"I wonder what conditions the Hidden Leaf Village will propose."
Mabui pressed her forehead, her dark face filled with worry.
"At this point, worrying is useless."
Samui sat down across from her and asked, "Would you like some tea?"
"You go ahead."
Mabui sighed and said, "I can't drink anything right now."
Samui silently picked up the teacup and took a sip.
The bitter taste spread in her mouth.
They had been in the Hidden Leaf Village for almost a month.
All they had been thinking about was how to negotiate terms with the Hidden Leaf.
And today, they finally had an answer.
The room fell into silence once again.
Samui looked at the steaming teacup and suddenly thought of Hanekawa.
Why did he like that kind of punishment?
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
"Come in."
Mabui immediately tensed up.
"Lady Mabui, this was just delivered by someone from the Hidden Leaf Village."
A young ninja handed over a scroll with both hands.
"Thank you. You may leave."
Mabui took the scroll, her expression extremely uneasy.
"Mabui."
Samui couldn't help but speak up.
"I know."
Mabui took a deep breath and opened the scroll.
As expected, it was the conditions proposed by the Hidden Leaf Village.
She had heard that Tsunade would hold a Jonin meeting today and had suspected this might happen. Now it had become a reality.
After all, this matter had been dragging on for over a month, and the day of the peace talks was approaching.
Mabui glanced at the scroll, and her face immediately turned pale. She bit her lip.
Seeing this, Samui felt a sense of foreboding.
She stood up and walked behind Mabui, bending slightly to look down.
The heavy burden swayed, creating a wave of tension.
Samui's heart skipped a beat, and her mouth opened, unsure of what to say.
The Hidden Leaf Village had proposed several conditions, but the most important ones were four.
First, all the ninjutsu and secret techniques of the Hidden Cloud Village.
Second, the Hidden Cloud Village must hand over the Turtle Island and the method for perfecting the Jinchūriki training.
Third, the Hidden Leaf ninjas could take on missions in the Land of Lightning.
Fourth, war reparations, including funds for the reconstruction of the Hidden Leaf Village and compensation for the families of the fallen ninjas.
After reading the conditions, Samui silently sat back down.
The Hidden Cloud Village would, at most, agree to the fourth condition.
The first three conditions were completely unacceptable, as they would undermine the very foundation of the Hidden Cloud Village.
For ninjas, the most important things were their ninjutsu and secret techniques.
Ninja battles were essentially battles of intelligence.
Handing over all their ninjutsu and secret techniques would mean the Hidden Cloud Village would have no secrets left in front of the Hidden Leaf.
As for the method of perfecting the Jinchūriki, it was the most closely guarded secret of the Hidden Cloud Village.
It was precisely because of the perfect Jinchūriki that the Hidden Cloud Village's strength was on par with the Hidden Leaf and surpassed the other ninja villages.
If it were just the method of perfecting the Jinchūriki, it might be acceptable, but handing over the Turtle Island as well would be digging up their roots.
The Turtle Island's True Waterfall was the most crucial step in perfecting the Jinchūriki.
Without the Turtle Island, the Hidden Cloud Village would find it nearly impossible to cultivate perfect Jinchūriki in the future.
For a ninja village to develop, it needed money.
The sources of money were only two: mission rewards and aid from the Land of Lightning's daimyo.
The aid from the Land of Lightning's daimyo would be adjusted based on the Hidden Cloud Village's performance.
Given the Hidden Cloud Village's recent crushing defeat, next year's aid would likely be reduced.
If the Hidden Leaf Village also interfered with the Hidden Cloud Village's missions, the mission rewards would be affected as well.
In other words, the Hidden Cloud Village's income would drop significantly.
"What should we do now?"
After pondering for a long time, Samui could only look to Mabui for answers.
"These are just the initial conditions."
Mabui said with a heavy expression, "We can negotiate."
Samui hesitated to speak.
Under normal circumstances, they could indeed negotiate.
But this was clearly not a normal situation. The Hidden Cloud Village had been nearly wiped out.
Especially with the capture of Yugito Nii, Killer Bee, and the Fourth Raikage.
If they didn't agree to the Hidden Leaf's conditions, the fate of these three was self-evident.
And without the two tailed beasts and the Fourth Raikage, what could the Hidden Cloud Village use to resist the Hidden Leaf?
No, it wasn't just the Hidden Leaf.
Would the Hidden Stone, Hidden Mist, and Hidden Sand Villages miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?
"Send this scroll back to the Hidden Cloud Village."
Mabui closed the scroll and said, "Let Darui discuss it and then send a negotiation team over."
"Understood."
Samui took the scroll and replied.
Mabui suddenly closed her eyes and covered her face.
"Mabui?"
