As the ninjas who had been rescued by Konoha from Kusagakure were returned to their respective hidden villages, the "Kage" of the major hidden villages, as well as the leaders of the smaller hidden villages, all immediately convened meetings to study Konoha's intentions…
The smaller hidden villages—such as Amegakure, Takigakure, and Yugakure—were quite surprised by Konoha's conduct.
Was Konoha really treating them this much like actual people?
They had even brought along a portion of compensation from Kusagakure. Although it was not much, it made quite a few ninjas feel a slight warmth in their hearts…
...
Amegakure.
"What is Sarutobi Hiruzen trying to do…"
Hanzo of the Salamander looked at the intelligence in his hand and frowned.
"Konoha actually possesses this level of military strength? Then when it fought against me, it didn't go all out…"
"In less than two hours they captured Kusagakure. The foundation of what was once the number one hidden village truly cannot be underestimated."
"And they even returned our ninjas…"
"They supported the dove faction in Kusagakure, while completely exterminating the hawk faction?"
Hanzo of the Salamander let out a long sigh.
The Second Shinobi World War was inseparable from his own ambitions.
After mastering profound Water Release and body-flicker blade techniques, he had also developed the large-scale lethal Salamander Poison Formation…
Hanzo had once believed that he possessed the possibility of unifying the shinobi world.
Because in terms of battlefield domination, Hanzo truly had shown outstanding performance.
Terrifying poison mist, Water Release used with exquisite precision, and Body Flicker techniques—combined with a swift blade capable of interrupting a ninja's hand seals…
As long as the battlefield environment was suitable, even an elite jōnin squad that entered his trap would be instantly killed.
Thus, Hanzo had provoked the shinobi world war, hoping to unite the five great hidden villages into one, in pursuit of the "peace" within his heart.
However, Hanzo was quickly awakened from that illusion.
According to the evaluation system Hiruzen held in Danzo's mind, Hanzo was indeed a powerful fighter with "distinctive traits."
But the problem was that the ninjas of the other great hidden villages also each had their own "distinctive traits," and their reserve resources were extraordinarily abundant.
Even though Amegakure had won several battles early on by relying on terrain and Hanzo's abilities… after Chiyo and Tsunade separately neutralized the salamander's poison, the situation on the battlefield was quickly reversed. Hanzo alone struggled to hold the line, barely holding out until the day both sides gave each other a way out…
"It seems that not fighting those three brats to the end was the correct choice…"
"Otherwise Amegakure would have been destroyed by my own hands."
The three Hanzo referred to were Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya—the Sarutobi team to whom he had given the title of the Sannin.
Letting the Sarutobi team go had been a strategic gamble between Hanzo and Hiruzen back then.
If he had fought with full force, Hanzo was confident he could have killed Orochimaru and the others…
But the problem was that if the Hokage's disciples had all died on the battlefield, the conflict would have become one that would never end until one side was destroyed.
The result was obvious.
"Fortunately, Sarutobi Hiruzen is a decent man. I spared his disciples, and he spared Amegakure…"
"But this hell called the shinobi world has forced even that decent man to become ruthless."
"He has already begun to actively use military force as a deterrent…"
"Not only that, unlike those brutes from Kumogakure, he even wrapped it in an outer layer of "peace"… He did not seize territory, did not completely wipe out Kusagakure, and did not monopolize the spoils of war…"
"Troublesome!"
The act of sending Amegakure's ninjas back made Hanzo sink into deep thought.
Without that step, Hanzo would have chosen to publicly condemn Hiruzen.
With his reputation, he could have stirred up the emotions of the various hidden villages and launched a war of public opinion against Konoha…
But with that step included, things became difficult for Hanzo.
Toward Kusagakure's kind of abduction and plundering behavior, the simple feelings of Amegakure's ninjas were disgust. No one would feel any regret over the destruction of Kusagakure's hawk faction.
In fact, even he, the leader, felt the same way.
"Stop the negative propaganda against Konoha. Adjust the stated cause of the Second Shinobi World War to Sunagakure's greed for land and Iwagakure's fanning the flames."
"As for the fighting between Amegakure and Konoha, the main cause lay in the schemes of Sunagakure and Iwagakure. Amegakure and Konoha were both victims; the two villages were misled by misfortune."
"Emphasize that both the Hokage and I are ninjas who yearn for peace. The time has come to completely resolve the misunderstandings of the past."
"Amegakure hopes to establish closer ties with Konoha. Stopping at a mere 'ceasefire agreement' is something the ninjas of both villages would regret."
"This must be publicized on a large scale throughout all of Amegakure, and even throughout the Land of Rain!" Hanzo said, rubbing his brow as he gave instructions to the higher-ups below him.
"Hanzo-sama, do we really have to do this?"
One of Amegakure's higher-ups said hesitantly, "Will everyone really believe it?"
"Then think of a way to make them believe it!"
