[Iwagakure]
[Tsuchikage's Office]
Onoki thought for a long time before asking, "Did Konoha mention the details of the alliance?"
Deidara shook his head, "The Fourth Hokage only told me to come ask what you think first."
After returning to Iwagakure, Deidara came to see Onoki right away.
Onoki hadn't expected Konoha's appetite to be this big. They wanted to swallow the entire Land of Wind.
Rengoku's proposal was for Konoha and Iwagakure to form an alliance and attack Sunagakure together.
After taking the territory, both sides would split it evenly.
Although most of the Land of Wind was desert, it was vast and the largest of the Five Great Nations by area.
Most of the top-tier experts had already been wiped out, but there were still close to twenty thousand shinobi left.
If the plan was just to raid and leave, there would be no need to involve Iwagakure at all.
But Konoha's appetite was clearly much bigger. They wanted to swallow Sunagakure whole.
The problem was that Konoha was currently the strongest ninja village in the world, without question.
If Konoha and Iwagakure formed an alliance, they would naturally be able to take Sunagakure much faster.
Once Konoha absorbed the Land of Wind, its strength would definitely rise.
For Iwagakure to ally with Konoha against Sunagakure now was no different from seeking benefits from a tiger.
But considering Konoha's high-end combat power, even without an alliance with Iwagakure, taking the Land of Wind was only a matter of time.
"Old man, think it through before making a decision. They'll act after Konoha's Chunin Exams in seven days."
"I'm going to improve my Dust Explosion Technique."
Deidara looked completely carefree. He didn't ask more questions or try to persuade him. He just went with the flow.
He did whatever he was supposed to do.
"Hold on."
Onoki hadn't expected Konoha to pull something like this either.
It had caught him off guard.
"What is it, old man?"
Seeing how unconcerned Deidara looked, Onoki was a little speechless.
"This is a major matter for the village. Give me your thoughts too."
Onoki was already hesitant about this matter. Since he had always viewed Deidara as his successor, he naturally wanted to hear his opinion.
Deidara stopped before leaving, "If we do nothing, then we get nothing. But if we attack Sunagakure together with Konoha, the situation changes."
Onoki's expression shifted. He could tell Deidara wasn't finished.
"Hmm... go on."
Deidara continued, "If we do nothing, Pakura will definitely ask us and Kumogakure for help."
Onoki nodded slightly. That was true. Kirigakure was close to the Uchiha and had a deep grudge against Sunagakure. They definitely wouldn't help.
That meant Sunagakure could only seek aid from Iwagakure and Kumogakure.
"If we choose to help Sunagakure, then it'll be the same situation as five years ago."
Five years ago, the three villages had joined forces against Konoha, only to be completely defeated.
But the situation now was different from five years ago. Rengoku wasn't around now. (At least, Onoki believed so.)
"With Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato's strength, the best result would be a draw between us and Konoha. We'd lose people and gain nothing."
"The worst result would be the same as five years ago. Iwagakure would suffer a crushing defeat."
Information about Konoha activating a massive sealing formation during the recent attack had already appeared on the black market.
After all, Konoha had too many people now, and too many spies.
Although Konoha had only used a single formation, a formation of that level required a powerful core to supply chakra.
A formation maintained by one person that covered Konoha's entire inner city represented strength beyond measure.
The most likely explanation was that Konoha had hidden the Nine-Tails jinchuriki.
Deidara's analysis was highly logical.
It had to be said that Deidara had pointed out many things that Onoki himself hadn't considered.
The way Onoki looked at Deidara was filled with approval.
"If we ally with Konoha, what benefits do we get?"
Onoki continued asking for Deidara's thoughts.
Deidara spread his hands.
"Although we haven't settled on a method of cooperation yet, if the Land of Wind is taken..."
"Konoha's territory will expand greatly, but it'll also take a long time to govern."
"Just look at Konoha's Sandthorn City. It's obvious they want to completely transform the Land of Wind into a place people can live in."
"That isn't something they can solve in one or two years."
"It'll take at least ten years. With that much time, we'll have plenty of chances to come up with other solutions, or wait for Kumogakure to come up with something."
"Old man, if we don't ally with Konoha, then we help Sunagakure. After the fighting ends, we still won't gain much."
"If we ally with Konoha, we can get half of the Land of Wind."
"We'll have a chance to develop, and any conflict with Konoha will be pushed further into the future."
"As for what to choose, that's up to you."
Deidara had always been smart, but Onoki hadn't realized that his understanding of the bigger picture was this good.
This greatly comforted Onoki, who had planned to make Deidara his successor.
Onoki's face was full of smiles.
"Hahahaha! I never thought you'd be able to think this far ahead."
"I need to hold a meeting to discuss this matter. Go take care of your own work."
Deidara waved his hand and slipped away.
Seeing that energetic young appearance made Onoki sigh.
Although he hadn't agreed outright, he was already leaning toward the alliance.
As for discussing it in a meeting, that wasn't really necessary. Onoki had ruled for too many years. His prestige had long reached the point where his word alone decided everything.
The so-called meeting was simply a channel through which Onoki issued orders.
Still, he already had thoughts of stepping down, so he naturally had to put on a show.
Onoki returned to his desk and took out Konoha's recent intelligence reports again, reading them repeatedly.
It had to be said that the attack by the Sky Ninja was highly destructive.
Most people in ninja villages couldn't fly. If they suffered that kind of bombing, the losses would be extremely severe.
As for the final Lightning Release secret technique, its destructive power was also very strong.
But the entire attack on Konoha felt strange.
What was strange was how thoroughly prepared Konoha had been.
If Konoha hadn't prepared that formation beforehand, the destruction caused by so many Sky Ninja would have increased exponentially.
If the final Lightning Release secret technique hadn't been stopped, even more people would have died.
'Could the Nine-Tails have been in Konoha the whole time if they have a formation this powerful?'
Onoki pressed a button on his desk. A few seconds later, an ANBU appeared before him with the Body Flicker Technique.
"Tsuchikage-sama."
Onoki grunted in acknowledgment and stroked his beard.
"Where's Kurotsuchi?"
"Kurotsuchi went out with Deidara. They're training together now."
"You may leave."
Onoki waved his hand in satisfaction.
The ANBU disappeared instantly.
Deidara wasn't sensitive when it came to relationships between men and women, but he and Kurotsuchi had always been very close.
What reassured Onoki was that for all these years, Kurotsuchi had been the only girl around Deidara.
'They're not young anymore.'
Thinking about their ages, Onoki decided it was time to do something.