"We need to consider this matter."
In the end, this confrontation, no, this negotiation where one side was tough outside but soft inside, was temporarily put on hold with these words from Hiruzen.
Dodai stated that they would stay in Konoha Village for the time being.
He hoped that by tomorrow, Hiruzen would give their Kumogakure an explanation.
Otherwise, they would resolve it with war!
...
After Dodai and his group left the Hokage's office, Hiruzen immediately issued an order.
He summoned his three old comrades to the meeting room to discuss how to deal with this matter.
As Orochimaru left, the sidelong glance he cast towards his teacher couldn't help but carry a trace of disdain.
'It seems this old man just too much of a bully who's tough on the weak but scared of the strong.'
...
"Hahaha! Hahahahaha!"
In the Senju Clan's compound, Jin's roaring laughter caused the passing Senju clansmen to look over sideways.
They wondered what could have happened to make this young man laugh so heartily.
At that moment, within the estate's courtyard, Jin and Orochimaru sat facing each other.
After Orochimaru relayed what had happened earlier in the Hokage's office to Jin, Jin laughed until his stomach hurt.
And it wasn't just him… the state of Dio in the Chat Group of the Dead was similar.
[Dio: Hahaha! This is just too cowardly! This Dio-sama have truly never seen such a cowardly strong person!]
[Ace: That old man Sarutobi Hiruzen really can endure. If it were me, I would have long since blasted the other side to death with a Fire Fist.]
[Izuna: I want to laugh too, it's so pathetic! He actually needs to consider such a demand from the enemy? So if someone slaps you, you offer the other cheek for them to slap again? @Tobirama, did he learn this from you? Hahahaha!]
[Diarmuid Ua Duibhne: To think there is such a foolish ruler in another world... This really opens my eyes...]
[Hashirama: Ah, well... Hiruzen won't necessarily agree, right?]
[Izuna: @Hashirama, Hah, with the cowardly personalities of those disciples of yours, do you even believe that yourself?]
Tobirama's face darkened.
'Although I also liked to play with schemes and intrigues, I was absolutely not cowardly, okay?'
If he were the one sitting in the Hokage's seat now, and Dodai dared to make such a demand of him-
Tobirama guaranteed he would use a Flying Thunder God Slash to cut his head off!
'Damn you, Hiruzen!'
'Do you have any idea that because of you, your teacher has become a laughingstock in the entire group?!'
...
On the other side of the courtyard, Tsunade, who was teaching Konan Ninjutsu, after hearing Orochimaru's account, her expression perfectly mirrored that of her granduncle in the chat group.
She was long used to Hiruzen's bizarre operations.
But this time, she really couldn't take it anymore.
It's just so shameful to the dignity of her grandfather who founded Konoha!
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. Tsunade got up and walked towards the main gate.
She was going to go beat up the Kumogakure's envoy team first, and then deal with those cowards in the Konoha Council.
"Tsunade, come back!"
Mito shouted sternly.
"Grandma, how can you even tolerate this? Those old fogies are utterly disgracing Grandpa's name!"
Tsunade said with a fierce look on her pretty face.
Jin's expression became somewhat strange.
'Wasn't calling Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others 'old fogies' a bit inappropriate in this situation?'
'Your grandmother is even older than them.'
"I will handle this matter."
Mito's face didn't look much better either.
Clearly, this matter had touched her bottom line.
Jin and Orochimaru also showed a flicker of curiosity in their eyes.
'How did this nearly eighty-year-old lady plan to resolve this?'
...
Noon the next day.
The Kumogakure's envoy team, led by Dodai, once again arrived at the Hokage's office.
Unlike the previous time, this time behind the desk, it wasn't just Hiruzen alone.
The three members of Konoha's internal strife squad, Danzo, Koharu, and Homura, were also present.
"Hokage-dono, you must have considered it by now. Do you accept our conditions?"
Dodai didn't even bother with the three people standing beside Hiruzen.
He was here only to secure greater benefits for Kumogakure.
"3 billion ryo? Kumogakure is being overly greedy, isn't it?"
Danzo stepped forward and said:
"How about this: 1 billion ryo, and our two nations sign a ceasefire agreement, pledging non-aggression against each other from now on."
"Old fool! Are you treating us like beggars!?"
A raised his hand and pointed at Danzo, shouting angrily.
Dodai raised his hand to stop A, and said coldly:
"Danzo-dono, you do love joking. Do you know how much damage Uchiha Madara caused to our village?"
"Alright then, 2 billion ryo, and Konoha must assist us in recapturing the Eight-Tails. This is our bottom line!"
Hearing Dodai's words, the four members of the internal strife squad glanced at each other.
Homura whispered:
"2 billion is barely within an acceptable range. Maybe we should..."
"Not a single ryo!"
At that moment, the office door was pushed open with force.
They saw the wrinkled Mito striding into the room with an imposing manner, accompanied by Jin, Tsunade, and the others.
"Mito-sama!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other three hurriedly bowed their heads in greeting.
Even though this elder had not left the Senju Clan's compound for many years, they dared not show the slightest disregard.
And the expressions of Dodai, A, and the others, which had been full of arrogance and bluster just moments ago, now showed obvious traces of apprehension.
The wife of the God of Shinobi, the first Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, and also the first Jinchuriki in the Ninja World.
Who would dare look down on her?
Mito half-squinted her eyes, looking coldly at the Kumogakure's envoy team.
"The other side said that if Konoha doesn't provide compensation, you will resolve it with war, correct?"
"Does Kumogakure perhaps think that Konoha is afraid of you?"
After Mito's series of statements, the members of the Kumogakure's envoy team were completely intimidated.
Orochimaru, standing behind Hiruzen and Danzo, found it inexplicably amusing.
'As the highest ruler of Konoha, he was actually not as gutsy as an eighty-year-old lady.'
At this moment, the most hot-tempered A couldn't help but retort:
"It was clearly your village's Uchiha Madara who first..."
"Roar-!"
Before he could finish, a demonic roar that seemed to come from gods and ghosts reverberated throughout Konoha-
causing everyone in the village to shudder unexpectedly.
Then, they turned their heads to look in the direction from which the roar originated.
Boom!!!
At the very moment the entire village turned to look,
they saw the central Hokage Building severed at its waist.
A silver-white, gigantic demon god, possessing only an upper body, stood atop the halved building, holding twin swords.
And several Ninja wearing Kumogakure's forehead protectors were prostrated under the blades of that giant, covered in blood, their faces full of fear.