing Wu's words, Shi Zai glanced at the bandages wrapped all over his body and shook his head immediately. It wasn't a life-or-death battle, so there was no need to use that ninjutsu.

Besides, that jutsu wasn't perfected yet and could easily injure allies.

In the astonished eyes of the crowd, Shi Zai actually gave up air superiority and slowly landed on the ground.

Sure enough, only standing on the ground could bring Shi Zai a sense of security.

Uchiha Gin, watching the battle from the side, sat on a folding stool he had pulled out of his backpack, watching the First Tsuchikage land in the arena with composure.

"Sure enough, the gold content of those who can become Kage is not low."

Sensing the thick and profound chakra within Shi Zai, Uchiha Gin raised his eyebrows in surprise. Before, he had thought these Kage were all fakes; he hadn't expected them to actually have some substance.

"Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld."

Studying the enraged Four-Tails before him, Shi Zai quickly organized his battle strategy. He slammed his hands onto the ground, using an Earth Style technique that altered the terrain.

"ROAR~!"

The hard ground beneath its feet suddenly became soft. The Four-Tails, with tyrannical colors in its eyes, was caught off guard and sank into an endless quagmire.

Its fiery red fur was covered in sticky, thick mud, and for a moment, it was unable to move.

"Earth Style: Earth Mound Dumpling!"

Seeing the Four-Tails trapped and struggling, Shi Zai, with a smile on his lips, immediately slammed one hand onto the ground. A huge, continuous rumbling sound echoed, and a massive rock, comparable in size to the Tailed Beast, was lifted up by him.

"Taste this!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Shi Zai threw the Earth Mound Dumpling in his hand toward the trapped Four-Tails. In his view, as long as this strike hit, the Four-Tails would definitely fall unconscious again.

"As expected of the First Tsuchikage, this Earth Style is truly simple and brutal~"

Watching the massive rock that blotted out the sky, Uchiha Gin put down the watermelon in his hand and couldn't help but click his tongue in wonder.

"Crack~"

"Hmph, in my opinion, it's nothing much."

Uchiha Madara, who was cutting melon beside him, snorted disdainfully, but the look of contempt in his eyes had diminished, and his face showed a bit more seriousness.

"Brother Ai, come over and taste the watermelon!"

Black Boss:

"ROAR!"

Although the Four-Tails was trapped in the quagmire, it was by no means a beast that would sit and wait for death. It immediately let out a roar, and its signature Tailed Beast Ball condensed in its mouth. The terrifying aura made everyone present who hadn't seen a Tailed Beast Ball look over.

"Is that the Tailed Beast Ball mentioned in the data card?"

Young Ai, following behind the First Raikage, looked at the pitch-black Tailed Beast Ball and subconsciously swallowed his saliva.

"Just the Four-Tails alone has such formidable power; then wouldn't our Eight-Tails..."

"This is all thanks to Brother Gin's help. Young Ai, give Kinkaku and Ginkaku a promotion and a raise after we go back."

The First Raikage, also marveling at the power of the Tailed Beast, felt only relief in his heart. Now that they possessed the strongest Eight-Tails, the takeoff of the Hidden Cloud Village was just around the corner.

"BOOM!!!"

A loud noise erupted in the sky. Before the huge Earth Mound Dumpling could land, it was swallowed by a black beam of light.

"Where is my Earth Mound Dumpling?"

As the light dissipated, Shi Zai, who was still stroking his beard in self-satisfaction, discovered that the Earth Mound Dumpling he had thrown had vanished without a trace, not even leaving a scrap behind.

The Earth Mound Dumpling had been vaporized by the high temperature of the Tailed Beast Ball just like that.

"Hoo~ hoo~ hoo..."

After using the Earth Mound Dumpling just now, the elderly Shi Zai was feeling somewhat overtaxed. Panting, he was just about to use the same trick again when he was surprised to find that the Swamp of the Underworld he had used to trap the Four-Tails was starting to change color.

"Look, magma!"

