Uzumaki Shinji's stance already represented the attitude of Akatsuki Village and the Uzumaki clan.
The war had reached such a decisive moment that even if Iwagakure wanted to wade in now—even ignoring the huge advantage Akatsuki and the Uzumaki had seized from the start—Konoha, Akatsuki Village, and the Uzumaki against the current Hidden Cloud plus Hidden Stone would still be three versus two. No matter how you cut it, the advantage was ours.
We are set to fight to the death—why would Konoha capitulate first?
With Uzumaki Shinji speaking up…
Akatsuki's senior staff echoed him one after another.
Clearly.
Asking them to accept an unconditional ceasefire at this point was pure fantasy.
However…
Konoha's position was crucial.
It might even decide the outcome of the war.
Once Iwagakure stepped in, without Konoha's help, Akatsuki and the Uzumaki alone would struggle to cope.
Right now Konoha had three real decision-makers who could shape the war—Hashirama Senju, Madara Uchiha, and Tobirama Senju.
Tobirama, commander of Konoha's forces, was plain enough—the "born-evil" Senju old fox clearly didn't want the conflict to escalate.
And the First Hokage's stance had never changed—too many shinobi had died, too much blood had been spilled, many disputes could be solved by dialogue, negotiation, and consultation. That line fit the First Tsuchikage perfectly, and Hashirama had openly agreed with him.
As for the other powerhouse in Konoha, Madara Uchiha—
For some reason he hadn't voiced an opinion. According to the Uchiha, Lord Madara had been shut in at the clan compound, often spending whole days deep within Naka Shrine… as if he wanted nothing to do with the world.
Three Konoha bigwigs—
Two clearly wanted an unconditional ceasefire, and the third had chosen silence. Even if many among Konoha's higher-ups felt an unconditional halt was over the line, anyone with half a brain could see which side they'd stand on.
The balance plainly tilted our way.
And after all that mustering and marching to the Cloud front, they couldn't just make a token appearance; this was the time to press the advantage. After years of recovery, Konoha's young elites were thirsting for merit and glory.
But… though many Konoha leaders looked eager, they held themselves in check and kept quiet.
They had no voice, still less the final say.
The tent's air was tense.
And awkward.
Makoto Uchiha watched their faces.
He could now guess their thoughts. Many Konoha shinobi wanted to fight—this was a god-hand opening, after all. Beating a foe while they're down and sharing Akatsuki's spoils didn't conflict at all.
Pity there were two "bugs" over their heads.
"Everyone's come a long way. There's no need to decide something this big today. Let's set aside the matter of an unconditional truce between Akatsuki and the Cloud for now, and have a meal together."
"This meal is on Akatsuki."
Makoto knew it was time to speak.
If we couldn't settle the ceasefire yet, then we should eat and deepen ties between "allies." Their bond felt awfully plastic.
"Let's eat first."
Tobirama could see it too. Forcing Makoto to bow to reality in the moment wouldn't be easy… so he nodded—besides, he was hungry.
Since Makoto was paying, Tobirama meant to eat Akatsuki out of house and home.
Makoto wasn't afraid of such a childish challenge. A meal wouldn't bankrupt Akatsuki. The quartermasters began cooking.
For now—
Konoha's finances weren't as lavish as Akatsuki's.
But "ample" would do.
The daimyo topped up Konoha's protection stipend every year.
Even so, funds were finite.
Tobirama poured most of the expedition's budget into medicine and armaments. Those bottomless pits rightly came first; shinobi appetites mattered less. Konoha's rations couldn't match Akatsuki's.
Makoto, meanwhile, had hired top Fire Country chefs to train Akatsuki's cooks.
After hard fighting, a good meal was a real boost—and to morale, immediate.
"Uh… this is really good…"
"You eat like this three times a day in Akatsuki?"
"Of course. All prepared under Lord Light Shadow's eye. Tasty?"
"Tasty."
Konoha's long-marching shinobi were stunned by the quality.
What could they do?
Konoha's budget went to gear and medicine, and shinobi prized endurance. Their daily fare showed it.
No one could fault Tobirama—it was sensible: life over appetite. Without means, Makoto would do the same.
But they had money.
And comparison is the thief of contentment.
Akatsuki had moved beyond eating one's fill to chasing flavor.
Lunch ran from eleven to two. Chakra is born of physical and spiritual energy; spirit's elusive, but body's simple—food. With little "oil" in their bellies, Konoha's shinobi wolfed down the feast.
Especially the Akimichi. They'd waited for this.
"I recall Lord Light Shadow once invited the Akimichi…"
"Think so…"
"If only…"
"Shut it. Watch your mouth."
