Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!

The two days passed in a flash. On this day, Pakura led three highly respected elders out of the Land of Wind.

Bunpuku's proposal to stay by her side had been rejected, as the appearance of a Jinchūriki in the Konoha camp would undoubtedly create complications.

"I wonder what kind of conditions Konoha will propose?"

The four walked through the damp forest of the Land of Rain. Pakura's face was filled with worry. The economic situation in Sunagakure was dire, and if Konoha made excessive demands, she didn't know how they would manage to fill the gap.

"Money is the most basic, but I fear Konoha may demand additional conditions," an elder voiced his concern. They had come prepared to pay significant reparations, but the thought of other demands loomed heavily.

"A Tailed Beast?" another elder suggested grimly, his expression dark.

"Absolutely not," Pakura replied firmly, rejecting the notion without hesitation. She would rather perish on the spot than hand over the Tailed Beast.

"Alas, we'll see when we get there. We're like fish on a chopping board right now," the last elder, an old woman, said with resignation.

At her words, the group fell silent. Only the sound of the wind whistling past their ears accompanied them. Before long, the Konoha camp came into view.

The group slowed and came to a stop in front of the camp.

"Please come in," one of the Konoha ninja said, not making things difficult for them. However, the hatred in their eyes was undeniable—a reflection of the comrades lost to Suna's hands.

Pakura said nothing as she and the others followed the Konoha ninja to the council hall. Upon entering, they found only four individuals inside.

Kawakaze remained seated, even holding Tsunade back as she attempted to rise.

"Sit," Sakumo and Duy stood behind Kawakaze and Tsunade like cold-faced sentinels.

Pakura glanced at the four and felt an unshakable sense of unease. If they had intended to kill her, they wouldn't have gone to such lengths to orchestrate this meeting.

"Okay."

Pakura sat down across from Kawakaze, with the three elders seated in a row behind her. A long table separated them, adorned with some tea and fruit.

Kawakaze wasn't entirely disrespectful; the food was a gesture of hospitality.

After sitting, Pakura noticed that neither Tsunade nor Kawakaze spoke for a long time. She understood this was an intentional attempt to pressure her.

When under the same roof, one had to bow their head. Resigned, Pakura decided to speak first.

"I will be direct and get to the point. What are Konoha's demands? I can promise you whatever is within my power," she said, her gaze fixed across the table to gauge their reaction.

Kawakaze quietly squeezed Tsunade's hand, signaling her to stay silent.

"In that case, I won't be polite," Kawakaze said calmly. "Our demands are not high: two billion ryō. And you must hand over Shukaku. This is our bottom line."

His eyes suddenly turned cold as he leaned forward slightly, startling Pakura. She knew all too well the terrifying presence of the man before her.

Tsunade's expression showed a hint of shock, while Sakumo and Duy, standing behind her, looked as if they had seen a ghost.

Two billion? They couldn't believe their ears. And the Tailed Beast? That was completely unthinkable.

As expected, the elder with the gloomy expression was the first to respond, his voice filled with indignation.

"You might as well just destroy Sunagakure!" he snapped. The gloomy-faced elder was the first to speak out in rebuttal, his tone sharp and unyielding.

If Sunagakure could muster two billion, they would rather use it to bury their enemies. As for the Tailed Beast, there was absolutely no chance it would ever be handed over.

"What do you say, Lady Kazekage?"

Kawakaze ignored the elder's outburst, focusing entirely on Pakura. As a Kazekage, she was the only one qualified to negotiate with him. His burning gaze bore into her, leaving her feeling deeply pressured.

"We can't come up with that kind of money, and handing over Shukaku is out of the question," Pakura responded firmly, countering his two demands despite the immense weight of the situation.

"Hmph, it seems you have no sincerity in these negotiations," Kawakaze sneered. "If that's the case, go back and prepare. I'll lead the team myself and fight our way in again."

He delivered the threat with the commanding aura of a great power.

"Show them out," he ordered sharply.

Two Konoha ninjas immediately entered through the door, ready to escort Pakura and the others out. The group exchanged uneasy glances, thinking to themselves, How are we supposed to handle this? Do we really have to go back and fight? If we couldn't win before, what's the point of surrendering in the first place?

"We have come with sincerity, but your demands are excessive," Pakura said, her tone edged with desperation. She feared being driven out, as it would inevitably lead to another war with Konoha.

"What price are you willing to pay, then?" Kawakaze asked coolly, gesturing for the two Konoha ninjas to retreat. The initiative was now entirely in his hands.

Tsunade's eyes lit up with admiration. This maneuver was executed beautifully, and she resolved to reward him well once they returned to the village.

Sakumo rolled his eyes in exasperation. He had seen this routine too many times before—it was overused. He found it almost laughable that someone of Kawakaze's stature still resorted to such a predictable tactic.

Duy, on the other hand, appeared puzzled. He couldn't grasp the purpose of such posturing and could only conclude that he didn't fully understand the strategy at play.

"We can come up with 1.2 billion ryo, but as for the Tailed Beast, we truly can't hand it over," Pakura said firmly. "Otherwise, I promise you, even if we go back, there will be objections."

Pakura revealed all her cards suddenly, leaving the three elders behind her stunned. The experienced elders silently cursed her recklessness. The young are still far from experienced!

At this point, there was no room left for maneuvering, and they could only wait in tense silence for Konoha's next move.

"1.2 billion is not an unacceptable amount," Kawakaze finally said, his tone measured. "But if you won't hand over the Tailed Beast, you'll need to offer another form of collateral."

His words were deliberately vague, leaving Pakura uncertain of his intentions. Gradually, she realized she had fallen into his trap.

"What kind of collateral?" she asked, trying to hide her irritation as she followed his lead.

"Both sides have suffered heavy losses in this battle, and Sunagakure must provide an explanation," Kawakaze said with a sly smile. "I think you, as Kazekage, should suffice."

His lips curled upward slightly, his real intent clear: to chip away at Pakura's mental defenses and secure even greater advantages.

Tsunade glanced back and forth between the two of them, her mind racing. Suddenly, she pinched Kawakaze sharply.

Asking for a woman in front of her?

Kawakaze's expression shifted as he endured the sudden pain, careful not to make a sound. Discreetly, he moved her hand away from his waist, silently trying to explain that she had misunderstood.

Pakura, unaware of this brief exchange, kept her head down, lost in thought. She wasn't hesitating out of fear for her life but weighing the potential consequences. If she were to go to Konoha to pay with her life, what would it mean for Sunagakure?

Rasa could mine gold dust. Though still young, with the elders' support, he should be able to secure the Kazekage position. Whether she remained or not might not significantly impact the village.

Having resolved her thoughts, Pakura raised her head, a wry smile forming at the corner of her mouth.

"I promise."

"Cough, cough—" Kawakaze choked on his water, caught completely off guard. Is this woman serious?

Tsunade was already glaring at him, her hand ready to deliver another punishment.

Sakumo and Duy stood stunned. They're actually giving up their Kazekage? Even if it's temporary, it's still the Kazekage!