Chapter 433

This auction was a "victory" for the small nations.

From the perspective of the small nations, it was the pressure they exerted on Mifune that caused the Land of Iron to revoke Kirigakure's right to purchase weapons.

This move caused the arrogant Great Nations to be punished.

At the same time, by carving up the share of weapons in Kirigakure's hands, they obtained benefits that surpassed Konoha.

In terms of benefits, this was the first time the small nations had gained more than the Great Nations.

Therefore, in the eyes of the small nations, this was naturally a total victory for the small nations over the Great Nations!

I fear that at this very moment, all the representatives of the small nations are secretly thrilled.

Without a doubt, the small nations won! And they won with complete satisfaction, winning in a hearty and unrestrained manner!

No one will care about the true losers in this—those two unlucky fellows who were sacrificed right from the start.

Nor will any small nation feel guilty for encroaching upon the interests of the Land of Birds and the Land of Bugs.

This is the "justice" that the small nations pursue.

When all is said and done, it is still just "interests" after all.

This is the way the small nations "win," as spoken of by Mizunuki Ryosuke.

Whether it be Mizunuki Ryosuke or Mifune.

Both are existences standing at the pinnacle of a nation and a ninja village.

To be able to reach this step today, they are naturally not kind-hearted or innocent people.

Even if Mifune, as the general of the samurai group, is a samurai leader who takes the two words "loyalty and righteousness" as his creed, if Mifune were merely blindly and rigidly faithful to so-called "loyalty and righteousness," then I fear the Land of Iron would have perished long ago.

"Loyalty and righteousness" is merely a creed; as for how to specifically act, everyone has their own way of weighing things in their hearts.

Suppose that argument about loyalty and righteousness just now had not come from the mouth of the Fourth Mizukage, Mizunuki Ryosuke, but from the mouth of any small nation representative; guess how Mifune would have acted then?

Without strength as support, everything is just empty talk.

Just like at this moment, is it a coincidence that the three of them can sit here?

Of course not!

It is because of the solid strength of Kirigakure, Konoha, and the Land of Iron.

If one's strength is insufficient, one is destined to only be reduced to a chess piece on the board or prey in the forest.

To want to be a chess player and a hunter, one must first have sufficient qualifications.

Facts have proven that in being able to succeed as the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade is definitely not a silly, sweet girl with only looks and monstrous strength.

She also instantly perceived the meaning contained behind Ryosuke's methods.

The three looked at each other, and everything was already understood without words.

Just as Mifune had thought before, all things in the world have their give and take; when someone gains, someone else loses.

Then who should bear the cost of everything in the end?

Now, Mizunuki Ryosuke has undoubtedly already given the answer—that is, this group of ignorant small nations.

To put it in one sentence, this transaction was actually nothing more than a "pig-butchering scam" targeting the small nations.

In the end, the small nations with insufficient strength could only eat hot pot and sing songs, resolutely walking toward the butcher's knife in the hands of the butchers while in a posture of believing themselves to be victorious.

To summarize with another line of dialogue.

The money of the wealthy gentry is returned in full.

The money of the common people is split fifty-fifty.

At this moment, Mizunuki Ryosuke has already explained the "three-way win" for the Land of Iron, Konoha, and the small nations in this plan, as well as their respective ways of winning...

But regarding the only most critical part, Mizunuki Ryosuke has kept silent about Kirigakure the entire time.

And in all of this, where exactly are the interests that Kirigakure seeks?

Tsunade and Mifune stared intently at Mizunuki Ryosuke, urgently wanting to know what exactly Mizunuki Ryosuke could obtain for Kirigakure by planning like this.

Without overly dragging out the suspense, Mizunuki Ryosuke smiled and announced the answer.

He was in no hurry to explain anything, but instead took a sealing scroll from his bosom.

"Boom!"

As a puff of smoke rose, a pinch of iron sand appeared where the scroll covered.

"This is..."

A flash of surprise crossed Mifune's eyes; myriad thoughts flashed through his mind, and an idea that was the most impossible and also the craziest suddenly emerged from Mifune's mind.

Is there a possibility that Kirigakure was never here to "buy things" from the beginning to the end, but was here to "sell things"?

Mizunuki Ryosuke grabbed a handful of iron sand and placed it in front of Mifune.

"This is Kirigakure's way of winning."

Afterward, Mizunuki Ryosuke said indifferently, a piercing sharp light flashing in his eyes.

At the same time, Mifune's expression became extremely complex.

On his old face, there was both excitement and joy, as well as surprise and shock.

It is hard to believe that such a complex expression could come from Mifune, the General of the Land of Iron who has always been known for his seriousness.

Regarding this, Ryosuke still maintained a harmless smile, as if everything was understood without words.

In the post station in the Land of Iron specifically used to entertain distinguished guests, Ryosuke gazed at the snow scene outside the window, his eyes flickering uncertainly.

Even though it was late at night, due to the snow that had accumulated in the Land of Iron for years, the area outside the window was still illuminated as if it were broad daylight.

Gazing at the vast, boundless land, a trace of depth flashed in Mizunuki Ryosuke's eyes.

With this, Mizunuki Ryosuke's trip to the Land of Iron was already complete.

Without a doubt, the iron sand trade between Kirigakure and the Land of Iron was directly concluded without question.

Recalling Mifune's face at that time, which was as black as an iron pot, a trace of a smile could not help but appear in Mizunuki Ryosuke's eyes.

From beginning to end, he had never come here to buy weapons.

Inflating the price of finished products is, for a "raw material supplier" like him, simply all gain and no harm.

After all, it makes no sense for the price of your finished products to skyrocket so much while my raw materials remain at the original price.

Facing Kirigakure's sudden large-scale iron sand trade, it can be completely said that Mifune was in pain but happy.