Konoha, inside the Hokage’s office, a group of Konoha’s big shots were holding a meeting.
With a bang, Danzo slammed the table fiercely and roared: “Hiruzen, why did you stop the attack on Sunagakure.”
Danzo Shimura was very angry, and the people around him automatically hid, afraid of being attacked by his wrath.
“Why?” Hiruzen Sarutobi sneered and looked sharply at Danzo, saying, “Danzo, don’t you know?
If you’re not clear enough, let Sakumo and Orochimaru tell you, the commander, again.”
Others might fear Danzo Shimura, but Hiruzen Sarutobi didn’t.
He was now the Hokage, he needed to consider the overall situation, and couldn’t only care about Danzo Shimura’s feelings alone.
“Give me a bit more time, I can definitely find a way to break through Bunpuku’s sandstorm.
There’s no need to seek peace so soon.”
Under Hiruzen Sarutobi’s sharp gaze, Danzo Shimura lowered his head, trying his best to soften his tone.
“You can’t break it.
You can’t break it, so I have to keep my troops stationed on Sunagakure’s side, right?
Not to mention Iwagakure, Kumogakure’s troops have always been lined up at the border.
Once we suffer a setback and don’t have time to mobilize ninjas, Kumogakure will definitely take a bite out of us, and Iwagakure will also drop stones on someone who has fallen into a well.” Hiruzen Sarutobi pressed on aggressively: “When that time comes, who will pay for the losses?
Will it be you, Danzo Shimura, or the Shimura clan, or me, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his voice word by word, and finally directly shouted it out.
He was very disappointed.
His old comrade had somewhat lost sight of the situation.
Danzo Shimura sat back in his seat, keeping his head down and remaining silent.
The young Hiruzen Sarutobi was not someone he could suppress.
Seeing this scene, the others all lowered their heads.
They didn’t dare interfere in the matters between the two best friends.
This was true even for Homura Mitokado, Koharu Utatane, and Kagami Uchiha.
“Shimura, I know what you’re thinking, but there’s no other way.
That’s Bunpuku, currently the only perfect Jinchuriki.
With Shukaku’s chakra volume and the terrain of the Land of Wind, our pressure is too great.
If we can’t take it down within ten days, we’ll have to face Sunagakure’s desperate counterattack.
At that time, neither Iwagakure nor Kumogakure will let us go.”
Seeing his best friend dejectedly sit back in his seat, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed and quickly consoled.
He still had many things he needed his best friend to do.
“Don’t worry Hiruzen, I know the priorities.
You better talk about other things first.”
Danzo Shimura forced a smile and replied, rallying his spirits.
For the first time, Danzo Shimura felt that power was important.
He needed power, power that even Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn’t ignore.
He didn’t want to be suppressed while speaking anymore.
“Mm.”
Seeing Danzo’s attitude, Hiruzen Sarutobi revealed a satisfied smile.
Sure enough, worthy of being his good friend, he still understood him.
“Sakumo, next you will travel to the Land of Wind to negotiate the subsequent matters with Sunagakure.
Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Tsunade, you three lead troops to the Land of Rain.
According to intelligence, Mu has sent people to the Land of Rain.
Kagami, you lead the Uchiha and other Konoha clans to the border of the Land of Lightning and do your best to block them.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly gave orders.
Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane were kept in Konoha by him to help him guard the home base and provide support at any time.
Sakumo, Orochimaru, and the other two were all dispatched.
The situation this time where Danzo angrily confronted him made Hiruzen Sarutobi realize that he couldn’t rely solely on his fellow disciples; he needed a more resolute group of supporters.
And was there a better choice for truly loyal people than his own disciples?
There wasn’t.
……
In Sunagakure, Yun Qing watched the slow progress of the tree-planting and afforestation plan, feeling as if his soul was about to twist.
This was simply too agonizing.
For the tree-planting and afforestation plan, all Jonin in Sunagakure began to minor in Water-attribute chakra.
