Bad news kept falling onto Sunagakure one after another.
Chiyo had just prepared to send people to make a token effort to chase after Yashamaru's group when a subordinate came to report that Konoha's envoys had arrived.
Poor Chiyo—already at her age—back then she still liked to pretend to be dead to scare Ebizō for fun.Now she truly felt like all the disasters in Sunagakure were going to wear her out.
As soon as she entered the room, she saw a tall man whose attire differed from ordinary Konoha shinobi.
The black coat he wore had blue-striped edges, and the stitching on his flak jacket was the same blue.
The famous Internal Affairs Department.
Those black sunglasses that hid the eyes—was he from the Aburame clan?
Chiyo had never interacted with the Aburame before. Her impression was that they were always silent, low-key, and had never served as emissaries to other villages.
Internal Affairs, arriving at such a coincidental time…
Chiyo couldn't help thinking deeply.
"This is Aburame Ryoma from Konoha."
Seeing Chiyo arrive, the Sand shinobi responsible for receiving guests quickly introduced Ryoma.
Chiyo's expression did not change, but Ebizō's face immediately shifted.
Aburame Ryoma? The head of Konoha's Internal Affairs?
His reputation was said to rival Danzo's, but his methods were even more insidious.
Ebizō instantly became alert.
However, Aburame Ryoma had no intention of playing mind games with them. He stated his purpose directly:
"Under the orders of the Fifth Hokage, I have come to inform you that because Rasa shamelessly attacked the Wind Daimyō's residence, bringing disgrace upon the name of shinobi, Konoha will, from this day onward, terminate the joint defense treaty with Sunagakure."
Upon hearing this, all the Sand shinobi fell silent.
With Chiyo's previous temper, she would definitely have looked down on the Konoha envoy and driven him out.
I, Chiyo of Sunagakure, have never regarded Konoha as anything special.
Without the treaty, it would even be easier to invade the Land of Rivers.
But Sunagakure's current situation left even a hardliner like Chiyo without any fighting spirit.
Pakura had not yet taken office, and the conflict between the Daimyō's palace and the village had not been repaired.
If Konoha withdrew from the treaty, Sunagakure could very well be crushed for profit by that old schemer Ōnoki.
Chiyo began thinking of countermeasures.
Aburame Ryoma did not give them time to react. After stating his message, he turned around immediately and prepared to leave.
"Please wait, envoy."
Ebizō quickly called out to stop him.
Another Sand senior approached with a forced smile.
Both were stalling for Chiyo, hoping for a chance to persuade Konoha to remain in the treaty.
Aburame Ryoma did not bother to engage them. His orders were to deliver the message and return at once. No matter how Sunagakure pleaded, he would not stay.
There were many matters awaiting him back in the village.
"Konoha only sent one envoy?"
Chiyo, seeing Ryoma about to leave, quietly asked a subordinate.
"There is also a deputy envoy next door, hosted by Taira."
"Take me to him."
Chiyo stopped wasting time on Ryoma and immediately asked to see the other envoy.
When they hurried to the next room, they saw a middle-aged man with spiky hair bidding farewell to Taira.
"Please wait."
Chiyo called out.
"This is…?"
Seeing the small elderly woman hurrying toward him, Nara Fangyuan looked surprised and asked who she was.
"This is Advisor Chiyo. She handles the village's affairs."
Taira quickly introduced her.
"Advisor Chiyo, I assume you've already met Aburame-dono. Why seek me?"
Hearing she was Chiyo, Nara Fangyuan looked her over. He didn't expect the once-famous strongest puppet master to look like this now.
"Aburame Ryoma informed us of the Fifth Hokage's order. But before signing the joint defense treaty, our villages had already formed an alliance under the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen. For Konoha to act this way…"
Ebizō hurriedly followed up, but Nara Fangyuan cut him off:
"Advisor Chiyo, the treaty clearly states that once the joint defense pact is signed, all previous alliance terms are void. More importantly, the current Fifth Hokage is the student of the Third Hokage himself."
Nara Fangyuan had no intention of entangling with them. His mission was the same as Ryoma's—deliver the message and leave.
"Please inform the Fifth Hokage that Rasa's actions do not represent Sunagakure. The Daimyō has appointed a new Kazekage. She will soon send people to visit Konoha."
Seeing their determination, Chiyo spoke unusually soft words:"Please do not make this matter public yet. Once the new Kazekage takes office, she will certainly give Konoha a satisfactory explanation."
"I can relay your words, but whether it's made public is not something a mere jōnin like me can decide. Farewell."
Nara Fangyuan left them with only a firm departing figure.
As he walked away, silence fell among the Sand shinobi.
"Damn it! That idiot Rasa! Fool! Idiot!"
Chiyo slammed her fist into the wall.
The last time she had been this emotional was when she learned her grandson had killed the Third Kazekage.
Before that, it was when her son and daughter-in-law were slain by Sakumo Hatake.
Chiyo's hatred for Rasa at this moment was immeasurable.
If not for that fool, how could she be forced to beg Konoha in such a humiliating way?
She desperately hoped the current Hokage was Takeshi Shimura—if Sakumo Hatake were still Hokage, she would sooner hang herself than be humiliated like this.
"Sister, Pakura's succession won't change everything. We still must maintain our alliance with Konoha for a while."
Ebizō gently consoled her.
At times like this, all they could do was endure.
Kumogakure battlefield.
After learning of Sunagakure's crisis, the advancing Allied Forces suddenly halted their offensive.
Ōnoki feared Sunagakure might lash out desperately and harm Iwagakure's interests, so he urgently ordered Loess to stop attacking and observe the situation first.
Danzo was even more direct—he claimed their supply lines passed through Sunagakure's territory and immediately withdrew his units several kilometers.
Even Kisame, normally mild-tempered, nearly cursed out loud.
Sunagakure is to Konoha's west. Danzo's units were fighting in the north. Just how twisted would Konoha's supply routes have to be to pass through Sunagakure's territory?!