Chapter 481

Is this the Fifth Hokage of Leaf Village?

After obtaining the elder's approval, Bai Shuang led those Mist Ninja war faction supporters who backed him, exerting all his strength, organized a 3000-person troop, and came to attack the Leaf Village ninja led by Dong Shilang.

However, not long after the battle began, looking at the red chakra giant rampaging in the center of the battlefield.

A deep sense of helplessness filled his heart.

Lord Bai Shuang, should we… continue the attack?

Seeing this, Bai Shuang's subordinate glanced at the battlefield situation, then turned his gaze to the grim-faced Bai Shuang.

For the honor of Mist Ninja, for the village's future… we cannot let…

Be careful…

Just as Bai Shuang gritted his teeth, preparing to continue urging these cannon fodder subordinates to keep charging, trying to use numerical superiority and massive sacrifices to gain a sliver of opportunity for himself further.

A subordinate's exclamation interrupted his speech.

Boom!

Before he could even see clearly what was attacking him, Elder Bai Shuang was tackled by his loyal subordinate.

Then came a violent explosion and flying dust.

This should be Mist Ninja's last resistance, right?

He flung the magatama from Susanoo's hand toward the distance, which looked like it was aimed at the leader's side; Dong Shilang looked at the endless Mist Ninja around him and began to grow impatient.

These people posed no threat to him whatsoever.

However, his main purpose in coming to Mist Ninja this time was not slaughter; if he struck too harshly, it would be disadvantageous for subsequent negotiations.

Sage Art: Water Release: Breaking Torrent

The Susanoo clad on his body ignored the attacks of the surrounding Mist ninjas; his four arms formed seals in sequence, and with Dong Shilang's senjutsu chakra infusion, the great river behind him began to surge and swell.

Finally breaking free from the river's restraints, it was like a flooding deluge that swept the surrounding Mist ninjas dizzy and disoriented.

"Cough! Cough! Cough!"

The Bai Shuang Elder, who had just been saved by his own subordinate, had originally been full of ambition, dreaming of defeating the invading Leaf Village enemies, then becoming Mizukage and leading the Mist ninjas to dominate the Ninja World.

But before he could recover from that attack, a flood swept his dreams into utter disarray.

"Withdraw… retreat…"

Having just brushed past the gates of death, the Bai Shuang Elder finally faced reality, called out an order to his Mist ninja subordinates, and then led the way toward the Mist Hidden Village.

Leaving behind a group of Mist ninjas staring dumbfounded.

……

The next day, at the gate of Mist Hidden Village.

"Ah! Is this the Fifth Hokage himself? I've long heard of your name—please, please come in!"

Today was a rare clear day; the Mist ninja village, usually hidden in thick fog, revealed its full appearance for once.

The water source encircling the whole village, the low gray‑blue buildings, and the distinctive scenery caused the Leaf ninjas following Dong Shilang to widen their eyes and begin observing the unfamiliar surroundings.

"You… are you the one from yesterday??"

Looking at the Mist ninja who was leading the reception of his party, Dong Shilang had a vague impression that he should be the high‑ranking Mist ninja who had led the attack on him yesterday.

"Ahaha~"

"Yesterday was all a misunderstanding… a misunderstanding…"

Having been arranged by the Elder to receive the Fifth Hokage's party, Bai Shuang felt as unpleasant as having swallowed a fly.

But upon thinking of that chakra giant, he immediately suppressed the strange feeling in his heart, broke into a full‑face smile, and greeted Dong Shilang.

"Thank you yesterday for the Hokage's mercy!"

Twitching the corner of his mouth, Dong Shilang found such pleasantries beneath contempt, yet he did not voice it outright; instead, he gave a glance to Nara Shikaku beside him.

As a Hokage, he thought such formalities should be left to his subordinates; rather than waste time arguing with these people, he had more important matters to attend to.

"Shizune… how is the Fourth Mizukage's condition?"

Although Tsunade did not come in person to treat Yakura, after learning of his condition she still dispatched her capable subordinate Shizune to help sustain Yakura's life.

"The Mizukage's condition has already stabilized; with proper rest and a few more treatments, he should return to normal—that is…"

While speaking, Shizune glanced around at the Mist ninjas, obviously worried about their medical facilities and whether any mishap might occur after taking over.

"It's fine… as long as this guy doesn't die in our Leaf hands."

To conceal the fact that Yakura was controlled by the Sharingan, he went to great lengths, using Shisui's eye technique to alter the man's memories.

Now even if handed over to the Mist ninja, he has nothing to worry about.

……

"So that's the Fifth Hokage? He's really full of vigor!"

