A special thank you to my patrons:
—Cain, Jacob Mooe, kevin Williams, ZaberZ, Jose Sierra, Salim, Archer, Acedia, kurtis newman, Nithin Samuel, Little Sand, Angel Rodriguez.
You can read 30 chapters ahead of everyone on p@treon.
P@TREON - [email protected]/lessaservantofcosmos
(just replace the "@" with "a")
ps: Please support me on P@treon. I can really use your help!
————————————————————
Either obediently help Konoha spread the news, or the bounty station gets leveled.
You choose. Two options, no third.
If you refuse, every bounty station within the Land of Fire will suffer. So, you'd better think carefully.
Manager: "...."
The bounty station manager's expression was one of painful constipation. Though filled with rage, he could only force a servile smile and compromise.
"Rest assured, my lords. Our bounty station will definitely spread the news. We will spread it as quickly as possible. Please have no concerns."
The lead Jonin smiled mockingly.
"Actually, I'd really like it if you didn't spread it. Then our Lord Advisor could level these filthy places!!"
Few ninja truly liked bounty stations, even though many would take advantage of them in their spare time.
The existence of bounty stations meant that someone could openly accept money and put a bounty on your head.
Money stirs the heart. You never know if one day you might die under someone else's bounty.
Most ninja disliked bounty stations. Yet bounty stations could exist throughout the shinobi world, their interests tangled and complex.
Normally, even the Five Great Shinobi Villages wouldn't target them.
Unless they had sufficient reason.
And now, an opportunity had arrived. If they didn't comply, Kazuki would certainly cause trouble for the bounty stations. "Leveling them" would mean exactly that. At that point, no amount of pleading would help.
"...."
The manager's mouth twitched a few times. He forced a dry laugh.
"My lord, you jest. We have considerable business dealings with Konoha and the Daimyō's capital as well. The bounty station remains forever neutral, favoring no one."
"Whether you're neutral isn't for you to decide. Remember my words."
The lead Jonin smirked, patting the manager's shoulder as he warned him.
"Don't take our Lord Advisor's words lightly. If he is displeased, you're as good as dead."
"Move out!!"
With that, ignoring the manager's internal rage, the lead Jonin led his team away.
Refuse to spread the news and openly oppose Konoha?
The bounty station didn't have the nerve. If Konoha was truly angered and all the bounty stations in the Land of Fire and its neighboring countries were leveled, the losses would be immense.
Not to mention, everyone at the bounty station knew that Konoha's Hokage Advisor, Uchiha Kazuki, was not a patient man.
He would do what he said.
If you dared to oppose him, he would come after you, and no one would speak up on your behalf.
Under Kazuki's strong-arm threat, the bounty station had no choice but to grit their teeth and obey, spreading the intelligence about Iwagakure.
And they did it fast. In just two or three days, it had spread throughout the shinobi world.
"What? Iwagakure is attacking the surrounding small countries again?"
"Isn't that going too far?"
"Yeah, as one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Iwagakure has no shame. They plunder small countries because they lack money and resources."
"First the Land of Waterfalls, now the Land of Grass and the Land of Rain. Iwagakure does nothing decent."
When the news spread, the reaction was significant.
When Iwagakure first declared war on Takigakure without cause, everyone thought Takigakure had brought it upon themselves.
Then they realized it was clearly just an excuse. Iwagakure used it to start a war and plunder Takigakure's resources and wealth.
Now, after plundering the Land of Waterfalls, they've turned their eyes on the Land of Rain and the Land of Grass.
You won't even spare such poor countries? You, Iwagakure, do nothing decent.
For a time, people everywhere discussed the matter. The vast majority felt nothing but disgust for Iwagakure.
If Iwagakure kept this up, other countries would surely suffer in the future. Their own countries or villages might be next. No one could be happy about that.
The smaller countries bordering the Land of Earth were like startled birds, terrified they might be the next victim.
"Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!!"
Seeing the situation favorable to him, the Daimyō of the Land of Waterfalls seized the opportunity to denounce Iwagakure's atrocities.
He also dragged in the Daimyō of the Land of Rain and the Land of Grass, forming a united front to oppose Iwagakure.
Iwagakure's repeated provocations had crossed everyone's limits.
These small countries' Daimyō could no longer tolerate it. They banded together.
Quite a few Daimyō answered the call. Even the Daimyō of the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning jumped out to publicly condemn Iwagakure.
The Daimyō of the Land of Wind, who had been staying idly in the Land of Fire's capital, also joined in.
The funniest part was that the Land of Water was at war with the Land of Wind.
Yet even the Daimyō of the Land of Water publicly stated his position, condemning Iwagakure for its unbridled lawlessness.
Iwagakure was being roasted over an open fire.
Ōnoki was cursing furiously.
"Tsuchikage-sama, we've traced the news spread. It originated from bounty stations within the Land of Fire. They claim they were coerced by Konoha's Hokage Advisor. If they didn't help spread the news, he would eliminate them."
"Those damn bastards!!"
Ōnoki was so angry his nose was crooked. He wished he could personally level those bounty stations.
"Wait!!"
Bounty stations...
His angry expression suddenly froze.
Now that the village's reputation was ruined and the Daimyōs' patience had reached its limit, he couldn't target other countries and villages anymore. Otherwise, they would unite against him.
Then Iwagakure would be finished.
But the village's lack of money and supplies hadn't improved much.
Ōnoki was still worrying about this.
The bounty station incident gave him an idea for making money.
You're afraid of Konoha, so you had no choice but to spread news damaging to my Iwagakure, ruining our reputation.
Since that's the case, why should I let you be?
I'll just take what I want.
Other places might not have much money, but bounty stations wouldn't be short of cash.
People coming to claim bounties with severed heads didn't wait for money to be transferred from elsewhere. They needed payment immediately.
In cash!!!
The same went for those selling intelligence.
This meant that bounty stations held large amounts of cash on hand.
No one had ever targeted bounty stations before because the repercussions were too great.
But now... Ōnoki didn't care whose interests were involved.
Just do it.
Since you're asking for it, don't blame this old man for being ruthless.
I'm short of money, and you've delivered yourselves to my door.
Since that's the case, I won't stand on ceremony.
No matter how difficult the path to purchasing supplies, you needed money first.