It was unknown which sharp-eyed bystander made the sound. The crowd immediately fixed their eyes on the Swamp of the Underworld beneath the Four-Tails' feet.

They saw that the mud, which had been dark brown just a moment ago, began to bubble with wisps of white smoke, and then dark red ripples appeared.

After a few breaths, the massive mud swamp turned into the Four-Tails' favorite lava pool.

Through his own scorching chakra, the Four-Tails successfully assimilated the Swamp of the Underworld cast by Shi Zai. The searing lava bubbled, and the pungent smell of sulfur made everyone subconsciously frown.

"Lord Tsuchikage, if you can't handle it, just say so~"

Cupping his hands around his mouth like a megaphone, Uchiha Gin shouted at the grim-faced Shi Zai.

"Hmph!"

Shi Zai let out a cold snort and ignored Uchiha Gin. With the pride of a Kage, he would never seek help from an outsider. He steeled his heart, his hands began to weave hand seals, and a new ninjutsu began to brew.

Tiger—Ram—Rat

"Earth Style: Mountain Earth Jutsu!"

Feeling he could not lose face, the First Tsuchikage staked his life on it, painstakingly squeezing chakra from every cell in his body, striving to defeat the Four-Tails before him in one move.

"Pfft~ That's quite spectacular."

Spitting out a few watermelon seeds, Uchiha Gin watched in surprise as the massive hemispherical sphere rose around the Four-Tails, closing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Although it was not as large as the Mountain Earth Jutsu cast by his father-in-law Huang Tu during the future Fourth Great Ninja War, it was still enough to make one click their tongue in wonder.

"Cousin, did you see that? The Kage of other nations are not as weak as you imagined."

"This move can't trap me; I can fly~"

Fine, fine, you've learned to talk back. Just wait until we get back and see how I deal with you!

"Close!"

Straining to hold his hands up, veins bulged on Shi Zai's forehead as he roared through gritted teeth.

This Mountain Earth Jutsu had been infused with all his chakra; if it still couldn't suppress the Four-Tails, he would have no choice but to accept his fate.

"Mere human, don't even think about suppressing me!"

The Four-Tails pressed its thick hands against the giant rocks on both sides, its muffled voice making everyone's eardrums ring.

"Ahhhhh!!!"

As the battle grew intense, blood began to seep from Shi Zai's nose and mouth. Seeing this, Mu in the sky was struck with terror.

He had never seen Lord Tsuchikage in such a sorry state. Just as he was about to step forward to help, he heard a crisp cracking sound.

"Crack, crack, crack~"

Two hemispherical boulders began to crack inch by inch, and spreading fissures instantly covered the entire sphere.

"Break!"

The Four-Tails turned its palms into fists, dark red chakra erupting from its body. A violent aura instantly flooded the entire battlefield. Its two sandbag-sized fists, wrapped in lava, smashed fiercely against the Mountain Earth Jutsu, hammering the already crumbling boulders into fragments of various sizes.

"Pfft!"

With his ninjutsu broken, the exhausted Shi Zai swayed unsteadily. He looked laboriously at the Four-Tails, which was beating its chest before him; beyond fear, his eyes held more of a sense of relief.

With such a divine beast, why worry that the Hidden Stone Village wouldn't flourish?

"Human, die!"

Having broken free, the Four-Tails finished its chest-beating display and locked its gaze onto Shi Zai's small frame. The near-tangible killing intent made everyone's backs turn cold.

"Lord Shi Zai!"

Mu, in the sky, dove down at the first opportunity, wanting to save Shi Zai before the Four-Tails could.

"Am I going to die?"

Powerless, Shi Zai could only watch the Four-Tails' blood-red maw, his life flashing before his eyes like a revolving lantern.

"Sigh~ I wonder when that kid Onoki will be able to stand on his own."

Was the legendary hero Shi Zai really going to die at the hands of the Four-Tails?

Of course not, the payment hasn't been made yet~

"Cousin, time to work. Don't let the big client die."

Patting Uchiha Madara on the shoulder, Uchiha Gin gave the order.

