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  After a long jourhrough the new ercial district, primarily structed under Gojo Kaigetsu’s supervision, the Kirigakure delegation finally arrived iively older part of Konoha.

  The weight on their shoulders finally lifted. There were still familiar sights; the hope of catg up to Konoha wasirely lost.

  At the end of the road stood the a and imposing Hokage Tower.

  As the symbol of Konoha’s highest administrative authority loomed before him, Gonbee felt the pressure mounting. He was here to secure the best possible oute for Kirigakure.

  Even in an alliance, a Kirigakure ninja mustn't lose their pride.

  However, the atmosphere… felt somewhat off.

  Gonbee keenly sensed an inexplicable air of hostility surrounding the Hokage Tower. The security ninjas stationed outside gred with animosity.

  Especially the middle-aged ninja with the Uchiha fan symbol on his clothing… What was with those eyes? Meeting his gaze felt like his very soul was screaming under immense pressure.

  ‘Such a scary presence.’

  Gonbee shivered involuntarily, instinctively averting his gaze. He couldn't help but admire the Mizukage's wisdom. Allying with such a Konoha was undoubtedly the right choice.

  He wondered who in his vilge could possibly rival the imposing aura of that Uchiha ninja.

  A short while ter, the Kirigakure delegation finally reached the entrance of Konoha's reception hall for fn dignitaries.

  Knoock

  “Enter!”

  The man's voice was somewhat flippant, not sounding like someone of high standing.

  Mei Terumi was the sed to enter.

  She saw a blond man in ceremonial robes seated at the head of the table. This… must be Konoha’s Fourth Hokage.

  To his left sat a white-haired man with a bck blindfold c his eyes. A pyful smirk graced his lips as he greeted her with a smile.

  ‘This man… so young.’

  ‘His chakra fluctuations aren’t strong, probably around in level, like me. At his age, to be present at su important occasion…’

  ‘His identity is clear. It’s Gojo Kaigetsu, the oioned in *Iki II*!’

  As for the two individuals on the Hokage's right… they resembled Kirigakure’s cil of elders, looking like scheming bureaucrats. Mei chose to ighem.

  If she had to gain something from this trip to Konoha, Mei believed the most likely source would be Gojo Kaigetsu.

  While she cked crete evidence, everything she had seen in the new ercial district, and Konoha’s current development, seemed likely orchestrated by Gojo Kaigetsu.

  This guy… his position within the vilge was simir to hers; a reformist!

  Setting aside vilge affiliations and differing stances, Gojo Kaigetsu was her “senior” oh ress!

  Mei’s heart burned with anticipation. Before leaving Konoha, she had to learn from Gojo Kaigetsu, abs his experien shaping Konoha.

  Seated in two rows, both parties were now fully assembled.

  “Kirigakure’s emissaries… I believe you are the Mizukage’s personal guard, correct?” Danzo’s age, after all, afforded him extensive experiend knowledge, making him difficult to fault in that regard.

  “My name is Gonbee. I am here in Konoha to iate on behalf of the Mizukage!”

  Here it es!

  Everyone present, except for the still rexed Gojo Kaigetsu, tensed up. This discussion would impact all future policies of Konoha.

  “What does Kirigakure… wish to discuss?”

  Gojo Kaigetsu made his move!

  He propped his head up with one hand, leaning forward casually, while his other haed oable, tapping his index finger erratically, feigning impatience.

  Danzo’s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.

  Did this fool have no uanding of diplomatic etiquette? To adopt such a disrespectful attitude at this critical juncture would undoubtedly provoke these Kirigakure lunatics!

  However, trary to Danzo’s expectations, Gonbee’s expression didn’t shift towards anger. Instead, it became… more subdued.

  “We have e to Konoha uhe Mizukage’s orders to establish a peace treaty! To form an alliance, joining forces against those barbarians of Kumogakure!”

  “What?! A peace treaty?! An alliance!?”

  Danzo’s pupils stricted; he couldn't tain his shocked excmation.

  Was his hearing failing him due to old age? Or had those treacherous Uchiha used genjutsu on him without his notig?

  This reposterous!

  Kirigakure was a major vilge. Despite its isotionist policies, it couldn't be pletely oblivious to external affairs. They must be aware of Konoha and Kumogakure establishing bases in the Land of Hot Water.

