Inside the conference room, Konoha ninja and Ninja Sect ninja each occupied half of the conference table.
Kakuzu did not provoke, only quietly observing Orochimaru.
Although they were very displeased with Konoha's foolish demand last time, they were generally still in a weaker position.
Konoha wanted to use its power to pressure them, but they were not afraid. If Konoha was willing to talk sincerely, they would not intentionally cause trouble.
"Our Third Hokage greatly admires the strength of your sect leader, Sosuke, and wishes to engage in a battle between ninjas. After this battle, regardless of the outcome, the matter involving Shimura Danzo will be resolved," Orochimaru said.
"Hmm?" Kakuzu showed a surprised expression.
What grievance or hatred, they just fixated on Sosuke, and even a duel was brought up.
For a moment, Kakuzu couldn't comprehend what Konoha's operation was, with the Shadow personally stepping in for a duel.
Roshi also looked surprised, a bit puzzled.
He had lived this long and was seeing this kind of conflict resolution method for the first time, where the leaders of both sides duel to settle conflicts.
Unexpectedly straightforward for the strongest ninja village.
Orochimaru kept a calm expression; the Ninja Sect ninja's reaction was as he expected because even he was surprised when he heard Sarutobi Hiruzen's request.
Everyone knows the Shadow is very strong, but besides strength, the Shadow is also the leader of the Ninja Village, carrying the entire village on his shoulders, so unless there's a special situation, he remains stationed at the village's rear.
The matter with the Ninja Sect is neither too small nor too large.
In Orochimaru's view, sending a larger ninja squad would be enough to resolve the Ninja Sect, without needing the Hokage to personally engage in battle.
But his opinion didn't matter; Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted to do it this way, and he could only carry out the task.
Nagato's expression was subtle, his lips tightly shut.
He originally didn't want to come because knowing Mokgetsu's true identity made it hard for him, but Kakuzu said it would be better for him to be present, and so he came.
"What are your sect's thoughts on this?" Orochimaru asked.
"I need to consult the leader," Kakuzu pondered for a moment before responding.
Sosuke had given him authority, but since this demand involved Sosuke himself, he couldn't make a rash decision.
Refusing a suicide mission is a no-brainer, but a duel, Kakuzu thought it was uncertain who would suffer.
After all, Sosuke was so confident in his own strength.
"Nagato, come with me," Kakuzu said after getting up.
Nagato nodded and left the conference room with Kakuzu, heading to Sosuke's office.
Standing at the wooden door of the office, Kakuzu knocked slowly, and only entered after getting Sosuke's approval.
"What's up, what's going on?" Mokgetsu put down his pen and looked up to ask.
"Konoha offered a new condition, saying that as long as you fight the Third Hokage, regardless of the outcome, the matter with Shimura Danzo will be considered resolved," Kakuzu summarized.
"You really attract hatred; even the Third Hokage wants personally to kill you," Kakuzu sighed.
Admiring strength, this was obviously a failed suicide attempt, so directly rolling up sleeves for a fight.
"How should we respond to Konoha, agree or refuse?"
"Agree to their request," Mokgetsu replied.
He was the main body that had finished the meeting and split a new Shadow Clone, so he was already aware of this matter, having thought about the handling method.
Agreeing was a must, as Sarutobi Hiruzen was determined, and if not satisfied, who knows what new ideas would emerge in his mind.
Mokgetsu intended to give Sarutobi Hiruzen some face, but he had already tried to persuade him, yet Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't listen; there was no way around it.
"So quick to decide, be honest, how much of your strength did you use when battling me back then?" Kakuzu couldn't help but ask.
He knew clearly that Sosuke was not a reckless person; if he agreed, it must be because he felt his life was secure, or even that he could win.
"If you compare to my current strength, less than twenty percent," Mokgetsu thought for a moment and said.
When fighting Kakuzu, his Chakra amount was just over a hundred thousand, while now his Chakra amount had exceeded over two million, with a batch of high proficiency, powerful skills.
"Less than twenty percent?!" Kakuzu's lips twitched; less than twenty percent wiped out his four lives with just a Fire Release.
Kakuzu felt completely secure; Sarutobi Hiruzen found himself up against a brick wall by provoking Sosuke.
Back in the conference room, Kakuzu promptly delivered the reply: "Our leader also greatly admires the Third Hokage and wishes to do battle with him."
The negotiation ended here; Orochimaru and the others also needed to contact Konoha to report progress and await further instructions.
Though the condition was settled, without settling the details, their task was not completed, like the battle location, for example.
After the meeting ended, Nagato returned to Sasori's lab.
"Since your Ninja Sect is almost done for, how about we discuss, I help you assassinate some Konoha Jonin, and you release me early, considering there's not much left of the sentence," Sasori said, putting down his tools when he saw Nagato return.
Originally, his sentence was ten years, but due to prosthetic limbs technology and good behavior, now only a little over a year was left.
"Who said our Ninja Sect is finished," Nagato asked seriously.
"About to go to war with Konoha and not finished?" Sasori responded.
"You might not know how strong Konoha is; even among the Five Great Ninja Villages, Hidden Sand suffered repeated defeats in war against Konoha. Can you, a small force with only a few hundred ninjas, block Konoha? Even naivety should have limits."