Chapter 450: The Tempting Offer from Kirigakure

After all, this was an internal matter of Kirigakure. Besides, the two villages were still technically at war.

Even if Konoha wanted to end the pointless conflict, it wouldn't readily agree to Yagura's proposal.

Between nations and villages, there was no such thing as genuine goodwill—only eternal and unchanging interests.

For the sake of interests, even blood brothers could turn against each other. So, what hope was there for two rival villages?

Take Sunagakure, for example. The village had repeatedly forged alliances with Konoha, only to stab it in the back each time. After losing battles, they'd turn around and reconcile, only to betray Konoha again—a classic case of a leopard never changing its spots.

Ultimately, everything boiled down to benefits.

Konoha might want to end the war, but what else would it gain from doing so?

The room fell silent. Not even Tsunade spoke. The Third Hokage puffed slowly on his pipe, his eyes calm but contemplative.

Yagura sat quietly, watching the Third Hokage. He was waiting—waiting for the Hokage to state his terms.

Even if ending the war would benefit Konoha, convincing it to cooperate with the investigation into the Third Mizukage's situation wouldn't be easy.

Without offering significant benefits, it was almost impossible to reach an agreement.

Yagura wasn't some naïve child; he understood the unspoken rules. He had come prepared with leverage to persuade the Third Hokage.

Now, he just needed the Hokage to take the bait.

While Minato appeared visibly nervous, Takuya lounged on the table, staring intently at the patterns on his teacup as if it held the secrets of the universe.

"Cough, cough."

Breaking the silence after a few moments, the Third Hokage extinguished his pipe. Nearby, Tsunade, her patience wearing thin, opened a window to let fresh air circulate through the conference room.

Her disapproving glare at the Hokage spoke volumes.

Sorry, force of habit, the Third Hokage's apologetic smile seemed to say.

But Tsunade ignored him.

Resigned, the Hokage turned to Yagura and said, "Yagura, while you make a compelling argument and Konoha is certainly eager to end this conflict between our villages, there's one issue you've overlooked. Whether the Third Mizukage is being controlled or has been replaced is ultimately an internal matter for Kirigakure. By principle, Konoha cannot interfere."

Yagura responded promptly, having anticipated this objection. "Once the matter is resolved, Kirigakure is willing to sign a non-aggression pact with Konoha."

The offer was calculated, and Yagura's tone was steady.

Compared to a simple peace treaty, a non-aggression pact carried much stronger commitments.

Peace treaties could be broken for the sake of interests, with betrayal justified by pragmatic reasons. But violating a non-aggression pact brought significant consequences—condemnation at best, outright hostility from other villages at worst.

Even among the Five Great Shinobi Villages, where competition often turned violent, maintaining appearances and diplomatic norms was crucial.

For Konoha, a pact like this would be incredibly advantageous. With its abundant resources and historically defensive stance, Konoha stood to gain much from such an agreement.

If possible, the Third Hokage would have loved to get all four other Kage to sign similar agreements with Konoha.

"Cough, cough, this..." The Third Hokage's interest was piqued.

If Konoha could secure peace with Kirigakure after dealing with Sunagakure, it would gain a significant window of opportunity for growth.

Yagura pressed further, his voice calm but resolute. "Additionally, Master Genji has pledged that once this matter is clarified, Kirigakure will open its maritime trade routes to the Land of Fire. I believe the Daimyō will have no objections to this arrangement."

The room went still, the implications sinking in.

Kirigakure, situated in the Land of Water, had always guarded its maritime routes fiercely. Even the Land of Lightning's Kumogakure, which had developed substantial naval capabilities, struggled to match Kirigakure's dominance over the seas.

For Konoha and the Land of Fire, gaining access to these routes would be a dream come true, benefiting both the village and the Daimyō immensely.

"Cough, cough!"

This time, the Third Hokage coughed not out of habit but genuine astonishment.

The other attendees exchanged incredulous looks, struggling to believe Yagura was offering such favorable terms.

For years, Konoha had sought access to these maritime routes but had been thwarted repeatedly by Kirigakure's staunch opposition. With the Third Mizukage in control, any hopes of negotiating such an arrangement had been impossible.

Now, Yagura's proposal was nothing short of a miracle.

Even Takuya couldn't help but be impressed.

Master Genji must truly have remarkable vision, he thought.

Upon reflection, the offer made sense. The prolonged wars had drained both villages significantly. Opening maritime trade routes would accelerate recovery and development for both sides.

With economic recovery requiring vast resources, this proposal represented a win-win opportunity.

Moreover, while Yagura alone couldn't make such a decision, Master Genji held the authority to enforce it. If he was behind this proposal, it was clear he sought to end Kirigakure's destructive policies and usher in a new era of stability.

"Is this true?"

The Third Hokage's tone was one of thinly veiled excitement. His initial interest in the non-aggression pact had now blossomed into full-blown enthusiasm for the maritime trade agreement.

If this deal came to fruition, the Land of Fire and Konoha would gain access to an untapped wealth of resources, propelling the village into a period of unparalleled growth.

Yagura nodded solemnly. "This is Master Genji's promise to the Hokage. Should your village cooperate with us in uncovering the truth, Master Genji will ensure this agreement is realized."

"Then... what would you need from us for this investigation?"

The Third Hokage's response left no doubt—Konoha was ready to cooperate.

No one in the room objected. Not even Tsunade. The benefits were simply too enticing to pass up.

Yagura had played his cards perfectly, and it was clear that Master Genji had significant backing within Kirigakure to make such a bold offer.

By involving Konoha, Kirigakure hoped to minimize risks and avoid any internal backlash while investigating their Mizukage's situation.

Yagura's expression darkened, and his voice dropped. "We will need your help staging a performance."

"A performance?" Tsunade asked, her brows furrowed in suspicion.