  Under such circumstances… instead of seeking revehey were shamelessly proposing an alliah Konoha.

  How spineless!

  Danzo felt a surge of impulsiveness. If not for his position as a Konoha elder, he would have voiced what Konoha had doakure.

  His unease reached its peak.

  ‘Could it be… that… those bloodline-limit children I painstakingly retrieved from Kirigakure…!’

  The thought of his hard-won achievements potentially being that sdrel Gojo Kaigetsu made Danzo’s blood boil. His face was ashen, as if he had swallowed something foul.

  Should he… go ba his word?

  However, the wager had been made in front of numerous representatives, and he had personally emphasized its terms. If he reneged… how could he tinue his work as the darkness of the shinobi world, the root of Konoha?

  The primary purpose of the wager was to oust Gojo Kaigetsu and steer Konoha bato what he sidered the right path. But if he lost his authority in the eyes of Konoha’s s… he would be no different from being exiled from the political ter of Konoha.

  A ninja’s reputation was everything.

  Danzo romi figure in Konoha, one of the few with a known moniker in the shinobi world.

  He could not afford to lose face.

  Besides… he hadn’t necessarily lost yet!

  Danzo grew wary. When these bloodthirsty Kirigakure madmeed to restraint, they were undoubtedly plotting something.

  Perhaps, just like during the Third Shinobi World War, they were pnning to kidnap people from Konoha, seal tailed beasts within them, and turn them into living bombs to destroy Konoha.

  Danzo broke out in a cold sweat at the thought. If that were true, he would have a legitimate reason to halt these pointless alliaalks.

  Kirigakure’s sinister ambitions!

  “Indeed, an alliance!”

  Gonbee’s expression turned serious. “The Mizukage has already ehe Bloody Mist era. Kirigakure will gradually return to normald embrace peace.”

  “We are aware of Konoha and Kumogakure’s activities in the Land of Hot Water, and we uand the statements made by both vilges.”

  “You are right, Konoha. The Bloody Mist policies were indeed dangerous and should have ended long ago. The Mizukage asked me to personally vey his gratitude to Konoha for providing ‘Konoha’s humanitarian aid’ takure.”

  Gonbee lied without fling.

  Heaven knew how the Mizukage had reacted when he learned of Konoha and Kumogakure exploiting Kirigakure. While he maintaihe posure expected of an elder, he likely wished to raze Konoha to the ground.

  But Kirigakure was no lohe same. Its dee had forced it to seek alliances with other major vilges to maintain its standing in the shinobi world.

  Fortunately, these Konoha higher-ups seemed oblivious takure’s current state of vulnerability.

  In that case… the price they would have to pay for an alliand a peace treaty would undoubtedly be much lower. Perhaps they could even… gain something from Konoha?

  Goertaihis audacious thought.

  “Oher hand, Kumogakure’s statement is hypocritical, shameless, and despicable! Those barbarians are a pgue upon our shinobi world.”

  “With the end of the Bloody Mist, a new era has dawned for Kirigakure. And Konoha has always been reized as a bea of light in the shinobi world, the most prosperous and civilized vilge.”

  “Therefore, we, Kirigakure, wish to establish a mutually beneficial alliah Konoha, w together to tribute to the development of the shinobi world, fulfilling our roles as major vilges and assuming htful leadership positions.”

  “…”

  Minato blinked, gng at Gojo Kaigetsu involuntarily.

  It seemed Kirigakure’s rea had been anticipated by Kaigetsu-kun from the very beginning? What incredible fht!

  Minato uood his close friend well. If judged by ninja rank, Kaigetsu-kun’s abilities in internal affairs were at least Kage-level. But he hadn't expected his judgment regarding other vilges to be so accurate as well.

  Aside from his somewhat g ninja bat skills, he ractically an all-around, five-sided warrior!

  But it didn’t matter. He, Minato Namikaze, would pensate for that shorting!

  “I sehe Mizukage’s resolve in seeking a peace treaty. In that case…”

  “Wait!”

  Just as Minato was about to agree to the alliah Kirigakure, Gojo Kaigetsu and Danzo, two individuals who despised each other, excimed in unison.

