We Can Hand Over Danzo

Everyone basically understood the situation in the Rain Country. As the invader, Konoha had already suffered enough humiliation by retreating back to its own country after defeat. It could not possibly seek peace talks with a small country like the Rain Country. Even if they were to sign a Peace Accord, Amegakure would have to bow its head first.

However, Nagato was clearly not that kind of person. As someone who had fought him before, Tsunade understood his lofty, superior attitude better than anyone.

Rather than expecting Amegakure to bow its head, they might as well consider how to wipe it out.

Therefore, they still needed to station many ninja along the Rain Country’s borders. Moreover, Amegakure’s leader had revealed his Rinnegan. They could no longer treat the other side as a small country they could manipulate at will. Sarutobi Hiruzen had failed precisely because he had not gathered intelligence, forcing Tsunade to step in and clean up the mess.

As for casualties and compensation, Shikaku merely brought them up briefly. The specific arrangements could follow the usual precedents. Then there was the village’s funding. They still needed the Daimyo to continue allocating funds, or Konoha’s development would stagnate.

"Old man, leave that matter to you. Kabuto, how much is Konoha still short on funds?"

Standing behind and to Tsunade’s right, Yakushi Kabuto calmly adjusted his glasses when he heard his name. "Including the loans from the Hundred Herbs Company and other outstanding debts, as well as the upcoming compensation payments and the village’s normal reserve funds, we need at least six hundred million ryo to maintain operations until next year without increasing military spending. If we want to train ninja…"

At least six hundred million ryo. If they wanted to develop their ninja armaments, seven or eight hundred million was standard. Even Sarutobi Hiruzen could not help but feel a headache after hearing that number.

How could Daimyo Manor possibly continue providing such an enormous sum? The Daimyo had only recently allocated a batch of wartime funds, and Sarutobi Hiruzen knew that perfectly well.

"Tsunade… Fine. I understand."

Seeing Tsunade’s expression, Sarutobi Hiruzen knew there was no room for negotiation. It was an unpleasant and troublesome task. Even as the Third Hokage, he feared it would not go smoothly.

As for Iwagakure, Nara Shikaku only mentioned it in passing. Tsunade then spoke of remaining vigilant toward developments in the Grass Country, and the matter was not discussed further.

Every ninja who had participated in the Rain Country war knew that Iwa-nin had suffered devastating losses. Even their supply camps had been wiped out. If Konoha had not "charitably" helped them, Ōnoki would not even have been able to bring his remaining men home.

The matters concerning the Rain Country battlefield were quickly settled. Next, they turned to the Saudi Federation.

This was Konoha’s true great enemy. The hatred between the two sides would likely be difficult to resolve through negotiation.

Danzo had killed the Kazekage’s Assistant. The Yasunori Trading Company had hired Konoha rogue ninja Hyuga Mirai to abduct the former Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, the current Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and several hundred members of the Uchiha Clan. Then, to avenge the Kazekage’s Assistant, the Fifth Kazekage had committed more than a thousand ninja. Konoha had dispatched two batches of ninja, yet they were still pinned inside Kikyo Castle by the Saudi Federation, unable to emerge.

Although Sarutobi Shinnosuke had led the Anbu in eliminating some of the infiltrating Suna-nin, the Anbu casualties and the losses suffered by the Land of Fire’s nobles were also considerable.

"…In summary, the Fifth Kazekage likely still has no intention of ceasing hostilities on the Kikyo Castle battlefield. According to intelligence gathered by the Anbu, the Saudi Federation also intends to send additional reinforcements. So we…"

Shikaku paused there. Whether they fought or made peace would depend on Tsunade’s decision.

Tsunade clasped her hands beneath her chin and asked, "If we continue the war and want to win, how many more ninja will we need to commit?"

After thinking for a while, Shikaku replied, "Assuming the other side does not deploy a Tailed Beast, at least three hundred ninja. If the Saudi Federation uses the One-Tail or Hyuga Mirai, then at minimum… the Fifth Hokage herself will need to go to Kikyo Castle."

Although it made them, her subordinates, feel somewhat ashamed to force the Hokage onto the battlefield, Konoha now had only Tsunade, who had displayed the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai, with the strength to turn the tide. Besides, Shikaku was not entirely certain. If Tsunade-sama fought Hyuga Mirai, it was hard to say who would win between the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai and that mysterious Byakugan.

The matter of Hyuga Mirai joining the Saudi Federation on behalf of Rōran had gradually spread throughout the Ninja World through traveling merchants.

The Saudi Federation did not restrict merchants from coming and going. The Uzumaki and Yasunori Trading Companies, two commercial guilds of immense influence in the Ninja World, had already confirmed that they would establish their headquarters in the Saudi Federation. More merchants who cooperated with those two companies would come to the Saudi Federation afterward. Some information could not be concealed. Rather than letting them go to great lengths to gather intelligence, it was better to classify the information by importance beforehand.

With the One-Tail, the Nine-Tails, Hyuga Mirai, the Fifth Kazekage, Sasori of the Red Sand, the Uchiha Clan’s Mangekyō Sharingan, and more, the Saudi Federation had far more ninja at the level of the Five Kage than Konoha. If they continued fighting, Konoha would definitely be the first to fall.

