188. Alliance
Another month passed in a flash.
Sora spent every day with Uzumaki Kushina, almost never leaving her side.
Kakashi stayed at Sora's house for two days but couldn't bear to remain any longer.
After all, watching the couple's affection every day was more than he could handle.
This month was the busiest for Konoha's top officials.
Although they had been fighting to the death with their enemies before, after the war, cooperation became necessary, and alliances had to be secured.
Sarutobi Hiruzen proposed an alliance contract with Sunagakure.
As the defeated party in this war, Sunagakure was offered surprisingly lenient terms. Sarutobi Hiruzen proposed that as long as the Fourth Kazekage Rasa compensated Konoha with a portion of their gold deposits and then concluded an alliance contract, it would be considered sufficient payment to the Land of Fire.
These terms were almost considered a gift rather than true compensation.
Rasa had no reason to refuse and immediately signed an alliance contract with Konoha.
...
On the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind.
The Ino-Shika-Chō trio—Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Akimichi Chōza—appeared at the edge of a cliff.
On the other side of the cliff stood more than thirty Iwagakure shinobi.
The Iwa ninja looked at Nara Shikaku and his companions with malicious smiles.
Nara Shikaku took out a scroll. "This is Lord Hokage's letter. Take it!"
He threw the scroll toward the Iwagakure shinobi.
One of them caught the scroll.
Nara Shikaku explained, "Deliver this to Lord Tsuchikage and tell him to please reply as soon as possible."
The Rock shinobi who caught the scroll said disdainfully, "You don't need to bring it to him. I can answer you now!"
He raised his hand, and the Iwa ninja behind him all drew their weapons and assumed fighting stances.
Just as battle was about to break out, a voice called from the neighboring cliff.
"Don't be so hasty."
Both the Iwagakure shinobi and Nara Shikaku turned to look at another cliff.
They discovered it was densely packed with Sand shinobi.
The Fourth Kazekage appeared at the front of the group.
The Iwa ninja panicked.
"What? It's the Fourth Kazekage!"
"Why are Sunagakure shinobi here?!"
Rasa crossed his arms over his chest and said proudly, "This is also the border of our Land of Wind! We can't allow you to fight here! The smell of conflict is too strong, so naturally we must disperse it."
Rasa took a step forward. "Sunagakure will not sit idly by. I hope you understand this before taking action!"
The Iwagakure shinobi looked at Rasa with solemn expressions, and finally shouted "Retreat!" before withdrawing.
...
In the conference room of the Tsuchikage Building in Iwagakure.
Ōnoki sat in the main seat, with Sarutobi Hiruzen's letter on the table before him.
"How do you plan to handle this request to conclude a peace pact?"
"Of course we should refuse, right?"
"Even if Konohagakure and Sunagakure form an alliance, they are no match for our strength!"
Several senior officials engaged in heated discussion about the alliance proposal.
Ōnoki spoke in a deep voice: "Quiet! Of course Iwagakure's unity makes me proud, but...
Iwagakure once made a desperate move and deployed more than a thousand ninjas to launch an invasion.
I heard that this plan encountered setbacks because of the Blood-Eyed Shura and the Yellow Flash.
This is undeniable.
And have you forgotten? The Blood-Eyed Shura went to Kirigakure alone, seriously wounded their forces, and killed the Third Mizukage!"
After hearing Ōnoki's words, the senior officials fell silent.
In the end, Ōnoki agreed to Konoha's request to form an alliance.
...
At a dango shop in Konoha.
Gekkō Hayate, Kamizuki Izumo, Might Guy, Yūhi Kurenai, and Sarutobi Asuma were eating dango together.
Gekkō Hayate said, "I heard that a peace treaty will be concluded with Iwagakure this time."
Kamizuki Izumo bit the bamboo stick and said, "How much binding force can a piece of paper really have?"
Guy strongly agreed with Izumo's words. "Well said!"
Gekkō Hayate looked dissatisfied. "You should also think about the hard work of the Third Hokage and the others."
Sarutobi Asuma said with a smile, "Anyway, the long war is finally over."
Yūhi Kurenai raised the dango in her hand and suggested, "Let's cheer with dango!"
Guy noticed Kakashi walking from a distance and called out to him: "Hey, Kakashi, do you want to come over and eat dango with us?"
Kakashi merely raised his eyelids and glanced at Guy, then continued walking without acknowledging him.
Guy looked at Kakashi's retreating figure and muttered, "That guy is really cold."
Kamizuki Izumo watched Kakashi. "Is his attitude normal? After all, he was always cold to begin with."
Gekkō Hayate sighed. "It's understandable that he's cold. He's not in the mood to fool around without a care in the world."
Yūhi Kurenai looked a little sad. "It must be because of Obito and Rin. I heard they were the only two people Kakashi could call friends."
Sarutobi Asuma nodded and said, "Yes, it must have left a deep psychological wound."
Kakashi walked alone on the street, his mind filled with images of Obito being crushed by the boulder and the scene of Nohara Rin's death, when his Sharingan had first awakened.
Looking at the smiling people around him, Kakashi felt disgusted.
It wasn't worth losing his father and his friends for these people!
...
In a conference room in the Hokage Building.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzō, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura met together.
On the table in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen was a scroll containing Ōnoki's reply.
Mitokado Homura said to Sarutobi Hiruzen, "Thank you."
Utatane Koharu also spoke with relief, "At least now we can breathe easier."
Danzō was dissatisfied. "Is this a treaty that satisfies you? To actually acknowledge Iwagakure's actions and give up the right to demand compensation is like losing the war!"
Mitokado Homura asked, "What do you think, Hiruzen?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen explained, "Continuing to fight would also be fatal to Konoha, which is already exhausted. This concession was made for the sake of unity."
Danzō slammed his fist on the table. "Many of our comrades died in this war. Doing this means letting them die in vain!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed. "The responsibility lies with me, the Hokage."
Danzō asked aggressively, "How are you going to take responsibility?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen announced his decision: "I will resign as the Third Hokage and appoint a Fourth."
Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, Danzō showed a hint of joy on his face.
In Danzō's eyes, only Orochimaru had the qualifications to become Hokage.
As long as Orochimaru became Hokage, Orochimaru—who was a Root ninja—would greatly strengthen Danzō's power.
...
Danzō came to Orochimaru's laboratory and found him working.
Danzō said bluntly to Orochimaru, "Orochimaru, Hiruzen plans to step down, and I intend to recommend you to become the Fourth Hokage!"
Orochimaru's hand, holding a beaker, paused for a moment, then returned to normal. "I have no interest in becoming Hokage."
Danzō frowned and said solemnly, "You have the highest reputation in Konoha right now. It can be said that everyone thinks you should be the Fourth Hokage. If you become Hokage, many of the things you want to do would no longer need to be done in secret. Think about it!"
Orochimaru put down the beaker in his hand and turned to look at Danzō. "I don't care whether I become Hokage or not. If it would be beneficial to my experiments, then you may recommend me."
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