Compared to Uzumaki Chizawa and others who received a warm welcome, the Hidden Cloud Village envoys were treated much worse.
The Konoha Village high-ranking officials, led by Senju Mori, had already entered the celebration venue early. From the Hokage-sama's demeanor, it seemed he had no intention of personally going to the village entrance to greet the Hidden Cloud Village envoys.
Ultimately, Senju Genma only brought two Anbu members. Half-welcoming, half-monitoring, he led the Hidden Cloud Village envoy delegation along the same path towards the plaza in front of the Hokage Building.
Along the way, more and more Konoha villagers and Ninja also noticed these new "guests."
When they clearly saw the Hidden Cloud Village headbands on their foreheads, many Ninja's eyes immediately showed undisguised disgust and vigilance—
It should be known that in the previous Ninja World War, Hidden Cloud Village was the first to invade Konoha.
And strictly speaking, due to an unexpected incident during the previous alliance signing, Konoha and Hidden Cloud Village are still officially in a state of war that has not yet concluded.
There were four people in the Hidden Cloud Village party, the size of a standard Ninja squad. The leader, named Yotsuki Ranto, was an extremely tall and robust man, from the prestigious Yotsuki clan of Hidden Cloud Village.
It is worth mentioning that the Yotsuki clan is not the so-called "Raikage family."
Throughout the Hidden Cloud Village, there was only one Ninja explicitly identified as a "member of the Yotsuki clan," namely, the Hidden Cloud Village Chunin who later hypnotized Killer Bee with genjutsu during Sasuke's attack—Yotsuki Kiyoshi.
From Yotsuki Kiyoshi's appearance, he only bore a slight resemblance to the Second Raikage, while the First, Third, and Fourth Raikage all had facial features completely different from the Yotsuki clan.
The "Book of Formations" setting even mentioned that the Yotsuki clan had lived for generations in the "Cloud-Lightning Gorge" and, agreeing with the First Raikage's ideals, gave him their land—which led to the establishment of Hidden Cloud Village.
However, although not a Raikage family, the Yotsuki clan was one of the few large Ninja Clans within Hidden Cloud Village.
Yotsuki Ranto was an elite Jonin of the clan. The outside of his right arm was tattooed with a flamboyant character "fight" (Dòu, meaning fight), and his muscles bulged, exuding undisguised aggression.
Yotsuki Ranto was not bothered by Konoha's coldness at all.
Along the way, he not only swaggered behind Senju Genma but also occasionally raised his thick arm, grinning and waving at the Konoha villagers on both sides of the road, looking smug and arrogant.
Soon, Yotsuki Ranto and his group of four arrived outside the plaza.
Senju Genma left them in place and instantly returned to Senju Mori's side, reporting in a low voice:
"Hokage-sama, the four Hidden Cloud Village envoys have been brought here and are waiting outside the venue."
Seeing Senju Mori nod slightly, Senju Genma then stood up and announced loudly:
"Hokage-sama has ordered! Announce, the Hidden Cloud Village envoys may enter—"
Led by the remaining two Anbu, Yotsuki Ranto's group entered the venue.
Gazing at the grand celebration scene before him, the Konoha Village high-ranking officials seated on the high platform, and even several Ninja from Uzu Village, even this Jonin of the Yotsuki clan couldn't help but be secretly surprised.
He hadn't expected Konoha Village to be holding such a ceremony. Did the Hokage deliberately choose this location for the summons to make a show of force? Or did Konoha have other plans? Although his mind was racing with thoughts, on the surface, Yotsuki Ranto showed no signs of nervousness. He strode to the front of the stage, his booming voice echoing throughout the venue:
"Special Envoy of Hidden Cloud Village, Yotsuki Ranto, has come by order of the Third Raikage-sama. I respectfully represent the Raikage-sama in congratulating Your Excellency, the Hokage, on his succession."
"Third Raikage?"
Senju Mori couldn't help but let out a slight laugh, "It seems that after all this time, Yama has finally gotten his wish and ascended to the position of Raikage."
