Malphegor
patreon
IUTT: Ch. 104
🕑 Added 2025-05-29 16:43:02 +0000 UTCAfter listening to Shin's analysis, Tsunade was furious.
To suppress his rivals, Hiruzen had gone so far as to harm the interests of the village, such behavior was utterly disgusting. She couldn't stand to see people like Hiruzen leeching off Konoha.
In Shin's words, Konoha was like a giant covered in tumors.
It wasn't lacking in nutrients, the problem was that the tumors were absorbing all of them. The good news was that the tumors weren't yet too large. If removed in time, Konoha could still become healthy again.
And the bad news was that if this situation didn't change, Konoha's future would be a withered, emaciated body, on the verge of collapse.
At the very least, Tsunade would never betray the village's interests just to strike down her rivals, she couldn't even bring herself to imagine doing such a thing.
"You don't need to feel upset. Isn't this exactly why we want to change everything?" Shin gently patted her head and smiled in comfort. "The more they act like this, the more you have to hold firm to your convictions, right?"
"Yeah!" Tsunade nodded forcefully, her heart instantly calming.
Ever since she no longer had to worry about Shin leaving her, she had felt full of confidence and drive. Seeing how he had spent the past year genuinely considering Konoha's future moved her deeply. Because she knew, Shin wasn't doing all of this for Konoha. He was doing it for her.
Otherwise, he would've long since disappeared into some corner, wholeheartedly devoted to his research. As long as they were together, what obstacle couldn't they overcome?
---
Three days later, the delegation from Kumo, led by A, finally arrived in Konoha.
To show the village's seriousness, Hiruzen had Homura personally greet them at the gate, claiming it was to ensure Kumo had no excuse to make trouble.
However, A didn't show much respect to him.
On the way to the Hokage Building, he kept a stern face, openly showing a confrontational attitude. Seeing this, many Konoha citizens and ninjas were very displeased.
You're a prisoner, what are you acting so high and mighty for? Anyone who didn't know better would've thought you'd just won a war in the Land of Whirlpools and came to show off.
Many even thought to themselves that Tsunade should give him another good beating. But that was just a comforting thought, if she really did that, they would actually be worried.
Any outbreak of war would be a disaster for both civilians and ninjas alike. Avoiding war was always best.
Inside the Hokage Building's conference room, Konoha's top brass sat across from the Kumo representatives.
Konoha had three attendees: Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura.
Normally very active in such matters, Danzō was absent due to illness and couldn't participate in the talks.
Kumo also brought three people, but aside from A, the other two were just there for show, he was clearly in charge.
Neither side spoke first, and the atmosphere was tense.
After a long pause, Hiruzen finally spoke. "May I ask what brings Kumo to Konoha this time?"
"Don't play dumb," A said. "In the war in the Land of Whirlpools, we suffered heavy losses. Doesn't Konoha owe us an explanation?"
"That's where you're wrong," Hiruzen shook his head and replied. "Your deployment of troops to the Land of Whirlpools was an act of aggression. No matter how you frame it, it's unjustifiable. You failed in your invasion, and now you have the audacity to come here and act like the victim?"
"If we had been defeated by Uzushio, we'd admit our lack of strength and wouldn't be here like this," A spoke. "But the one who defeated us was your Tsunade from Konoha. That's what needs to be addressed."
"There's nothing to address," Hiruzen replied calmly. "The Land of Whirlpools is an ally of Konoha. What's wrong with us sending aid?"
"Heh. Funny, because I heard Tsunade went there on her own, in a personal capacity, had nothing to do with you."
"Just rumors." In truth, Hiruzen had been eager to use this as a chance to undermine Tsunade. But in front of envoys from a foreign village, he couldn't afford to show weakness as Hokage.
After all, the Hokage represented the entire village, this was no time to come off as spineless or incompetent. Besides, he had no secrets left. If he gave in now, the entire village would know instantly.
He wasn't the First Hokage. Hashirama had first conquered everyone through strength, and only then knelt down, which made people feel his sincerity.
But now, people in Konoha were already starting to think of him as weak. In this situation, he absolutely could not yield. Otherwise, if word got out, Tsunade would be fine, but he would be the one to suffer.
So he continued, "As the Hokage, all major decisions rest with me. Tsunade's assistance to the Land of Whirlpools was naturally given with my approval. It's just that I never imagined Kumo would be so useless, you couldn't even defeat her. And you ended up a prisoner."
A was furious at these words, but forced himself to keep his anger in check and said, "I've long heard that you were famed as a great ninja. Turns out you're just good at throwing insults. And don't forget, before we decided to attack the Land of Whirlpools, we came to you for talks. At that time, you agreed not to get involved. Yet you still sent aid. That's going back on your word, that's the act of a dishonorable man."
"You're being outrageous!" Koharu, standing nearby, lashed out. "You've got some nerve, accusing the Hokage!"
A gave her a disdainful glance and said, "Who are you? Since when is it your place to speak before the Hokage himself does?"
Koharu trembled with anger, snapping back, "And who do you think you are? You think you're the Raikage or something? You're just a prisoner. Even if you've been walking around freely, on paper, you're still Konoha's prisoner. Be thankful you even lived to come here. Keep acting up, and we won't mind making that status more than just paperwork."
At her words, A glared furiously at her, fists clenched, body trembling. He hated hearing the word prisoner more than anything, and yet Hiruzen and Koharu kept poking right at his wound. He was livid.
If this hadn't been Konoha territory, he would've attacked already. There was no way he could stomach this insult.
Seeing that things had reached a boiling point, Hiruzen raised his hand to stop Koharu from saying more. He knew exactly how sharp Koharu's tongue could be, if she kept going, all of his plans would fall apart.
After letting out a slow breath, he finally asked, "Just say it. What does Kumo want?"