"Rest assured, as long as I am here, these Tailed Beasts will be as obedient as kittens."

Uchiha Madara stood up quickly, said this, and instantly vanished from where he stood.

"Old man, move aside. I'm about to show off."

Just as Shi Zai closed his eyes to wait for death, he suddenly heard a strange voice behind him, its tone filled with arrogance and coldness, prompting him to subconsciously step aside.

"It's you again!"

One could hear a trace of undisguised fear in the Four-Tails' cry. Everyone craned their necks, wanting to see what methods Uchiha Madara had to make a Tailed Beast so afraid.

"Look into my eyes, beast."

Uchiha Madara didn't say much more. Once his eyes were stained scarlet, immense ocular power poured out. The startled Four-Tails didn't have time to react before it was knocked down by a Sharingan genjutsu.

"Thud!"

"Hoo~ hoo~"

The Four-Tails' massive body lay flat on the ground just like that, and soon, the sound of snoring drifted out.

"What are you looking at? Never seen a handsome guy?"

Having finished the job, Uchiha Madara turned to leave, only to find Shi Zai staring at him with wide, old eyes. Feeling offended, he immediately frowned.

"You just glared at it, and it fell?"

Shi Zai, feeling a bit bitter, looked at Uchiha Madara's young and handsome face, his old face full of conflict.

It was as if he had been beaten by a Tiger Vanguard all night, only for some kid to pass by and clear the level in three moves.

"Ignorant. Lament your pathetic fate for not having a Sharingan~"

No, Cousin, you're reciting the wrong lines; you didn't have to say that!

Uchiha Gin, who was watching the show, almost couldn't hold it together when he heard the familiar line. He looked at his arrogant cousin and muttered to himself.

"Sharingan, huh..."

Everyone present heard this clearly, and their gazes toward Uchiha Madara became intriguing.

They had only heard of the Uchiha clan by reputation before, but this had left an indelible impression on the people of other nations.

"Ahem, ahem... let me clarify, this is my cousin's personal behavior. Please do not escalate this to the entire Uchiha clan. After all, he is the only one in the entire Uchiha clan who can develop the Sharingan to this extent."

Seeing that the situation was not right, Uchiha Gin jumped out to perform a high-speed dissociation.

"Is that really so?"

Everyone still had doubts about Uchiha Gin's words.

"Of course, otherwise how could my cousin be the clan head~"

The clan head can only be the strongest; that makes sense.

The Four-Tails was captured again, and the weak Shi Zai was helped up by Mu, slowly landing beside the others.

"I was abrupt before. May I ask what method is needed to control this Tailed Beast?"

With a complex expression, Shi Zai no longer had his previous toughness. He turned his gaze to the watching Hashirama Senju and asked very sincerely.

Once the question was raised, the other nations that had purchased Tailed Beasts pricked up their ears. After all, Shi Zai had already suffered a loss, and they didn't want to repeat his mistakes.

"Ah? I'm not too sure about that either."

When facing Tailed Beasts, you, Hashirama Senju, just need to give a little pat, but the other nations have much more to consider.

"Why don't you ask the Hidden Sand Village? They have experience with Tailed Beasts~"

Uchiha Gin took the opportunity to shift the blame; who told you lot to be so stingy, only watching and not buying, wasting everyone's time.

"That's right, Lord Kazekage, tell us about it~"

Reminded by Uchiha Gin, everyone surrounded the bewildered Reto, looking as if they wouldn't let him leave until he spoke.

"Ah..."

How would Reto know how to control a Tailed Beast? Shukaku had always been sealed in a temple, and he hadn't seen it many times. He had just been bragging before to gild his own lily.

"I only know that Tailed Beasts can be sealed."

Even though he knew nothing, if he didn't say something, these guys eyeing him like tigers wouldn't let him off easily. In desperation, he had to reveal some random information.

"Sealing? Sealing jutsu, huh..."

Upon hearing the word "sealing," everyone frowned deeply. As the most unique category of ninjutsu, sealing jutsu had always been relatively rare.

