The next morning.
Ryun got up. He had heard the time for today's negotiations, set for 10 AM, early through the eavesdropping device, so he was not in a hurry. Izuna, after sending Pakura back last night, returned to camp and saw Ryun was resting, so he did not say anything.
Instead, he drank alone in low spirits, looked at the moon, sighed about the unpredictability of life and the star-crossed fate, and stayed awake all night.
Ryun ate a simple breakfast made by the accompanying shinobi. As the war was now over, everyone had time to eat a proper meal. Although the taste was not great, it was nutritious.
At that moment, Madara walked in. The door was not closed. He knocked on the door. He had woken up last night and seen the dispirited Izuna. He went forward to ask, but Izuna remained silent, only drinking, talking incoherently, which confused Madara.
So, today, seeing Ryun's door open, he thought to ask Ryun if he knew anything.
Seeing his granduncle had arrived, Ryun quickly stood up. "Granduncle, please, have a seat. You must be exhausted from yesterday. I understand your good intentions very well." Madara's strength meant he did not need to just defend there. If he wanted, a single slash from the perfect form of Susano'o could have ended half the war.
He chose to only defend and not attack entirely for the sake of the next generation of Konoha shinobi, which Ryun deeply admired.
"Do not change the subject, Ryun. Do you know what is wrong with Izuna? He did not sleep all night, would not say anything when asked, just drank. Really, how old is he, to be so childish!" Madara sighed and sat on the stool Ryun pointed to.
"Ah, Granduncle, this is not childish. On the contrary, this is Granduncle growing up, thinking about a woman!" Ryun said with a sly smile. He picked up an egg pancake from the table and took a bite.
"Thinking about a woman? Who? Ryun, what do you mean? Does Izuna have a woman he likes?" Madara widened his eyes, looking at Ryun. Ryun, with his mouth full of egg pancake, made muffled sounds.
This made Madara's forehead darken with lines. "Stop eating! Quickly, tell me what is going on!" Madara snatched the egg pancake from Ryun's hand, his eyes fixed tightly on him. If Ryun could not give him an explanation, he would not finish this meal peacefully!
Seeing this, Ryun swallowed the food in his mouth. It was a bit choking. He picked up the milk on the table and gulped it down. Glug, glug, glug. He finally swallowed the pancake.
"Granduncle, see, you are impatient again. Is it not normal for Grandfather, only in his twenties, to want to find a partner?" Ryun rolled his eyes, somewhat speechless.
"Are you deliberately trying to anger me, kid? In the shinobi world, one can marry at thirteen or fourteen. Now, even counting from the time Izuna was revived, he is quite old. I originally thought this kid had no interest in women, but today I find out he is sighing over a woman. How can I not be anxious!" Madara said in a deep, rumbling voice.
Ryun realized, oh right, this is the shinobi world. Tsk, tsk, his mind was confused again. "Fine, since Granduncle is so anxious, I will say something."
Ryun put his arm around his granduncle Madara's shoulder and whispered a few sentences in his ear. Madara first frowned, then relaxed, then became angry, and finally calmed down.
Ryun was stunned. What, Granduncle, your emotions are so changeable? It has only been a few sentences and you changed your expression four times. Do you think face-changing does not cost beans, that you can change faces randomly?
"Then, in your opinion, what should be done? Let me tell you, Ryun, if you do not handle this matter well for me, do not blame me for causing you trouble! And you cannot make things difficult for Izuna and Pakura." Madara finally spat out these words, then turned his back.
Ryun's eyes widened. "What? Say that again? How is this matter so easy to solve! Please, this is a matter between two warring nations. If they were allied nations it might be easier to discuss, no, even then it would not be easy. The younger generation in Sunagakure who can shoulder responsibilities, there are only a few left."
"Letting them send their top genius to Konoha, no matter how you look at it, it is not realistic!" Ryun still wanted to speak, but Madara looked at him with a face full of killing intent, instantly stifling the words he wanted to say.
"If it were easy, would I need you to do it? I know you have many cunning ideas, so regarding this matter, please put more effort into it." Madara suppressed the anger in his heart, then forcibly pulled out a smile. "Kid, I believe in you, do not let me down!" The last pat, Madara's hand still squeezed Ryun's shoulder, meaningful.
Then, he picked up two pieces of bread and two bottles of milk from the table and left Ryun's tent. Ryun's face was now green. Damn, Granduncle's hand strength is really strong! And he has not specifically trained in taijutsu.
Is this the gap between people? Thinking again about Madara's words just now, Ryun felt like he wanted to die. This was no different from the Nine-Headed Prince Consort ordering Benboba to kill the Tang Monk and his disciples.
