Uchiha's personal opinion

Moreover, the Rain Ninja Jonin all seemed to take it for granted, and none of them thought there was anything wrong with Amata's remarks.

And that's the scariest part!

If Hanzo hadn't secretly confirmed that none of his subordinates showed any signs of being controlled by genjutsu, he would have believed that they had all been bewitched by the Mangekyou Sharingan.

Because this kind of heartfelt identification is almost impossible to achieve.

Hanzo the Salamander couldn't understand it at all. Was the Tokukō Shogunate really that attractive?

"Inform Uchiha Tokumitsu that I am preparing to meet him at the Shogunate camp..."

After hesitating for a moment, Hanzo of the Salamander decided to put aside his inner burden and meet with Uchiha Tokumitsu.

Regardless of whether Konoha had ulterior motives, they genuinely helped Amegakure out of their predicament.

Even the legendary hero Hanzo the Salamander couldn't simply accept others' kindness with equanimity; he had to reciprocate in some way.

"Also... gather the village's ninja forces and take them to the Uchiha Himon's northwestern shogunate for assistance in defense."

After hesitating for a moment, Hanzo the Salamander added another command.

Since we're going to make a gesture, we might as well go the extra mile.

Moreover, the Rain Ninjas sent out can also exchange for a set of equipment and come back, so it's a win-win situation no matter how you look at it.

Chapter 221 No Discussion, Only Signing

Upon arriving at Kumogakure, Mitokado Homura was greeted with cold faces by the Kumogakure ninjas and placed in a secluded courtyard in Kumogakure. A detachment of Anbu was assigned to "protect" him, and Mitokado Homura and his accompanying ninjas were forbidden from leaving the village.

Mitokado Homura viewed Yunyin's rudeness as a gentle breeze, but secretly held a grudge against Yunyin in his heart.

He also understood the purpose of his trip.

For the Hokage faction, whether the mediation succeeds or not is not important. What is important is not to let Uchiha Tokumitsu and Hatake Sakumo monopolize the limelight. Moreover, the Hokage faction, which represents the orthodoxy of Konoha, cannot stand aside and let Uchiha Tokumitsu and Hatake Sakumo run wild. Therefore, Hiruzen Sarutobi made him participate.

Before leaving the village, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, along with Koharu Utatane, had a private conversation. The three agreed that although the ambitions of the Hidden Cloud Village should not be underestimated, Tokumitsu Uchiha harbored malicious intentions, and Sakumo Hatake was no better than anyone else. Furthermore, the relationship between the Rain Village and Konoha was merely superficial, and the interactions between the Rain Village and Tokumitsu's shogunate were even more frequent.

Therefore, for the Hokage faction, the optimal solution would be to have the Tokugawa Shogunate, Sakumo Hatake's forces, and Hanzo's Amegakure all fight against the Kumogakure barbarians. The two sides would fight to the death and suffer heavy losses, while the Hokage faction could sit back and watch the two sides fight. That would be the best outcome.

Therefore, Mitokado En had no psychological burden at all on this trip.

If we can talk, we should talk; if we can't, we should withdraw and allow both sides to continue negotiating.

If the opportunity arises, he can secretly instigate conflict between the Cloud Hidden Army and the Deguang and Fire Gate armies. He can simply sit in the central command tent and watch the two treacherous dogs fight to the death.

……

At this time, Uchiha Tokumitsu was also in the central command tent welcoming Hanzo of the Salamander, who had come from afar.

As one of the main figures in this dispute between the two countries of thunder and rain, Hanzo the Salamander also did not look too good.

Although he was still behind the heavy respirator, his tired eyes could still be seen through the lens.

Compared to before the war, Amegakure, with less than one in ten registered ninjas remaining, had fallen into utter ruin.

The speed of postwar recovery was far slower than Hanzo the Salamander had anticipated.

