章 192: Ch192. Breakfast with the Daimyo
Rei yawned as he lazily flopped into a seat opposite the Fire Country Daimyo sitting behind a small cozy table in his gardens, enjoying breakfast. It was weird that there was not even one maid around him but surprisingly enough, Rei's senses told him that maids were not the only thing missing. There was not even one guard around.
'That's some hefty level of trust he is showing me.' He hummed while rubbing his tired eyes.
"Not enough sleep?" Toyotomi chuckled, biting an apple.
Rei could only shrug. "It's not like I can't go on without sleep for a week. But comforting sad Tsunade? Especially since sad Tsunade is an indulgent Tsunade? No matter how pleasurable that is, it is also incredibly tiring."
"Yes... I heard some complaints." Toyotomi's eyes shone with mirth, "While the silencing seals did their job, the surroundings still received quite the... pounding." He smugly said. "I heard the rooms around yours vibrated from the sheer... activity. Some of the servants even suspect it was a small earthquake."
Rei was far beyond being embarrassed by this, nor was he in the mood to entertain the man. He knew Tsunade was wild even without trying to forget her anger and emotional baggage. Shrugging, Rei showed Toyotomi he wouldn't be embarrassed due to his words, which made the Toyotomi sigh in defeat.
"I guess, I should expect some degree of patience and level-headedness from you. Especially since you are used to dealing with Tsunade. Honestly, I was elated when I heard our engagement was canceled. I couldn't help but feel a slight fear towards her after I got my first beating when I... ahem, no forget it."
"No, no, no. Do tell." Rei smirked, grabbing himself a slice of bread, some butter, and jam.
Toyotomi looked quite uncomfortable but despite that, he decided to continue the tale, deeming it a long-forgotten past anyway, "When I tried to touch her chest." Rei snickered hearing that but Toyotomi quickly continued to give a proper excuse for his actions, "I had a good reason, mind you. I was six and my father just told me kids were made from a loving touch between a girl and a boy. I naturally was curious." Toyotomi shrugged, returning Rei's amused smile.
"Dealing with Tsunade is not hard. All it requires is a whole lot of loving touches," Rei gave Toyotomi a meaningful glance, "and a body that can withstand her accidental use of superstrength." He shrugged. "Despite what her personality would imply, once we really started to love each other, she is a very un-troublesome woman to keep around, as Naras would say. She is unsurprisingly independent and surprisingly low-maintenance. Well, yesterday was a clear exception to the rule but one gotta admit the topic was a bit too much for her emotions. But I doubt you sent a servant to wake me up in order to discuss the nuances of the relationship with Tsunade." Rei said, looking directly at Toyotomi.
"I see. Fair enough." Toyotomi nodded and instantly grew serious, "I just wanted to warn you that you should leave by the evening if you want to have a chance at successfully evading Konoha ANBU inviting Tsunade back 'home'." He gave Rei an apologetic smile. "The ninja guardian from yesterday was one from Konoha and I can't possibly reproach him from sending a missive about Tsunade's presence back to Konoha, now, can I?" He sighed in irritation before rubbing his temples.
"Insubordination? Wau." Rei exclaimed in mock cheer as he grabbed an orange.
"Not really. I forgot to order him to keep it secret. The second he left the room he was on his way to send a message to his beloved Hokage. Some guards they are. That's why I have to get people from the Fire Temple to balance the number of Konoha's ninjas around me." Toyotomi waved his hand dismissively. "Don't get me wrong, they do their jobs but..." He stopped bitterly.
"But their allegiance is not fully for you. Yeah, that must suck considering they are here to guard your very life." Rei nodded. "Anyway, don't worry about Hiruzen. I kinda thought he would be present at your birthday party so I counted on him knowing we are here."
"Ah... I never invite Hokage to my birthday parties. Too many diplomats who would be offended. Frankly, I don't like him all that much. Too manipulative for my tastes. Told him exactly where he can stick his grandfatherly act the second he tried it on me when I took over from my father." Toyotomi rolled his eyes. "Well, I might have threatened to cut the funding in half if he pissed me off too much." He unrepentantly shrugged and bit into a toast in a very satisfied manner. Chewing and biting with enjoyment written on his face as he reminisced about that moment, Toyotomi finally gulped down the food and added, "That was frankly one of the best moments of my tenure as the Daimyo. The sour look of the usually grandfatherly dipshit was priceless. My father might have been naive and easy to manipulate for more money but thankfully, I was taught by my mother."
"Yeah... no. Still gonna make a run for it. I don't wanna meet with the man. We will be off your hair by the time for dinner, right after Tsunade heals your son," Toyotomi visibly deflated in relief at that, "and I discuss with you the real deal I came for." And just like that, Toyotomi tensed again. Friendliness was all good but when deals were mentioned, he had to act like a Daimyo, no matter if it came from a husband of his childhood friend.
"Deal?" He asked warily but Rei only rolled his eyes and suddenly, a file appeared in his hand. Rei then put the file on the table and slid it towards Toyotomi who grabbed it and started to read it. Rei watched as the Fire Daimyo's expression went from wary, to a surprised, then to approving, only to set itself in relieved, almost giddy one after he was done reading the offer.
Then the realization struck Toyotomi hard as a frown appeared on his lips. "I can't accept it. Don't get me wrong, it is the best and most fair offer that came to me in years but nobles won't accept it without proper excu-, uh, reason."
"Then use me bringing Tsunade here and her healing your son as a springboard." Rei advised and Toyotomi looked at him with an unreadable gaze.
"You... already have this all planned, right?" He slowly said after a while, causing Rei to smirk and scoot a bit to the right, making Toyotomi tilt his head before he noticed groggy Tsunade pass him and sit next to Rei, sleepily cuddling into his side with a cute content smile and messy bed hair.
"The second trade routes between the Land of Spring and the Land of Fire are opened, it will be even better than a non-aggression pact, thus cementing our neutrality even further." Rei shrugged as his head landed on the top of Tsunade's head, gently stroking it without him even realising he was doing it. By now, it was something so natural for him it was instinctive. Watching the display, Toyotomi inwardly smiled and decided the two are good for each other as he listened to Rei, "That's why our Daimyo is so fine with giving some benefits to the Land of Fire in this deal."
Well, naturally, Sosetsu, the supposed Daimyo of the Land of Spring, was not 'so fine' with it. He had no opinion about it one way or another. The guy was simply happy it would make the civilians live even more comfortably. Honestly, since Rei became the real owner of the country, its wealth multiplied several-fold and the people were happier than ever. That was all Sosetsu wanted.
"Okay..." Toyotomi slowly nodded and then smiled. "Let's negotiate, then. Section three of the trade agreement is a bit..."
"Shut up, it's too early for politics." Tsunade grunted in annoyance, putting her head on Rei's shoulder, peacefully dozing off much to the amusement of the two men.
Both knew their talks had to be postponed.
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