Ryun slumped onto the bed in his tent. Heavens, who could tell him how to solve this? How could his grandfather falling in love cause an international problem? On one side is family affection, on the other is benefit. So hard to choose!
Ryun took a deep breath. He got up and wrote a letter, finally sealed it, stamped it with sealing wax, and on the surface of the envelope wrote "To Elder Chiyo, to be opened personally," signed "Your junior, Ryun."
Then he called Minato. As soon as the call connected, Ryun said with a smile, "Minato, where are you now? Are you busy? If not, come to my place. I have a good task for you. If done well, you can gain the favor of both my grandfathers."
Minato was eating when he heard so many questions. He did not know how to respond for a moment. But when he heard about the favor of two grandfathers, Minato whooshed, abandoned his bowl, threw it aside, and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to enter the Hokage's main tent.
"Teacher, you were looking for me?" Minato smiled. Ryun glanced at him, did not expose his little thoughts, and nodded. "Deliver this letter to Chiyo in Sunagakure. Remember, your attitude must be respectful, and only she alone can read it, understand?"
"No matter what, I will credit you greatly. Also, your teacher's wife is about to give birth soon. I have often been thinking, should I retire, properly raise the child. The position of Hokage, Minato, I think you are quite suitable. Keep up the good work!" Ryun patted Minato's shoulder, then stood up, humming a song as he walked out of the tent.
Minato stood dumbfounded in place. In his ears, Ryun's words still echoed. Retire, the position of Hokage, Minato is quite suitable! He could even still feel the warmth on his shoulder from Ryun's large hand.
Minato took a deep breath. His eyes went from excited to joyful, and finally calmed down. He placed the envelope inside his clothes, then walked out of the tent, left the camp, and sprinted towards Sunagakure.
Minato also had a dream, to become Hokage, to serve the villagers. Ryun's words hit right at his heart. Therefore, Minato mustered twelve points of spirit, secretly vowing in his heart that he must handle this matter well!
Sunagakure
Pakura walked into the tent. Seated in the chief position was Elder Chiyo, who in her youth was known as the Flower of Sunagakure. She had not slept all night, waiting for news in the tent with her brother Ebizō and her son Chiron.
Although it was strange why Pakura had not returned so late, they all believed Konoha would not take action, as that would damage their reputation. They, Konoha, were not like Rasa, shameless.
As for why Pakura had not returned for so long, she probably encountered something on the way. Just wait a bit longer. This wait lasted from yesterday afternoon until this morning.
Just as Chiyo was about to lose her grip and fall asleep, a scout report came.
"Report! Lady Pakura has entered the camp gate and is heading towards the main tent!"
Then, Chiyo's eyes lit up. She quickly perked up. She looked around, glanced at her son. Hmm, good, he was currently studying puppet techniques, not slacking off. Truly worthy of being her son.
She glanced at her brother beside her and frowned. She saw Ebizō's head was lowered, still constantly nodding off, occasionally smacking his lips. Seeing this made Chiyo furious.
Elder Chiyo stood up. Her feet went numb first, and she almost fell. She gritted her teeth. Chiron heard the noise and quickly stood up to support his mother. Chiyo, supported by Chiron, was full of smiles and patted her son's hand. "A son is still more considerate."
Ebizō still had no reaction, still nodding there, even drooling, which made Chiyo see red.
After recovering for a moment, Chiyo took two steps. The tingling numbness disappeared. Then she leaped swiftly behind Ebizō and delivered a loud slap.
Smack!
Ebizō was stunned. Damn, I have grown this big, and no one has ever dared to slap my face! Let me see which bastard did it!
He turned around and saw Chiyo's angry face, her hand not yet withdrawn, clearly having just hit someone. Then, Ebizō swallowed. "Sis, sis, let's talk nicely. A gentleman uses his tongue, not his fists!" He took back those words. His sister was not a person, she was a tigress. Since childhood, she had hit him plenty!
"I am no gentleman! Look at what you look like! Pakura is risking her life for the future of our Sunagakure, and you? Waiting for her all night, and this is how you are? Ebizō, ah Ebizō, you are called the wisest man in Sunagakure, but your wisdom has gone to the dogs!"
Chiyo's voice was loud, clear, and without concealment, carrying far. Pakura, who was currently walking towards the main tent, was stunned. She had not expected the Elder to scold and even strike her own brother for her sake. The corner of her eyes reddened.
The Elder was too good to her. She would never leave the Elder, she would treat the Elder as her own mother!
If Ryun were present, he would probably sneer. Hah, what a Chiyo, what a Liu Bei of the Shinobi World. Indeed, since ancient times, true feelings rarely remain, only tactics can win hearts!
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