If it weren't for Uchiha Tokumitsu's mercenary missions and the generous spoils that allowed Amegakure to catch its breath, Hanzo of the Salamander would have ordered the village's ninjas to travel to various parts of the Land of Rain to "seek food."

"General Deguang... thank you very much this time."

Although deeply anxious about the close relationship between his subordinates and the Tokugawa Shogunate, Sanshoku Hanzo maintained his usual respect in terms of etiquette.

Although the two are very different in age, Uchiha Tokumitsu's strength is comparable to his, and his power is even greater. Even the fact that Amegakure can maintain its current situation is due to the assistance of Tokumitsu's shogunate and the Hidden Gate shogunate. In addition, given the favor of this mediation, Hanzo of the Salamander would naturally not be so presumptuous as to put on airs.

"Mr. Hanzo, you must be tired from your journey. Please come in and rest. I have prepared a feast. Today, let us drink fine wine and share our innermost thoughts."

Uchiha Tokumitsu was also all smiles and incredibly amiable.

A powerful figure like Hanzo the Salamander would be a pillar of any ninja village, and Uchiha Tokumitsu also maintained the respect he deserved.

After all, he was still hoping that he could have another battle against the Hidden Mist Village and bring out and kill Madara Uchiha who was hiding in the shadows.

"The ruins of Yuren have not yet been properly cleaned up; I have no way to repay you..."

After taking their seats and drinking several rounds, Hanzo the Salamander declared in front of his subordinates, "If the general needs you in any battle, the Rain Ninja will surely go through fire and water to repay you!"

"Mr. Hanzo, you flatter me..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu was secretly delighted, but on the surface he remained calm and composed. He sincerely said to Hanzo of the Salamander and his group of Jonin, "The Uchiha clan and Amegakure forged their friendship in the blood and fire of the Kirigakure battlefield. Now that our ally is in trouble, how can the Uchiha stand idly by?"

The group of Rain Ninja Jonin were deeply moved.

Hanzo the Salamander was also moved.

"The ruthlessness of the Hidden Cloud Village is known throughout the ninja world; they probably won't back down easily..."

Hanzo of the Salamander said in a deep voice, "The Rain Ninja Headquarters has recently been transferred to General Himon's command. If the situation changes, the entire Rain Ninja will fight under the banner of the Uchiha clan!"

"Sakumo-kun and I have already discussed it, and this time we will not let Kumogakure get away with it."

Uchiha Tokumitsu laughed heartily, then continued to urge everyone on: "Let's drink, let's drink. We just need to wait for Mitomon's message."

……

The next day, in the Raikage's office in Kumogakure.

"These are Konoha's conditions?"

Although the Third Raikage remained expressionless, his heart was filled with rage, like a raging storm. He forcefully crumpled the mediation letter handed to him by Mitokado Homura into a ball with his massive hands.

Is Konoha preparing to declare war on Kumogakure?

The group of Cloud Village Jonin were somewhat confused, but judging from the Third Raikage's expression, they understood that the mediation conditions offered by Konoha were extremely unreasonable.

"It's all for the sake of peace, please understand, Lord Raikage..."

Mitokado Homura didn't bother arguing with the Third Raikage, and simply replied calmly.

"Peace!"

The Third Raikage could no longer control his emotions. He punched the desk, shattering it, and roared, "Is the peace imposed by Konoha really peace?!"

"Peace is the long-cherished wish of everyone in the ninja world; there is no reason to impose it on others..."

Mitokado Homura gently brushed away the wood chips that had splashed onto his clothes and slowly said, "Kumakuya is acting perversely, and Konoha is merely upholding justice."

"Upholding justice..."

The Third Raikage gritted his teeth in hatred, "Is forcing Kumogakure to surrender before even fighting and cede territory as reparations really for peace and justice?!"

After saying that, the Third Raikage tossed the crumpled paper in his hand to a trusted Jonin standing to the side.

The trusted Jonin unfolded the crumpled paper, glanced at it briefly, and immediately his expression changed drastically, his face filled with anger.

