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JST Chapter 122: Diplomacy, Kazuki Style
🕑 Added 2024-12-03 14:29:15 +0000 UTC"Tsunade, I'm already old. It's time to pass this world on to the new generations..." Hiruzen sighed. "Let's do it, I believe in you and Kazuki."
But deep down, Hiruzen felt an unexpected relief. If Kazuki was making the decisions, in a way it would be like Tobirama making them.
If there is a problem in the future, it will not have much to do with him.
Ever since Tobirama had severely scolded him, Hiruzen felt that his seat as Hokage had become a cold and dangerous place.
If Kazuki wasn't so young, or his rank so low, Hiruzen would have even considered making him an assistant Hokage while he silently awaited Tobirama's resurrection.
"If you see it that way, I'll accept your decision, old man..."
Tsunade nodded slowly and headed to Kazuki's house to discuss the matter.
...
The next day.
The four great shinobi villages, along with Amegakure, received the response written by Kazuki.
[Konoha notified the entire ninja world:
Kazekage, Hatake Sakumo did not go on any mission, and the conflict that broke out in your village has nothing to do with Konoha. We believe that rather than blaming us, it is better to let your apprentice work hard to practice Magnet Release so that he can mine more gold to be able to feed your entire village.
I heard that the daimyo won't allocate funds to Sunagakure. But no matter how poor you are, you can't just bite people at random.
Tsuchikage, if you think that the excessive number of Iwa-nin is a burden on the economy and you want to reduce the population through war, you can use your own Four-Tails and Five-Tails to eliminate them, don't bother Konoha. Sure, we can also help if you need it.
Raikage, we love your arrogance after obtaining the method to train a perfect Jinchuriki, but Konoha has countless secret techniques to deal with tailed beasts. We welcome you barbarians to experience these secret techniques, techniques that your simple brains cannot develop.
Mizukage, Konoha welcomes all shinobi with Kekkei Genkai who are dissatisfied with Kirigakure to live in the Land of Fire. Here, they will be treated with respect. We hope that the shinobi of Kirigakure will understand the truth that the talented can choose where they live.
Hanzo, who are you? Are you qualified to blame Konoha? Get lost!]
When this response was sent out, the whole shinobi world was boiling!
Konoha's toughness really exceeded everyone's imagination...
Tsunade, still bewildered, confronted Kazuki: "Kazuki, didn't we agree that we would be firm but try to avoid a war?"
With complete seriousness, Kazuki replied: "Tsunade-sensei, my words are already quite soft..."
With an innocent look, he added: "Don't you agree with me?"
"Kazuki! This cannot be considered 'diplomatic' in the slightest..."
Tsunade's face was rigid. She had assumed that Kazuki would understand her intention and would craft a message firm enough to keep the shinobi villages on edge, without showing weakness but avoiding provoking a war.
However, Kazuki's response not only broke all decorum, but directly attacked the weak points and hidden intentions of each village.
Suna is poor, Kumo is greedy, Iwa is overpopulated, Kiri suffers from internal conflict, and Hanzo daydreams.
Tsunade could clearly imagine the fury on the faces of the Kage from the other villages as they read those words.
"Tsunade-sensei, don't worry so muchβ¦" Kazuki replied, making a reassuring gesture with his hand and speaking calmly. "War does not depend on a few words. And considering the mettle and cunning of the Kage of the other villages, I do not believe that a few provocative phrases will cause them to lose their minds and make reckless decisions either."
"On the contrary, a radical change in Konoha's stance will pique their curiosity. After the initial fury, they will begin to wonder: where does this confidence come from? Why are we now displaying an attitude we have never exhibited before?"
Kazuki smiled slightly and continued: "Sometimes, taking a more extreme stance can buy more time for Konoha to prepare for the inevitable, rather than pretending strength with hollow words."
Tsunade frowned. Although Kazuki's logic seemed strange to her, she couldn't deny that it made some sense.
Still, she sighed as she brought her hand to her forehead. "Kazuki, perhaps I made a mistake in allowing you to be assigned to the Root. Even you, who were once so calm, have become radical in your methods..."
Kazuki smiled. "Tsunade-sensei, Hiruzen-san told me that the darkness of the root can temper my heart as a ninja. If I want to reach greater heights, this is a necessary step."
