After Karura's emotions had calmed down, Bunfuku took her hand and sat her down in a nearby chair.
He looked her up and down and said, "It seems your life here in Konoha hasn't been too bad; you look well."
Karura wiped away her tears and said with a smile, "Konoha really isn't that bad to us.
As long as we're obedient and cooperative, our lives are much easier.
They even have a system where if you work hard for them, your treatment improves.
I've been quite diligent, so among the prisoners, I'm doing pretty well… I realize now that everything the village used to say was false; Konoha isn't nearly as bad as they claimed!"
According to Sunagakure's propaganda, Konoha would never treat prisoners kindly.
It was precisely because the Suna ninja didn't know this that they fought so fiercely under that order, choosing death over surrender, fearing cruel treatment if they fell into Konoha's hands and rejection from their own village.
However, the Suna ninja who were unfortunately captured soon discovered that this was all a lie from the village's higher-ups!
Bunfuku's expression darkened slightly.
He had vaguely known this news, but hearing it from his student made him realize that the Suna high command's propaganda was even more absurd, clearly designed to cut off any path of surrender for Suna ninja.
However, this was probably the high command's own objective, and Bunfuku found such behavior utterly despicable.
"I always thought Konoha's actions were a breath of fresh air among the ninja villages," Bunfuku said.
"Now it truly seems the rumors are true; I never expected them to let you come see me."
"Our activities are much freer now, though we still can't use chakra," Karura replied.
"The seal will only be released when we're sent back, but that's nothing.
Besides, Konoha also asked sensei to come, and they have something they want me to ask you."
"What?" Bunfuku was immediately surprised.
His arrival was apparently something Konoha desired, which confused him.
"Why do they… Chapter 390: Bunfuku's Decision (Page 1/7)… want to see me? And how did they know I would come?"
"Because the news that sensei could come out was spread by me!" Karura said.
"Some time ago, during Konoha's battle with the village, I secretly contacted people in the village and asked them to help take the message back.
I didn't say much, just that sensei could help stop the war.
That way, sensei would definitely be invited out by the Kazekage."
Konoha didn't need to plan anything complicated.
They only needed to subtly hint at the top that they wanted to meet with Bunfuku, and at the bottom, leak Bunfuku's existence.
For the Suna ninja, where peace talks had already become the mainstream, it would naturally ferment and lead to the situation they desired.
If one were to describe it in a word, this is called "the tide of events."
In the face of such a tide, a simple action can snowball, and this is what an overt strategy relies on.
"So that's how it is; I wondered how the ninja in the village knew my name."
Bunfuku finally understood why the Suna ninja who saw him off could call him by his true name.
He had been under surveillance after arriving in Sunagakure, so he didn't know about the news circulating at the bottom, assuming it had come from the higher-ups.
He never expected it was Konoha and his student pushing it from behind.
"The purpose of calling sensei here is actually for the future of Sunagakure," Karura said seriously.
"Sensei, Sunagakure desperately needs peace now, and in the future, it also needs to repair its relationship with Konoha.
Konoha also hopes that Sunagakure can have a leader who truly supports peace, and sensei is such a person.
So, after learning about sensei, they wanted to talk to you."
"What do they want to talk about?" Bunfuku asked.
Since he was the lead negotiator, even if only in name, he felt he had some responsibility to bear.
If there was any information he could get, it would be best to learn it from his student before the formal negotiations.
"Konoha hopes that sensei can become the Kazekage."
Karura's first sentence shocked Bunfuku.
"Sunagakure… Chapter 390: Bunfuku's Decision (Page 2/7)… needs a leader who supports peace.
Only such a leader can put Sunagakure on the right path, and I believe only sensei can take on such a heavy responsibility!"
Bunfuku never expected that Konoha and his student would actually want him to become the Kazekage.
Although Ebizo had told Bunfuku that he could contend for the Kazekage position, Bunfuku, who wasn't very interested in power, only planned to live a good life after this mission was over.
Kazekage or anything else was meaningless to him.
"No, I don't want to be Kazekage," Bunfuku immediately shook his head and refused.
"How can you refuse?" Karura became a little anxious.
"The village unilaterally started the war before, and Konoha truly has no confidence in the village.
If it were sensei, Konoha would trust that the village could maintain a stance of peace in the future.
Can you still refuse then, sensei?"
"This—" Bunfuku didn't know how to answer for a moment.
"Sensei, this is in private, so please forgive my bluntness.
The reason Sunagakure has come to this point is entirely due to the actions of the Kazekage siblings and other higher-ups.
They truly never considered the well-being of Sunagakure.
They issued such an order, treating us as disposable cannon fodder.
When we were captured, our loved ones might face mortal danger, but when their loved ones were captured, that order seemed to not exist at all—it's simply shameless!"
This was the true sentiment in the hearts of the lower-ranking Suna ninja; their dissatisfaction with the higher-ups was practically overflowing.
The higher-ups completely disregarded the lower-ranking ninja.
If it wasn't their own family, they acted recklessly, but if it was their own family, they treated their previous words as air.
How could such inconsistent higher-ups gain the support of the common people?
If it weren't for that order of "no surrender, captured means betrayal of the village," the lower-ranking ninja wouldn't have had such strong grievances against the higher-ups, because Chiyo and others, at least, sent their family members to the front lines to carry out various missions, which showed a good attitude.
However, once such an order was issued, the actions of the Kazekage and others seemed somewhat shameless.
… Chapter 390: Bunfuku's Decision (Page 3/7)…
"If they continue to sit in high positions, they will sooner or later lead the village into another war with Konoha.
Do we really want to experience another war like this?" Karura said excitedly.
"I'm not betraying the village or thinking from Konoha's perspective.
As a Suna ninja, I truly don't want my village to suffer such a devastating defeat.
