Chapter 83

Tsunade rubbed her temples as she addressed the most pressing matter of the meeting. "The Land of Lightning has officially requested the release of the Fourth Raikage and Killer B. Here's their offer."

She passed copies of the letters from the Land of Lightning to everyone in attendance. The letters outlined an apology and reparations thinly veiled as a ransom: 50 million ryo to secure the return of their leader and Jinchuriki.

"The price is... steep," Kakashi muttered, furrowing his brow. "It's unlike the Land of Lightning to agree to something like this so quickly. They must be desperate—or planning something."

Tsunade nodded. "Their Daimyo is dead, and the country is in chaos. They need a leader to stabilize the situation, and they're willing to pay for it. Considering this ransom covers both the Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, the amount isn't unreasonable."

She paused, gauging the room's reaction. The offer was tempting—50 million ryo could significantly bolster Shin-Konoha's finances. But everyone sensed there was more to the story.

Kakashi leaned back in his chair, studying Tsunade. "You wouldn't bring this to us unless there was something else to consider."

"Exactly," Tsunade replied, motioning for Shizune to distribute another document. "Take a look at this."

As the group reviewed the new information, the room fell into an uncomfortable silence. The offers from other nations were both revealing and unsettling.

The Land of Wind offered 10 million ryo to Shin-Konoha to refuse the return of the Fourth Raikage and an additional 20 million to hand over the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.

The Land of Earth bid 5 million ryo to keep the Raikage captive and 10 million for the Eight-Tails.

The Land of Water offered 8 million ryo to refuse the Raikage's return and 15 million to purchase the Eight-Tails.

Smaller nations also made bids, though their offers were negligible.

Among the Five Great Nations, only the Land of Fire refrained from bidding, likely due to Sarutobi Hiruzen's influence. He had urged other nations not to play into Shin-Konoha's hands. But, unsurprisingly, no one listened to him. His appeals fell on deaf ears, with most nations dismissing his authority entirely.

Naruto finally broke the silence, his voice filled with disbelief. "This... This is so underhanded. Is this really how ninja villages and nations operate?"

Tsunade sighed, shaking her head. "Welcome to the reality of the ninja world, Naruto. When one side is weak, the others exploit it. Alliances are fragile, and trust is a rare commodity."

She looked around the table. "So the question is: what should we do with these offers?"

Kakashi and Might Guy exchanged glances but said nothing. Naruto, still processing the situation, looked unsure. It was a difficult decision. Accepting the ransom from the Land of Lightning would bring financial stability to Shin-Konoha but risk empowering an enemy. Refusing it and selling the captives to another nation would deepen hostilities.

Finally, Tsunade turned to the main seat, which had been left vacant for Uzumaki Chito. "What's your opinion, Lord Chito?"

Moments later, Chito's figure materialized in the room. "Why do you always push these decisions onto me?" he asked with a faint smile.

Everyone stood respectfully, greeting his in unison. "Lord Chito."

Chito waved them back to their seats. "Relax. Let's get to the point."

Tsunade leaned forward. "Shin-Konoha exists because of you. We can't ignore your advice in this."

Chito sighed. "Fine, I'll offer a suggestion. But the final decision is yours."

He thought for a moment before speaking. "Since everyone seems interested in the Raikage and Killer B, why not hold an auction?"

The room buzzed with murmurs of surprise. Tsunade's eyes lit up. "An auction?"

But before she could ask more, Chito's figure disappeared. His voice echoed in the room. "That's my suggestion. The rest is up to you."

Tsunade mulled over the idea, her mind already racing. "An auction... It could work," she said aloud. "Let them fight it out. We'll take the highest bid."

Kakashi hesitated. "It's a bold move, but wouldn't it seem... excessive? We're only auctioning two captives."

"That's true," Tsunade admitted, "but it's all we have right now. In the future, we'll host more auctions."

The others exchanged uneasy glances. The idea of repeatedly capturing and auctioning off high-profile prisoners felt excessive, even for the ninja world.

"Let's focus on this one for now," Tsunade said. "We'll need an auction house. Redirect part of the construction crew from the Ninja Academy and get started immediately."

Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "You're usually so stingy. Why the sudden generosity?"

Tsunade smirked, sliding a blueprint onto the table. The design showed an elaborate auction venue with a casino on the first floor. "Simple. We'll use the casino to fund the auction house."

The room fell silent as everyone processed her blatant self-interest. If there was one thing Tsunade couldn't resist, it was gambling.

"Using power for personal gain, huh?" Kakashi muttered under his breath.

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