Ebizo mentioned a whole lot of conditions.
Shimura Danzo kept a smile on his face. After Ebizo finished talking, he finally said, "Your asking price is too high. Why don't we part ways for now and talk again when Konoha supports The Hidden Rain Village in the Land of Wind invasion?"
"...Can't you negotiate?"
After Ebizo said this, his expression turned quite unpleasant.
If the Fourth Kazekage hadn't died in battle, he wouldn't bother dealing with Shimura Danzo!
He's truly the most treacherous and despicable man in the Ninja World. He's mastered the art of striking while the iron is hot. Danzo will get his just desserts sooner or later.
"First, let's talk about forming a rapport with The Hidden Rain Village for you."
As Shimura Danzo mentioned this, his face slightly flushed, though it wasn't too visible in the night. He continued, "The Hidden Rain Village has a genius ninja who defeated the Fourth Kazekage and his escort. Their war fervor is high, so just achieving peace is not easy for you."
Ebizo said with some dissatisfaction, "Danzo, Konoha is Hidden Sand Village's ally, are you just going to stand by and do nothing?"
Shimura Danzo snorted coldly, "When the Fourth Kazekage invaded the Land of Rain, did he consider that Konoha is Hidden Sand's ally? In any case, I can only guarantee that there will be no war!"
"..."
Ebizo fell into thought.
After a moment, he finally nodded reluctantly.
At this point, the Hidden Sand Village couldn't withstand any turmoil. Just achieving peace was already satisfactory.
Since there was no tangible result, it would be better to rest and recuperate for now. Eventually, when the Hidden Sand Village becomes strong again, they can use the excuse of the Fourth Kazekage's death to invade the Land of Rain.
"As for the mission commissions from the Land of Wind…"
Shimura Danzo clearly touched on a topic Ebizo was very concerned about. After all, without the Fourth Kazekage's gold, the Hidden Sand Village could only rely on mission commissions for funding.
Shimura Danzo glanced at Ebizo and continued, "Your Hidden Sand Village's funds can still hold out for a while, right? After some time, when the time is right, once I become Konoha's Hokage, I will return your mission commissions."
"..."
Ebizo immediately gave him a look full of distrust.
Almost no one in the Ninja World had a good outcome from trusting Shimura Danzo. Ebizo, being his old rival, naturally wouldn't believe Danzo's verbal promise.
"How about this, I'll give you some information first?"
Shimura Danzo tapped his fingers on the table, speaking softly, "The Jonin Yura in your village has been controlled as a spy. He is likely under the control of the Memory-Concealing Manipulative Sand Jutsu. As for who is behind controlling Yura, I don't need to say, do I?"
"..."
Ebizo's face changed drastically.
Yura was the Jonin responsible for the outer defenses of the Hidden Sand Village. If Yura were controlled, it would be almost equivalent to the Hidden Sand Village being undefended.
Moreover, the Memory-Concealing Manipulative Sand Jutsu had always been a secret technique of the Hidden Sand Village's Puppet Masters.
The average talented Puppet Master couldn't come into contact with these techniques. Those who could learn the Memory-Concealing Manipulative Sand Jutsu were very few, and Ebizo happened to know two such people.
One of them was his sister, Chiyo.
Obviously, Chiyo wouldn't use this ninjutsu on people in the village, so it must be her grandson, Sasori of the Red Sand, to whom she imparted her knowledge.
"Consider this information a bonus!"
Shimura Danzo slowly stood up, speaking softly, "If you agree to our deal, you can leave the ninjutsu on the table tomorrow, and I will send someone to pick it up."
Shimura Danzo walked to the door, opened it, and added, "If you don't agree to our deal… no, I believe you will agree, because everything we do is for the sake of our respective villages."
"I agree to your deal."
Ebizo turned his head, looking at Shimura Danzo's somewhat aged figure, curiously asking, "But when do you plan to become Hokage?"
"No need to rush."
