Uchiha's personal opinion

The fact that even a politically-minded ninja like Uchiha Himon, who was stationed on the northwestern border of the Land of Fire, was transferred to the front lines at least indicates that Uchiha Tokumitsu and Hatake Sakumo were prepared for a full-scale war.

As for the statement made by Iwagakure's yellow earth about "annihilating Kumogakure," Tsuchida had no doubt whatsoever.

Because of the years of conflict between the two sides on the battlefield, they both wished they could kill each other. In fact, when the allied forces launched their northern expedition, Onoki might even lead his troops in person.

However, could the Cloud Village ninjas, whose minds were shaped by a militant mentality, really accept such conditions? Even if the Cloud Village ninjas' solo actions were suppressed under the persuasion of the higher-ups, what kind of image would he, as a close advisor to the Raikage, have in the village?

Therefore, regardless of the Raikage's attitude towards the outcome of his negotiations, regardless of whether it ends in war or peace, and regardless of how long the signed treaty can last before it is torn up... he, an incompetent person in the eyes of his fellow village ninjas, has no reason to live.

With a death wish, Tu Tai slowly drew a sword from his pocket and carefully examined every mark on the short blade in the sunlight.

His lifeless eyes were reflected on the polished, mirror-like blade, making him look like a living corpse...

Tutai's lips twitched. He wanted to mock himself for being so dejected and lacking in fighting spirit, but he found that he didn't even have the strength to control his facial muscles.

It seemed that all the energy and spirit had been sent away along with the secret message sent back to the village by the secret spirit beast.

……

After completing their initial meeting, Uchiha Tokumitsu and his group each selected an elite ninja force as a joint vanguard and began to probe northwards across the current standoff line.

This move was not intended to launch a full-scale war, but rather to exert maximum pressure in conjunction with the initial talks, attempting to crush the Cloud Village's will to resist.

The Land of Lightning's army, which was originally stationed in the same place, had been in a state of panic since the defeat of the Cloud Village's southward ninja army. They had no intention of resisting the elite vanguard of the allied forces. Less than a quarter of an hour after the vanguard launched its attack, the Tokuko Red Guard was the first to climb the city wall and plant the Uchiha clan's flag on the castle tower.

A county town in the central part of the Land of Lightning was thus easily captured.

"Why don't we take this opportunity and head straight to Kyoto? Then we can force the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning to declare Kumogakure an illegal ninja force!"

After receiving the battle report from the front lines, Huang Tu, whose confidence was greatly boosted, tried to encourage Uchiha Tokumitsu to do something even more outrageous.

"...This is not a good idea. It would be detrimental to us if we drove Yunyin into a corner."

Uchiha Tokumitsu was moved but refused.

He was very clear about Konoha's attitude toward this war.

A full-scale war mobilization is impossible. The Hokage faction only hopes to see the Uchiha clan and Sakumo Hatake's forces actively fight Kumogakure to the death, with both sides suffering heavy casualties.

As for Iwagakure, although they are determined to fight, to be honest, the Iwagakure ninja army's strength is mostly reflected in ninja army battles. Apart from the Third Tsuchikage Onoki, there are not many outstanding Jonin who can exchange a few blows with the Third Raikage.

If in the end the pressure of dealing with the Third Raikage falls on him and Sakumo Hatake, then they'll be in big trouble.

Right now, they're just using the advantage of information asymmetry to blackmail Kumogakure with war. If Kumogakure really goes berserk, Uchiha Tokumitsu might just pull off a lightning-fast maneuver and leave Iwagakure in front to take the brunt of the attack.

"But with such harsh conditions, will Cloud Village agree?"

Huang Tu was still somewhat unwilling: "Would it be better to continue applying pressure?"

"……Need not."

Uchiha Tokumitsu shook his head and rejected Huang Tu's suggestion. He simply picked up the battle report and handed it to a servant ninja, instructing, "Send it to the Kumogakure delegation. Make sure to deliver it to Tsuchida in person."

There are many ways to exert pressure; it doesn't necessarily have to involve violence.

Uchiha Tokumitsu felt that even if Kumogakure only agreed to half of the conditions, he would still have made a huge profit!

……

When the attendant ninja delivered the battle report to Tsuchikage, he had already been sitting in the meditation room for nearly six hours.

Moreover, his withered appearance startled even the ninja attendant who delivered the message.

He had never seen such a emaciated, lifeless "living dead".

If Tsuchida hadn't been able to reach out and take the battle report, the attendant ninjas would have thought he had died from exhaustion due to excessive anxiety.

At this point, there were only six hours left before Uchiha Tokumitsu's ultimatum was due.

During those six hours, the Cloud Hidden Headquarters did not reply with a single message.

