Chapter 08: His Grandfather Is Really Unlucky
"I…"
Looking at the Konoha forehead protector right in front of her,
if he really handed it over,
Koharu Utatane had no doubt that the guy in front of her
would actually do it.
She had only heard that Aoyama Ryūun was fierce — a reckless brute —
but after seeing him once in person,
as a teammate who had worked alongside Koharu for years,
Homura Mitokado couldn't help but feel a bit worried for her.
"Do you also want to die?"
"..."
"Alright, alright! You're all the pillars of Konoha.
Each take one step back! Koharu, say less."
"Ryūun's words, well…"
In Konoha, he didn't hold any real authority —
unlike Hatake Sakumo,
the captain of the Anbu directly under the Hokage,
who managed the entire Anbu.
Aside from being arrogant, not paying for meals,
and having a zero percent mission completion rate,
Aoyama Ryūun didn't do much of anything else.
A subordinate like that —
Hiruzen Sarutobi still couldn't bear to let him go,
at least not for now.
"Tch!"
After all, since he wanted to stay in Konoha,
and Hiruzen had given him some face,
Aoyama Ryūun didn't mind returning that gesture.
With a disdainful glance at Koharu,
Ryūun withdrew his aura.
Once that overwhelming conqueror's presence disappeared,
the atmosphere in the Hokage's office eased considerably.
"Grandpa really brings bad luck! Damn it!"
They really bullied people too much!
"..."
Forget it, don't argue with a brute.
Koharu could only comfort herself inwardly.
The dignity of a Konoha elder —
in Aoyama Ryūun's eyes, it was nothing but a joke.
The various clan heads present
all looked at Ryūun with admiration.
After all, even they were dissatisfied
with those clueless elders constantly handing down foolish orders.
They simply didn't have Ryūun's strength to act the same way.
"Alright then, let's discuss the matter
regarding the Shinobi World War!"
With that reminder, everyone finally remembered
the real reason they had gathered here —
to discuss the ongoing war —
and realized they had been distracted by something else entirely.
"Old man, what's going on?
Wasn't the Shinobi World War supposed to be over?"
Hearing that, Hiruzen could only sigh helplessly.
If possible, he wouldn't want the war to continue either.
"Cloud Village and Stone Village have ended their fights,
but as for Sand Village…"
What a headache.
Even though the Third Kazekage had agreed to a ceasefire,
if Chiyo didn't agree, it wouldn't matter.
You have to understand —
Chiyo's son and daughter-in-law
were both killed by Hatake Sakumo's assassination technique.
There's no way she would ever agree to a truce.
"Sand Village sent a message —
either we hand over Hatake Sakumo,
or the war continues!"
"That damned old hag!"
Tsunade, having fought Chiyo before,
naturally understood that only she
could propose such a condition.
"Sure!"
Aoyama Ryūun suddenly shouted loudly.
"Ryūun!"
Just moments ago, Hatake Sakumo was touched by his gaze —
now he wanted to punch him in the face.
Of course, Sakumo understood Ryūun was joking,
but his words drew an unexpected agreement
from Homura Mitokado:
"To avoid war, handing over White Fang isn't that bad of an idea."
"I think it'd be better to hand over the Konoha Elders instead,
wouldn't that show our respect toward Sand Village even more?"
"Uh…"
At those words, Homura froze —
and immediately shut up.