Shimura Danzo grabbed his own arm and seriously said, "I should be sixty-five this year, so it shouldn't be long."
Ebizo: "..."
This guy is almost in the grave!
Why the hell is he still trying to stir things up at his age!
However, the information he got from Shimura Danzo was already enough to justify the price of the One's Own Life Reincarnation. Ebizo couldn't be bothered to haggle over the subsequent mission commissions.
Anyway, they would have to negotiate with Konoha sooner or later.
So why not listen to Danzo talk about becoming Hokage as a bit of amusement!
Shimura Danzo seemed indifferent and continued, "Though martyrs age, their zeal does not diminish. Even if I'm over seventy, I will certainly become Konoha's Hokage!"
Ebizo: "..."
He sure made it sound like a grand plan!
How could this old guy Shimura Danzo ever become Hokage!
With the initial negotiations seemingly successful, Shimura Danzo seemed in a good mood and softly continued, "At my age, acceptance isn't easy, so I must rely on my own power."
Ebizo shook his head.
To be honest, he was still somewhat doubtful.
Shimura Danzo seemed aware of Ebizo's thoughts and suddenly said, "If Lady Chiyo were willing, she could become the Fifth Kazekage of the Hidden Sand Village."
"I roughly… understand what you mean."
Ebizo's voice suddenly became a bit low, "Even if the Third Hokage died in battle like the Fourth Kazekage, Konoha has abundant talent…"
"I will eliminate those competitors."
What Shimura Danzo said seemed exceptionally firm and powerful. He looked at Ebizo and said, "If one day someone invites you to participate in a plan to collapse Konoha, join in; when that plan succeeds, your task commissions from the Hidden Sand Village will be returned."
"..."
Ebizo seemed at a loss.
"Alright, I'm leaving now."
Shimura Danzo slowly stepped out of the room, coldly saying, "If someone deceives me, I will make them realize that Konoha's strength is not something a weak Ninja Village can withstand."
"Rest assured."
Ebizo shook his head and said, "We all have some principles."
And so, the two elders who controlled the darker aspects of their villages parted ways. Their negotiations seemed successful, and they both got what they wanted.
That night, Ebizo went back and unmasked Yura, asking his sister Chiyo to undo the Memory-Concealing Manipulative Sand Jutsu. From Yura's mouth, he learned about Sasori's intelligence.
Additionally, Ebizo strongly advocated for the deal with Shimura Danzo.
The next day.
In this oasis of retreat.
A young ninja entered the room, picked up a scroll from the table, and revealed a slight, mysterious smile: "I didn't expect Shimura Danzo's identity to be so useful. There's no psychological burden using it; after all, his reputation is already tarnished, so carrying another black pot doesn't matter!"
Indeed.
The one who negotiated with Ebizo last night was Uehara Naraku, who had transformed into Shimura Danzo using the Heavenly Illusionary Transformation. He conquered Ebizo with his superb acting skills.
"As expected, I am a genius."
Uehara Naraku's smile grew even broader.
Side Quest: Obtain One's Own Life Reincarnation (1/1), Task Completed, Reward Skill Time Reversal.
Time Reversal: Cast a protective time spell on a target lasting 5 seconds; if the target dies within 5 seconds, it rewinds the target's life state to revive them, consuming 125 Chakra points, with a skill cooldown of 60 seconds.
This skill isn't true time reversal, but a pre-emptive resurrection skill, truly a divine skill.
Unfortunately, it can't revive the dead.
It can only prepare for the revival of the living in advance.
"Golden Body Stasis, Cell Division, Time Reversal…"
Even Uehara Naraku couldn't help but smile wryly, "With so many life-saving skills now, it's really hard to die!"
Most importantly, this skill can be used to protect others, so when Konan and Nagato encounter danger, Uehara Naraku won't be helpless.
Uehara Naraku touched the ring on his hand: "Hmm, I've gained quite a lot this time; I should go back to The Hidden Rain Village and play my role as the village accountant."