The disbandment of Sand Village, a decision made internally by the village, should be beyond Konoha's, and Shimura Danzo's, jurisdiction.
Chiyo frowned at Baki. "Konoha is overstepping its bounds. Sand Village has been disbanded under the orders of the Daimyo of the Land of Wind. If they have any grievances, they should address them with the Daimyo. All that's left in the village now are wandering ninjas."
"I've already told them that," Baki replied with a wry smile. "But the Allied Forces' military advisor, Shimura Danzo, insists that Sand Village cannot disband without his permission. He also suggested that we discuss the matter, emphasizing the brotherhood among the Five Great Shinobi Villages and the importance of resolving conflicts amicably rather than resorting to extreme measures."
Chiyo's brow furrowed in confusion. Why was Danzo so concerned now? And why did the Allied Shinobi Forces suddenly seem interested in dialogue when they had come prepared for battle?
Chiyo was taken aback but then waved dismissively. "There's nothing to discuss. If they have any concerns, they should address them with the Daimyo of the Land of Wind."
There was no turning back now. She sighed inwardly and was about to speak to Akihiko when—
"Wait!" Akihiko interrupted Baki, narrowing his eyes. "Is Danzo here too?"
"No, Akihiko-sama, he is not," Baki shook his head. After a moment of thought, he added, "As the chief advisor, Danzo is still at their camp. This message was relayed by a ninja eagle."
"He's not here?" Both Akihiko and Hanzo sighed in disappointment.
Hanzo, in particular, looked at Chiyo regretfully and remarked, "If you had brought Danzo here, this situation might have been resolved by now."
He recalled how Danzo had resolved issues in the past by offering significant sums or by making deals with Rain Village. Even when dealing with the Uchiha, Danzo had managed to make things work. It's a pity that Sand Village seemed to have misunderstood Danzo.
Chiyo and Ebizō exchanged puzzled glances, clearly confused by Hanzo's remark. Despite her reservations about him, Chiyo couldn't deny Hanzo's experience in such matters. However, now wasn't the time to delve into that. The priority was to understand Akihiko's intentions.
With the leaders of both Grass and Rain Village present, there was little that Sand Village could offer to entice Akihiko. Resources were limited, so why would he be interested in taking in another village? Chiyo decided she would ask Hanzo about it later; if anything, he might just find it amusing.
Seeing Akihiko deep in conversation with Baki, Chiyo, and Ebizō chose not to interrupt.
"Negotiation?" Akihiko stroked his chin thoughtfully as he looked at Baki. "Ask Danzo if he's genuinely open to talks."
"This... yes!" Baki, though puzzled by Akihiko's request, nodded and replied, "I'll arrange it immediately."
He then turned and left to deliver Akihiko's message to the Allied Shinobi Forces.
…
The response from the Allied Shinobi Forces reached Danzo swiftly. As he read the message, a satisfied smile spread across his face. "Just as I suspected!" he exclaimed with a sense of triumph. It was clear now that Sand Village had no intention of disbanding.
The high-ranking officials of the other ninja villages around him shared a collective sigh of relief. As long as Sand Village hadn't completely dissolved, there remained a glimmer of hope.
Danzo, brimming with confidence, addressed the assembled shinobi, "Convey to Sand Village that we are open to negotiations!"
His plan was to stabilize Sand Village and then meanwhile engage in talks with the Daimyo of the Land of Wind. His eyes gleamed with calculated intent as he added, "Let them present their demands directly."
With his orders issued, the ninja departed to relay the message to Sand Village.
Shortly thereafter, the ninja returned with Sand Village's response.
"They're afraid to state their demands, fearing we might attack them?" Danzo scoffed, clearly amused. "It seems Sand Village is genuinely intimidated!"
Onoki, observing the reaction, sighed and shook his head. "Indeed, Sand Village could never have anticipated such a unified front from the Four Great Shinobi Villages," he mused. Then, with a furrowed brow, he added quietly, "But something doesn't sit right with me."
It struck Onoki that the trajectory of this conflict had taken an unexpected and peculiar turn.
Meanwhile, the other high-ranking officials were engrossed in their discussions, seemingly oblivious to Onoki's concerns. They watched Danzo with a mix of admiration and approval, impressed by his strategy. Who would have thought of such a maneuver—stalling Sand Village while negotiating with the Daimyo of the Land of Wind first?
Danzo glanced at the ninja before him, his expression shifting from amused to contemplative. "Tell Sand Village not to worry and to boldly state their demands. If they don't tell us, how can we understand their needs?" he instructed calmly.
The ninja departed again to deliver the message, and soon returned with another letter. Danzo opened it and read aloud, "I am Chiyo, the advisor of Sand Village. In truth, Sand Village has been financially bankrupt for some time and cannot sustain itself any longer. However, as per Konoha's Hokage assistant's request, we will persevere as best as we can. At present, if any of the allied forces could contribute even a modest sum—one hundred million Ryo—it would greatly assist us in staying afloat and avoiding disbandment. Sand Village would be deeply grateful and pledge to repay the favor in the future."
The room fell into stunned silence. Wasn't this supposed to be a war? Why was Sand Village asking them for money? The shock was palpable among the high-ranking officials. Danzo, though, was the only one who remained calm, a strange sense of déjà vu washing over him.
…
On the other side, Ebizo stared at the letter with disbelief. His gaze shifted to the Grass Village leader before him, his mind struggling to reconcile what he had just read with his understanding of a ninja's role. To ask an enemy for money? This was a radical departure from the norms he had always known. The realization of Grass Village's unconventional approach left him both astonished and impressed.
Akihiko sighed, glancing up with a hint of frustration. "Danzo is not so easily fooled anymore," he said, his tone reflecting both nostalgia and resignation.
He recalled their first encounter with Danzo—back then, Danzo had been remarkably straightforward and somewhat naïve, quick to agree to any proposal and pay any price. But that Danzo was long gone. The man before him now had evolved into a shrewd and calculating strategist, no longer susceptible to such simple manipulations.
With a nostalgic sigh, Akihiko looked around, his confusion growing. "Where did Advisor Chiyo and Hanzo go?"
"My sister and Lord Hanzo?" Ebizo's expression softened, his gaze returning to its usual calm. "They needed to discuss some pressing matters. Since you were occupied, they decided not to disturb you and stepped out for a while."
He understood the nature of their discussion all too well. Despite the decision to rebuild, there remained a lingering reluctance to fully dissolve Sand Village. It had been meticulously established by the First Kazekage to prevent further ninja conflicts.
But now, with the decision made, there was no turning back. Even if they want to, regaining the Daimyo of the Land of Wind's trust would be nearly impossible.
With a sigh, Ebizo offered, "Do you want me to call them back?"
"There's no need," Akihiko replied, waving his hand. "We can discuss this later." His gaze shifted to Pakura, who was gently interacting with the withdrawn child. He continued, "Inform the village to send a special vehicle."
Pakura's eyes brightened with understanding, and a slight smile played on her lips. "Understood. I'll take care of it."
…
Meanwhile, On a bustling street in Grass Village…
"Achoo!" Obito, now a graduated shinobi, rubbed his nose as he squatted by the roadside. He frowned at the long-unseen spiral-faced figure beside him and asked, "Where did you go after Madara-sensei died?"