This time, because of Konoha's goodwill, we're doing pretty well, but what if there's a war with Iwagakure?
Will they treat us well then?"
Bunfuku squinted slightly.
Karura's words made him understand the true feelings of the lower-ranking ninja.
He recalled the expressions of the Suna ninja who saw him off before he left.
Regardless of whether any of them had supported the war before it began, after this defeat, the vast majority—though he couldn't guarantee all—had become staunch pacifists.
They no longer wanted to endure such pain and suffering, especially since they were the aggressors.
Sunagakure was home to Karura and the others.
They didn't want their homeland to be invaded.
If they were the invaded party, Karura and the others would probably rather die than surrender.
But as the aggressors, they had no reason to continue sacrificing their lives for such actions.
They gained nothing; instead, they were sent to their deaths by the higher-ups.
"Sensei, please, I beg you, step forward.
We truly need you," Karura pleaded.
"We've truly lost faith in the higher-ups.
Only you, sensei, can I trust to lead Sunagakure towards a bright future.
That's what I believe, which is why I'm helping Konoha.
I'm helping them for the sake of our village!"
"But I'm just a monk, and I've always lived in a high tower.
I don't know how to manage a village," Bunfuku said.
Since he said that, it meant his resolve had already wavered.
He still wasn't interested in power, but he couldn't bear to see his student suffer because of it.
"That's alright; governing a ninja village has never been a one-person job.
I understood this… Chapter 390: Bunfuku's Decision (Page 4/7)… in the prisoner-of-war camp," Karura immediately replied.
Then, Karura told Bunfuku about Konoha's policies that she knew of.
Some she had witnessed firsthand in the prisoner-of-war camp, others Uchiha Kagami had told her, all with the aim of persuading Bunfuku.
Uchiha Kagami also had no intention of lying, because Fumori Masaki's goal was to make Sunagakure follow Konoha's model, perhaps with some unique Suna characteristics.
In Konoha, the Hokage doesn't handle everything alone; that would only lead to exhaustion like Naruto Uzumaki, unable to even return home.
He had long established a system of centralization and decentralization in Konoha, operating normally while maintaining a balance between the two.
Although it wasn't yet fully mature, it was certainly very progressive compared to the ninja villages in the original timeline and other ninja villages currently.
The more Bunfuku listened, the more surprised he became.
The rumors were indeed not as good as seeing for oneself.
What Karura said was simply too impressive.
He didn't doubt Karura's words; since Karura had been in Konoha for some time, what she said must have its reasons.
He had never doubted his student's stance.
"Sensei, you are not alone.
We, and others who support you, will stand behind you.
The current Sunagakure is by no means the domain of the Kazekage and his cronies.
As long as you are willing to step forward, we will do everything in our power to help you manage Sunagakure well," Karura said.
Bunfuku was silent for a while, looking at Karura's determined eyes, and savored her words.
He sighed softly and said, "I will try to contend for the Kazekage position, but whether I can be elected is not something I can decide."
"Sensei, you will definitely become the Kazekage," Karura said.
She breathed a sigh of relief; as long as Bunfuku was willing to agree, she would have a way to make him the Kazekage.
As mentioned earlier, the current plea for peace in Sunagakure is the prevailing trend.
Whoever can achieve this will become the hero who saves Sunagakure, and what… Chapter 390: Bunfuku's Decision (Page 5/7)… qualifications would such a person lack to become the Kazekage?
A ninja village is never just one person's village; it requires the approval of the vast majority to become Kazekage.
Although the influence of ninja clans and civilians might fluctuate due to the balance of power, given Sunagakure's current situation, the ninja clans have also suffered severe losses and are equally concerned about peace.
With Bunfuku's strength, his prestige from successfully negotiating peace—Konoha would help facilitate this—and the assistance of Karura and other lower-ranking civilian ninja, Bunfuku's chances of becoming Kazekage are over ninety percent.
"Thank you, Sensei.
I thank you on behalf of everyone else in the village," Karura said.
"I am also from the Land of Wind, so naturally, I hope my village gets better and better.
It's just that I still don't quite understand how we should proceed in the future," Bunfuku said.
"I have a general understanding of this.
The people from Konoha told me about the future path the Land of Wind should take.
Sensei, you are a smart person; you will definitely understand whether this path is viable.
At least I think it is," Karura said.
"Oh?" Bunfuku was a little curious and asked, "What is it?"
Karura then relayed everything Uchiha Kagami had told her to Bunfuku.
Bunfuku listened quietly, the surprise in his eyes growing deeper.
Although he didn't understand politics, because the content Uchiha Kagami told Karura was analyzed very clearly, Bunfuku could understand quite a bit.
He had to admit that Konoha's plan was very reasonable.
After Karura finished explaining, Bunfuku thought for a long time, then slapped his leg.
He had made his decision.
Originally, he hadn't intended to offer many suggestions during the peace talks, but after hearing Karura's account of Konoha's vision for the future of the Land of Fire and Wind, he felt he also needed to contribute to this, to ensure that Ebizo and the others would agree to it.
Bunfuku vaguely sensed the changing tides of the era, just like when Hashirama Senju stood up during the Warring States period to call upon the ninja clans to establish villages.
Such turbulent changes would soon… Chapter 390: Bunfuku's Decision (Page 6/7)… happen again, and old ideas were no longer suitable, necessitating a new path.
For the Land of Wind, Konoha's envisioned relationship might truly be the best, at least for the current Land of Wind.
As for what the future would hold, Bunfuku felt he couldn't consider too much.
He could only strive for the present Land of Wind, to win it a bright future.
"Karura, I've decided.
I must become the Kazekage and strive to ensure the village has a stable, peaceful environment with a future," Bunfuku said to her solemnly.