Chapter 82

"I'll give it a try."

Persuading Hanzo might not require the daimyo's involvement, but the village would need to offer substantial benefits. Considering the character of the Third Hokage, it was likely that he would entertain the idea. At this stage, he still had some boldness. The real challenge would be the village elders, especially Koharu Utatane, who was notoriously difficult to deal with.

"Senior, be prepared for rejection. Even if Tsunade steps in, success isn't guaranteed," Shinki cautioned Nara Shikaku.

The higher the expectation, the greater the potential disappointment.

Nara Shikaku smiled as he stood up. "I've been prepared for rejection since I came up with this idea. We'll try, and if it succeeds, great. If not, we'll keep fighting as we have been."

"You should rest. I can tell you've been pushing yourself hard lately. Training is important, but so is rest," Shikaku advised.

As head of the Nara clan, Shikaku knew some of Konoha's secrets, so he wasn't overly curious about Shinki's activities or his recent whereabouts.

"Take care, senior," Shinki said as he saw Shikako out.

Shinki quickly drafted a scroll detailing their proposal and sent it to the village via a puppet. From there, it would be in Tsunade's hands. He was certain she wouldn't dismiss Shikaku's idea. The real challenge would lie in getting the Third Hokage and the elders on board.

The scroll reached Konoha by dawn and was promptly delivered to Tsunade. After reading it, she groaned. "Senior, you really know how to give me a headache."

The idea had merit, but securing the support of the Third Hokage and the elders would be difficult. Still, Tsunade was prepared to try.

By mid-morning, Tsunade walked into the Hokage's office and relayed Nara Shikaku's proposal. The Third Hokage's brow furrowed immediately.

"Tsunade, the village intentionally involved the Rain Village to suppress its growth, turning the Land of Rain into a battlefield among three great nations. Our relationship with the Rain Village has been reduced to a stalemate."

"I understand," Tsunade said. "But just because it's difficult doesn't mean it's impossible. If we can persuade Hanzo to unite with Konoha, the entire battlefield dynamic in the Land of Rain will shift in our favor."

The Third Hokage mulled over her words before deciding, "I'll call a meeting with Koharu and the others so we can discuss this properly."

Shortly after, Koharu Utatane, Mitokado Homura, and Akimichi Tofu joined them in the office. The meeting began with Tsunade presenting the proposal.

"No, I refuse!" Koharu declared as soon as she understood Tsunade's intention. "This isn't about targeting anyone personally. I'm considering what's best for the village. Winning an ally in the Rain Village might seem advantageous, but don't forget that more than three powers are fighting in the Land of Rain."

She continued, "We could pay a steep price for this alliance, but what happens with the Rock Village? If we unite with the Rain Village, could that provoke the Rock Village into forming an alliance with the Sand Village?"

The Third Hokage and Mitokado Hamura nodded, finding her argument reasonable.

After a pause, Akimichi Tofu spoke up. "The Rock Village's main focus is the Cloud Village, so—"

"Can you guarantee that the Rock Village and the Sand Village won't form an alliance?" Koharu interrupted. "If you can promise that, I'll back the negotiations with the Rain Village."

"....."

I can't promise anything, Akimichi Tofu thought bitterly.

Inter-village relationships could shift in an instant, especially during war. If Konoha considered an alliance with the Rain Village, it was only logical to expect that the Sand Village and the Rock Village might entertain a similar idea.

In reality, Chiyo had already approached the Rock Village, only to be rebuffed—though Konoha was unaware of this development.

Securing an alliance with the Rain Village wasn't just about persuading Hanzo; it was also about managing the potential fallout with the Rock Village. If the Rock Village responded by uniting with the Sand Village, Konoha would be in trouble. The Rain Village, even as an ally, couldn't compare in strength to the Rock Village.

Even if the alliance succeeded, Konoha would face challenges from a possible joint force of the Sand and Rock Villages. This potential risk made the elders wary.

Tsunade knew the outcome before she even entered the room. She sighed, crossing her arms as she listened to the debate unfold. Aligning with an enemy during war was always risky. If the leadership agreed and offered enough incentives, Hanzo would likely be swayed. And if he hesitated, the daimyo could step in to strengthen the offer.

But Koharu's fixation on the Rock Village ended the discussion. The meeting turned out to be a complete waste of time, as Tsunade had expected.

As the meeting concluded, Tsunade and Akimichi Tofu left the room first.

"Hiruzen, what do you think Tsunade's aim is?" Koharu asked. "She's becoming more involved in village matters, even when the situation is already chaotic. Trying to form an alliance with the Rain Village is reckless. If it provokes the Rock Village, we'll be in real danger."

The Third Hokage chose not to comment on Tsunade's involvement. With control over the pharmaceutical division and influence in the Anbu, it was only natural for her to have a say. But he knew that arguing with Koharu would lead nowhere, so he let the matter drop.

"What you said makes sense. That's why I don't think it's the right time for peace talks with the Rain Village. The current situation is favorable for Konoha," the Third Hokage concluded.

In many eyes, the current state of affairs in the Land of Rain was to Konoha's advantage. The Rock Village, wary of a potential attack from the Cloud Village, wasn't fully committed to the war. The Sand Village was locked in combat with Konoha, while Hanzo and the Rain Village were preoccupied with harassing the Sand forces.

Compared to the struggles of the Sand Village, Konoha's position looked promising. With these factors in mind, the village leadership, known as the "F4," was unwilling to take any risks, even if an alliance with the Rain Village was theoretically achievable.

As Tsunade and Akimichi Tofu walked out of the Hokage office building, Tofu sighed. "Monkey's lost his boldness with age, and the elders have too much influence on village matters."

Tsunade scoffed. "He's reaping what he sowed."

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