Konoha's request for a ceasefire was delivered via a team consisting of only three Chunins.
When the scroll was respectfully presented to Yamagami, the command center was naturally ready to go.
Chi Chen was suspended next to a huge strategic sand table. Beside him, Shan Shangmu, the commander-in-chief, had a look of deep fatigue on his face, but his eyes were shining with joy.
This time, it can be said that all the goals that Iwagakure Village wanted to achieve were achieved.
"What are Konoha's conditions?" Yamagami's voice was low and hoarse, and his eyes swept over the Anbu responsible for receiving the call.
Konoha still has the strength to fight back, it just depends on whether Sarutobi Hiruzen is willing to pay the price.
But it is estimated that the possibility is not high, and both sides are willing to talk now.
Upon hearing this, the Konoha ninja immediately said, "Danzo-sama hopes that Konoha and Iwagakure will completely end the state of war. Konoha is willing to give up all military bases that are in contact with the Land of Earth. We are also willing to negotiate further with Iwagakure for other details."
Chi Chen looked at the sand table in the center of the command room.
A ceasefire is possible, but Konoha must pay 2 billion in compensation to the Land of Earth, and also open up trade, allowing the Land of Earth's industries to enter the Land of Fire. If this is possible, Iwagakure is willing to continue peace talks with Konoha."
A slight gasp was heard in the command center. Two billion was an astronomical figure, and the trade terms directly targeted the economic lifeline of Konoha.
"Lord Chichen, is this too harsh? Konoha has a deep foundation after all. What if..."
One of the staff officers couldn't help but speak out, worried that Danzo might take a risk.
"Hard-handed?" Chi Chen tilted his head slightly, his gaze fixed on the staff officer as if it were real, and then he slowly scanned the blank space on the sand table that symbolized Konoha's disastrous defeat.
"Look here, Konoha's elite troops have been killed by more than half, and their morale has collapsed. What Danzo fears most now is not negotiation, but that if we continue to advance, they will have to send out the troops stationed in the Land of Fire. By then, the Land of Water and the Land of Lightning will not give up such a good opportunity, and they will have no room for bargaining."
Yamagami nodded. "That's right. We have to be tough now. Konoha is eager to buy peace. After all, what we, the Land Country, need is money, not land. Inform Konoha that we are willing to negotiate with them, but we have to find someone with enough weight to do so."
The news spread back to the Konoha camp.
Danzo looked at Iwagakure's cold and tough reply, the scroll in his hand crackled and his knuckles turned white from the force.
"Two billion! How dare he do that? He even wants to negotiate with someone else. Is he humiliating me?!" He growled, his voice like a wounded beast, his chest heaving violently, and a fishy-sweet taste rising to his throat.
This is not a question of compensation, it is a complete denial of Shimura Danzo's political career and command ability!
He, Danzo, is clearly the most suitable person to become Hokage!!
"Lord Danzo, urgent news from the rear!"
One of Danzo's closest confidants practically stumbled in, his voice filled with panic.
"Under Chiyo's command, the Sunagakure launched a large-scale counterattack while our southwest defense line was still under antidote coverage! Hanzo's Rain Ninja also increased their poison fog offensive in the southwest! The front line... the front line is in crisis at many points! The Third Hokage is furious and has ordered an emergency mobilization of the Anbu. He has also decided to personally rush to the front line in the Land of Rain!"
Danzo's eyes went dark, his body swayed, and he barely managed to hold on to the corner of the table to avoid falling down.
It's over... It's all over! His carefully planned three-line suppression has turned into a disaster that will cause Konoha to collapse on all three fronts! Iwagakure is definitely unable to fight on, and Sand Village and Rain Village are also in danger.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's personal expedition was not only a way to turn the tide, but also a complete denial of him. According to his idea, if they could win, Konoha would be able to end the war in a very short time and could greatly deter other countries that were ready to make moves.
I had arranged it well.
The Sand Village poison has been resolved, the Red Dust of the Land of Earth has sent out its elite troops, and I am holding the main force back! Everything is clearly moving in a good direction! Why?
The great sense of humiliation and deep fear wrapped around the heart like a cold poisonous snake.
He gritted his teeth so hard that his gums were practically bleeding. "Reply to Iwagakure. Konoha... accepts... within three days... the compensation will be in place... the terms of trade... can be negotiated..."
Every word seemed to tear at his heart.
"Hokage-sama...will be here in person soon...and will take full charge of...the ceasefire..."
He knew that his era had come to an end with the deaths of Uchiha Kagami, Akimichi Torifuge and others, as well as this humiliating reply.
From now on, I can only be a mouse hiding in the dark.
~~~~~~~~~~
At the same time, at the junction of the war between Konoha and Sand Village
This is not a strategic point, but an area where patrols or infiltration teams from both sides often encounter each other.
The battle was small in scale, but extremely brutal and chaotic.
Kato Dan was leading a Konoha reconnaissance team on a mission.
They were ambushed by a team of elite puppeteers from the Sand Village.
"Be careful! There is an ambush." Kato's spirit body shouted a warning, and as soon as he finished speaking, several poisoned kunai were shot at them.
His spiritual transformation technique was very effective in sensing and disrupting the enemy at close range, causing delays in the control of the Sand Village puppeteers several times and saving the lives of his companions.
"Captain! The information must be sent back!" A team member's abdomen was cut by the puppet's claws, and blood was dripping, but he still gritted his teeth and persisted.
"I know! Take turns covering each other and retreat to the western woods! I'll cover your retreat!"
Kato Dan's eyes were determined. They couldn't hurt him with his spiritual transformation technique. His real body was hiding nearby. As long as he protected himself well, he might be able to escape unscathed.
The team took the opportunity to retreat.
Kato Dan relied on the interference of the spiritual transformation technique and superb physical skills to deal with the enemy in the muddy swamp, buying precious time for his teammates. However, just when he was about to leave the battlefield and use the spiritual transformation technique to teleport away,
A Sand Village senior ninja who was lurking in the swamp and whose aura was almost completely integrated into the environment suddenly jumped up like a poisonous frog!
The poison-tempered blow arrow in his hand shot out silently at an extremely tricky angle, aiming directly at Kato Dan's neck, where his body's defense was the weakest when he was performing the spiritual transformation technique and his mind was highly concentrated!
Phew!
The poison arrow hits accurately!
Kato Dan's body suddenly stiffened, and the light of the spiritual transformation technique instantly dissipated.
Severe numbness and piercing pain instantly spread from his neck to his whole body. His vision went black and he staggered a step, trying to pull out the poison arrow, but found that his arm was no longer under his control.
"Captain Duan!" The heart-wrenching cries of teammates came from afar.
The Sand Village senior ninja emerged completely from the mud with a grim smile, the kunai in his hand flashing with a faint blue luster, and pounced on Kato Dan who had lost the ability to resist, ready to deliver a fatal blow.
After completing the mission, they retreated quickly without waiting for other Konoha troops to react.
Tsunade was leading another team on a mission at the time, and upon hearing the news, she immediately rushed to the rescue.
Unfortunately, it's too late.
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