"To His Excellency Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, the Shinobi Professor, the Strongest Hokage, the Shinobi Hero, and Head of the Strongest Ninja Village in the Shinobi World... We have received your esteemed correspondence detailing the turbulent undercurrents currently stirring the Shinobi World and your village's firm resolve to maintain peace. Upon reading it, our side expresses profound agreement and admiration.
Although the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire, Sunagakure and Konohagakure, possess vastly different geographical environments, a foundation of deep peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation has been established since the time of the First Hokage. The people of both nations share a common desire for stable lives, and the shinobi of both nations are deeply aware of the preciousness of peace. Your statement that 'Shinobi World peace is paramount' is indeed the unified belief held by everyone in the Land of Wind. Faced with threats that could endanger the entire order of the Shinobi World, the Land of Wind has no reason to stand idly by.
However, the environment of the Land of Wind is plagued by sandstorms year-round, resources are scarce, the populace struggles to make a living, and both the national treasury and the village's finances have long been under strain—a fact known worldwide.
To ensure that this peacekeeping operation can be carried out swiftly, effectively, and sustainably, if your esteemed Konohagakure can provide 50 million Ryo in special operational funds beforehand, Sunagakure promises that once the funds are in place, the Sunagakure ninja forces will immediately set out, fully cooperate with your actions, and fight side-by-side to maintain the peace of the Shinobi World."
***
Konoha.
Currently the indisputable strongest ninja village in the Shinobi World.
Inside the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, still relatively hale and hearty in his middle age, was smoking his pipe, while two men and one woman sat opposite him.
Together, they were none other than the infamous ruling council of Konoha.
The Third Hokage put down his pipe, leaned forward, and spoke with a solemn expression.
"What are your thoughts on the reply from the Land of Wind?"
*Smash!*
The low table in front of Danzo Shimura shattered instantly under the force of his fist.
"What do you mean, 'what do we think'? Hiruzen, are you getting dumber as you age? What kind of behavior is this from Sunagakure? This is blatant opportunism and extortion! Today they dare to ask for money; tomorrow will they dare to demand our land?"
Danzo Shimura's roar echoed throughout the Hokage Tower, completely disregarding the increasingly grim look on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face.
It was Koharu Utatane who eventually noticed the tension and subtly signaled Danzo, prompting him to drop the subject.
"Ahem, Hiruzen. Although what Danzo said was a bit extreme, he does have a point; Sunagakure was indeed a little excessive with this request."
Koharu stepped in to mediate, trying to cool the temperature in the room.
"What do you mean 'a little excessive'? That is extremely excessive! Hiruzen, listen to me. Give me three thousand ninja, and I'll directly launch a surprise attack on the Land of Wind and bring you the head of that Third Kazekage brat."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eye twitched upon hearing Danzo's words.
He naturally knew why Danzo was so eager—it was because he wasn't deployed in the current war and couldn't earn military merits—but that wasn't an excuse for Danzo to talk nonsense here.
"Enough, Danzo. Do you want to provoke an all-out war between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire? Remember, the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water are still watching us like vultures."
To be honest, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't think 50 million Ryo was much.
After all, during peacetime, the funding provided by the Fire Daimyo alone was 500 million Ryo, and that didn't include Konoha's own mission commissions, totaling around one billion Ryo in annual income. This didn't even account for the extra subsidies the Daimyo's mansion gave Konoha during wartime.
If it could prevent a two-front war, 50 million Ryo truly wasn't much!
But he couldn't be the first one to say it, so he turned his gaze toward Homura Mitokado, who had been sitting quietly.
"Homura, what is your opinion on this matter?"
Upon being called upon by Hiruzen, Homura immediately understood his old friend's intentions, having been partners for so many years.
"Ahem, Hiruzen, I don't think this matter is entirely unacceptable. Sunagakure is, after all, one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages. Its strength is significant, and since we are the ones asking them to deploy troops, it is only right to provide some assistance to bring them to our side. However, 50 million Ryo is too much."
"Homura speaks wisely."
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up and looked out the window at the peaceful expanse of Konoha Village.
"Money has a price, but people are priceless. When Teacher Tobirama entrusted Konoha to me back then, it was so I could protect the village and its people. Now, by spending a small amount of money, we can spare the villagers the suffering of war. The only price to pay is a bit of my reputation, Hiruzen Sarutobi; it's negligible."
"Hiruzen, you truly suffer. To protect the village, you are willing to bear such great infamy."
Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's declaration, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane immediately stood up to comfort him, their faces full of admiration.
They completely ignored Danzo Shimura, who was standing nearby, fuming.
*Damn it, if that counts as infamy, what does that make me?*
"However, we cannot let Sunagakure get away with this easily, or else other villages will find out and think Konoha is weak and easily bullied."
When Danzo heard this sentence, his eyes—no, his single eye—lit up, and he quickly spoke.
"Hiruzen, do you want to send troops to discipline them? Say the word, entrust this matter to me..."
"Tell Sunagakure that 50 million Ryo is too much. 30 million Ryo. Konoha will only give 30 million Ryo!"
Their voices rang out simultaneously.
Their eyes met.
Danzo was the first who couldn't help but speak, his voice trembling with suppressed rage.
"Hiruzen!"
"???"
"You disgust me!"
***
Meanwhile, in the Land of Earth.
Iwagakure.
The young Kitsuchi rushed into the Tsuchikage's office, moving quickly.
"Father! Sunagakure..."
"In the Land of Birds, right? I already know."
"Huh—How did Father know?"
Kitsuchi rubbed his large head, extremely curious how his father knew the contents of the intelligence report he had just received.
Onoki, floating in the air using the Lightened Earth Jutsu to ease his back pain, sighed internally as he looked at his naive son.
He handed the letter on the desk to Kitsuchi.
*"To His Excellency Onoki, the Third Tsuchikage, of the Land of Earth and the Two Scales."*
*"Konoha's tyranny has coerced the Land of Wind into attacking the Land of Earth together, which is not the true intention of the Land of Wind..."*
*"However, Konoha is too powerful, and for fear that the people of the Land of Wind might suffer invasion, we are truly helpless and hereby explain this situation..."*
*"The friendship between the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth, Sunagakure and Iwagakure, has endured peacefully since the time of the First Kage, and a deep bond of friendship has long been established."*
*"Therefore, for only 50 million Ryo!"*
*"Only 50 million Ryo right now! Sunagakure ninja will absolutely not step half a pace into the Land of Earth!"*
*"May the friendship between the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth last forever."*
"Father, this..."
"Use my title during work hours."
"Yes, Lord Tsuchikage."
"Lord Tsuchikage, how should we handle this matter?"
"Sunagakure has produced another remarkable Kazekage."
"?"
*Wait, shouldn't he be talking about a solution? Why is he praising someone?*
"Hmph!"
Seeing the confused look on Kitsuchi's face, Onoki felt a surge of irritation.
"Kitsuchi."
"Present."
"Do you know what it takes to become a Kage?"
"Strength? Prestige?"