"Yama" was the Third Raikage's real name. Although every Raikage would eventually use "A" as a codename, before that, they all had their own names.
On the battlefield of the First Ninja World War, Senju Mori had seen him a few times. The Third Raikage was a few years older than Hiruzen Sarutobi, now roughly twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old.
Seeing that Senju Mori did not actively initiate conversation, Yotsuki Ranto had no choice but to speak first, his voice even louder and more powerful:
"Your Excellency, the Hokage! I have come by order to address the lingering issues of the war and to discuss matters of great importance concerning the future of our two villages!"
"According to intelligence received by my village, Your Excellency, the Hokage, personally traveled into the Land of Lightning. Not only did he retrieve the remains of your village's Second Hokage, but he also privately took the bodies of our village's rogue Ninja, Kinkaku and Ginkaku, as well as the four six paths sage tools they stole from Hidden Cloud Village."
"Regarding this matter, should Your Excellency, the Hokage, not provide an explanation to Hidden Cloud Village?"
"Explanation?"
Senju Mori repeated the word, a smile still on his face, but the warmth in his eyes had dropped to freezing point. A clear cold laugh escaped his throat, "Heh... Hidden Cloud Village, what kind of explanation do you want?"
Feeling the chill in those words, Yotsuki Ranto's pupils constricted slightly. He then took another deep breath, making his originally booming voice even more low and powerful:
"Raikage-sama entrusted me to thank Your Excellency, the Hokage, for eliminating the rogue Ninja for Hidden Cloud Village and for safeguarding our village's precious treasures on our behalf."
"Now, please return all the six paths sage tools, as well as the bodies of our village's rogue Ninja, Kinkaku and Ginkaku."
"Safeguarding on our behalf? Return?" Senju Mori looked as if he had heard some absurd joke, the corners of his mouth uncontrollably twitching upwards. His gaze swept over everyone present before finally returning to Yotsuki Ranto's face.
"What if Konoha refuses?"
As his voice fell, the four Advisors on the high platform simultaneously locked their gazes on Yotsuki Ranto. Four powerful Chakra surged forth, carrying chilling killing intent, pressing down on the center of the venue like invisible mountains.
"I hope... Your Excellency, the Hokage, will consider carefully. While Hidden Cloud Village desires peace, if our demands on this trip cannot be met, we will not hesitate to consider whether to let the war continue..."
Veins appeared on Yotsuki Ranto's forehead. Resisting the immense pressure, his voice became even deeper.
"War?" Senju Mori snorted coldly, his gaze like a hawk fixed on Yotsuki Ranto.
"Does Hidden Cloud Village truly believe that Konoha would fear war?"
Senju Mori's voice was calm. He slowly stood up and walked to the edge of the high platform. Above his head were the two huge and majestic rock statues of the First Hokage and Second Hokage.
From Yotsuki Ranto's perspective, it was as if all three Hokage were looking at him, and he immediately felt his pressure double.
"Heh heh... Eliminating rogue Ninja for Hidden Cloud Village, safeguarding the six paths sage tools on their behalf..."
"Nonsense!"
Senju Mori's face was devoid of any smile, and he shouted sternly:
"The six paths sage tools were the weapons used by the Hidden Cloud Village rogue Ninja, Kinkaku and Ginkaku, to assassinate our village's Hokage! They are spoils of war seized by Konohagakure after I personally avenged the Second Hokage!"
"They are right here in this scroll!"
"But let alone four items, Konoha will not hand over even one, and certainly not to the despicable and shameless Hidden Cloud Village!"
"What face does the Raikage have to send you to demand the Ninja tools?"
"Hidden Cloud Village was negligent in guarding the Ninja tools! Incompetent in governing the Ninja within their village! This led to Kinkaku and Ginkaku's defection, and their use of the six paths sage tools to attack our village's Hokage, causing Konoha immense losses!"
"As for when the war ends, that is not for Hidden Cloud Village to decide!"
"Hidden Cloud Village must publicly apologize to Konoha throughout the entire Ninja World and pay corresponding compensation to Konoha for this!"
"Otherwise—Konoha will declare war on Hidden Cloud Village!"