Subsequently, a group of trusted Jonin passed on the so-called peace settlement conditions offered by Konoha, and their expressions changed drastically.

"It's all for peace and justice, so please give your support, Lord Raikage."

Mitokado said indifferently.

In the mediation document, Konoha not only demanded that the Raikage immediately cease military operations against Amegakure, but also that the Raikage apologize to Hanzo of the Salamander, cede suzerainty over the Land of Frost, and withdraw its forces from the buffer zone between the Land of Fire and the Land of Fire.

For Kumogakure, which has always been keen on plundering territory and vying for the title of the number one ninja village, Konoha's conditions are even more outrageous than defecating on their heads!

If the Third Raikage agreed to such conditions, the enraged Cloud Village would definitely kill him, their leader, immediately and then start a war against Konoha without regard for anything else.

"For the sake of peace in the ninja world, the Hidden Cloud Village must be restricted."

Ignoring the murderous glares from the Cloud Village, Mitokado Homura calmly said, "Konoha doesn't want this either, but it's a last resort. I hope the Raikage and all the Jonin can understand."

"understand……"

In the eyes of the Third Raikage, Konoha's so-called "mediation" had completely turned into taking advantage of the situation to plunder!

"Such conditions are used to humiliate a great nation. Doesn't Konoha worry about public opinion in the ninja world?"

The Third Raikage suppressed his anger, "Kumakuha is one of the five great ninja villages in the ninja world. What good will it do Konoha to make enemies like this?"

"There is no benefit to it, it is only for the sake of fairness and justice."

Mitokado Yan said with a righteous and awe-inspiring air.

That expression disgusted the Cloud Village Jonin.

Which of the five great ninja villages is a good person?

Aren't you ashamed to say that?!

"So that means there's no room for negotiation?"

The Third Raikage nestled his massive body into the back of his chair, his gloomy face seemingly brewing a thunderous roar.

"Before this trip, the three major shogunates of the Land of Fire had already taken over various small countries. Why doesn't Lord Raikage just accept this fait accompli?"

Mitokado Homura said, "Please restrain yourself and accept mediation, otherwise the wrath of Konoha will destroy everything!"

"Kumakuha is a large ninja village with 20,000 ninja troops!"

A Cloud Village Jonin couldn't help but jump out and shout angrily, "Even if war breaks out, what benefits will Konoha gain besides futilely depleting its own ninja army! Is it worth going to such lengths for a mere Rain Village ninja?"

"More than 10,000 people in the Cloud Village ninja army are currently fighting against the Mist Village."

Mitomon Homura quickly retorted, "Konoha is the number one ninja village in the ninja world. Even just one of its subordinate Tokukō Shogunates could defeat Kirigakure, which is currently engaged in a protracted war with you. Now that the four generals of Konoha's three major shogunates have gathered at the border, how can Kumogakure possibly stop them!"

"...And do you really think that Hiruzen and the others have forgotten the blood feud between Lord Tobirama and me?"

After saying this, Mitokado Homura stood up, brushed off non-existent dust from his body, and angrily prepared to leave.

"...Konoha's mediation conditions are too harsh. Is there any room for negotiation?"

Just as Mitokado Homura was about to push open the door and leave, an old voice came from behind him.

"Elder..."

The group of Cloud Villagers were also somewhat taken aback.

The Cloud Village elder, who had been sitting silently in the corner, slowly stepped forward, leaning on his cane, and said in a low voice, "What exactly is Konoha's purpose? To so hastily stand up for Amegakure... I'm afraid your village's ninjas wouldn't agree to that, would they?"

Although the Third Raikage's face was full of anger, he did not stop the Grand Elder from speaking.

"If I remember correctly, you were there when Lord Tobirama brought us here to sign the alliance agreement..."

Mitomon En scrutinized the Cloud Village Elder's face and said solemnly.

"Yes, but I am already very old, while Mr. Yan is still in his prime..."