There was neither blame nor questioning, nor any bargaining. If it weren't for the fact that the spirit beast would provide feedback after delivering the secret message back to the village, Tu Tai would almost have doubted whether the village had even received the message.

Tsuchida glanced at the battle report delivered by the attendant ninja, then sent it back to the village again via his summoning beast.

He also understood Uchiha Tokumitsu's intentions.

It was just a demonstration and pressure, with the ultimate goal of getting Kumogakure to accept the harsh peace treaty he offered.

"No...that's not a peace treaty..."

Amidst his death-defying resolve, a flame of revenge suddenly ignited within Tutai: "That was a ceasefire agreement with a ten- or twenty-year term!"

"That will also be the declaration of war by the Hidden Cloud Village!"

Thinking of this, Tu Tai immediately struggled to get up, took out the soldier's ration pills and poured them into his mouth, swallowing the whole bottle of soldier's ration pills without chewing.

He then summoned the members of the delegation to prepare a meal. After a hearty meal, he took a bath and changed his clothes before returning to the quiet room.

At this point, the Cloud Village headquarters still had not responded.

"call……"

After taking a deep breath, Tu Tai sat down again in the quiet room, closed his eyes to rest, and waited for the village's response.

……

"It's the last hour..."

Night had fallen, and Huang Tu, filled with anxiety and uncertainty, ran up to Uchiha Tokumitsu and said, "What should we do if Kumogakure resolutely refuses the peace treaty?"

"Then let's raid a few more counties and plunder them, and then continue the negotiations!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu said it casually.

"What if the Cloud Village mobilizes its entire force?"

Huang Tu was still uneasy. "Should we inform my father... Lord Tuying?"

"Don't worry, if the Hidden Cloud Village really intends to have a decisive battle, we can still hold off the Raikage if we attack together. Then, with the Hidden Mist Village attacking from behind, the Hidden Cloud Village army will only be wiped out."

Uchiha Tokumitsu continued to offer words of comfort.

"Moreover, Yunyin wouldn't be so unwise. As long as we don't break into Yunlei Gorge, they won't go all out."

"I always feel a little uneasy..."

Huang Tu chuckled twice, feeling embarrassed by his unease, "I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Mr. Deguang..."

"...But what if they're all from Kirigakure and just sit by and watch us fight to the death with Kumogakure?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

"Don't worry! It won't happen!"

"why?"

The loess soil relentlessly pressed for answers, seeking peace of mind.

"I have money!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu said irritably, "I can use money to make Kirigakure fight for me!"

The loess soil left, embarrassed.

……

"Only half an hour left..."

Inside the meditation room of the Cloud Hidden Mission, Tu Tai suddenly felt a sense of relief.

The deadline for the ultimatum is fast approaching.

Since the village did not try to lower its negotiation conditions, it means that it is unlikely to agree to those harsh conditions.

In this way, although his reputation would be damaged, at least he wouldn't have to commit suicide to atone for his sins...

But how should the war with Konoha and Iwagakure continue?

How will the Misty Village, which is currently harassing the coastline, respond?

Should we attack together, or stabilize one side and attack the other?

In a short period of time, countless ideas flashed through Tu Tai's mind.

"The last ten minutes..."

Tu Tai's breathing became heavy.

He's getting ready to go out for some fresh air.

After nearly twelve hours, the pressure was immense, and even a Jonin was finding it hard to keep up.

Just then, the summoning beast scroll lit up.

A yellow light shone on the magic circle of the scroll.

The earthen platform looked as if it had fallen into an ice cellar.

After a moment of confusion, he came to his senses and quickly went up to input chakra into the scroll, completing the summoning jutsu.

"boom!"

A strangely shaped ninja beast appeared with the smoke, dropped a letter, and then, without asking for a reward as usual, quickly left as if avoiding a plague.

Tu Tai's heart felt as if it had fallen into an abyss.

After he shakily picked up the letter and glanced at it, his vision went black and he almost fainted.

He edited the peace terms sent back to the village, making only a few simple changes before sending them back.

Moreover, the secret letter also contained the seal of the Third Raikage!

Tu Tai was still not entirely convinced. He examined the letter thoroughly, inside and out, and found that all the coded markings were accurate!

Therefore, this can only mean that:

The village actually surrendered...

Tu Tai was immediately overwhelmed by a sense of utter despair and disillusionment.

He then stormed out of the door like a madman, summoned a shogunate ninja to lead the way, and ran towards Uchiha Tokumitsu's residence.

Chapter 238 A Treaty of Surrender

When Tsuchida arrived at the official residence where Uchiha Tokumitsu was resting, led by his attendant ninja, it was already about ten minutes past the deadline for the ultimatum.