Samui was startled and quickly called out.
"I'm fine."
Mabui said wearily, "I'm just thinking about how to negotiate."
Samui couldn't help but purse her lips.
She could imagine the pressure Mabui was under.
But she had to bear it.
Because she was the Raikage's secretary, one of the highest-ranking ninjas in the Hidden Cloud Village.
...
After the Jonin meeting ended, much of the discussion quickly spread throughout the Hidden Leaf Village.
Many ninjas' first reaction was that the Hidden Leaf had undergone a major change.
The old guard had stepped down, and new faces had taken their places.
It was no exaggeration to say that the entire upper echelon of the Hidden Leaf had been replaced.
But it had to be said, this move had stirred up their enthusiasm.
Because there were still vacant positions.
For example, the Hokage's advisors and the Hokage Guard Platoon were far from being fully staffed.
Both young and middle-aged ninjas were filled with excitement.
Because they all had a chance.
At the Sarutobi clan's compound.
By a pond, Hiruzen Sarutobi was fishing.
As the former Hokage, he no longer needed to take on missions after retirement.
With all this free time, he had taken up fishing.
Occasionally, he would urge his eldest son to give him a grandson.
As for his second son, Asuma Sarutobi, he was still too young, and the priority was to find a girlfriend.
Just then, hurried footsteps approached.
Hiruzen instinctively looked up and saw Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane.
His old comrades' faces were dark, and without even asking, he could guess what had happened.
"Hiruzen, you're quite relaxed."
Koharu said with dissatisfaction.
In her opinion, if Hiruzen had stepped in, the situation wouldn't have gotten so bad.
"Since I've retired, why not join me for some fishing?"
Hiruzen said calmly.
"I can't swallow this!"
Koharu said through gritted teeth.
"Hiruzen, Tsunade is your student. Are you just going to let her run wild?"
Homura demanded.
"What do you want to do?"
Hiruzen's gaze fell on the water's surface as he asked, "What can you do?"
Homura and Koharu fell silent.
Through official channels, they couldn't oppose Tsunade.
After all, she was now the Hokage, the most powerful figure in the Hidden Leaf.
But unofficial methods were also useless.
Because they couldn't defeat Tsunade and Hanezawa.
"I won't help."
Hiruzen shook his head and said, "You should leave."
"Hiruzen!"
Koharu tried to argue, "Aren't you resentful?"
Hiruzen remained silent, focusing on his fishing.
What good would his resentment do?
After all, he had essentially been forced out of the Hokage position by Tsunade.
"You'll regret this!"
Koharu and Homura had no choice but to leave.
"The last person who loved to say that ended up dead at Hanekawa's hands."
Hiruzen shook his head and sighed.
He had some feelings for Danzo Shimura.
After all, they had worked together for so many years.
As noon approached, footsteps sounded again.
"How many fish have you caught?"
Asuma Sarutobi walked up to the bucket and asked in confusion, "Why is it empty?"
"I was in a good mood today, so I released them all."
Hiruzen said without batting an eye.
"Really?"
Asuma asked suspiciously, "Did you not catch any at all?"
"Of course not!"
Hiruzen quickly changed the subject, "Do you know what was discussed at the Jonin meeting today?"
"Of course I do!"
Asuma grinned and said, "Sakumo-sensei has become a Hokage advisor!"
"Besides him, who else? Jiraiya?"
Hiruzen nodded slightly and asked.
"Just him."
Asuma paused and asked, "Wait, why isn't he on the list?"
"Probably because of Mount Myōboku."
Hiruzen shook his head and said, "Never mind, let's not talk about him. Go on."
"The Hokage Guard Platoon, the Hokage's strategists, and the Konoha Military Police Force."
Asuma recounted the contents of the Jonin meeting.
"The Uchiha clan agreed to these conditions?"
Hiruzen couldn't help but widen his eyes.
The Hokage Guard Platoon and the Hokage's strategists were within expectations and didn't surprise him.
But the Konoha Military Police Force was truly baffling.
"Is there a problem?"
Asuma scratched his head and asked.
"Nothing."
Hiruzen fell into thought.
Given the Uchiha clan's nature, they would never be so compliant.
The only way to achieve this was to promise them the Hokage position.
If it were him, he would never have done that.
Tsunade indeed had more courage than him and Danzo.
But could she bear the consequences of such a decision?
After all, his teacher, Tobirama Senju, had said that the Uchiha clan was inherently evil.
Hiruzen suddenly thought of Hanekawa.
Perhaps this was the source of Tsunade's confidence.
Just like Hashirama Senju in the past.
...
Time passed slowly.
The year of turmoil finally came to an end, and the Hidden Leaf Village welcomed a new year.
January 1st.