Moreover, when they heard that another three hundred ninja were needed, nearly all the Ninja Clan representatives frowned.

They still had to recruit more ninja? More than a thousand ninja had already been committed to the two battlefields, and seventy percent of them had come from the Ninja Clans.

"Let’s negotiate peace, Shikaku."

Tsunade spoke calmly, but her words directly startled the ninja in the room. This did not sound like something the hot-tempered Princess Tsunade of old would say.

"Do not continue the war. Whether in funds or ninja casualties, we are nearing the limits of what Konoha can bear. Let the war end here."

Upon hearing Tsunade’s words, many war-weary ninja sighed in relief. The ongoing wars had truly felt like a heavy stone pressing against their chests. Even those who had not gone to the front line could feel that suffocating pressure after so long.

For them, being able to end the war was truly a good thing.

However, the exact terms of the peace talks still needed to be discussed privately with Tsunade. After some thought, Shikaku did not ask about them in public.

They then discussed several other matters, allowing the Clan Heads and Jonin of the various Ninja Clans to understand Konoha’s general situation. What they learned was only an overview; the specifics would be reported privately to the Hokage.

The Jonin Meeting then adjourned. Aside from a few people Tsunade asked to remain, everyone else slowly left the Hokage Tower.

As the Jonin Commander’s leader, Nara Shikaku naturally remained behind. He also needed to ask about the terms for making peace with the Saudi Federation.

"Tsunade-sama, regarding the peace negotiations…" Should Kushina be included in the terms? What conditions would they have to offer to persuade the other side to let the matter go? Tsunade needed to set a range before Shikaku could make targeted arrangements.

Tsunade pretended to rub her temples in distress, then said solemnly to Nara Shikaku, "Persuade them to stop the war as quickly as possible. My bottom line is that we can hand over the murderer who killed the Kazekage’s Assistant."

"What?"

Nara Shikaku, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and the others froze. They felt as though they had heard wrong.

"Tsunade-sama…"

Tsunade cut him off. "You heard correctly. That is Konoha’s bottom line. If they keep pressing the matter of the Kazekage’s Assistant, add this proposal."

"Tsunade-sama, the murderer you mean, the one who killed the Kazekage’s Assistant, is…"

"Danzo. Wasn’t the Kazekage’s Assistant killed by Root ninja? Since he did such a thing, then for Konoha’s sake, it is only right that he make a small contribution."

Tsunade spoke coldly. Her words made even Nara Shikaku break out in a cold sweat. He had not expected the struggle between the new Hokage and the former Konoha Higher-ups to reach this point. This was practically harsher than what happened to Hatake Sakumo back then. She was almost explicitly forcing him to die.

"Tsunade, what are you saying?!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately shouted at Tsunade in anger. "Danzo is Konoha’s ninja! As the Hokage, how can you do such a thing?"

"You’re too loud, old man. You don’t need to raise your voice like that." Tsunade disdainfully picked at her ear, then said coldly, "I merely think Danzo should willingly make a choice for Konoha’s sake. Old man, will you only be satisfied after we fight the Saudi Federation to the death and all the village’s ninja are dead?"

"Nonsense! That is not what I mean… But you… as the Hokage, you should not do this. The so-called Will of Fire…"

Knock, knock, knock.

Tsunade tapped the table several times, then sighed. "Old man, don’t assume that just because I wasn’t in Konoha, I don’t know what happened in the village. Back then, Hizashi Hyuga of the Hyuga Clan could die for the village. Why can’t Danzo? If you are unwilling, then the Ninja Army and wartime funding will be your responsibility, and I will give you command over Kikyo Castle as well. Will that do?"

That choice choked off Sarutobi Hiruzen’s next words. She had first used Hizashi Hyuga as an example, then forced him to make a choice. If he refused, he would have to go to the front line. At his age, although he was known as the Ninjutsu Doctor and the strongest Hokage, his current strength was certainly inferior to Tsunade’s. If he went to the front line, he might very well die at Kikyo Castle.

Furthermore, Sarutobi Hiruzen had no confidence in either the Ninja Army or the wartime funding. They had just said they would negotiate peace, yet this former Hokage wanted to fight again and recruit ninja from other clans. Sarutobi Hiruzen knew just by thinking about it that it was impossible. There was no need to even try.

"Even so, how can we betray a comrade?"

"For Konoha’s rebirth, for the village’s peace! Every ninja should be prepared to sacrifice themselves, just like Hizashi Hyuga."

Tsunade raised her voice slightly and cut off Sarutobi Hiruzen. Those were the words he had loved to use most in the past: for the village’s sake, there was no other choice. He had not expected Tsunade to use them against him now.

For a moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen was left speechless.

"Then it’s settled, Shikaku. I will have Kimimaro cooperate with you."

Nara Shikaku lowered his voice. "Yes, I understand, Tsunade-sama." After speaking, he quietly wiped the cold sweat from his face. It was truly too much of an honor for him to witness such naked political infighting. If possible, Nara Shikaku did not want to hear about such things at all.

It seemed Tsunade-sama had decided to purge the older generation of Konoha Higher-ups. Even Danzo, the Shadow of the Ninja World, could be discarded.

After returning, Nara Shikaku would definitely have a drink with his two old friends, Choza and Inoichi.