  Gojo Kaigetsu spoke first. “Do you take Konoha for a fool? F alliances and deg war on a whim? Doesn't Konoha have any pride?”

  “This…” Gonbee’s expression turned serious.

  He had almost persuaded the Fourth Hokage, and now this white-haired ninja suddenly appeared, spouting divisive nonsense. Who was he?

  Gourned his head, looking at Minato questioningly, only to receive a helpless shrug in response.

  “…Advisojo, you are unaware. The past flicts between Kirigakure and Konoha were all due to the Bloody Mist regime.”

  “Let bygones be bygones.”

  “Let the past remain in the past, allowing the animosity between Konoha and Kirigakure to vanish along with the end of the Bloody Mist.”

  “Kirigakure is now uhe leadership of the Mizukage, a pletely reformed Kirigakure. Those past unfriendly acts will never happen again!”

  Gonbee spoke resolutely. But how much truth y in a politi’s promises? Without tangible cessions, all promises were as flimsy as the fereable they sat around.

  Ohey stepped outside the meeting room, who would take such empty promises seriously?

  “What do you mean by the end of the Bloody Mist regime? What do you mean by letting bygones be bygones?” Gojo Kaigetsu rapped his knuckles oable, his voice ced with displeasure. “Don’t sugarcoat it, Kirigakure.”

  “You maniputed the Three-Tails, causing the death of our Konoha kunoichi, and even attempted to use the Three-Tails Jinchuriki as a living bomb to destroy all of Konoha. Do you think we simply fet about that?”

  “Perhaps we should let our ails Jinchuriki take a stroll through Kirigakure, then we talk about letting bygones be bygones.”

  Gojo Kaigetsu was rarely this angry.

  A bunch of Danzo’s ies, speaking so eloquently. Everyone khe Mizukage artly responsible for the current situation. Rin’s death, Obito’s dest into darkhey pnted a tig time bomb in Konoha and thought they could just get away with it?

  Danzo, listening from the side, gaped, nodding subsciously.

  On this issue, he agreed with Gojo Kaigetsu’s judgment. Kirigakure harbored sinister iions; an alliance should not be formed lightly. However, did this guy… fet about their wager? To so harshly criticize Kirigakure, if they had any pride left, they would storm out…

  Gonbee’s face darkened further. Even a worm would turn. Was Gojo Kaigetsu so uraiowards Kirigakure? Wasn't he afraid they would turn around and ally with Kumogakure?

  “And, most importantly, if my intel is correct-”

  “Your Fourth Mizukage is currently incapacitated, severely injured and atose, isn’t he~”

  Naaniii?!

  The words stunned everyone present.

  Gonbee practically held his breath. How the hell did Gojo Kaigetsu know?!

  This was Kirigakure’s st shred of dignity, their ent trump card in the iations. Not only were the Konoha ninjas unaware, even within his own delegation, he was the only one who knew.

  The Fourth Mizukage Yagura’s severe injury and a were a closely guarded secret within Kirigakure. The i had been cssified as top-secret intel from the very day it occurred.

  To prevent leaks, the Mizukage had already arranged for someoo impersonate Yagura using the Transformation Jutsu to maintain stability.

  So, how in the world did Gojo Kaigetsu know?!

  “Haha, Advisojo, you’re quite the joker.” At this critical moment, Gonbee mao trol his emotions, wiping the cold sweat from his brow without ging his expression.

  “Is this Konoha’s hospitality? Fabrig stories about our Mizukage?”

  “The Mizukage is not someone you s will!”

  “No one harm the Fourth Mizukage!”

  At these words, the Kirigakure delegation became agitated.

  “Kaigetsu-kun… what is this about?” Minato, listening from the side, was also fused. How did Kaigetsu-kun arrive at such a bold assumption?

  A Kage was the face of a vilge, a symbol to the outside world. To be severely injured and atose by someohin the vilge… such a matter was no ughing matter.

  From this perspective, the Kirigakure delegation’s rea was uandable.

  Simirly, if someone from another vilge fabricated stories about him being severely injured by an enemy or defeated by the ails, Kaigetsu-kun would also be furious… wouldn’t he?

  You're right, but I have system intel.

  Gojo Kaigetsu simply smiled enigmatically. “The more you object, the more it firms the accuray intel~”

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