Hanzo said in a deep voice: "If you cannot even control the thinking of your own ninjas, what use are you to me? You must understand that this is the truth to begin with; it is only a matter of changing the emphasis!"
"I let those three brats go, and when Konoha held peace talks, it also did not demand compensation. That is ironclad proof!"
Seeing the look of sudden realization on his subordinates' faces, Hanzo shook his head in disappointment.
Being born in a small hidden village really made him feel exhausted…
He did not even have a few decent ninjas under him, and even the propaganda front required him to personally design the details…
In Hanzo's view, with the mysterious strength Konoha had now displayed, choosing cooperation was the best option.
Compared with Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure—whom he simply could not trust at all—trying to form a strategic alliance with Konoha was something worth doing.
"If Sarutobi Hiruzen truly harbors peace in his heart, then Amegakure working with him is not impossible…"
"If Sarutobi Hiruzen is only pretending, then when war breaks out again between the two villages, this kind of propaganda will make the village's ninjas even angrier, and it will also be beneficial for fighting Konoha."
Hanzo, who had not yet completely declined into old age, made this decision.
...
Kumogakure.
Dodai was reporting the situation at Kusagakure to the Third Raikage.
The powerfully built Third Raikage slowly set down the huge barbell in his hands.
"This is deterrence… or a move of advancing by retreating. Clever."
"But this is only for the sake of an even greater war."
"Senju Tobirama died during the peace talks between Kumogakure and Konoha. Even if we define Kinkaku and Ginkaku as rogue ninjas, Sarutobi Hiruzen is still his disciple. It is impossible for him to hold genuine goodwill toward Kumogakure."
"Unless he no longer wants to maintain his prestige within Konoha."
"Dodai, go speak with the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning and have him increase the village's funding. The training of the two jinchūriki, Yugito Nii and Killer B, must be intensified…"
"The mastery of the Six Paths Ninja Tools must also be restarted."
"You brat must take the lead as well—go try it!" The Third Raikage pointed at his son, the Fourth A.
The Fourth A immediately nodded. "Leave it to me, Father!"
The Third Raikage's gaze was deep: "There will inevitably be a battle between us and Konoha. Do not be deceived by Konoha's hypocrisy… In the shinobi world, in the end only strength speaks. Under the system of nations and villages, sooner or later there will only be one hidden village."
"I do not want that hidden village to be Konoha, but Kumogakure."
"A ninja like Senju Hashirama will never appear again."
"Spread the propaganda. Subtly link the death of Blue B to Konoha!"
"On our side, we must also do a good job comforting the captured ninjas and express the Raikage's apology to them."
The Third Raikage looked at Dodai, who seemed hesitant to speak.
"Short of money, right? Start by taking it from me, then ask the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning. If it's still not enough…"
"Take some men and go rob." The Third Raikage pointed at his son.
The Fourth A immediately replied, "Yes, Father! I've wanted to go rob for a long time!"
...
Iwagakure.
A similar conversation was also taking place.
Overall, the thinking was very close to that of the Third Raikage.
They would comfort the captured ninjas of Iwagakure, dispel their feelings of gratitude toward Konoha, and emphasize the theory that Konoha was a threat.
However, the core of Ōnoki's thinking was not about "Senju Tobirama," but about "Uchiha Madara."
"Although Uchiha Madara is a topic that cannot be mentioned in Konoha…"
"the way that man thought has actually long seeped into the very bones of Konoha!"
"Do you know who came up with the name 'Konoha'?"
"It was not Senju Hashirama, but Uchiha Madara! So from the very bones of it, this village has something wrong with it. Do not be deceived by Sarutobi Hiruzen's pretenses…"
"Advancing by retreating is a good method, but I hope your minds remain clear."
"You must see Konoha's military strength, rather than be blinded by a few scattered coins…"
"A ninja like Senju Hashirama—how many like him have appeared if you look through the history of the shinobi world? He was an anomaly within the Senju clan. Think about what kind of ninja Senju Tobirama was…"
"And the Uchiha clan is still in Konoha!"
"Who knows—one day another Madara may appear among the Uchiha, overthrow Sarutobi Hiruzen, and lead Konoha to turn the entire shinobi world into scorched earth!"
Floating in midair, Ōnoki spoke with spittle flying everywhere: "So you must have more children! Iwagakure must produce elites!"
"Rōshi, Han—you are not allowed to leave the village anymore. Accelerate the control over the tailed beasts!"
Rōshi snorted coldly and stood up on his own.
"Where are you going!" Ōnoki shouted in a deep voice.
"Too lazy to listen to all that of yours…"
"The 'Uchiha–Konoha threat theory'—I've been hearing it for almost forty years already…"
Rōshi glanced back at Ōnoki. "If Iwagakure needs me, I will naturally go to the battlefield. But that does not mean I have to waste time here with you."
"I am a weapon, but I am also a person. My time is valuable."
Ōnoki looked at Rōshi coldly, silently bringing his hands together into the starting seal of Dust Release.
