Konoha Notes

Chapter 255 Entering the game
Sunagakure will be lying low for a long time.

When Onoki received news of Rasa's death, he realized this. Chiyo's appointment as acting Kazekage further confirmed his judgment.

However, keeping them alive is more useful than plundering them.

When Sunagakure is powerful, putting pressure on them can force them to choose a war objective with higher expected returns.

If you continue to put pressure on the Sand Village while they are weak, they will eventually turn to the side with more resources.

Given the close alliance between Konoha and Kumogakure, Onoki really didn't want the last neighboring village, which might be a wavering party, to completely fall into Konoha's arms.

However, if we continue to act arbitrarily in the current situation, there will be some trouble later.

After all, the current situation is back to what it was before the new year, or even worse.

Before October, Iwagakure was at least a lukewarm ceasefire opponent to Konoha. After October, it became a hostile party that almost escalated into military conflict.

In other words, from the perspective of Iwagakure, the current situation is that, apart from Konoha, the other two sides are allies of Konoha.

Even if Sunagakure and Kumogakure do not actually take military action against Iwagakure, the political and public opinion pressure brought about by this situation will increase day by day if it continues.

Especially in the foreseeable future when Sunagakure will remain weak, their adherence to Konoha's lead will likely only become more and more intense.

If the existing policies are maintained, and a conflict does break out, the best outcome that Iwagakure can hope for is that they can barely hold onto the existing front.

A purely military confrontation approach is no longer viable. Rather than being gradually marginalized through isolation, perhaps... integration is a more realistic option.

In any case, no real war broke out with Konoha this year. The ceasefire agreement remains in effect in name only.

"Let's request a meeting with Konoha."

Given the current situation, it's time to sit down and talk again. As for how things will develop and what Iwagakure should do next, we can only wait and see.
-
Inside the Hokage's office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi meticulously cleaned his pipe, carefully tapping the ash into a ceramic dish beside him. Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado sat upright on the sofa opposite him.

On the coffee table between the three, a scroll requesting a meeting from Iwagakure was spread out, its contents already read repeatedly.

Koharu Utatane spoke first: "That old guy Ohnogi, finally couldn't sit still anymore, huh?"

Mitokado Homura said, "This is the third year already. In the past few years, it has taken us a lot of effort to invite Sunagakure to participate in the joint exams. Starting next year, we will not need to invest any additional resources to maintain the current situation."

"Perhaps it is precisely because he has recognized this that Onoki has seized this opportunity to request a meeting."

“If that’s the case, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to postpone Onoki’s application,” Koharu Utatane said calmly.

Hiruzen Sarutobi put down his cleaned pipe and picked up the scroll on the coffee table to read it carefully several times.

Finally, he raised his eyes, his gaze passing over his two old friends and landing on the young man sitting behind another desk.

"Shuji, what's your opinion?"

In an instant, several pairs of eyes in the office converged on this, including Tsunade, who remained silent in the main seat.

"I think we should accept Iwagakure's request for a meeting."

"Advisor Mitomon's view is very accurate. Onoki realized that the further things go, the more difficult it will be to maneuver, which is why Iwagakure took the initiative to propose a meeting."

Mitokado Homura's glasses reflected the light as his gaze was fixed on Shuji, awaiting his further analysis. "However, considering the military strength that Iwagakure currently possesses, if we continue to delay and exert pressure, it is very likely that they will devote more energy and resources to breaking the deadlock, or even risking starting another war."

"If Ōnoki invests too much of his power in this area, it will not benefit Konoha and may even create unknown variables."

Koharu nodded slightly. Homura Mitokado also fell into a brief moment of thought.

Shuji continued, speaking calmly: "The current operating rules of the ninja world are favorable to us. If we can maintain control, keeping this system running is the greatest benefit for Konoha at present."

"Allowing Iwagakure to join means that the entire ninja world will enter a new phase. We are not afraid of development; the benefits that development in a peaceful environment can bring to Konoha far outweigh those of war."

“More importantly,” he said, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, “the addition of Iwagakure will send a clear signal to Sunagakure: the future state of the ninja world is unlikely to undergo any radical changes. This will greatly increase the likelihood that they will accept the proposal to ‘reform the Land of Wind.’”

"Once that plan is launched, even if it is limited in scale at the beginning, as long as Sunagakure can see a glimmer of hope for improving the country's situation, their willingness to engage in military adventures abroad will continue to decrease."

"They will rely more on existing mission systems and resource acquisition channels."

"Instead of taking risks like we did this year."

He concluded, "Regardless of what Onoki wants to talk about or how he wants to talk about it, the very act of starting this meeting will give Konoha a new strategic initiative and further reduce the options available to potential adversaries."

"Therefore, I believe this deal is worth doing."

The office was quiet for a moment.

Tsunade glanced at the three silent people beside her and said, "Sounds pretty good."

"Old man, dorm transfer advisor, Mitomon advisor, what do you think?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi put the pipe back in his mouth and mumbled a reply: "Hmm...that makes sense."

Koharu and Homura exchanged a glance and nodded slightly.

"Then it's decided. We will reply to Iwagakure that Konoha has agreed to the talks."

After the current Hokage made his decision, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other two left.

"I never thought that even that notoriously stubborn old man, Onoki, would have a day when he would bow his head." Tsunade looked at the closed door, her tone tinged with emotion.

She turned her chair to face the window, her gaze falling on the rock carvings of the Hokage of past generations in the distance.

"I wonder what the ninja world will become in the future."

“The conflict won’t stop,” Shuuji replied calmly, his gaze returning to the documents on the table. “It’s just that the competition has changed.”

"Don't pour cold water on things like this!" Tsunade turned back into her chair, glared at him, and grabbed a document to fan herself.

“Speaking of which,” she said, her brow furrowing slightly as if she had suddenly remembered something, “Kiyūgakure has been unusually quiet this year. They rejected our invitation to participate without even giving a decent excuse.”

Shuji tidied the scattered files on the table without looking up: "It's normal for Kirigakure to be quiet."

He picked up a report and quickly skimmed through it.

"They probably have their own internal problems to deal with."

(End of this chapter)