May 5th
Sunagakure, Kazekage's Hall
The desert wind was quieter this time.
As Onoki approached the sand stone gates of Sunagakure, his posture was less rigid and his pace more deliberate. The heat pressed against his skin, but his thoughts were colder, preoccupied by the fog of Kirigakure and demands of Hozuki Gengetsu still echoing in his ears.
This was not the same Onoki who had arrived weeks earlier, demanding answers and pressing for commitment. At the time, Iwagakure wasn't desperate. Konoha's strength exceeded their expectation. Their intelligence on Konoha was flawed.
Knowing Iwa's predicament, Shamon greeted Onoki with cold indifference while resting his chin on his palm.
"Is there anything left to discus between us? Iwa?"
Onoki did not flinch from Shamon's outward indifference. While making his way to Suna, he carefully analyzed the situation from Suna's perspective.
"Kazekage-dono, let's drop all pleasantries and be frank."
Shamon lifted his head in a deliberately slow movement.
"Drop the Pleasantries? Be frank? Now that is not a way to handle politics, young Onoki."
Onoki frowned. He could tell that Shamon has the upper hand in this conversation and it will be difficult to draw Suna to war soon.
"I know the basics of politics Kazekage-dono. But we are not here to take advantage of each other, but discuss cooperation. To create a win-win situation."
Shamon rested his head again on his palm, observing Onoki with half-indifference and half-amusement.
"Okay then. Speak. Enlighten me."
Onoki massaged his neck and began.
"Kazekage-dono should have realized by now that Konoha's strength cannot be left uncheck. Currently, their forces are spread thin because of the uncertainty that Suna or Kiri will join the war."
"That's true. But that's not enough to draw us into the war Onoki. Try harder."
Onoki gritted his teeth for a moment, but quickly recovered.
"I know that Suna has much interest in this war and you are just waiting for both sides to bleed. But once Konoha consolidate their forces and take Iwa and Kumo down. Then Suna and Kiri will have no chance to reap anything from this war."
"We will preserve our strength."
"But at what cost?" Onoki countered, "Konoha is no longer ruled by Hahsirama, but his brother Tobirama. We all know what that means."
Shamon leaned back, hiding his expression under the shadow of Kazekage hat.
Onoki took this as a sign of Shamon's concession and continued.
"If we don't cooperate and weaken Konoha as much as we can now, then our descendants will certainly live under Konoha's rule and supremacy. As late starters we must drag Konoha down as a much as we can!"
Shamon leaned forward and lifted his head as his eyes locked with Onoki's.
"Your arguments all based on hypothetical situations. I agree that Konoha needs to be dragged down. But still, there's nothing for Suna to gain by joining the war, now."
"But this isn't about benefits. This is about future. Kazekage-dono, you mu–"
"And yet, your Iwagakure is aiming to capture another Tailed-beast. If this truly just to weaken Konoha, then can you give us that Tailed-beast? Then we will consider, 'aiding' your cause."
Onoki's eyes widened.
"Kazekage-dono… You are asking the impossible."
"Your Iwa has a clear goal and benefit to gain regardless of the outcome of this war. You might not have captured the jinchuriki yet, but you are close." Shamon smiled as he continued. "So. Again. What can Suna gain?"
"We will compensate with grains, Ryo, and resour –"
Shamon extended his hand to pause him.
"That is given. But not enough."
"Then wha–"
"50%"
"?" Onoki tilted his head in confusion. "50% of what?"
"Mission quotas Iwa exploited from Land of Stone and Land of Rain."
"! IMPOSSIBLE!" Onoki barked instinctively, but soon recovered. "Ahem. Kazekage-dono That is–"
"55%"
"?"
"60%"
"Wha– wait! This"
"65%"
"25%!"
"75%"
"KAZEKAGE-DONO!"
"85%"
"We'll give 30%"
"90%"
"40% Take it or leave it!"
"Alright then." Shamon clapped and a kunoichi emerged from the shadows with a scroll.
Onoki realized he was played.
In the end he gritted his teeth and signed the scroll and departed with Suna's promise that they will declare war on Konoha.
***
Iwagakure Tsuchikage Office
"So, Suna will join in… but it will take two to three weeks before they are fully prepared… And we are to supply their initial war supplies... and Kiri's demand…"
"Apologies, Sensei. Kazekage and Mizukage were too stubborn. I failed you!"
Onoki knelt before Mu, asking for punishment. However, Mu proceeded to raise him and patted Onoki on the shoulder.
"This is good enough. Both Shamon and Gengetsu would never miss this opportunity to weaken Konoha. But at the same time, they want us to bleed. You made the right call here."
"Sensei…"
"We walked into to this war thinking we had enough leverage. But I miscalculated. Kumo acted as we expected but Suna and Kiri… was bit unexpected. And Lastly….. Konoha's strength far exceeded our expectation."
Mu returned back to his seat. He had not expected that capturing the Five tails jinchuriki from Kusagakure would consume so much time and resource. It threw off his war plans; to swiftly capture Five-Tails from Kusa and Seven-Tails from Taki and reach a deal with Konoha. Weakening Konoha was only a secondary objective.
But, he realized he had been a too optimistic, thinking other villages would be more eager to weaken Konoha in their stead.
"Then should we uphold the deal?"
Mu massaged his chin in contemplation, as Onoki broke him out of his momentary contemplation.
"We should uphold the deal. Provide half the supplies they requested and tell them rest will be provided once they uphold their part of the deal. As for Tobirama…"
Mu paused.
"Mobilize the Explosion Corps and we will draw him in."
Onoki's eyes sparkled with fire, he had been itching for a good fight; to showcase his dust release in battle. "Yes Sensei!"
Noticing Onoki's young blood boiling with eagerness, Mu smirked under his bandage covered face.
'This war will be a perfect moment to temper Onoki again; not only to recover his confidence after That Encounter, but also to gain experience on commanding large scale army.'
Next day, on May 6th, Mu and Onoki departed to Kusagakure front with the Explosion corps and total of 3,000 shinobi reinforcements.