At the head of the conference table, Sarutobi Hiruzen pretended not to understand, prompting a cold sneer from Danzō, who said nothing more.
Hiruzen glanced at Danzō but remained silent.
No matter what, Konoha's relationship with Amegakure had to be on Konoha's terms.
Recently, Rinjin's unauthorized move to open Amegakure's borders and drive down iron prices had truly angered Hiruzen.
He wouldn't target Rinjin directly, but the privileges his disciple once enjoyed were being quietly stripped away.
Now, with Iwagakure attacking Amegakure, Hiruzen had no intention of intervening.
He had full confidence that Sakuho Rinjin could handle Iwagakure.
Even before the war broke out, the man had boasted about "contracting the western war for two billion."
But confidence was one thing—Konoha wasn't about to let itself be played for a fool.
So, by refusing to send even a single shinobi to aid Amegakure, Hiruzen was delivering a subtle warning to Sakuho Rinjin.
Having settled this matter in his mind, Sarutobi Hiruzen swept his gaze around the room and spoke slowly:
"Let's set aside Iwagakure for now. They won't get past Amegakure anytime soon."
With that, he beckoned an ANBU over, took the scroll handed to him, unfurled it, and continued:
"Let's turn to the Land of Wind and the Land of Lightning. The Third Kazekage has already reached out—he's ready to negotiate peace."
At these words, a flash of joy crossed the eyes of Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and the others.
Standing behind Hiruzen, Nara Shikaku seized the moment and asked,
"Lord Third, has the Land of Wind made any demands?"
Hiruzen nodded, clearly pleased.
"They have." He glanced down at the scroll and read with interest:
"The Third Kazekage has proposed three conditions for compensation—
First, they demand twelve billion in reparations.
Second, they want open trade routes, with the Land of Fire's timber and other goods sold at a thirty percent discount off the standard market price across the ninja world.
Third, they're insisting Amegakure increase water exports and waive twenty years of water fees."
When Hiruzen finished, Mitokado Homura tapped the table lightly, signaling he wanted to speak.
"There's no need to bother with the Land of Wind for now. These demands are just bargaining chips. My advice—keep pressing them on the southwestern front. When the time comes, we can flip the first two conditions on them. As for the Land of Rain's water, let them have that as a sweetener—water's worthless anyway, that place rains every day."
Utatane Koharu nodded in agreement, face expressionless.
"We can toss them a bone, but ten years' water fee waiver is enough. And change it to 'twenty years paid in advance'—make the Land of Wind cough up ten years' payment now."
The two went back and forth, treating the Land of Rain as nothing more than Konoha's vassal, discussing its fate without a care.
The other advisors nodded along, and even Hiruzen stroked his beard, deep in thought.
In the corner, Shimura Danzō narrowed his eyes, staring at Hiruzen with a meaningful smile. He'd seen right through them.
These guys really had it too easy.
With the war drawing to a close, Konoha stood tall as the only village to withstand assaults from all three great hidden villages—a feat that gave them every right to look down on the rest.
Fine, keep ignoring that petty little troublemaker~
Once this meeting's over, I'll just "accidentally" run into him and make sure I'm not caught up in the mess.
Victory in a great war could change everything.
Yet, even Konoha couldn't act tough in front of Kumogakure.
The northern Cloud Village had suffered the least during the war and preserved its strength almost untouched.
Facing such a Cloud, Konoha couldn't even utter a word of protest.
Add in Kumogakure's infamous unreasonable attitude, and Hiruzen, who'd already sent two teams to negotiate peace, found himself with a major headache.
Konoha was tired of fighting.
But the Land of Fire's awkward geography left them with no way out.
...
At the border between Fire and Lightning.
Countless shinobi advanced in squads, wave after wave, infiltrating enemy-occupied territory.
Deep in the forest near the Land of Fire's border, Tsunade's squad was racing south.
According to the latest intel, a logistics team transporting supplies to the front had been ambushed by Kumogakure ninja.
Supplies were the lifeblood of the front lines, so the escort shinobi were every bit as skilled as those fighting on the front.
That's what gave Tsunade's team the chance to reinforce.
Leaping through the trees,
it wasn't long before Hyūga Honma'sByakugan spotted the beleaguered logistics unit.
In his field of vision, three logistics members in civilian clothes, burdened by huge backpacks, huddled nervously at the center.
On the perimeter, two escort squads were already locked in combat with the enemy.
"Honma, what's the situation?"
Hearing the distant clash of metal, Tsunade frowned and asked.
"Not too bad. The escorts are holding for now."
"How many enemies?"
"Nine! But it's been too quick—I can't be sure there aren't more hiding nearby."
Tsunade nodded, mind whirring as she issued orders:
"We'll charge straight in. Honma, your job is to break through and protect those three logistics guys. Once the fighting starts, Katō Dan and Kimoku Kōtō—you two work as a pair."
Everyone nodded in unison.
Satisfied, Tsunade led her squad in a direct assault toward the heart of the battle.
Other teams might not dare to dive so boldly into a melee like this.
But all four members of Tsunade's squad were jōnin—powerful, well-balanced, and fully capable of turning the tide in a small-scale skirmish.
As they joined the fray in the dense forest, the situation shifted instantly.
With a fierce, commanding shout, Tsunade—clad in her jōnin combat gear—descended from above.
"Heavenly Foot of Pain!"
The earth shook violently.
The once-solid ground split apart, massive trees toppled, roots snapped and burst.
Within a dozen meters of Tsunade's landing, the earth exploded outward.
Two Kumogakure shinobi, who'd barely managed to jump clear, stared in shock at Tsunade standing at the epicenter.
"Monster-strength woman!"
"Keep your distance—use ninjutsu!"
Even for Kumogakure ninja, famed for their taijutsu prowess, none dared approach her in close combat.
This woman was terrifying—one hit from those deceptively delicate fists, and you'd be crippled for life.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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