Malphegor
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IUTT: Ch. 106
🕑 Added 2025-05-29 16:44:18 +0000 UTCThe ANBU ninja standing by took the scroll, inspected it carefully, and only handed it over to Hiruzen after confirming there were no issues. As soon as he opened the scroll, he gasped sharply.
The price was simply too generous, it even made his breathing a bit rushed.
Homura and Koharu, who were standing nearby, also leaned over after noticing his reaction. Both were also shocked by the contents written on the scroll.
They had originally thought that the delegation from Kumo had come with an accusatory attitude to stir up trouble. They hadn't expected them to offer benefits instead.
At that moment, the few of them even genuinely began to entertain the thought that perhaps marrying Tsunade off to Kumo might not be such a bad idea. Especially Hiruzen, he even wished he could tie her up and send her to Kumo himself.
That way, Konoha would gain immense benefits, remove Tsunade who had been putting increasing pressure on his position as Hokage, and form an alliance with Kumo.
"This is a serious matter; allow me to consider it carefully," he forced down his excitement and replied in a deliberately cautious tone. "After all, we still need to consult Tsunade herself."
He knew full well that she would never agree. Knowing the matter was doomed to fail, and for the sake of his own reputation, he couldn't openly force her. However, he also had no intention of refusing. When the threat of war and the lure of massive benefits became known, he only needed to appear reluctant and secretly fan public opinion. Then all the blame would fall on her.
When public resentment boiled over, he'd watch how she dealt with it then.
---
In the Raikage's office, the brawny and rugged Third Raikage stood by the window, gazing silently in the direction of Konoha, lost in thought.
His secretary, standing by the desk organizing documents, kept glancing at his back, looking like he had something to say but was hesitant.
Sensing her unease, his booming voice rang out like a great bell. "If you've got something to say, spit it out."
With his permission, the secretary quickly spoke up. "There's something I don't understand. You sent A to Konoha, was he really there to propose marriage?"
The Third Raikage turned around, looked at the secretary, and smiled. "Why do you ask?"
"Uh, it just feels strange," the secretary replied. "Are we really willing to pay such a high price just to marry her?"
"Hahaha!" The Third Raikage laughed. "If she really marries A, then paying such a price is worth it. If this works, not only will we gain a massive edge in medical capabilities, but we'll also add a powerful combatant to our ranks. And we'll completely ease that guy's mood about getting captured, it's a win-win-win."
"Then why did you have him present the scroll immediately instead of negotiating slowly? That way, we might've been able to pay much less," the secretary asked again.
"Because I knew that kid was bound to fail on this mission," the Third Raikage grinned again. "Even if Hiruzen is tempted, Tsunade will never agree."
"Huh?" The secretary was now clearly confused. "Then why did you..."
"Hahahaha!" The Third Raikage burst out laughing. "You know, Kumo is currently in a period of unprecedented rapid development. I truly don't want to start a war at a time like this and ruin the hard-earned progress. But after suffering such a big loss in the Land of Whirlpools, I can't just do nothing. Based on the intelligence brought back by the spies we've planted in Konoha. I've analyzed it thoroughly and come to a conclusion. That conclusion is: Tsunade seems to have her eyes on the position of Hokage and has begun to build momentum for herself."
"Naturally, Hiruzen is very displeased about this and has been trying to suppress her. However, both sides appear to be restraining themselves for now and have not made their conflict public. Now guess, if Hiruzen tries every possible way to pressure her into marriage, and she refuses no matter what, what do you think will happen?"
The secretary suddenly realized. "They're bound to clash, which would spark internal strife in Konoha!"
The Third Raikage nodded and said, "What I aim to do is use this situation to trigger a full-blown internal conflict within Konoha, thus stalling Konoha's development."
"Will they fall for it?" the secretary asked nervously, swallowing hard.
"Hahaha, they have no choice," the Third Raikage said boldly. "Once Kumo becomes powerful enough, and Konoha's growth stalls due to internal strife, I will make sure they understand the price of crossing us."
The secretary was stunned, taking a long moment to recover from the shock before admiringly saying, "What brilliant foresight!"
The more time he spent around the Third Raikage, the more the secretary realized that beneath his rugged exterior and fiery temper lay an incredibly shrewd and calculating mind.
To devise a scheme like this, it was truly impressive.
"All right, the reason I'm telling you this is because there are some tasks I need you to handle next," the Third Raikage reminded him. "But this matter stays strictly between you and me. Don't tell anyone, not even A."
"Yes!"
After giving some instructions and watching the secretary leave the office, the Third Raikage opened a drawer and took out a scroll. After scanning its contents once again, his brows furrowed deeply.
"Who exactly sent this?"
The scroll contained extremely detailed, up-to-date intelligence on Konoha's internal affairs, details that ordinary spies couldn't possibly obtain. Even the very suggestion to provoke conflict between Hiruzen and Tsunade through a marriage proposal was recorded in the scroll.
The information had greatly tempted him. Since it worked in his favor, he had followed the advice. But the feeling of being used as someone else's pawn left him deeply displeased. He was desperate to know who was behind this scheme and whether they were still pulling strings in the shadows.
Could it be Hiruzen?
But he was the Hokage, would he really go that far?
Then who could it be...?
---
News spread like wildfire.
The contents of the Hokage's meeting were leaked almost instantly and quickly spread throughout Konoha.
The one behind the massive publicity? None other than A, who had come to propose marriage.
Of course, the speed at which the news spread wouldn't have been possible without Hiruzen's secret push. After all, it was A who insisted on talking to everyone, it was not like Hiruzen forced anything.
This matter? Had nothing to do with him.
Everyone in Konoha was utterly shocked upon hearing the news. They had all genuinely believed that A had come to Konoha to demand accountability or start a conflict.
Who would have thought, he came to form an alliance instead? And the condition for this alliance was for Tsunade to marry into Kumo.
A even openly disclosed the bride price.
When people saw the list, which included ten billion ryō, five thousand highland cattle, thirty thousand highland sheep, and various mineral resources, everyone felt a bit dizzy.
That was a serious offer.
And while dining in a large hall of one of Konoha's inn, when someone probed A about the matter, he publicly declared, "If Konoha refuses such a mutually beneficial offer, we will have no choice but to declare war."
