Homura immediately objected.
"But if we do that, Kirigakure definitely won't be able to withstand the pressure. They'll lose. And once that happens, Sunagakure will turn around and target Konoha. If that happens, Iwagakure will certainly come back as well."
"This time they were only driven back. They haven't surrendered."
"And the damage we dealt them wasn't enough. They still have the strength to fight."
Then Homura added one more line.
"Danzo, if you hadn't worked with Shirosha Kouichi to make a move against Sunagakure, then yes, we might actually be able to do that. But because of you, Sunagakure definitely bears a grudge against us now."
Danzo's expression sank.
Homura's sarcasm irritated him greatly.
But Danzo didn't even look at him.
Instead, he said to Hiruzen,
"Hiruzen, which is why we need to reach an agreement with Sunagakure first."
Hiruzen looked at Danzo.
"Who will go?"
"Since this matter started because of me, I'll go myself. But I'll need Orochimaru to accompany me. I'm confident I can persuade that brat Rasa, but he's too impulsive."
What Danzo was worried about was simple:
That Rasa would attack before he even got the chance to speak.
After personally fighting Rasa and witnessing his clash with Minato, Danzo now understood clearly that he was absolutely no match for Rasa.
At least not in his current state.
"Fine."
The moment Danzo and Orochimaru appeared, the Suna shinobi immediately became alert.
"Who goes there?"
"It's Danzo of Konoha!"
"And Orochimaru!"
"Why are those two here?"
"To ambush our Suna army?"
"Hurry! Inform Kazekage-sama and Pakura-sama at once!"
Danzo spread his hands, trying to signal that he had no hostile intent.
"Everyone of Sunagakure, we mean no harm. We've come to discuss something with your Kazekage—something beneficial to both Konoha and Sunagakure."
"Please pass the message along."
After speaking, Danzo did not step any closer. He remained where he was, doing his best to reduce the hostility of the Suna shinobi.
Orochimaru folded his arms and narrowed his eyes as he observed the surrounding shinobi of Sunagakure.
"Danzo and Orochimaru?"
Rasa raised a brow.
"I understand. I'll go over in a moment."
Beside him, Pakura looked over.
"Husband-sama, shall I come too?"
Rasa shook his head.
"No. I'll go alone."
With that, he rose to his feet.
"Sand Soldier Manifestation!"
A sand soldier with chuunin-level strength appeared inside the tent. Shield in one hand, spear in the other, it crouched quietly in the corner like a sand sculpture.
Pakura examined it carefully.
"So this is that technique of Husband-sama's…"
"The sand soldiers he creates can be strong or weak. They can serve as elite combatants or become a sea of bodies. And Husband-sama can use them for instantaneous movement as well."
"It's no worse than Minato Namikaze's Flying Thunder God Technique."
"To develop such a powerful technique from Magnet Release… Husband-sama is a genius."
"He has already surpassed the Third Kazekage of old."
Danzo and Orochimaru waited for quite some time.
Finally, in the distance, they saw Rasa approaching.
Orochimaru studied him carefully.
He had not met Rasa many times before, and in the past had heard very little about him. But recently, information about Rasa had exploded across the shinobi world.
The extermination of the Hongsha Clan.
The killing of four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
Turning Sunagakure's situation around.
Breaking Danzo's and Shirosha Kouichi's scheme.
Matching Minato Namikaze blow for blow.
"So Sunagakure really did produce such a remarkable talent…"
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, as though trying to peer into the secrets hidden within Rasa.
Danzo's mood was complicated.
On one hand, he hated Rasa bitterly.
The grudge of losing an arm was not something one forgot.
But on the other hand, Danzo desperately wanted Konoha and Sunagakure to reach a peace agreement.
That was the best possible choice for Konoha.
If Konoha reconciled with Sunagakure, it could cast off Kirigakure, that burden, and with Iwagakure already defeated, Konoha could withdraw from this war entirely.
And once Konoha was no longer at war, the other villages would have to think long and hard before making another move against it.
"This grudge… there will be time to settle it later."
"For now, I'll endure."
"Everything is for Konoha."
"I am Konoha's darkness. The roots beneath the great tree."
"For the sake of the village, I can even abandon my reputation and bear every curse thrown my way. This is nothing."
"This is my magnanimity."
"Hiruzen could never do the same."
"He clearly wants the same thing I do, yet when it comes to cutting ties with Kirigakure, he insists on making me be the one to say it first."
"As if that makes him the righteous one."
Danzo let out a cold snort in his heart.
As Rasa approached, Danzo forced a smile onto his face.
"You old bastard, what do you want with me? Don't tell me you're plotting something again."
The moment he opened his mouth, Rasa came out swinging.
He had absolutely no goodwill toward Danzo.
What Danzo did inside Konoha, Rasa couldn't care less about.
But Danzo's previous operation against Sunagakure was different. If Rasa had not just happened to obtain the One-Day Mind-Listening Card, then even if Danzo's plan had ultimately failed, it still would have caused heavy casualties to Sunagakure.
Especially since that shameless old dog had aimed at Karura and the others.
That made Rasa despise him to the extreme.
Danzo's expression stiffened.
His displeasure had already climbed to the limit, but he still forced himself to endure.
For the village. Everything for the village.
"Kazekage, we came this time to discuss something beneficial to both Sunagakure and Konoha."
Danzo paused, then continued,
"Konoha can sign a peace agreement with Sunagakure. We won't interfere with each other. That way, Sunagakure can focus all its strength on dealing with Kirigakure."
"You want to sell out Kirigakure?"
"We only mean that Konoha will no longer interfere in the war between Sunagakure and Kirigakure. Fundamentally, there was never much reason for Konoha and Sunagakure to fight in the first place."
A flicker passed through Rasa's eyes.
"And how do I know you're not lying to me?"
"To show our sincerity, Kazekage, you may send your own people to monitor our army internally. The moment we make any unusual move, you'll know immediately."
Danzo said, "That means Konoha will have no chance to launch a surprise attack on you."
"Well? Kazekage, this is an enormous advantage for Sunagakure."
"If you defeat Kirigakure, Sunagakure will gain huge war reparations and enter a period of peace. Isn't that exactly what your village wants?"
Danzo's voice took on a coaxing tone.