"To protect the people I care about and take on greater responsibilities, this is the price I must pay. Compassion is for those close to me, not my enemies. Isn't that right, sensei?"
Tsunade remained silent for a moment, watching the confidence in Kazuki's eyes. Finally, she sighed and nodded slightly.
She had intended to guide and protect Kazuki until he was ready to face the world on his own, but her disciple's growth, both in strength and maturity, exceeded any expectations.
"Kazuki, what should we do if the war breaks out?" Tsunade asked with a serious expression. "The difference in power is inevitable. After the First Great Shinobi War, Konoha enjoyed too much peace and underestimated the development of the other villages. That gap is now more evident than ever."
"It has always been said that if Uchiha Madara and my grandfather had not fought each other, the other four shinobi villages would have been destroyed long ago."
Tsunade sighed as she continued: "The fear of Konoha will never go away as long as there is a chance of a new Shinobi God like my grandfather or even an Uchiha Madara emerging."
Tsunade's expression turned grim. Konoha's rich heritage was both a blessing and a burden.
Kazuki, with a calm smile, replied: "Fear won't go away, sensei, but people can be pushed to the edge of pain..."
Kazuki continued: "The combined forces of the shinobi villages certainly outnumber Konoha, but in reality, we don't need to face all of them."
Tsunade frowned, intrigued by his words.
"At what point does a military unit lose its ability to fight due to casualties?" Kazuki asked with a cold smile. "In the past, samurai would collapse with 30% casualties. Ordinary shinobi have a similar limit. Even the elite forces of the five great villages will lose morale if they suffer 50% casualties."
Tsunade nodded slowly, remembering her own experience on the battlefield.
"If the enemies attack Konoha." Kazuki continued, his calm unsettling. "I will not focus on their leaders or the Jonin, but on their roots. I will attack the younger shinobi and those of Chunin and Genin rank, destroying the future of their villages."
"As long as the number of casualties reaches a sufficient number, even the Jonin and Kage will not be able to withstand the internal pressure and can only stop fighting."
Tsunade took a deep breath, and she seemed to see the shadow of Senju Tobirama in Kazuki's eyes at this moment.
Although she had never seen Senju Tobirama on the battlefield, Uzumaki Mito had told her stories.
Her second grandfather, who was usually very kind to her, became a demon feared by countless people on the battlefield, he would use all kinds of tricks to make the enemy's mind collapse and then deprive them of their miserable lives.
"Kazuki, if you do this, you will face a lot of controversy..." Tsunade shook her head.
Tsunade felt a little distressed. Kazuki doing that would be misunderstood by many and they might even come to fear him.
Furthermore, such a large number of systematic murders would be a difficult test for Kazuki's mind.
Kazuki simply smiled, looking at Tsunade with determination. "As long as it is to protect the village, and I have your support, sensei, and the people close to me do not abandon me, I will not be afraid."
Tsunade looked into Kazuki's eyes and could only see his firm determination. "Stop talking grandiloquent things, Kazuki! You're brilliant, but you're still a brat."
"Now tell me, what do you need me to do?" She finally said, crossing her arms and snorting slightly. "You're not ready to shoulder such great responsibilities yet! But since you have this attitude, I can't just lag behind. After all, I'm the Hokage's assistant. You, on the other hand, are just the root leader."
Kazuki nodded good-temperedly. "Yes, yes, Tsunade-sensei you are the Hokage's great assistant."
At Tsunade's insistence on helping, Kazuki thought for a moment before speaking slowly: "If possible, Tsunade-sensei, I would like you to develop a poison. One that can be used on the kunai and shuriken of all Konoha shinobi, within a reasonable cost, but with the most lethal toxicity possible."
"Of course, I know that as a medical-nin you have your principles. Don't force yourself to do something that goes against them."
Tsunade frowned. She really didn't want to create poisons.
For her, medical jutsu were meant to heal, not kill.
Tsunade looked at Kazuki, and her determination began to solidify.
Kazuki was willing to bear the weight of darkness for the sake of the village.
So how could she, his sensei, continue to be so stubborn over insignificant details and still pretend to be by his side, supporting him?
Comments
Lord Xavier
Can't wait to see this romance blossom.
Rachel N
'Hanzo daydreams' π€£π€£π€£π€£π€£π€£π€£
