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JST Chapter 130: False Harmony, Hidden Fangs
🕑 Added 2024-12-17 21:53:40 +0000 UTC"I have a suggestion, gentlemen." The Third Kazekage's deep voice interrupted the silence.
"We can't deduce Konoha's current strength through mere guesswork. It's better to see it with our own eyes." He proposed firmly. "I suggest we hold a joint Chunin Exam. Each village will send their best shinobi to closely observe Konoha's new generation. That way, we can accurately gauge their true strength."
The Third Kazekage's goal was to use the Chunin Exams as a prelude to war.
The Third Mizukage nodded slowly. "I agree, but I would like to add something..."
"In order to prevent Konoha from rejecting the proposal, we should also propose a peace agreement for the entire shinobi world. Konoha will be the place where said treaty will be signed, coinciding with the joint Chunin Exams."
"In this way, if Konoha refuses, its reputation will be ruined. Even the pacifist faction within Konoha could cause chaos."
Mifune sighed slowly.
Listen to what these Kage say?
In their mouths, the peace agreement is like a piece of waste paper, or even worse than waste paper...
It is just a tool to achieve the goal, and there is no psychological burden to tear it up.
Mifune couldn't help but wonder: When will peace come to the Shinobi World like this?
Onoki's eyes lit up, and he immediately supported it: "Mizukage, good idea!"
"We will send elite teams together with their corresponding Jonin leaders. By joining forces, we will be able to spy on Konoha's current state and gather crucial information. In addition, the exams will serve as a preliminary match. Regardless of whether Konoha is strong or weak, they will surely send their best young talents. We will be able to prepare a list of Konoha's geniuses and, when the time comes for war, quickly neutralize them."
The Third Raikage frowned in disapproval. "I cannot deny that it is a despicable idea, but its effectiveness is undeniable."
"What do you think?" He added, looking around.
Hanzo nodded and agreed: "If it weren't for Konoha's unusual attitude, everyone here might have started a war long ago."
"According to my information, after the incident with Suna, Hatake Sakumo has not given any sign of life. In addition, Shimura Danzo has also disappeared from the map. It is logical to think that Konoha is still weakened after recent internal conflicts."
"As the Tsuchikage said, Konoha is probably exaggerating its strength through a tough attitude. If we use the exams and the peace treaty as a pretext, we can evaluate the reality for ourselves."
After some communication, the four Kage and Hanzo came to a consensus.
Unlike previous wars, this time the shinobi villages, although they shared deep rivalries and hatred, managed to unify their ideas.
Not long after, an official announcement regarding the joint Chunin Exams, along with a peace treaty signed by the four Kage, was sent to Konoha.
...
And during the period when Onoki and the other Kage gathered in the Land of Iron, Kakuzu and Sakumo were collecting corpses at the Iwagakure border.
"One... three... seven... and one that's still breathing!" Sakumo listened with a carefree smile, before he began humming a small tune as he finished cleaning up the battlefield. "Ready, Kakuzu! Our first joint mission is complete!"
"Sakumo, are you a Genin? You have to use such an excited tone to complete such a simple task..." Kakuzu shook his head as he sealed the bodies into a scroll.
Since joining Root, Kakuzu no longer cared as much about money. He even used expensive scrolls instead of carrying corpses on his shoulders like before.
Despite his critical tone, Kakuzu appreciated Sakumo.
They had too much in common. And in combat, they also made a lethal combination.
In the last few days, both of them had almost filled the morgues of the bounty houses.
The money was so much that Kakuzu only sent a fraction of his recent earnings to the orphanage. But it was enough to make Nono nearly faint at the sight of it.
"Hey, Kakuzu, don't say that." Sakumo replied, slinging his backpack over his shoulder with a bright smile. "This is the first task Kazuki has given us since we joined the Root. It has a special meaning!"
"If you put it like that… it makes sense." Kakuzu admitted, nodding. "In fact, it was the first job Kazuki ever gave me."
"Come on, Kakuzu, I'll take you to see Konoha. I know you're excited, right?" Sakumo joked.
"Sakumo, I've met the First Hokage in person, don't make me sound like I'm excited about this little thing." Kakuzu replied in annoyance.
Amidst discussions and jokes, the two carried the sole survivor of the Iwagakure Explosion Corps, who had had his vocal cords and tendons severed from his limbs and headed towards Konoha.
