Chapter 152
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.