Homura imdiately objected.
"But if we do that, Kirigakure definitely won't be able to withstand the pressure. They'll lose. And once that happens, Sunagakure will turn around and target Konoha. If that happens, Iwagakure will certainly co back as well."
"This ti they were only driven back. They haven't surrendered."
"And the damage we dealt them wasn't enough. They still have the strength to fight."
Then Homura added one more line.
"Danzo, if you hadn't worked with Shirosha Kouichi to make a move against Sunagakure, then yes, we might actually be able to do that. But because of you, Sunagakure definitely bears a grudge against us now."
Danzo's expression sank.
Homura's sarcasm irritated him greatly.
But Danzo didn't even look at him.
Instead, he said to Hiruzen,
"Hiruzen, which is why we need to reach an agreent with Sunagakure first."
Hiruzen looked at Danzo.
"Who will go?"
"Since this matter started because of , I'll go myself. But I'll need Orochimaru to accompany . I'm confident I can persuade that brat Rasa, but he's too impulsive."
What Danzo was worried about was simple:
That Rasa would attack before he even got the chance to speak.
After personally fighting Rasa and witnessing his clash with Minato, Danzo now understood clearly that he was absolutely no match for Rasa.
At least not in his current state.
"Fine."
The mont Danzo and Orochimaru appeared, the Suna shinobi imdiately beca alert.
"Who goes there?"
"It's Danzo of Konoha!"
"And Orochimaru!"
"Why are those two here?"
"To ambush our Suna army?"
"Hurry! Inform Kazekage-sama and Pakura-sama at once!"
Danzo spread his hands, trying to signal that he had no hostile intent.
"Everyone of Sunagakure, we an no harm. We've co to discuss sothing with your Kazekage—sothing beneficial to both Konoha and Sunagakure."
"Please pass the ssage along."
After speaking, Danzo did not step any closer. He remained where he was, doing his best to reduce the hostility of the Suna shinobi.
Orochimaru folded his arms and narrowed his eyes as he observed the surrounding shinobi of Sunagakure.
"Danzo and Orochimaru?"
Rasa raised a brow.
"I understand. I'll go over in a mont."
Beside him, Pakura looked over.
"Husband-sama, shall I co too?"
Rasa shook his head.
"No. I'll go alone."
With that, he rose to his feet.
"Sand Soldier Manifestation!"
A sand soldier with chuunin-level strength appeared inside the tent. Shield in one hand, spear in the other, it crouched quietly in the corner like a sand sculpture.
Pakura examined it carefully.
"So this is that technique of Husband-sama's…"
"The sand soldiers he creates can be strong or weak. They can serve as elite combatants or beco a sea of bodies. And Husband-sama can use them for instantaneous movent as well."
"It's no worse than Minato Namikaze's Flying Thunder God Technique."
"To develop such a powerful technique from Magnet Release… Husband-sama is a genius."
"He has already surpassed the Third Kazekage of old."
Danzo and Orochimaru waited for quite so ti.
Finally, in the distance, they saw Rasa approaching.
Orochimaru studied him carefully.
He had not t Rasa many tis before, and in the past had heard very little about him. But recently, information about Rasa had exploded across the shinobi world.
The extermination of the Hongsha Clan.
The killing of four of the Seven Ninja Swordsn.
Turning Sunagakure's situation around.
Breaking Danzo's and Shirosha Kouichi's sche.
Matching Minato Namikaze blow for blow.
"So Sunagakure really did produce such a remarkable talent…"
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, as though trying to peer into the secrets hidden within Rasa.
Danzo's mood was complicated.
On one hand, he hated Rasa bitterly.
The grudge of losing an arm was not sothing one forgot.
But on the other hand, Danzo desperately wanted Konoha and Sunagakure to reach a peace agreent.
That was the best possible choice for Konoha.
If Konoha reconciled with Sunagakure, it could cast off Kirigakure, that burden, and with Iwagakure already defeated, Konoha could withdraw from this war entirely.
And once Konoha was no longer at war, the other villages would have to think long and hard before making another move against it.
"This grudge… there will be ti to settle it later."
"For now, I'll endure."
"Everything is for Konoha."
"I am Konoha's darkness. The roots beneath the great tree."
"For the sake of the village, I can even abandon my reputation and bear every curse thrown my way. This is nothing."
"This is my magnanimity."
"Hiruzen could never do the sa."
"He clearly wants the sa thing I do, yet when it cos to cutting ties with Kirigakure, he insists on making be the one to say it first."
"As if that makes him the righteous one."
Danzo let out a cold snort in his heart.
As Rasa approached, Danzo forced a smile onto his face.
"You old bastard, what do you want with ? Don't tell you're plotting sothing again."
The mont he opened his mouth, Rasa ca out swinging.
He had absolutely no goodwill toward Danzo.
What Danzo did inside Konoha, Rasa couldn't care less about.
But Danzo's previous operation against Sunagakure was different. If Rasa had not just happened to obtain the One-Day Mind-Listening Card, then even if Danzo's plan had ultimately failed, it still would have caused heavy casualties to Sunagakure.
Especially since that shaless old dog had aid at Karura and the others.
That made Rasa despise him to the extre.
Danzo's expression stiffened.
His displeasure had already climbed to the limit, but he still forced himself to endure.
For the village. Everything for the village.
"Kazekage, we ca this ti to discuss sothing beneficial to both Sunagakure and Konoha."
Danzo paused, then continued,
"Konoha can sign a peace agreent with Sunagakure. We won't interfere with each other. That way, Sunagakure can focus all its strength on dealing with Kirigakure."
"You want to sell out Kirigakure?"
"We only an that Konoha will no longer interfere in the war between Sunagakure and Kirigakure. Fundantally, there was never much reason for Konoha and Sunagakure to fight in the first place."
A flicker passed through Rasa's eyes.
"And how do I know you're not lying to ?"
"To show our sincerity, Kazekage, you may send your own people to monitor our army internally. The mont we make any unusual move, you'll know imdiately."
Danzo said, "That ans Konoha will have no chance to launch a surprise attack on you."
"Well? Kazekage, this is an enormous advantage for Sunagakure."
"If you defeat Kirigakure, Sunagakure will gain huge war reparations and enter a period of peace. Isn't that exactly what your village wants?"
Danzo's voice took on a coaxing tone.
User Comments
0 comments from readers