Murmuring through stuffed cheeks, the Akimichi drew a quick warning from the politically sharp Nara. Such talk could get them killed.
Chastened, the Akimichi focused on eating like starving ghosts.
Akatsuki's kitchen kept the dishes coming without pause.
"Dessert—chocolate or ice cream?"
"Both!"
Konoha's shinobi, greedy or simply inexperienced, chose everything.
They left sated.
Bellies swollen like watermelons, they drifted in little clusters when Akatsuki shinobi "happened" to sidle over.
"Why'd it take Konoha so long? Still, you're just in time if the Stone's butting in… we can hit them together."
"They even want us to accept an unconditional peace."
"At this point, what a joke."
"Heard your top brass agree. That can't be true… we're allies. You wouldn't stab us in the back, would you…"
There was expectation, teasing, and mockery mixed in.
"No way!"
"We were held up prepping equipment… Konoha won't be a backstabber!"
As expected—
Grasp the hand that feeds, keep the mouth that eats.
They'd just eaten Akatsuki's food…
And were about to be the "backstabber."
Konoha's shinobi still had some pride.
Tobirama hadn't united Konoha behind him.
Younger shinobi, prodded a little, were already swearing oaths.
Akatsuki grinned and mingled freely, cozying up.
The mood warmed.
Tobirama's long game—weakening Akatsuki for Konoha's future—couldn't be aired. At most he could hint to trusted elders and clan heads.
With New Shinobi a bestseller in Konoha and the two villages allies, most Konoha shinobi felt fine about Akatsuki.
Especially Makoto Uchiha.
Humans are odd.
Rationally, many in Konoha found this war baffling. No need to fight a massive campaign over three chunin.
If the Stone joined, it might become a great shinobi war. Makoto acted like a madman dragging the world to war—
But emotionally—Lord Light Shadow was awesome.
The casus belli was the Cloud killing three Konoha and Akatsuki chunin over a botched mission. Who dared touch Konoha and Akatsuki's shinobi? Both sides hated the Cloud. Cursing them together bred camaraderie.
Emotion piled up unnoticed.
Makoto had people quietly "stealing the house." Tobirama didn't know; rank and file didn't dine with leadership, and Makoto and Uzumaki Shinji had him occupied.
As for the Uzumaki—
Tobirama still hoped to "save" them.
For their future—
Shinji should bring the Uzumaki close to Konoha, fall in step, pressure Makoto to accept an unconditional end, and everyone go home in peace.
Konoha would not wrong the Uzumaki.
Don't be fooled by that born-evil Uchiha brat.
He has designs on your clan.
He didn't say it so bluntly.
There were ears about.
His words were as gentle as he could make them.
But—
The meaning was clear. Tobirama was laying his heart bare.
Even though the Uzumaki had "betrayed" the Senju and Konoha, allied themselves with Akatsuki, made a political marriage with Makoto, ignored his advice, and even sided with Akatsuki at this crucial moment—stepping on every red line in Tobirama's heart—if they would turn back now, he could let it go.
It was that born-evil Uchiha brat's scheming.
Tobirama still saw the Uzumaki as Konoha's blood-bond. If anyone harassed them, even waged war—
He'd take his brother and Konoha to back them to the hilt.
"Hmph. I'll consider it."
Uzumaki Shinji answered coolly, perfunctory.
He wanted to splash his drink in Tobirama's face, but for many reasons he held back.
To Shinji—
Tobirama's words were nonsense.
Makoto was a proper Uchiha of Konoha, and the Uzumaki were Senju's allies. Both were Konoha's allies.
In birth and standing, they were about the same.
Akatsuki had fought and seized a massive advantage. Konoha had dawdled to the front and now wanted to backstab Akatsuki. If the Uzumaki were in peril someday, could they really count on Konoha?
In deeds—
Over three chunin—
Akatsuki had risked everything for war. If the Uzumaki were in danger, they wouldn't fail them. However you looked at it, Akatsuki—and Makoto—were more trustworthy.
Shinji ended the topic.
Feeling he'd made a fool of himself, Tobirama said no more and returned to his seat.
His conscience was clear.
If the Uzumaki couldn't be swayed—
The key was still Makoto.
Tobirama moved to Makoto's side, death-mask face tinged with smugness, and began his rhetorical offensive.
His big brother, that pure "fool,"
meant well—and this decision was great.
Public opinion still favored Makoto, and Konoha's shinobi were eager for the war… but with his brother backing the First Tsuchikage, Tobirama felt secure.
He didn't want to make it too ugly.
He hoped Makoto would accept reality—the war's direction was no longer his to dictate. Unless Makoto truly went mad, abandoned Konoha, and led Akatsuki alone to fight two villages—now that would be perfect.
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