Back in the early days of the founding of the ninja villages, Onoki had once followed his teacher Mu, the previous Tsuchikage, to Konoha for diplomatic purposes.
It was during this diplomatic mission that they encountered Uchiha Madara, and the proposed alliance between Iwagakure and Konoha was rejected by Madara.
Afterward, they witnessed the power belonging solely to the Mangekyo Sharingan.
This matter left an indelible psychological shadow in both his and his teacher's hearts.
It was only later, even that terrifying Susanoo lost under the Wood Release of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama.
Now Konoha once again had a ninja who might be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the First Hokage.
He couldn't help but mourn silently in his heart.
'Konoha truly lives up to being Konoha. From the First Hokage onward, no matter the era, Konoha always produces a stunning genius.'
He looked instead at Iwagakure.
His old bones were already close to eighty years old, and the burden of the village still rested on his shoulders.
"Sigh~", Onoki sighed again, then suddenly discovered that in the fold of the document, there was a red piece of paper.
He took it out for a look, "Marriage alliance?"
He looked it over again and gasped.
Konoha had actually formed marriage alliances with both Kirigakure and Sunagakure simultaneously.
Moreover, one was the Mizukage, and the other was the daughter of the Kazekage.
'And adding the power that this Aoba holds...'
Onoki felt like he suddenly understood something.
Then his expression became even more serious.
He read the intel sent by Kurotsuchi again, and was instantly speechless to the extreme.
"That brat!"
Kitsuchi had repeatedly emphasized the close relationship between Aoba and Kurotsuchi in his intel.
He also mentioned the triple-village marriage alliance.
The purpose was self-evident.
Most likely, he had been scared witless after seeing that Wood Human Technique.
He didn't intend to blame Kitsuchi.
Even he, as the father, had once been scared witless by Uchiha Madara, not to mention his son.
But Onoki wasn't about to be so scared that he'd offer up his granddaughter to sue for peace.
Since Konoha had also captured people from Kumogakure along with a tailed beast, with that hot-tempered Fourth Raikage, he definitely wouldn't let it go.
Konoha's next target was nine out of ten likely to be Kumogakure.
He'd wait until Konoha was done fighting Kumogakure, then consider peace talks, there would still be time.
For an old man who had lived over seventy years, reputation and such no longer mattered.
As long as the village remained safe, that was enough.
———
At this time, the Fourth Raikage, on whom Onoki had pinned his "high hopes"—
"Konoha is simultaneously forming marriage alliances with Sunagakure and Kirigakure?"
"Is this fake news?", The Fourth Raikage slammed the table violently, looking enraged beyond belief.
The Raikage Building would need a new table again.
As the Fourth Raikage's right hand, Cee, looked at the broken-in-half table, his expression remained unchanged. He was long used to this.
"Lord Raikage, Konoha publicly announced this to the entire ninja world."
"At this moment, they are probably already holding the engagement ceremony."
"Damn it!", With no table to punch, the Fourth Raikage could only smash his leg with force.
People said the Fourth Raikage only knew how to charge recklessly, but most of the time, his intelligence was more than adequate.
It was just that most of the time, his super-smart brain told him that using his super-strong muscles could also solve problems.
His real flaw was actually his temper.
Though not lacking in brains, once his temper flared, he lost his reasoning.
That was why the Fourth Raikage valued Mabui and Samui, who could stay calm and think things through no matter the situation.
He also now understood the severity of the situation.
If it were just facing Konoha alone, Kumogakure would still have confidence.
Although the enemy had controlled two tailed beasts in a short period, Kumogakure could do the same.
A mere 20- to 30-meter-tall Wood Human, if Killer Bee entered complete Tailed Beast Mode, his size would even surpass 40 or 50 meters.
Facing One-Tail and Two-Tails, he would also dominate.
So Kumogakure did not fear Konoha.
But if they had to simultaneously face an attack from three great ninja villages, and there was still Iwagakure eyeing them from the sidelines like a tiger, then the pressure on Kumogakure would become unimaginably immense.
No matter how confident the Fourth Raikage was, he had no courage to declare war against four ninja villages at once.
As soon as the Fourth Raikage thought of this, he couldn't help but clench his fists.
"Lord Raikage, regarding the terms previously offered by Konoha, how should we respond?", Cee's question brought the Fourth Raikage back to his senses.
The conditions Konoha had proposed were a massive indemnity and handing over the Eight-Tails in exchange for Yugito and the others, otherwise they would unite with Kirigakure and Sunagakure to wage war on Kumogakure.
And everyone knew, the Eight-Tails' jinchuriki was the Fourth Raikage's closest brother.
Once a jinchuriki lost their tailed beast, the result was only one: Death.
The Fourth Raikage could not sacrifice his own brother.
No matter how good the relations were between Kumogakure's ninjas, there was still a difference in closeness.
The Fourth Raikage gritted his teeth and said, "Tell Konoha, we cannot give up the Eight-Tails, but we can raise the indemnity amount and provide other resources."
Kumogakure can negotiate too. Kumogakure can also form an alliance with Konoha.
Cee was stunned for a moment, then nodded, "I'll go reply now. But if Konoha refuses to release them, or insists on starting a war, Lord Raikage…"
Cee's words stopped.
The Fourth Raikage's expression had already given him the answer.
The value of Yugito and the others could not possibly compare with the Eight-Tails.
He just hadn't expected that even Kumogakure would one day consider abandoning comrades.
"Wait!", Just as Cee was about to leave, the Fourth Raikage called him back.
"Lord Raikage, is there anything else?"
"First send someone to check Iwagakure's attitude."
———
Konoha, In a corner outside the Hokage Building—
Kurenai had forced Anko into a corner, her gaze serious and sharp.
That kind of look instantly gave Anko immense pressure. She couldn't help but swallow.
"Kurenai… why are you looking at me like that?"
Kurenai still stared at her, but the sharpness in her gaze eased a little, "Anko, tell me honestly, have you fallen for Aoba?"
"Eh? EHHHH!", Anko blinked, then cried out in surprise.
Her little round face full of jelly egg whites immediately turned pink, and she stammered, "Kurenai, what nonsense are you saying?"
Kurenai's expression didn't change in the slightest, "Anko, I know you very well. Even if you're usually carefree, you wouldn't have done what you just did."
"Can you really say you have no feelings for Aoba?"
"This…", Anko's gaze flickered for a while. Seeing that Kurenai looked like she'd never give up unless she got an answer, she pursed her lips and still chose to admit honestly, "Meh, I wouldn't say I like him… just that, when I'm with that guy, the dango seems to taste a little sweeter."
"?", Kurenai's face was full of question marks.
It was the first time she'd heard such a thing. She totally didn't get it, "What do you mean?"
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