...
A few days later.
Konoha, Hokage Residence.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the letter in front of him with a frown.
It was a petition jointly signed by the Kage of the Four Great Shinobi Villages and Hanzo, requesting a peace agreement and a joint Chunin Exam.
The words were so sincere and the supposed aspiration for peace so evident that it seemed like emotions were spilling out between the lines.
But the problem was...
This situation was too suspicious.
"What's wrong, Hiruzen..." Kazuki chuckled and looked at the document in his hand, and said softly: "Isn't it good to seek peace?"
Tsunade, for her part, looked at Kazuki's usual kind smile in surprise, shook her head and thought to herself: 'The old man and Kazuki are now close enough to call each other by their first names...'
Thinking about Kazuki's situation, she felt a little unhappy. She will have to find a way to draw the old man's chakra out of him...
Otherwise she will feel strange.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen sighed silently. 'Sensei, your progress is really going too fast. Kazuki used to call me Hiruzen-san, and now he calls me directly by my name...'
However, he didn't say anything. He just smiled forcibly and said: "Peace... I'm afraid it won't be that simple."
"Of course not." Kazuki shook his head and said slowly: "Using the Chunin Exam and the Peace Agreement as an excuse to try to test the village's strengths and weaknesses, this move is an open conspiracy."
"If we refuse, we will be the only village in the shinobi world that refuses peace, and there will be great controversy inside and outside the village."
Hiruzen nodded. He thought so too.
When all the powerful villages in the Shinobi World expressed their will for peace, it was really difficult for Konoha to refuse.
"But this method can only be used once..." Kazuki began to play with the card in his hands. "When they break the treaty, the morale of our shinobi will reach its peak. As a revenge for their betrayal, it is reasonable for Konoha to use some not-so-gentle combat methods, right?"
“My suggestion is that, in order to prevent them from acting in Konoha, we allow them to only send two teams along with their respective jonin leaders to participate in the exam. In addition, we should invite the daimyo of each nation to witness the event.”
Kazuki pondered internally as he came up with a plan. He continued to look for the right moment to interact with the daimyo of the various nations...
After all, the details regarding each nation's Shinobi Guardians were hazy. Rushing into direct contact without preparation could bring serious risks.
But if he could get them to come to Konoha, things would be different. He'd have more room to maneuver.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Kazuki's confident look, and his anxiety was relieved a lot.
For Hiruzen, being a strong and revolutionary Hokage could be a challenge. But as a loyal general under Tobirama, that role was much more comfortable for him. By shedding responsibilities he couldn't bear, he found that while he wasn't a great strategist, he could be a good commander.
"Kazuki, if we accept the peace agreement, how should the village respond?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered: “Perhaps we could have some talented chunin pose as genin. This would intimidate the enemy and show that Konoha is full of talent.”
Kazuki waved his hand and replied in a calm voice: “I am confident of our victory in this war. Therefore, we do not need to appear strong; on the contrary, we must show that we are trying to appear strong, in order to arouse greed in their hearts.”
“The trick of having chunin disguised as genin is fine, but we need to make it more eye-catching. It’s better to send some experienced chunin, who look like seasoned veterans who have been working for years…”
Tsunade nodded in agreement. “We could also have the chunin from Konoha provoke the genin from other villages. Those arrogant kids won’t be able to resist accusing us of using disguised chunin. Then, we could react with some shame to prove them right.”
Hiruzen glanced at Tsunade in surprise.
"Good idea, Tsunade-sensei, we can also use the Nine-Tails in Kushina..." Kazuki narrowed his eyes and said slowly: "The Nine-Tails chakra suddenly leaked out, causing a certain degree of damage. The shinobi from other villages will understand that we cannot use the power of the tailed beasts and will strengthen their confidence in invading."
Hiruzen said hesitantly: “Kazuki, wouldn’t that be motivating the enemy too much? If they don’t see our talents and the Jinchuriki as a threat, I fear they will unite with greater determination to attack Konoha.”
But Kazuki smiled as he snapped his fingers. “That’s exactly what I want. We need them to advance with confidence, marching as a large group trying to secure a quick victory.”
“Otherwise, how can we take out more enemies in one go?”
Kazuki's icy tone made Hiruzen feel a chill. It was a tone that felt strangely familiar.
