Land of Fire, Konoha Village.
An emergency high-level meeting was held in the Hokage Office.
However, this time it was the highest-level meeting.
There were only four people in the entire meeting room: the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Root of Konoha, Danzo Shimura, and the Elders Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat in the main seat, his face heavy, and said, "Uzumaki Kushina, after all, has been discovered by the Uzushigakure."
Utatane Koharu said, "When the Anbu brought Uzumaki Kushina back, it was done in secret. After arriving in Konoha, she never left the village, so how could she have been discovered by the Uzushigakure?"
Homura Mitokado frowned and said, "Could it be that the Uzushigakure has already planted spies in Konoha so quickly?"
Danzo Shimura's face was gloomy as he said, "I've said it before, if Uzumaki Kushina had been handed over to Root, none of this trouble would have happened!"
The other three unconsciously ignored Danzo Shimura's words.
Danzo, did you really think others were fools and couldn't figure out your intentions?
Sarutobi Hiruzen tapped the table and said, "Alright, now is not the time to pursue these matters. Let's quickly discuss how to get past this hurdle with the Uzushigakure!"
Danzo Shimura folded his arms and snorted, "Uzumaki Kushina cannot be handed over. Konoha absolutely cannot lose its Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen: "..."
Do you need to state the obvious?
Bijus, as weapons of war used to measure the strength of a ninja village, once lost, mean losing a means of checks and balances!
Therefore, the matter of the Bijus is of utmost importance!
And the only way to Seal and control a Biju is through a Jinchuriki!
The first Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was the wife of the First Hokage-sama, Uzumaki Mito-sama.
But now Uzumaki Mito-sama is old and could go to the Pure Land to accompany Shodai(1st)-sama at any time.
Therefore, candidates for the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki must be prepared early.
Currently, the only suitable candidate in Konoha is Uzumaki Kushina!
Once Uzumaki Kushina is returned to the Uzushigakure, they won't be able to stop the Nine-Tails without a Jinchuriki Seal!
Backup
Sarutobi Hiruzen rubbed his temples, worried, "Uzumaki Kushina cannot be handed over, but Konoha is currently at war, so it's not good to be too tough with the Uzushigakure..."
Although the Amegakure ended prematurely due to the Captain of the Land of Whirlpools' intervention, their war with Sunagakure is still ongoing. They really can't spare the manpower to deal with the Uzushigakure... "Stall!"
Danzo Shimura suddenly said coldly, "Stall for now. Anyway, the Uzushigakure didn't say when to hand over the person, so let's just stall!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded slightly.
At this moment, Utatane Koharu reminded him, "What if the Uzushigakure suddenly attacks without reason?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was stunned, thinking of the Uzushigakure' domineering attitude since its reconstruction.
This... dragging it out might indeed be inappropriate... Homura Mitokado suggested, "Why don't we tell them the actual situation of Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki? I believe that as Konoha's ally, the Uzushigakure will understand us!"
"..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzo Shimura, and Utatane Koharu exchanged a tacit glance.
That look was as if they were looking at a big fool!
Ever since Konoha requested aid from the Uzushigakure as an ally last time, and was dismissed with a single 'scram' from the Uzushigakure,
They understood that this alliance might have broken long ago.
It had already broken when the Uzushigakure asked for aid and was rejected by Konoha...0
At this moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly regretted not agreeing to the Uzumaki Clan's plea for help back then, otherwise, there wouldn't be so much trouble.0
Perhaps they could even enjoy the current power of the Uzushigakure. One
But who would have thought that the Uzushigakure could survive the simultaneous encirclement of Kumogakure and Hidden Mist! And it suddenly rose and developed so well! Seven
It's as if after being destroyed once and rejected by Konoha once, the Uzushigakure declared: "I'm not pretending anymore, I'm laying my cards on the table, my military strength is top-notch!" Now, Sarutobi Hiruzen was filled with regret! 0
Utatane Koharu suddenly sighed, "If only we hadn't rejected the Uzushigakure back then..." As soon as she said this, Danzo Shimura, Utatane Koharu, and Homura Mitokado tacitly turned their gaze to Sarutobi Hiruzen. Five
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face twitched, and he said speechlessly, "What are you looking at? Don't forget, rejecting the Uzushigakure was a decision we all made together."
As soon as he finished speaking, Danzo Shimura, Utatane Koharu, and Homura Mitokado casually turned their heads back.
Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a bit tired.
These guys, when there's nothing wrong, they offer all sorts of suggestions, but when trouble arises, they all want to shift the blame onto him.
What a bunch of good friends... Returning to the meeting's issue, Sarutobi Hiruzen thought carefully.
He felt that Homura Mitokado's suggestion was not without merit.
However, it needed to be slightly adapted.
They couldn't tell the Uzushigakure the truth, otherwise Konoha would fall into a passive position.
But they could send someone to the Uzushigakure to negotiate terms and engage in discussions.
Perhaps they could use other conditions to keep Uzumaki Kushina.
This would not only preserve the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki but also avoid offending the Uzushigakure.
If necessary, they could even have Uzumaki Mito-sama play the emotional card.
As long as the conditions are met, Sarutobi Hiruzen doesn't believe there's anything that can't be given up!
In this world, there is nothing that cannot be exchanged for profit!
It's decided!
Sarutobi Hiruzen expressed his thoughts.
The other three listened, thought carefully, and realized this was the only way.
However, exchanging some other resources for a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki isn't a loss for Konoha.
The question now is, who should be sent for this negotiation?
Someone with too little standing wouldn't be appropriate; they must send someone of considerable importance to the Uzushigakure.
This is to show their Konoha's sincerity!
Utatane Koharu suggested, "Aren't Tsunade and Orochimaru just back from the front lines? I think we should choose one of them."
The others nodded in agreement.
The Personal Disciple of the Third Hokage, who is also very likely to become the Fourth Hokage in the future, this weight is definitely enough.
Sarutobi Hiruzen thought about it and decided to send Orochimaru.
Tsunade, after all, is sometimes too impulsive and still holds a grudge about the previous incident with the Uzushigakure.
Sending her might even mess things up.
"Orochimaru it is."
Sarutobi Hiruzen finally made the decision.
Orochimaru, who had just returned to Konoha to recuperate, was assigned such an important mission.
"Go to the Uzushigakure?"
Orochimaru's eyes flickered slightly.
This mission suited him perfectly!
Ever since he met the Captain of the 6th Division from the Uzushigakure last time, he had developed a great curiosity about the Uzushigakure.
This mission is the perfect opportunity to investigate!
Let's see what is so magical about this suddenly rising Uzushigakure!
Nearby, having accidentally overheard Orochimaru muttering to himself, Tsunade suddenly frowned and asked, "You're going to the Uzushigakure?!"
She suddenly remembered the figure in the Uzushigakure who looked strikingly similar to Nawaki, and immediately declared, "I'm going too!"
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