Your comments, reviews, and votes really help me out so much and they make me super motivated to keep working on this story! Thank you! Pat**on : Belamy20
"The Hidden Sand started this war, yet you want to let them off without any punishment? You're agreeing to a ceasefire just like that?! And you're willing to return the One-Tail Jinchūriki and the captured Sand ninjas?! Are you out of your mind, Tsunade?!"
Danzo's voice rose, dripping with venom.
"And most importantly—Menma Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki! What is the meaning of that order? Don't you realize the eyes of the entire ninja world are fixed on him right now?! If another village gets their hands on the Nine-Tails, can you take responsibility for that? Suspending the warrant? Barring Root from the hunt? Are these not the orders of a madwoman?"
Danzo stared gloomily at Tsunade.
Truth be told, even though Danzo had done plenty of stupid things and was definitely lacking in the EQ department, on certain issues, he was actually the one with the clearest vision and the most correct judgment.
Take the two points he just raised.
From the perspective of the Hidden Leaf Village, Danzo's attitude was undoubtedly the most logical and correct one.
Caring about other people's feelings? Considering the interests of others?
Are you crazy?
A mature leader should prioritize whatever course of action brings the most benefit to their own faction. That is the correct way to rule.
On this specific matter, Danzo was right.
If Menma were in Danzo's shoes, facing the same situation, he would have made the exact same judgment calls.
"Indeed, Tsunade. We feel Danzo has a point," Homura Mitokado frowned slightly, looking at Tsunade seated at the desk. "Whether it's the issue with the Sand or the issue with Menma Uzumaki, your handling of the situation seems a bit too... casual."
Koharu Utatane didn't speak, but her attitude clearly aligned with Homura's.
However, Tsunade obviously didn't see it that way.
"Orders of a madwoman? Hmph. I don't think so. Shikaku, tell the three Elders about our current situation."
Tsunade snorted coldly, refusing to back down an inch. She signaled to Shikaku, who was standing nearby.
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Shikaku bowed, then turned to address Danzo, Homura, and Koharu, who had all taken their seats.
"Elders, this is the latest intelligence gathered by the Anbu, along with reports from the border defense units."
As he spoke, he handed a logbook to Homura, who was closest. The three of them passed it around quickly, their expressions growing grave as they read.
Shikaku cleared his throat and continued.
"As the report states, the Hidden Cloud has recently deployed more troops to the Land of Hot Water. Including their previous forces, the total number has reached over three thousand. They are frequently sparking conflicts and friction along the border. In the last few days alone, there have been two or three clashes between scout teams. Fortunately, there haven't been casualties yet, but the Cloud's aggressive posture is undeniable.
"Then, to the northwest, Hidden Stone troops have appeared near the Land of Grass and the Land of Waterfalls. The intel suggests possible traces of the Five-Tails Jinchūriki, though that is currently unconfirmed. However, the number of Stone ninjas has also reached nearly three thousand."
Shikaku paused for effect.
Below him, the expressions of Homura and Koharu had become extremely severe.
The Leaf used to be able to handle pressure from two Great Villages at once, but doing so now would be exponentially harder. Not to mention, the Stone seemed ready to deploy a Tailed Beast. That was beyond what the current Leaf could handle.
Danzo's expression grew even darker.
Internally, he was cursing these villages furiously. In Danzo's words, they had let these bastards live too comfortably in the past. Now, seeing them act so arrogantly pushed his anger to the limit.
His rage was directed not only at the Great Villages but also at the late Hiruzen Sarutobi. In Danzo's view, if not for Hiruzen's weakness, how would these villages dare to be so brazen?!
The Leaf had won all three Great Ninja Wars!
But what did they get in the end?
Nothing.
This was the most infuriating point for Danzo, and honestly, it was the one aspect where many fans of the original series agreed with him.
Foreign policy should be hardline!
The dignity of a nation or a ninja village is built upon the fierce battles of its ninjas and the sharpness of its blades.
Not on so-called "mutual understanding" or "recognition." That was a pure joke.
However, Danzo was clearly the outlier in the Leaf regarding this philosophy. From the First Hokage all the way to Naruto taking office in the original story, the strategy upheld was always that laughable concept of "mutual understanding."
Of course, one couldn't say that approach was entirely wrong. In specific situations and times, it could have strong positive effects.
But you have to tailor the medicine to the illness. You can't just apply it blindly.
"In addition, regarding the Sand... it seems they are going all in. They have pushed a full five thousand ninjas near the Land of Rivers. While the Hidden Mist remains quiet, we cannot let our guard down."
"See? Do you hear that?" Tsunade slammed her hand on the desk, barely suppressing her rage. "Elders, the Hidden Leaf is in a critically dangerous position. We need a buffer. We need a stable alliance. We cannot provoke the Sand any further. Stabilizing them is the correct move."
She had been racking her brains to alleviate the Leaf's crisis. Not only were these three old fossils not helping, but they were also actively interfering. Tsunade already had a fiery temper; the fact that she was holding it back now was a testament to years of cultivating patience.
"The Cloud and the Stone... are they really pressing us this hard?" Homura asked with a heavy face.
"Then we indeed need to be more cautious," Koharu sighed.
This was fresh intelligence.
Before Tsunade returned, primary data would go directly to the two advisors. But now that there was a legitimate Hokage, all information went to Tsunade first.
The advisors could constrain Tsunade to an extent, but as mentioned before, her prestige and the support of the clans gave her the majority of real power. Homura and Koharu were naturally a step behind.
And at this moment, the advisors' old bad habit kicked in again.
They were easily swayed by the immediate situation, prone to flip-flopping like grass in the wind.
Danzo saw right through it instantly.
He could tell that his two old friends had "defected" from his stance yet again.
A wave of disgust washed over him, and his expression became... incredibly colorful.