This was simply too much.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado were both people who valued their lives, and arguing with a man as reckless as the Third Raikage was asking far too much of them.
They wanted to say something—anything.
But the murderous, threatening looks from the Cloud delegation made the two elders shut their mouths instantly.
Simply put, they were terrified of getting beaten to death.
Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally couldn't sit still any longer.
"Ahem! Shinobi of Kumogakure, we are here to negotiate, are we not? The war is already over. It would be foolish to start a fight now."
"Tch."
The Third Raikage didn't care in the slightest about Hiruzen Sarutobi's status as the Third Hokage.
"The ones who defeated our Hidden Cloud were not you Konoha people. It was that Golden Lion."
Kumogakure shinobi were known for their ferocity and pride, but they also respected strength above all.
Aoyama Ryuun had crushed them, and in doing so, had earned Cloud's respect.
"I will only negotiate with that Golden Lion."
His eyes swept disdainfully across Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others.
His contempt was blatant.
"Aoyama Ryūun is just a jōnin of Konoha. We are—"
Koharu and Homura tried to speak, but—
"I don't want to hear it. Get out."
"I—!"
They nearly exploded with fury. These Cloud brutes were truly bullying them.
Finally, after Hiruzen intervened, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado stormed out, humiliated.
"Someone, bring Aoyama Ryuun here."
The moment they exited, Hiruzen immediately dispatched ANBU.
It was frustrating, but these negotiations were far too important to mishandle.
"Once we return from handling Kumogakure's demands, we'll discuss your behavior."
As he spoke, Hiruzen cast a meaningful glance at Koharu and Homura.
He knew they were livid.
But anger or not, they had no choice but to swallow their pride.
"Hmph."
Both elders snorted coldly but said nothing.
…
About ten minutes later, Aoyama Ryuun arrived.
Hands behind his back, he noticed the ugly expressions plastered on Koharu and Homura's faces.
Ryuun smirked.
"Well now, aren't these Konoha's two honored elders? Looks like you're about to get yelled at again."
"You—!"
Kumogakure had insulted them earlier, and now Ryuun had the nerve to mock them as well?
But the problem was—
Aoyama Ryuun was even more terrifying than the Cloud delegation.
Despite wanting to snap back, Koharu and Homura didn't dare utter a word.
Hiruzen felt a headache forming.
His two old comrades were the type who bullied the weak and feared the strong.
They strutted arrogantly around those beneath them…
But when facing someone stronger? Their retreat was instant. Pathetic enough to make even Hiruzen wonder how they had risen to become elders.
"All right, Ryuun. The Cloud delegation is your responsibility now."
Hiruzen didn't particularly like Ryuun either.
But at this moment, only Aoyama Ryuun could deal with those brutes inside the conference room.
"Sure."
Ryuun shrugged. He seemed indifferent.
He had been meditating peacefully at home when he suddenly heard Kumogakure had arrived—and had specifically asked for him by name.
Naturally, he was curious what those people wanted.
Under the watchful eyes of Hiruzen and the others, Aoyama Ryuun stepped into the meeting room.
…
"Hmph! He'll definitely get scolded too!"
"Exactly. Just because he earned the title of Golden Lion, he thinks he's something special?"
Outside the room, after Ryuun entered, Koharu and Homura muttered sour comments to each other.
Their resentment was obvious.
"…"
Hiruzen only cast them a sideways glance.
Were these two genuinely unaware of their own insignificance?
Aoyama Ryuun's current prestige in the ninja world carried more weight than Hiruzen's own title as Hokage.
'Hopefully something unexpected happens…'
In truth, Hiruzen didn't want Ryuun to settle this matter peacefully.
If Ryuun succeeded again, his reputation would continue to rise unchecked.
The more Hiruzen's own image as Hokage declined, the harder it became to maintain control.
For days now, he had been thinking:
He couldn't remain Hokage forever.
But he needed to preserve as much influence as possible once he stepped down.
…
Meanwhile, as Aoyama Ryuun entered the meeting room, the Third Raikage's eyes brightened immediately, and he burst into loud laughter.
A and Killer B comported themselves respectfully.
Yugito Nii, however, was looking at Ryuun strangely.
Aoyama Ryuun couldn't help but notice the odd gaze.
It resembled the same look Tsunade or Kurenai sometimes gave him—open admiration.
He silently shook his head, chasing away the thought.
This was the Two-Tails' jinchūriki from Hidden Cloud. That kind of thing was impossible.
"I heard you wanted to speak with me?"
Ryuun sat down with natural authority.
His tone was calm, his expression composed, as if he didn't regard any of them as equals.
His attitude didn't irritate the Cloud shinobi—in fact, it impressed them.
Kumogakure revered strength.
As far as they were concerned, the strong were always right.
Conversely, the weak—no matter how correct—were irrelevant.
"Ahem! Our Hidden Cloud Village hopes to form an alliance with the Hidden Leaf."
"An alliance?"
Ryuun was no stranger to alliance proposals.
However—
"If it's just an alliance, why not speak to Hiruzen Sarutobi? He's the Hokage."
Regardless of Ryuun's power, Hiruzen was still the village's official leader.
Upon hearing this, the Third Raikage scoffed openly.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi? He's nothing. You're the one who defeated us. The Hidden Cloud Village will only acknowledge you."
A Hokage who couldn't even defeat a young Mizukage?
The Third Raikage had no respect for such a man.
Outside the door, Hiruzen froze in place:
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