But it still wasn’t enough; the efficiency was too slow.
“At this rate, how long will it take before we see results?”
Looking at the Sunagakure ninjas below working hard and spewing large mouthfuls of water, Yun Qing’s face was somewhat ferocious.
“Hehe, Lord Kazekage, getting anxious is useless.
Water Release has never been our strong suit.
Besides, the situation is already much better.”
Ebizo said with a chuckle next to him, his whole face smiling like a chrysanthemum.
He had lived for decades and had never been this happy.
“Tell me, what good news have you brought, Elder.”
Yawning, Yun Qing turned his head and looked at Ebizo.
“Konoha and Iwagakure sent news, preparing to negotiate peace at the border.”
Ebizo replied with a smile.
Narrowing his eyes slightly, Yun Qing looked at Ebizo: “What do you think they mean?
Tripartite peace talks, I can’t believe they came up with that.”
“Pressure.
Konoha and Iwagakure should have had some alliance before.
Now, with Bunpuku guarding Konoha’s side and the border ninjas led by Sunasuke guarding Iwagakure’s, relying on favorable terrain, neither can establish a major offensive.
They can’t bear it anymore.”
Ebizo analyzed bit by bit; they needed to be careful.
“Since that’s the case, our chance to get rich has arrived.
Prepare all our ‘useless’ supplies.
Oh, right, how is the gift I asked you to send to the Daimyo coming along.”
Yun Qing and Ebizo looked at each other, and the two burst into loud laughter.
They were giving the Daimyo a huge gift.
Since you didn’t give us supplies and even sold them to other countries to deal with us, we’ll let you know what supernatural deterrence is.
In the Daimyo’s city of the Land of Wind, the Daimyo and a group of nobles were throwing a massive fit.
“Damn it, damn it, damn it, not a single bit of our goods were left.
What is Sunagakure eating for a living?”
The fat Daimyo roared at the people kneeling below.
“Your Excellency the Daimyo, we sent a message to Sunagakure.
They said the damage from the war was too great, and they had no time to attend to other things, so they hoped you would send out samurai to resolve it yourself.”
The noble below kept his head pressed to the ground and spoke rapidly, as if his mouth was borrowed and had to be returned later.
“No time to attend to other things.
Hmph, hmph, hmph, alright, go down.
Since the war is over, cut off the military trade with Iwagakure and Konoha.”
The Daimyo sat back in his seat, panting heavily.
Hearing this sentence, the nobles below hurried outside, afraid that if they walked too slow, they would be called back by the Daimyo and given another stimulating task.
“Right, reassign the missions near the Konoha and Iwagakure areas to them.”
Hurrying, just as the nobles were about to walk out of the hall, the Daimyo’s piercing voice still drifted over.
“Yes, Your Excellency the Daimyo.”
The others quickly echoed.
After the nobles and servants left, the Daimyo sat alone in the head seat, muttering to himself: “Were it really bandits who robbed it along with Konoha and Iwagakure?
Why do I feel like it was Sunagakure who robbed it.”
“Your Excellency the Daimyo, I believe it was Sunagakure who robbed it.
They are already so poor they can’t even open the pot.
With you reducing their mission volume, they had to do this for the sake of so-called dignity.”
From the corner of the hall, a scarred-face man walked out and spoke fanatically to the Daimyo.
“It shouldn’t be, right?
With the Five Great Nations agreement in place, Sunagakure probably wouldn’t dare.”
The Daimyo said hesitantly.
From the glinting light in the Daimyo’s eyes, one could tell he already believed the scarred-face man’s words.
He knew what he had done during the war, and he also understood Sunagakure’s ability to gather intelligence.
After all, that was their signature skill.
“Daimyo, please believe me.
Leave it to me to investigate.”
The scarred-face man sighed.
He knew his “great cause” wouldn’t be easily achieved.
“Go.”
The Daimyo softly responded.