章節 28: Chapter: 28 Alliance Between The Enemies And Importance of Persuasive Skills
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Recently, things have not been going well for Nara Higashihiko.
The reason is simple: not all the clan members agree to stop resisting.
After years of fighting, the seeds of hatred have already deeply rooted, and it's not something that can be stopped with just a word.
Now, telling them to stop fighting doesn't work—those who are sharpening their blades for revenge will naturally turn their spears toward him.
Not only that, but even the minority who agreed to cease the fighting are now criticizing Nara Higashihiko, blaming him for the poor handling of the situation that caused such heavy losses.
Yesterday, someone even proposed that he should die to atone for his mistakes.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Nara Higashihiko tried his best to salvage his reputation, but even his two closest friends were now avoiding him.
"They clearly want me to be the scapegoat."
"Hahaha, did I work hard all my life just for this?"
Higashihiko had been drinking. Before even stepping into the tent, the overwhelming smell of alcohol hit him.
When he lifted the curtain, the drunken haze instantly dissipated as he saw the masked figure inside.
"Who are you?" he asked.
He still held the title of commander, and his subordinates shouldn't have acted so rudely.
This was the main army camp, and it was impossible for enemies to infiltrate.
If it had been an assassin from the Uchiha, they would have struck the moment the curtain was lifted.
Instead of an enemy assassin, he preferred to think the masked figure was a product of internal clan struggles.
However, he was ultimately disappointed.
Looking at the handsome face beneath the mask and the three spinning tomoe, Nara Higashihiko slowly reached for the weapon at his waist.
He could accept failing in the power struggle and facing the anger of his people, but he would never allow himself to die by the enemy's hands.
Especially not from the one person he hated the most.
"Uchiha Kyousuke!"
Nara Higashihiko muttered the masked man's name.
"It's me."
Slowly pulling the mask from his face, Kyosuke smiled faintly and said, "We're meeting for the first time."
"Don't worry, we'll meet a lot more from now on," the man's words were laced with threat.
It seemed that he was about to signal for his subordinates to come and take him.
But for some reason, Nara Higashihiko did not take action.
As his opponent, he was well aware of the boy's cunning.
For the other to appear so boldly meant he had confidence in being able to leave unharmed, though Nara Higashihiko couldn't figure out the truth behind it.
Moreover, Higashihiko wanted to know the purpose of this boy's visit.
Seeing the silence, Kyosuke pointed at the wine bottle in Higashihiko's hand and smiled. "I can tell that life hasn't been easy for you, Higashihiko."
"Thanks to you." The man quietly stabbed back.
"The Ino-Shika-Cho clan is about to relocate in large numbers. To pacify the emotions of the clan, we need to find a suitable outlet for their grievances."
"Higashihiko, can you guess who will be the lucky one to take on this role?"
It was me. Nara Higashihiko's brows furrowed, and his face showed impatience.
"So, is that all you came here to say? Get to the point."
Hearing this, Kyosuke didn't rush, maintaining his calm pace.
The more impatient the other became, the better the outcome of the conversation.
Why was he getting impatient?
Because he was afraid.
Even if Higashihiko didn't mind his own suffering, he still had a wife and children.
After the failed struggle, he feared his family would also suffer.
How to handle this situation had already become a daily dilemma.
"Allying with the Senju is good, but it will still lead to a direct confrontation with the Uchiha."
"Even if your family manages to escape the slaughter, they will have to face us again in the future."
"This is the fate of a ninja."
Nara Higashihiko spoke in a low tone.
"Higashihiko, I have a method I believe can help you."
Kyosuke's voice was tempting, like the wolf grandmother persuading Little Red Riding Hood to open the door.
[ P.S: It's a well-known fairy tale from European folklore written by Charles perrault and Brothers Grimm. ]
He presented an unavoidable problem and then quietly offered a solution.
He discussed the pros and cons of the situation, appearing completely concerned about the other's well-being.
His experience in negotiations from his previous life gave him excellent persuasion skills.
Kyosuke went on to explain his plan in detail.
Throughout the conversation, he never revealed his own demands, making it impossible for Nara Higashihiko to guess his intentions.
"Escape to the Land of Thunder?"
Nara Higashihiko's tone was filled with doubt.
In Kyosuke's explanation, it was clear that the Senju was indeed the best option, ensuring the survival of the three clans for generations.
This much was true, and he hadn't lied or tried to lead the other's judgment.
He simply subtly reminded him of one key point.
No matter what the Senju's attitude was, the outcome would not change.
If he truly cared for his clan, then he should choose a noble death.
But if he had any selfish motives, well, then Kyosuke would show him other options.
Silence. Dead silence.
For a full ten minutes, Nara Higashihiko said nothing, his face changing like that of a Sichuan opera performer.
After a long time,
"What should I do?"
The will to survive ultimately prevailed.
"The resentment from your people mostly comes from a few failed battles."
"If, before you leave, you manage to wipe out a Uchiha unit, I believe it will be enough to quell the anger of your clan."
"At least it will guarantee your life."
Looking up and staring at the boy, suddenly, Nara Higashihiko's mouth curled into a faint smile.
"So, you're here to make a deal."
He was smart. From Kyousuke's words, he had already deduced a lot.
If he played it right, he could even solve the problem of fleeing to the Land of Thunder.
As for whether to agree or not, Nara Higashihiko honestly couldn't think of a reason to refuse.
Afterward, the two discussed the entire process in detail, including how to set up Uchiha Kyosuke.
Watching the man fully invest in the conversation, Kyosuke secretly smiled, thinking that his persuasive skills hadn't dulled.
If he had started by directly stating his intention to harm a colleague, the other would likely have rejected him outright.
Even if he later offered incentives, it would have been of no use.
The other's anger would surely cloud his judgment.
On the other hand, Kyosuke considered everything from the other's perspective.
As for his own requests, he inserted them subtly.
Higashihiko would then think, "If I want to survive, it wouldn't hurt to help him out a bit."
The result would be the same, but the motives were completely different.
This was the power of persuasion.
Even a smart clan leader like Nara Higashihiko couldn't escape the manipulation of another civilization.
"Alright, it's settled then."
Nara Higashihiko thought he had fully grasped the initiative in the conversation.
Of course, that was just his illusion.
Having firmly engraved the plan in his mind, he suddenly made a gesture, and the paper he held immediately burst into flames.
"You plan to..."
Nara Higashihiko was about to ask something else when he turned his head, only to find that Kyosuke had already disappeared from the tent.
He stood frozen for a long while, letting out a silent sigh.
What that sigh meant, perhaps only he knew.
[Chapter End's]
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