But no matter how strong the Third Hokage was, dealing with just the Third Raikage was already exhausting, and Kumogakure had more than just him as a powerhouse.
Every generation of Raikage would form an "AB Combo" with the Eight-Tails jinchuriki. Although this generation's jinchuriki, Blue B, wasn't a perfect jinchuriki like his successor Killer B, he could still draw on the Eight-Tails' power and fight at Kage level.
The Third Hokage could either risk his life to fend off both the Third Raikage and the Eight-Tails jinchuriki, whose strength was not inferior to his own, or let the latter go unchecked, using the lives of many Konoha ninja to pin down the jinchuriki.
Either way, if the situation dragged on, Konoha would inevitably lose.
And the Third Hokage would never allow himself to lose, so he could only have the commanders on the other two fronts negotiate, giving up some of Konoha's external interests in exchange for a strategic breather, so that he could transfer Orochimaru or Jiraiya to assist him.
At times like this, it was usually Danzo, the Third Hokage's designated scapegoat, who would take the blame.
As long as the blame was pinned on Danzo, the Third Hokage would still appear wise and mighty, capable of leading Konoha to victory.
"Konoha is willing to give up all interests in Roran, the Land of Rivers, and the Land of Valleys, withdraw from its sphere of influence in the Land of Rain, and sign a peace agreement?"
When Chiyo summoned all the jonin and special jonin in the camp for a meeting, Hardy finally learned the news.
"With Shimura Danzo's personality, would he agree to a ceasefire? Could this be a Konoha plot?" asked Kazekami Chiran calmly.
Three days ago, after learning that Kumogakure had mobilized, they'd already anticipated such a development.
But most of the Sand ninja thought it was unlikely, since both Danzo in the Land of Rain and Orochimaru in the south's Land of Rivers were hardline hawks, playing key roles in the war against Sand.
"Danzo definitely wouldn't want to, but as long as the Third Hokage is willing, that's all that matters," Chiyo shook her head and replied.
"I've just received word that Danzo has been removed from command for poor leadership by the Third Hokage, and Jiraiya has taken over."
This was clearly an attempt to shift the blame onto Danzo.
Konoha's heavy casualties were due to Danzo's poor command, so they had no choice but to negotiate with Sand.
Copies of handwritten letters from the Third Hokage were distributed to all the jonin and special jonin present.
After a flowery opening, the letter went on to describe the great harm the war had brought to both sides. Out of the kindness of his heart, Lord Sarutobi could not bear to see Sand's ninja suffer, and thus proposed a peaceful resolution to the conflict, along with the terms Chiyo had just mentioned.
He even suggested restoring pre-war relations and resuming trade, with Konoha providing Sand with scarce desert resources like food, but required Sand and Konoha to jointly...
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…conducting military exercises at sea, using force to deter other countries and prevent them from sabotaging the peace talks.
"This old monkey is quite cunning."
It didn't take Hardy long to figure out what the Third Hokage was planning.
First, he shifts the blame onto Danzo, then he turns this so-called peace negotiation from a one-sided request from Konoha into a mutual demand from both parties.
This way, the Third Hokage can claim that Konoha was not defeated, but rather that both sides fought to a stalemate. Continuing the conflict would only waste resources and lives, without bringing about any real change.
Some of the subsequent maneuvers are Hiruzen Sarutobi's way of trading interests—ceding benefits in places like the Land of Valleys, and providing Suna with some resources that Konoha can currently spare.
As for the naval military exercise, its purpose is clear—The Land of Lightning is a peninsula nation, similar to India or Spain.
The goal is to leverage Suna's influence.
Even though it's obvious that Suna attacking the Land of Lightning is unlikely, Kumogakure definitely wouldn't dare let their guard down. If Suna discovered they were unguarded, they really might seize the opportunity to raid the Land of Lightning.
In this back-and-forth, all Suna has to do is go along with Konoha's wishes, acknowledge that the negotiations are a mutual demand, and send a few people to make a show at sea. Not only can they secure their current gains, but they might also reap some extra benefits.
"What about Hanzo's attitude? Even if Konoha agrees to peace talks, if Hanzo takes a hard line, it'll still be a tricky situation."
A jonin asked.
Mentioning her old rival, Chiyo couldn't help but show a smug smile.
"Hanzo has no other choice. Back then, he spared the Sannin and chose to cooperate with Konoha because Konoha was the strongest, and most likely to help him end the civil war in the Land of Rain. But now—ha! Yesterday, he actually sent someone to approach me first."
From the current situation, Suna's strength in the Land of Rain is the greatest. In fact, at this point in time, Suna's top-tier combat power is second only to Konoha among the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
Iwagakure, aside from Onoki and the Five-Tails' jinchuriki, only has one of Onoki's classmates. White Earth counts as half. It'll still be a few years before the Four-Tails' jinchuriki Han matures.
Kumogakure is similar: the Third Raikage and the Eight-Tails' jinchuriki, plus Tutai, a courtier of the Raikage, who counts as half. Kirigakure is even worse off.
But Suna has the Third Kazekage, Chiyo, and Ebizo. Plus, the other villages don't know how poor Suna's sealing techniques are. In their eyes, the One-Tail's jinchuriki hasn't had any incidents for many years. Even though he's getting old, before his death, Suna still has a mature jinchuriki who can be used as a weapon of war.
Add to that the now fully grown Rasa and Karura, and their strength is almost enough to challenge Konoha.
With Konoha having decided to withdraw from the Land of Rain, if Hanzo wants to end the war quickly and preserve his country, cooperating with Suna is his only option.
"Hanzo hopes to form an alliance with us, Suna, to end the war in the Land of Rain as soon as possible,"
Chiyo said to everyone.
"And the price? Hanzo is not the type to agree to cede territory."
Another jonin stood up and asked.
"That's right. Hanzo's condition is to fully open economic and material exchanges between the two countries. He's even agreed to dig a canal connecting the Land of Wind and the Land of Rain, to be jointly guarded by Suna and Rain shinobi. It's a win-win situation, but the greater benefit definitely goes to us, Suna. I've already made the decision to accept Hanzo's terms."
Chiyo replied.
"What about the negotiations with Konoha? Should we agree? And what about Iwagakure? We're still allies for now. Once we make peace with Konoha and the Land of Rain, how should we deal with each other going forward?"
Kazekage's advisor Kaminarashi continued to ask.