As Dong Shilang led the Leaf group into the Mist Village gate, in the distant Mizukage Tower, the aged Elder strained to open his wrinkled eyelids, trying to make out Dong Shilang in the distance.

But his blurry vision only showed a familiar silhouette; yet the aura about him, like a rising sun, still left a deep impression.

"I never imagined… the Uchiha would actually produce a Hokage!"

Shaking his head, this old‑fashioned Elder had some understanding of the grudges between Faction Zhu Jian and Madara Uchiha.

Originally it was thought that the Uchiha clan would either be assimilated by Leaf Village, or be eliminated by Leaf Village that day.

Never expected that a Hokage would appear; truly unexpected.

"Let's go! Let's also go welcome the guests who have come from afar!"

Glancing at the surrounding Mist ninja officials with complex expressions, the Elder led the way down from the Mizukage Tower to meet Dong Shilang's party.

After a round of ceremonial talks, Dong Shilang brought the Leaf group to stay in the inn arranged by the Mist Village.

Two days later.

"Hokage-sama, the Mist side…"

He held a document, Nara Shikaku, somewhat troubled, handed it to Dong Shilang so the other could see the negotiation progress of the past two days.

Dong Shilang had no interest in negotiating with the Mist Ninja, leaving it entirely to him and a few Leaf Village jonin.

"…Does the Mist Ninja side have no intention of peace talks at all?"

Dong Shilang, who had stayed in the inn these days without moving much, looked at the document in his hand and turned his gaze toward Nara Shikaku.

"…It's not that they have no intention of signing a peace agreement; it's just that… their finances are nearly exhausted, they simply have no money to compensate Leaf Village's losses!"

With huge dark circles under his eyes, Nara Shikaku looked weary; obviously he hadn't rested much these two days.

"To show sincerity, they even let us see their financial details."

He let out a helpless sigh, and Shikaku continued:

"We examined the details thoroughly; the Mist Ninja truly have no money to pay us."

After hearing Shikaku's detailed report, even Dong Shilang felt like he'd been screwed over.

He knew that this guy Obito had done nothing good on the Mist Ninja side, but… he hadn't expected this guy to be so ruthless.

A sizable Mist Ninja village had been completely cleaned out by this brat, yet the Mist Ninja side hadn't noticed at all.

"Since they have no money… don't they still have ninjas?"

Stroking his chin, the Mist Ninja now have no resources left; aside from ninjas, they probably have nothing valuable.

"Let them deploy some Mist Ninja to attack the pirates at sea, and from our Leaf Village's task quota, take out some higher‑difficulty missions and outsource them to these guys, so they can work off the debt."

After a brief thought, Dong Shilang proposed a plan.

"If that's still not enough, let them sign a long‑term loan agreement with a higher interest."

"A loan agreement?"

Hearing Dong Shilang's proposal, Shikaku was startled and quickly spoke up.

"Won't this let the Mist Ninja recover faster?"

Having the Mist Ninja help suppress pirates around Huo Zhi Guo and assigning them some dangerous tasks—these he could understand.

But lending money to the Mist Ninja—isn't that aiding evil? Isn't it actually helping them regain strength?

"Shikaku, a loan is merely an advance on future revenue, and it's another way of compensation; I think the Mist Ninja side would find it easier to accept."

"If you worry the loan will let the Mist Ninja recover too quickly, you can stipulate how the loan may be used and supervise its use."

Using so‑called aid loans to control and influence other countries—he hadn't seen it in his previous life, but he had heard of it to some extent.

It's like the Hokage controlling large funds, purchasing supplies for the various Leaf Village clans, thereby influencing the other clan leaders' political leanings.

As for speeding up the Mist Ninja's recovery, he wasn't worried at all—his own strength speaks for itself, nothing to fear.

Moreover, loans… borrowing feels great, repayment is a crematorium.

When the time comes, the Mist Ninja will have to repay principal and interest together; otherwise, showing up in a Gundam to collect the debt—just ask if you're scared.

"Moreover, even if we settle the compensation terms, the Mist Ninja's economic situation is already dire; if we add insult to injury, they'll become turbulent again, which isn't good for Leaf Village."

"Rather than that, it's better to lend the Mist Ninja a hand now—just rename the compensation, delay repayment, and the returns will be greater than the original compensation; why not?"

"This… probably doable!"

After simulating the feasibility of such an operation in his mind, Nara Shikaku gave a somewhat complex glance at his nearby colleagues.

He hadn't expected Dong Shilang to come up with such… an unreasonable solution.

But according to the Hokage's words, it seems feasible—just that the repayment time is delayed a bit.