It was supposed to be a day of celebration for the New Year, but Mabui, Samui, and the others felt no joy.
They stood silently at the gates of the Hidden Leaf Village, waiting.
"They're here."
Samui spotted figures in the distance.
Mabui snapped out of her thoughts and looked up. It was the Hidden Cloud's negotiation team.
She felt a slight sense of relief.
For over a month, she had been thinking about how to negotiate with the Hidden Leaf, her nerves stretched taut like a bowstring. She had grown visibly haggard.
But she knew this wasn't the time to collapse.
Because the real battle was about to begin.
What had come before was just preparation; now was the time for action.
She just didn't know who the Hidden Leaf's negotiator would be.
"Mabui, Samui."
A white-haired boy with a sword on his back stepped forward.
"Darui? Why are you here?"
Mabui couldn't help but frown, "Didn't I tell you to stay in the Hidden Cloud Village?"
Darui, the inheritor of the Third Raikage's Black Lightning, the Fourth Raikage's bodyguard, and the future Fifth Raikage.
"I couldn't just sit still."
Darui said sheepishly.
"Since you're here, you might as well stay and join the negotiations."
Mabui said with some resignation.
"Why don't I see any Hidden Leaf ninjas?"
Darui looked around and asked.
"The negotiations haven't started yet, so I didn't notify them."
Mabui explained.
"Maybe it's better not to notify them."
Darui fell silent for a few seconds and said.
They were the defeated, and the Hidden Leaf was the victor. There was no need to meet.
"The negotiations are set for Sunday."
Mabui sighed and said.
The reason for Sunday was that the Hidden Leaf was on holiday for the New Year.
"Let's go."
Darui nodded slightly and said, "We should finalize what we're going to say during the negotiations."
Shortly after they left, a tree near the gates of the Hidden Leaf Village rustled slightly, and a figure appeared.
Hanekawa watched the Hidden Cloud negotiation team from a distance.
He suddenly thought of Hinata Hyuga.
In the original story, the Hidden Cloud had kidnapped her during negotiations, leading to the death of Hizashi Hyuga.
Of course, this time, such a thing wouldn't happen.
"This year will be lively. Ten of the Konoha 12 will be born."
Hanezawa couldn't help but sigh.
As for the other two, Neji Hyuga and Tenten, they had already been born last year.
Hanekawa looked away and turned his attention to the tree trunk beneath him.
He bent down and picked up a kunai.
This wasn't an ordinary kunai, but one he had thrown a few days ago, marked with the Flying Thunder God Technique.
After months of study, Hanekawa had finally mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique.
[S-Rank Ninjutsu: Flying Thunder God Technique.]
[Activation Condition: Successfully perform the technique.]
[Effect: The technique automatically reaches proficiency level.]
The first thing Hanekawa did after learning the Flying Thunder God Technique was to mark the entire Hidden Leaf Village with Flying Thunder God seals.
From now on, he wouldn't need to walk; he could teleport.
Hanekawa jumped down from the tree and continued running out of the village.
Using the Flying Thunder God Technique was simple.
As long as there was a Flying Thunder God seal, he could teleport.
But the prerequisite was being able to sense the seal.
And the farther the distance or the larger the object being teleported, the more chakra it would consume.
Today, Hanekawa wanted to test the maximum range of his Flying Thunder God Technique.
A few minutes later, he stopped.
Hanezawa estimated he had traveled over ten thousand meters.
Flying Thunder God Technique!
Hanekawa's body instantly disappeared and reappeared in the ANBU base.
He sat down on his office chair and caught his breath.
The teleportation had consumed about one-fifth of his chakra.
He now knew the maximum range of the technique.
But the maximum range wasn't fixed.
As his proficiency with the Flying Thunder God Technique increased and his chakra reserves grew, the maximum range would also expand.
"Lord Hanekawa."
Haru knocked and entered.
"What is it?"
Hanekawa looked at her and asked.
"Just received news that the Hidden Rain Village has severed its alliance with the Hidden Leaf."
Haru paused and said, "And they've returned all the supplies and money the Hidden Leaf had sent them."
Hanekawa's eyes narrowed.
His first thought was that Madara Uchiha and Obito Uchiha were behind this.
But how had they managed it?
Returning the supplies and money?
Had Madara and Obito provided them with aid?
"Investigate the Hidden Mist, Hidden Sand, and the daimyos of the various countries. See if there have been any large expenditures recently."
Hanekawa had initially wanted to investigate the Hidden Rain Village, but it was too dangerous and might alert the enemy.
If Madara and Obito wanted to quickly gather funds, the best way was to use the Mangekyō Sharingan to control others.
Thus, the other ninja villages and the daimyos would be easy targets.
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