Did He Agree?

"What kind of opportunity are you talking about?" The Third Mizukage, eyes closed, addressed Zabuza Momochi. Despite his eyes being shut, he faced Zabuza directly, clearly agitated, though his voice remained steady.

"Explain it to me."

"Let me understand what kind of situation it was."

"That made you ignore the Mizukage's orders and make a decision on your own."

"I'm very curious."

"Was it really so urgent?"

Though the Third Mizukage's words seemed calm, they carried an undercurrent of anger. His composure did little to mask his displeasure.

Zabuza sensed the tension. He knew this wasn't a matter to be taken lightly. The Mizukage expected loyalty, and Zabuza's unilateral decision could easily be seen as insubordination.

"The situation was as follows..."

Zabuza began, knowing he had to explain thoroughly and carefully.

"I received intelligence that Danzo wanted us to ally with them."

"The goal was to jointly target Minato Namikaze."

"If Minato successfully returned to Konoha, it would greatly threaten the Third Hokage's position. The Hokage transition would see Minato become the new Hokage."

"Given these circumstances, Danzo sought our assistance to eliminate Minato Namikaze. In return, Konoha would ally with us against Kumogakure."

"At that moment, there wasn't much time to deliberate. Minato was on the verge of returning to Konoha. Once he arrived, he would undoubtedly become the new Hokage."

"By then, the Third Hokage would lose his influence and could no longer secure alliances or support our interests."

"Thus, we decided that if we could successfully assassinate Minato, it would significantly cripple Konoha's future while gaining Konoha as an ally."

Zabuza detailed the rationale behind their decision, emphasising the urgency and the potential benefits, though he refrained from mentioning the uncertainties about Minato's true strength.

"I see."

The Third Mizukage nodded slowly, processing the explanation. The prospect of destabilising Konoha while allying seemed tempting.

"And what happened next?"

The Mizukage's demeanour remained stern as he pressed for the outcome. He needed to understand the implications of this unsanctioned mission on their current and future standing with Konoha.

Zabuza steeled himself, knowing the next part was crucial.

"We attempted to intercept and assassinate Minato Namikaze."

"We engaged him before he could reach Konoha but quickly realized something crucial."

"Minato could use space-time ninjutsu!"

"He could leave at any moment, making it impossible for us to restrain him."

"No matter our strength, the battle was futile."

"Recognizing our failure, we sought to minimize the damage."

"Fortunately, we hadn't yet attacked Minato."

"Everything was still within negotiable bounds."

"So, we decided to negotiate with Minato."

"Given the circumstances, becoming Konoha's enemy wasn't an option."

"If Minato became Hokage, Konoha would inevitably fall under his leadership. We couldn't afford to antagonize him."

Zabuza's explanation painted him as a cool-headed strategist, prioritising the village's long-term interests over immediate gains.

The other members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen nodded in agreement, understanding Zabuza's narrative as a means to protect them all.

"Hmm."

The Third Mizukage's neutral response belied his growing interest. Timely damage control reflected well on Zabuza's leadership, though the whole picture was yet to emerge.

"Continue."

With all eyes on him, Zabuza pressed on.

"We knew we couldn't kill Minato, so we chose to collaborate instead."

"Our goal was to inform him of the plots against him within Konoha."

"To reveal the treachery he faced."

"In return, we sought his agreement to disregard our assassination attempt."

"To end hostilities and form a future alliance once he became Hokage."

"This way, a potential disaster was turned into a strategic advantage."

Zabuza spoke confidently, laying out his plan and its benefits for the village.

"And did he agree?"

The Third Mizukage's interest was piqued. This outcome could greatly influence their village's future relations with Konoha.

Zabuza hesitated, gathering his thoughts before revealing the conclusion. The outcome of this negotiation was critical, potentially validating his risky decisions.

Zabuza took a deep breath, knowing the answer could change everything.