Naruto Card King

Upon hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, Mifune immediately understood his intent. By emphasizing the importance of the Black Armor Samurai to Konoha, Sarutobi was making it even harder for the Land of Iron to reclaim the Black Armor. It was clear that obtaining it would require offering a price that would satisfy Sarutobi.

However, since Mifune had led the diplomatic mission himself to resolve this issue through official channels, he was already mentally prepared for this negotiation.

"To be completely honest," Mifune slightly lowered his head, adjusting his posture in a show of humility. "Hokage-sama, the Black Armor has deep historical ties to the Land of Iron. To us samurai, it is not only an artifact of our heritage but also an object of faith. As the only remaining samurai nation in the shinobi world, the Land of Iron represents the true legacy of the samurai. I have come here today to discuss with you the possibility of returning the Black Armor to the Land of Iron. In return, we are prepared to offer our utmost sincerity and make sure you are satisfied. Please, I implore you."

Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered for a moment, his eyes flashing slightly before he responded in a calm tone, "Allow me to counter your argument, Mifune-dono. You claim that the Black Armor is a samurai heirloom, but I do not believe that is entirely accurate. In the distant past, before the advent of the Shinobi Sect, the entire world followed the way of the samurai. The samurai of that era adhered to the ancient laws of Bushido, cultivating their strength in harmony with the natural order. That was the true essence of the samurai way."

"However, with the rise of the Shinobi Sect, shinobi emerged and grew in power, gradually replacing samurai as the dominant force in the world. As the number of samurai dwindled, they faced the risk of complete extinction. In response to this crisis, some progressive samurai abandoned their strict adherence to traditional values and incorporated shinobi techniques into their practice. By utilizing chakra, they developed a new form of Bushido. The Black Armor was created during this transitional period. While it may have been wielded by samurai, the inscriptions, seals, and chakra formations on it all originate from the Shinobi Sect."

"Therefore, Mifune-dono, claiming that the Black Armor belongs to the samurai and serves as their sacred heirloom is incorrect. Although it was last wielded by generations of Black Armor Samurai, in reality, this artifact is a shinobi tool—a fusion of the Shinobi Sect's techniques and Bushido. It has remained lost for nearly seventy years, and the Black Armor Nation no longer exists. Thus, the Black Armor is an unclaimed artifact, and whoever finds it first rightfully owns it. To speak of returning it to the Land of Iron seems somewhat inappropriate, don't you think?"

With this statement, Sarutobi Hiruzen completely undermined the legitimacy of Mifune's request for the Black Armor. This was all part of his strategy to raise the stakes for negotiation. Diplomacy, after all, is often filled with such maneuvers—justifying one's stance before discussing terms.

Mifune was momentarily speechless.

Because Sarutobi Hiruzen was right.

Historically, this was exactly how things had transpired.

Modern Bushido had diverged significantly from its ancient roots. Although contemporary samurai had developed the unique ability to channel their sword energy, they were still often regarded as little different from taijutsu-specialized shinobi. The skills of modern samurai and taijutsu users who specialized in kenjutsu were strikingly similar. Thus, Sarutobi's assertion that the Black Armor was a shinobi tool was not unreasonable.

Mifune gazed at Sarutobi Hiruzen in silence for a long moment before finally speaking again. "Hokage-sama is indeed a man of great knowledge and wisdom. I am deeply impressed."

"You flatter me," Sarutobi Hiruzen replied with a faint smile.

"That being said," Mifune continued, a strange glint flashing in his eyes, "Hokage-sama, do you know the identity of the final general of the Black Armor Nation—the last Black Armor Samurai?"

"The last Black Armor Samurai? Mokumaru," Sarutobi Hiruzen replied without hesitation. "He perished in battle, and with the Black Armor lost, the Black Armor Nation soon fell."

"He was my great-grandfather," Mifune stated firmly, locking eyes with Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Oh?" Sarutobi's expression shifted slightly, a look of surprise flashing across his face.

The last Black Armor Samurai was the great-grandfather of the current general of the Land of Iron, Mifune?

Even Koharu Utatane, who had largely remained silent throughout the discussion, changed her expression. This revelation complicated matters significantly. Sarutobi Hiruzen had just refuted the legitimacy of the Land of Iron's claim to the Black Armor. However, if Mokumaru was truly Mifune's great-grandfather, then all of Sarutobi's prior arguments became meaningless.

Initially, this was shaping up to be a prolonged diplomatic debate—one where even if Konoha refused to relinquish the Black Armor, the worst outcome would be a mild diplomatic strain rather than outright hostility. Failing to reach an agreement was a common outcome in negotiations.

However, if Mifune had a personal claim to the Black Armor, then Konoha withholding it could be seen as denying him his rightful inheritance. If Konoha refused to return it under those circumstances, it would undoubtedly lead to a deterioration of relations between the Land of Fire and the Land of Iron. Regardless of whether the Black Armor was classified as a samurai relic or a shinobi tool, it was still an heirloom passed down through Mifune's family.

Konoha was not afraid of the Land of Iron, but this situation would unnecessarily create another enemy for them.

"Mifune-dono, you claim Mokumaru was your great-grandfather. Do you have proof?" Koharu Utatane asked skeptically, her expression serious and filled with doubt.

"Our family maintains detailed records, and our genealogy clearly documents this lineage. Furthermore, I possess a unique samurai technique that complements the Black Armor perfectly. Additionally, when the Black Armor Nation fell, my grandfather salvaged a large number of historical texts. These documents remain in the Land of Iron. If necessary, we can dispatch someone to retrieve them as evidence," Mifune replied.

"Then—" Koharu began.

"No need," Sarutobi Hiruzen interjected, waving his hand slightly. He exchanged a meaningful glance with Koharu before turning back to Mifune. "You are a man of honor and principle, and I trust your words to be true."

Mifune had confidently declared his lineage, fully expecting skepticism. The chances of him lying were slim. Samurai, after all, were known for their integrity.

More importantly, if Sarutobi demanded verification, the process would become unnecessarily complicated. Konoha would have to acknowledge its willingness to surrender the Black Armor first—otherwise, Mifune would never bother presenting proof.

And that would change everything.

Regardless, Sarutobi Hiruzen had no intention of handing over the Black Armor so easily. The Land of Iron would have to pay a price.

That was the key issue.

"However, even with this revelation, we cannot simply hand over the Black Armor without due consideration," Sarutobi Hiruzen added. "Because of the Black Armor, my two personal disciples and the Black Armor Samurai were ambushed in the Land of Rain. Hanzō personally took action and mobilized all of Amegakure's forces against them. To rescue them, Konoha paid a great price. Many talented young shinobi lost their lives in that conflict, and we had to deploy an entire army division to our borders. I trust you understand the magnitude of our sacrifice."

"If Konoha is willing to return the Black Armor, we of the Land of Iron will ensure that Konoha is duly compensated. Hokage-sama, please grant us this request!" Mifune solemnly lowered his head in respect.

"Then…" Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice grew serious as he asked, "What are you willing to offer?"

Mifune fell silent for a moment before replying, "We are willing to pay one hundred million ryō as a token of gratitude for Konoha's return of the Black Armor."