Moments later, three ninjas in earth-yellow cloaks entered the tent.
"Lord Kazekage," they said.
The Iwa ninja leading the group was named Tsuchiryu, a renowned Jonin. He nodded slightly to the Third Kazekage and cut straight to the point. "I am Tsuchiryu, sent by Lord Tsuchikage to discuss an alliance with Sunagakure."
"An alliance..."
The Third Kazekage thought, As expected.
Minato's appearance had been a devastating blow to Sunagakure, but it was no less of a threat to Iwa.
Sunagakure had initially offered one hundred million ryo for Minato's head, but the bounty had skyrocketed to over two hundred million ryo on the Bounty Exchange. It was clear that they weren't the only ones who wanted to eliminate the Wood Release user.
"If we are to form an alliance, there must be a foundation of trust," the Third Kazekage said calmly. "And if I recall correctly, our villages have never been without their grievances, have they?"
Though he was eager to ally with Iwa, such matters couldn't be settled with a mere exchange of words. Sunagakure and Konoha were rivals, but their friction with Iwa was no less significant.
If we're being honest, Sunagakure launched this war purely because our dire circumstances left us no choice but to fight for survival.
If we delay any longer, we'll either face economic collapse or internal rebellion. We have no other option.
In contrast, Iwagakure's actions are driven by pure military expansionism.
Besides, that old fool Ōnoki has never been trustworthy. Even if we agree to an alliance, we'll need to remain wary.
"That depends on whether Lord Kazekage values our grievances more than the threat we face."
Tsuchiryu seemed to have anticipated the Third Kazekage's reaction. "I'm sure the name Namikaze Minato rings a bell with you, Lord Kazekage?"
At these words, the Sunagakure members in the tent grew visibly uneasy.
"You're not here to mock Sunagakure, are you, Lord Tsuchiryu?" Ebizo asked calmly from beside the Third Kazekage. "The defeat of our vanguard was simply due to a lack of intelligence. After all, who could have predicted that an eight-year-old child would possess such power?"
"If we hadn't sensed a grave threat, Ōnoki's stubborn nature wouldn't have allowed him to lower his pride and seek an alliance."
"Ah, Lord Ebizo. It's an honor." Tsuchiryu's demeanor became slightly more respectful.
"Let's dispense with the pleasantries. Let's get straight to the point."
Ebizo rested his hands on the table, appearing as nothing more than an ordinary old man. "Your goal is likely Wood Release, isn't it?"
"Yes," Tsuchiryu replied, nodding slightly. "The Tsuchikage wishes to form an alliance with Sunagakure and eliminate Namikaze Minato at any cost. Surely Sunagakure wouldn't stand idly by while such a threat grows?"
"At any cost—"
The Third Kazekage scoffed.
Sunagakure can't afford any cost.
"Where's the sincerity?"
"Iwa's Ninja Forces have already fully deployed to the borders of the Land of Grass and Land of Rain. Once the alliance is formed, Iwa will launch a full-scale invasion against Konoha."
Tsuchiryu said calmly, "According to Iwagakure's intelligence, Namikaze Minato is currently at the frontline camp in the Land of Rain. Konoha intends to protect him.
"With only the pressure Sunagakure can exert on Konoha, it's unlikely we'll force him onto the battlefield."
"Is a direct confrontation the only method you can think of?"
The Third Kazekage frowned, his expression tightening. This proposal was reckless to the extreme.
"Originally, we considered using hostage-taking to force his compliance, but according to our spies' reports, that brat has a pitifully small social circle."
Tsuchiryu shook his head slightly, a hint of helplessness in his voice.
"Those close to him include Lady Tsunade, the granddaughter of the First Hokage and Minato's Teacher; her younger brother, Nawaki; and a childhood friend from the Uzumaki Clan, Uzumaki Kushina."
"The first two are currently at the Konoha front lines, while the latter is suspected to be a Candidate Jinchūriki for Konoha. She is living with Uzumaki Mito, the First Hokage's wife, and is under the protection of the Konoha Anbu."
Since her entire family had to go to war, Kushina was temporarily housed with Uzumaki Mito.
After all, these were Minato's few vulnerabilities. With Tsunade and Nawaki by his side, why would Sarutobi Hiruzen leave Kushina alone at home?
Therefore, long before Tsunade and the others left the village, Kushina had been settled with Mito.
"If we can't use hostages to threaten him, Lord Kazekage, do you have any better solutions?" Tsuchiryu scoffed.
The Third Kazekage fell silent.
Over the past week, he hadn't shied away from despicable tactics, such as ordering a spy in Konoha to poison Minato.
But the spy's report nearly shattered his composure—the boy actually cooked his own meals!
He was even eating grilled meat!
How extravagant!
Even as Kazekage, I have to gnaw on dry rations, and that kid is grilling meat at the front lines?
Wait, isn't anyone going to stop him?
Does Konoha just indulge its brats like this?!
Hearing this, the Third Kazekage was furious and immediately ordered his spies to find an opportunity to assassinate the target.
But the spies sent back another message: after building two houses each morning, the target stayed inside his log cabin and didn't leave. The area around the cabin was surrounded by either the medical unit or the command post.
"It seems even Lord Kazekage can't come up with a good plan," Tsuchiryu said with a smile.
Ninja have only so many tricks: assassination, poisoning—
Did we in Iwagakure not consider these?
The Third Kazekage remained silent for a long time, then slowly nodded. "Let's discuss an alliance."
The hushed plotting within the tent was drowned out by the sound of rain as a conspiracy against Konoha, or rather against Minato, quietly began to unfold.
Two days later, a sudden message shattered the status quo in the Land of Rain.
Sunagakure and Iwagakure formed an alliance and launched simultaneous attacks against Konoha from three fronts: the Land of Rain, River Country, and Land of Grass!
Fortunately, Konoha wasn't entirely unaware of the two villages' movements. Though they didn't know Minato was their target, their alliance had been reported by spies.
As a result, they immediately implemented countermeasures, repelling the enemy at the border.
Massive Ninja Forces poured into the front lines, especially in the Land of Rain, situated at the center of the three kingdoms. The battlefield situation instantly intensified!
Meanwhile, in a warm wooden cabin at Konoha's front-line camp,
Minato was gently offering a peeled nut to Mikoto's lips, his eyes holding a hint of inquiry.
Mikoto's cheeks flushed slightly as she shot him a playfully chiding glare, yet she still softly opened her mouth to accept it.
Seeing this, a triumphant smile spread across Minato's lips.
Since their conversation last time, their relationship had progressed rapidly.
Minato had launched a tender yet passionate offensive against Mikoto.
They sat close together, their breaths mingling, the air thick with a faint, sweet warmth.
Outside, the rain fell relentlessly under a sky heavy with war clouds, but inside, the crackling fire and unspoken affection filled the room.
The threat of the two great Ninja Villages' alliance seemed utterly irrelevant in this small, intimate corner.
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