Although every ninja village had some sealing jutsu, none were very profound.

"Old thief Bai Bai Lian, I remember your neighbor is very skilled in sealing jutsu. Do you have a way?"

After pondering for a while, Shi Zai looked up at Bai Bai Lian, who was also deep in thought, and asked in a rare, calm tone.

The neighbor he spoke of was naturally the Land of Whirlpools. It was common knowledge that the Uzumaki clan was skilled in sealing jutsu. If they could get their help, sealing a Tailed Beast would be a piece of cake.

"Don't mention those guys to me."

For some reason, Bai Bai Lian's face turned incredibly dark as he replied through gritted teeth. It was clear the Uzumaki clan had left him with significant psychological trauma.

"Hoo~"

Seeing that Bai Bai Lian was not cooperating, Shi Zai slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air. Looking at the sleeping Tailed Beast, a complex look flashed in his eyes.

He had to find a way to control these Tailed Beasts.

But even if they started researching now, it would be a very long road. With the war in full swing, a decision had to be made.

Turning his head to look at the two Tailed Beasts purchased by the Hidden Mist Village, Shi Zai's heart sank.

If that old thief Bai Bai Lian found an opportunity to deploy these two Tailed Beasts on the battlefield, the Hidden Stone Village would surely suffer huge losses in a surprise attack, and the rhythm of the war would be disrupted. The consequences would be unimaginable.

Having figured this out, after a brief internal struggle, Shi Zai turned and walked up to Hashirama Senju, saying,

"Lord Hokage, our Land of Earth agrees with the peace treaty you proposed. Why don't we sign it now~"

"Huh?"

Hashirama Senju was dumbfounded; just a moment ago he was still considering how to persuade everyone obsessed with the power of the Tailed Beasts, yet in the blink of an eye, the First Tsuchikage had come forward to proactively seek peace, prompting him to cast a subtle glance at Madara Uchiha, who stood with his arms crossed.

Could it be that Madara secretly used genjutsu to control the Tsuchikage?

"Our Hidden Mist Village also agrees."

Old and shrewd, Bai Bai Lian naturally saw through the thoughts of Shi Zai, but as the weaker party in the war, although he was unwilling, he could only choose to sign the peace agreement to buy time for the Hidden Mist Village to develop, properly study the power of the Tailed Beasts, and wait for the day to settle the score.

Was the Mizukage also controlled?

Never having expected that two nations would agree to his peace agreement in the blink of an eye, Hashirama Senju was overjoyed and turned his gaze toward the Land of Lightning and the Land of Wind.

"Our Land of Lightning naturally has no objections."

The First Raikage, who had previously expressed a willingness for peace, immediately nodded with a smile; he still had to rush off to get a foot soak and chat with Uchiha Gin that evening, so the faster this peace agreement was signed, the better.

"Lord Kazekage."

Now only Lie Dou remained to state his position; everyone, each harboring their own motives, cast their gazes upon his face, and the First Kazekage, feeling locked onto by several auras, licked his parched lips and, holding the attitude of giving it a try, spoke up.

"It is not impossible for us, the Land of Wind, to sign the agreement..."

He would try to fleece them; if he could manage to fleece some benefits, it wouldn't have been a wasted trip.

"Not impossible, so that means it's possible, right?"

The irritable Bai Bai Lian would not give Lie Dou a chance to beat around the bush.

"It is possible, but..."

"No more 'buts'; since it's possible, then hurry up and sign!"

Shi Zai, burning with impatience, wished he could teleport back home the next second to boldly carry out research on the Tailed Beasts; he had no mood to pay attention to the coy Lie Dou.

"You... you are all bullying an honest man!"

Lie Dou was trembling with rage; this was naked contempt.

Watching the First Kazekage fall into an emo state, Uchiha Gin sighed at how weak nations have no diplomacy, then put on a smiling face and made a money gesture toward his several big clients.

"Don't be in such a rush, everyone. Settle the bill before signing. There is a promotional event right now: the first country to pay in full gets a free delivery service for one Tailed Beast~" (End of chapter)