"Utter nonsense!!!"
Facing the Hokage's accusation, the leader of the envoy group Saki sharply rebuked.
"Our envoy group has put in so much effort for the alliance recently. You've seen the Raikage's letter. We even prepared the alliance document, but it's Konoha who kept delaying signing the treaty. Now you're questioning our intentions?"
The Cloud Village did want to ally with Konoha, since both currently shared the Hidden Stone as a common enemy.
But they also genuinely wanted to sabotage Konoha's jinchūriki plan and seize the Nine-Tails vessel, because Konoha was also their potential enemy that needed weakening.
These two points seemed contradictory but actually weren't. Seizing the Nine-Tails vessel depended on opportunity and feasibility. If the chance arose they would dare to take it. If not, they'd directly cooperate with Konoha against the Stone Village first.
Either outcome would benefit the Cloud Village.
Even if stealing the Nine-Tails vessel worsened relations with Konoha, the Third Raikage was confident Konoha wouldn't dare declare war on the Cloud while already fighting the Sand Village.
This was a judgment based on current circumstances, not blind confidence.
Hearing Saki's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen fell briefly silent.
Truth was, Konoha never wanted to sign any damned alliance treaty with Cloud. But the leadership also didn't want to antagonize them, hence their contradictory stance of welcoming the envoys while showing little interest in signing.
Konoha's elders still vividly remembered how the Second Hokage died during such a treaty signing, making them extremely wary of alliance documents.
Their teacher had gone to Cloud Village to sign that fatal treaty, only to lose his life shortly after.
Most ridiculously, that treaty was torn up less than a day after signing.
Even after the Third Raikage restored order in Cloud Village later, he never attempted to repair that treaty or continue the Second Raikage's pro-Konoha policies.
Thus for Hiruzen's generation, signing another alliance treaty with Cloud was impossible.
Doing so would disrespect the Second Hokage at best, or constitute treason at worst. Countless villagers would condemn him, possibly even destabilizing his position as Hokage.
"My information says three Cloud ninja tried to kidnap our Nine-Tails vessel, which is why Uchiha Ryun killed them. I want to know if your envoy group authorized this. Was it the Raikage's order? Otherwise why would Uchiha Ryun kill your people for no reason?"
Hiruzen bluntly stated this, countering their accusations by exposing their crimes and questioning them back.
Facing this, Saki didn't deny it since the claims were true. But the Land of Lightning had standard tactics for dealing with other nations:
"If the Hokage insists the fault lies with us while openly shielding the murderer, then we have nothing more to discuss... The Raikage granted me full authority before this mission. My words represent the entire Cloud Village. Now I just want to ask Konoha... Are you prepared to face the Cloud's wrath?"
Saki's statement was clearly a declaration of war!
Seeing Cloud's aggressive stance, the Konoha ninja tensed up, all eyes turning to the Third Hokage for his response.
Hiruzen's expression shifted through shock and anger, with faint panic in his eyes!
Konoha was already battling the Land of Wind while fending off the Land of Earth's invasion. How could they possibly fight the Land of Lightning too?
Moreover, Konoha's leadership feared Cloud's military might deep down, a psychological trauma from their youth when Cloud rebels hunted them mercilessly.
Even the usually fearless Danzō had been terrified by the Cloud ninja back then. Their invincible teacher the Second Hokage had been forced to sacrifice himself against them.
No one understood Cloud's power better than them. The Land of Lightning could truly rival the Land of Fire!
In Hiruzen's mind, Konoha stood no certain chance against Cloud alone, let alone while already fighting the Sand Village...
These thoughts made him panic internally, though he maintained outward composure.
"I didn't say it was entirely Cloud's fault. But we should all calm down and investigate properly first..."
Hiruzen avoided directly responding to Saki's challenge, instead urging calm.
Hearing this, Saki's eyes gleamed shrewdly.
As an experienced envoy, he knew how to handle weaker nations. Those urging calm were usually afraid.
The Hokage's words clearly showed fear of Cloud's power!
Against insecure nations, Cloud only needed some intimidation to force concessions.
Very few dared oppose the Land of Lightning. Currently only the Land of Earth's Stone Village had such courage.
"Hmph, we'll investigate properly. But I hope the Hokage won't favor his own people. Given this involves your village hero, I doubt you'll be impartial..."
"I'll inform the Raikage and await his decision."
Saki kept pressuring Hiruzen verbally, though the Hokage now seemed calmer, offering little response.
Hiruzen merely nodded curtly before ordering subordinates to "escort" the envoys back to their lodgings.
Returning to Konoha, Hiruzen went straight to the Hokage Building despite the late hour, too furious to sleep.
Danzō accompanied him.
"Summon Uchiha Ryun immediately!"
"And bring Kushina from the Senju compound too."
Hiruzen issued two rapid orders.
"Yes!"
A ANBU captain accepted the orders and vanished.
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