After learning that A and Killer B had been captured alive by Konoha, Kumogakure's response was astonishingly swift.
In less than a day, Elder Tōdai (Dodai) took control of the village's authority.
He ordered the frontlines to switch to a defensive posture, deployed the Two-Tails' jinchūriki—who was still in training to control her tailed beast—to stabilize the battlefield, and dispatched a diplomatic delegation to Konoha.
Because Shimura Danzō had been operating in the Land of Rain for the past several days and had only returned to Konoha today, he was only just now hearing this news.
"They captured A and the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki alive?!"
A glint flashed in Danzō's eyes.
In an instant, he realized this was a perfect opportunity to cripple Kumogakure completely.
But before the excitement in his heart could fully rise, he suddenly noticed something strange.
The expressions of Hiruzen Sarutobi, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane were… off.
Danzō's heart sank.
He sensed something was wrong.
"Have you already met with the Kumogakure delegation?" he asked.
Koharu nodded.
"They met with us yesterday."
"They demanded that Konoha immediately release A and the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki."
"Otherwise, Kumogakure will launch a total war against Konoha, fighting to mutual destruction—no retreat, no surrender."
"Hmph. Empty threats."
Danzō snorted with disdain.
"Their two strongest fighters are in our hands. What exactly are they planning to use to fight us to mutual destruction?"
Hiruzen took a puff from his pipe before replying calmly.
"You can't say that so easily."
"You know those brutes from Kumogakure. Their minds don't always function normally. Something like mutual destruction isn't beyond them."
"Bullshit! That 'brute' image is just their disguise! They—"
Danzō abruptly stopped mid-sentence.
A terrible realization dawned on him.
His voice rose sharply.
"You didn't agree to their demands… did you?!"
"Not yet…"
Hiruzen exhaled a ring of smoke.
Danzō relaxed slightly.
But Hiruzen's next sentence completely shattered that calm.
"But releasing them is inevitable."
"The only question is how many resources we can extract from Kumogakure in compensation."
Hiruzen spoke in a flat tone.
"You—!"
Danzō exploded with anger.
"What exactly are you all thinking?!"
"Everyone knows Kumogakure's current situation!"
"Their Two-Tails' jinchūriki hasn't yet mastered her power. Their top-tier combat strength has already dwindled!"
"Now their strongest fighter A and the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki have been captured by us. Half their military power is crippled!"
"And instead of taking this chance to crush them completely, you're only thinking about how many resources you can squeeze from them?!"
"What are you thinking?!"
Danzō truly couldn't understand.
Konoha was the strongest shinobi village in the world.
Since when had it become this spineless?
Homura Mitokado spoke calmly.
"Danzō, calm down. You're looking only at the surface."
"You need to think further ahead."
"The shinobi world doesn't consist of just Konoha and Kumogakure."
"If we truly went to war with them right now, the real beneficiaries would be the other three great villages."
"Don't forget—we're still locked in a standoff with Iwagakure."
"And Ōnoki is no saint."
"If things go wrong, Konoha might end up fighting two great villages at once."
But Danzō remained unmoved.
"That possibility exists," he admitted coldly.
"But Ōnoki is a man who never acts without profit."
"On one side you have a strong Konoha. On the other, a weakened Kumogakure."
"Anyone with half a brain knows which one to target."
"Ōnoki will absolutely take this opportunity to carve a piece out of Kumogakure."
"Don't be so certain."
Hiruzen shook his head.
"Ōnoki may be greedy, but as a Kage, he understands the principle of shared survival."
"He might want Kumogakure weakened…"
"But he wants even less to see Konoha rise to absolute dominance."
"Because if that happens, the next target of Konoha's military might could easily be Iwagakure itself."
"So the possibility of Iwagakure and Kumogakure forming an alliance against Konoha is actually much greater."
Hiruzen understood perfectly well that Kumogakure's so-called recklessness was mostly an act.
The fact that they had set aside their hatred over the death of the Third Raikage and instead attacked Konoha already proved that.
But Kumogakure had correctly grasped one thing—
Konoha did not want another war.
So they deliberately adopted an aggressive, reckless posture.
And no matter how much Hiruzen disliked it, he had little choice but to compromise and try to extract as much compensation as possible.
"Cowardice!"
Danzō's voice was filled with fury.
"So what if Iwagakure joins the war?"
"Don't forget—we've held the advantage in our war against them!"
"Even if we fight, we have nothing to fear!"
"And what about Kirigakure and Sunagakure?"
Hiruzen tapped the desk.
"Sunagakure aside for the moment…"
"Kirigakure is isolated overseas. They can attack when it suits them and retreat when it doesn't."
"We may have driven them back this time—but they have never admitted defeat."
"If we go to war again with Kumogakure—or even Iwagakure—do you really think Kirigakure will stay out of it?"
"And Sunagakure is notoriously opportunistic."
"Do you think they won't seize the opportunity?"
After a pause, Hiruzen delivered the final decision.
"This matter is settled."
"This war has lasted for years."
"It's time for it to end."
"Konoha must recover and rebuild."
Danzō opened his mouth, ready to argue again—
But Hiruzen shot him a stern look.
"Danzō, don't forget."
"You are still under disciplinary restriction."
"You have the right to advise—but not to decide."
Danzō's face turned dark with anger.
He hadn't expected Hiruzen's punishment to take effect so quickly.
Ignoring Danzō entirely, Hiruzen cleared his throat and continued.
"Now, let's discuss another matter."
"The shinobi forces stationed on the Land of Hot Water front against Kumogakure and the Land of Rain front against Iwagakure must remain where they are for now."
"But the situation on the Kirigakure front has stabilized."
"The forces stationed there should return to Konoha for rotation and recovery."
"You all understand the special circumstances of that front."
"Let's hear your opinions."
Unlike the other battlefields, the Konoha forces fighting Kirigakure were largely composed of clan-based shinobi units—
Especially the Uchiha Clan and the Hyūga Clan.
Normally, when a victorious army returned from the frontlines, the village would hold a public reception ceremony.
But Hiruzen had long been troubled by Konoha's powerful clans.
Now that they had achieved such great military merit, he had no desire to give them another opportunity to increase their prestige and influence among the villagers.
At the same time—
How to reward them appropriately for their achievements had become another difficult problem.
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