It was not that he was cruel…
But a jinchūriki who constantly found fault like this was somewhat too destructive to the authority of the Tsuchikage.
If such a person did not yet possess sufficient value, then dealing with him early would be the best choice.
"I can't beat you, and besides, I also love Iwagakure."
"Put away that Dust Release of yours. Save your strength so you can keep having nightmares about Uchiha Madara tonight…"
Rōshi looked directly at Ōnoki. "I have already mastered the power of the Four-Tails. If you want to make a move, now is the time. Don't say I didn't give you the chance—I won't resist."
"It might even be a good thing if I leave this oppressive shinobi world a little earlier."
Rōshi stretched out his hand, and his left arm turned into a massive red ape arm.
Partial tailed-beast transformation!
Ōnoki's expression changed instantly: "Very good, Rōshi… you've worked hard. Communicating with the Four-Tails must have cost you a great deal of effort. That is something I, as the Tsuchikage, failed to consider. Go and rest."
"I was only thinking about Iwagakure. Sometimes I get emotional—please forgive me."
Rōshi was taken aback and shook his head helplessly.
That was also one of the reasons he felt increasingly stifled.
Ōnoki, the Tsuchikage, was simply too slippery—making it impossible for him to approve of him, yet also impossible to truly hate him…
So he could only keep wandering through the shinobi world to clear his mind, searching for some meaning to his existence.
...
Sunagakure.
The conversation there was somewhat more interesting.
Pakura, who felt a slight favorable impression toward Konoha's actions, spoke without thinking first… and was jointly criticized harshly by Rasa and Chiyo!
One of them was Pakura's political rival in the contest for the Fourth Kazekage…
The other was an old woman whose son and daughter-in-law had died at the hands of Hatake Sakumo.
"Hatred will not break."
The Third Kazekage said calmly, "Do not be so naive, Pakura. As a ninja who grew up in the wind and sand, your will and character must be tougher."
"We must inherit the will of the First Kazekage…"
"Unless Konoha is willing to give us a piece of fertile land, our children will only continue living generation after generation in this yellow-sand desert. But you also know that is impossible."
"So for Sunagakure, there is no choice but war."
"We must recognize the real military deterrence of Konoha. We must find ways to resolve Sunagakure's problems of funding and population…"
Pakura lowered her head after being criticized. "Thank you for your guidance, Kazekage-sama!"
Rasa stared at Pakura and let out a cold laugh in his mind.
Such a foolish woman, and she still dared to openly compete with him?
Truly unbelievably stupid…
One day, sooner or later, he would get her killed!
"Kazekage-sama!"
"I can use my Kekkei Genkai to dig gold for the village…"
"And Karura and I will soon give Sunagakure an excellent ninja as well!" Rasa seized this opportunity to lavishly flatter the Third Kazekage.
"I believe my son will be able to control the power of the One-Tail for Sunagakure. When the time comes, please allow him to try!"
"Oh? Not a bad idea, Rasa."
The Third Kazekage's eyes lit up. "Go do it well. I think highly of you!"
Pakura looked at Rasa with disgust.
Was he even human?
A son who had not even been born yet had already become a reserve candidate for the One-Tail, just to flatter the Kazekage?
Disgusting!
And Pakura's gaze was also noticed by Rasa…
Rasa snorted inwardly. 'Idiot. Do you think becoming Kazekage is something you can achieve just by talking?'
...
Meanwhile, in Kirigakure.
The conversation there was comparatively simple.
For now, the Third Mizukage's Blood Mist Village policy seemed very "successful."
Everyone was following his orders, fighting fiercely among themselves…
"Sarutobi Hiruzen truly is my 'friend'…"
"Even across the sea, he returned Kirigakure's ninjas. That is respect, and it benefits my prestige."
"Hmm, it seems there's no need to deal with the Kaguya Clan first. Let them maintain communication with the Hyūga for now…"
"Someone, take a few ninja academy students and genin brats to see the world."
"Go to Konoha and bring those useless ones back…"
"If they have no value, execute them somewhere secluded. Don't make me worry about it."
The Third Mizukage spoke coldly.
In his mind, the lives of Kirigakure's ninjas were no longer that important…
What mattered was whether his words, as Mizukage, carried weight.
If it were the bloodline clans brought back from Kusagakure…
Other Kage would certainly be happy—after all, it would strengthen their village's combat power.
But the Third Mizukage might not be, because in his view this was another form of "aiding the enemy"…
And ninjas who could be captured were very likely incompatible with the temperament of the Blood Mist Village, affecting Kirigakure's current situation of vigorous competition and flourishing development.
It was only out of respect for Hiruzen that they would still pretend to go retrieve them.
As for whether they would be thrown into the sea to feed the fish or used to sharpen blades…
The Third Mizukage did not care.
---
I will post some extra Chapters in Patreon, you can check it out. >> patreon.com/TitoVillar
---