On the other side, Akihiko turned his attention elsewhere after arranging the vehicle.
It was late at night, and the changes in Sand Village had unfolded rapidly. Following Chiyo's lead, many villagers chose to leave Sand Village to align themselves with the Daimyo of the Land of Wind. The result was a nearly deserted village.
Akihiko glanced at Hanzo, who approached with a noticeably upbeat demeanor, and remarked with a hint of amusement, "You seem to be in good spirits."
Hanzo, coughing lightly, replied with a touch of nostalgia, "Well, it turns out that old lady plans to have Sand Village follow you for its reconstruction. I never imagined that the old puppet master had such a grand vision."
He continued, reflecting on the situation, "Rebuilding Sand Village under your leadership is indeed a solid choice. It's a pity, though. If they had submitted to Grass Village earlier, they might not have ended up in such a dire state."
Hanzo sighed, lost in memories of the past. He recalled the moment he had first recognized the extraordinary potential of this guy, who far exceeded the limits of the ninja world. When this guy had approached Rain Village seeking cooperation, Hanzo had decisively agreed, seeing the opportunity as crucial for survival.
As a legendary shinobi, he had defied all opposition and chose to align with Grass Village without hesitation. It was a choice that had ultimately ensured Rain Village's survival during the Third Shinobi World War.
Reflecting on it now, Hanzo felt a deep sense of nostalgia. He mused that perhaps he alone in the entire ninja world had the foresight and bravery to collaborate with a small village like Kusagakure and follow its leadership at that time.
His good mood was further buoyed by the sight of his old rival now being forced to seek his assistance. Chiyo's earlier flattery only added to his satisfaction, making him feel a profound sense of accomplishment.
Noticing Akihiko's expression, Hanzo snapped back to reality. He cleared his throat and asked seriously, "So, what's your plan? Are you going to accept Sand Village?"
Akihiko gave him a bemused look and replied, "Is there anything that comes into Grass Village's hands that we ever give back?"
The situation had shifted from a recruitment effort to a bankruptcy acquisition. It was no big deal, especially with Sand Village's puppet engineers being exactly what Grass Village needed. Shaking his head, Akihiko added, "Are you still questioning my next move?"
Hanzo, momentarily taken aback, nodded with a sigh. "I suppose my understanding still falls short."
With a determined tone, he continued, "Indeed, is there anything that comes into our hands that we have to relinquish?"
As a legendary shinobi renowned for his pure heart and care for his juniors, Hanzo admitted, with a hint of admiration, that he couldn't compete with Akihiko's level of shamelessness.
Now that Sunagakure was under Kusagakure's control, Hanzo couldn't help but ask with curiosity, "What are your plans? Will you integrate Sand Village into Grass Village, or rebuild it as a separate entity?"
He shook his head, marveling at the thought. Who would have imagined that the small Kusagakure would end up with three ninja villages under its banner?
As for the four great ninja villages still dreaming of destroying the Land of Grass and the Land of Rain—such ambitions seemed utterly unrealistic now. Perhaps, in the future, the three villages might even merge into one?
Hanzo's brow furrowed slightly as he pondered this. What would such a united entity be called?
"Well..." Akihiko mused, his gaze fixed on the vast desert ahead. His eyes gleamed with a hint of contemplation as he spoke, "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now..."
He tilted his head slightly, surveying the distant four great ninja villages, and sighed, "I never imagined that my old friend Danzo would refuse to meet with us."
"Danzo, oh Danzo~" Hanzo sighed in agreement, shaking his head in disappointment. "He truly has no sense of friendship."
As soon as they finished speaking, at this moment, Baki rushed over with a peculiar expression and said, "The Allied Shinobi Forces sent another message. They... agreed."
"Hmm? Agreed to what?" Both Akihiko and Hanzō looked at Baki, confusion evident on their faces.
Noting Akihiko's bewildered look, Baki bit his lip but remained silent, promptly handing over the letter with a respectful tone. "The Allied Shinobi Forces have agreed to Akihiko-sama's request and will provide a hundred million Ryo to help sustain Sand Village."
Internally, Baki couldn't help but feel a sense of disbelief. Who would have thought that such an outcome was even possible? Even more astonishing was that the other side had actually agreed. It was truly an eye-opening experience for him.
He glanced at Akihiko with a mixed expression. Surely, the leader of Grass Village must possess some extraordinary charm or technique. Reflecting on the village's ninjas who were swayed yesterday, Baki couldn't help but think that Akihiko's abilities were indeed formidable.
However, Akihiko remained silent. After a moment of hesitation, Baki called out cautiously, "Aki-Akihiko-sama...?"
Before Baki could finish, Akihiko jolted back to reality, smacking his thigh in disbelief as he read the letter. "They actually agreed?!"
Hanzō, too, seemed to grasp the situation. Seeing that Danzo had indeed agreed, he clicked his tongue in amazement. "They agreed to this? Is this what they call friendship?"
Baki was momentarily stunned by their reactions, they also didn't expect Danzo to agree? After a brief pause, he asked, "So… what should we do with the money?"
"Of course we'll take it," Hanzō interjected before Akihiko could respond. He fixed Baki with a stern look. "Are you really going to return something that's already been given? Your will of Grass is lacking!" He sighed, shaking his head in exasperation.
What spirit of Grass? Before today, he was just a Sand-nin. Baki chuckled awkwardly as he glanced at the two people who might become his superiors in the future and said, "Then I'll contact the Allied Shinobi Forces."
"Go ahead," Akihiko responded, waving his hand dismissively. He stroked his chin thoughtfully, narrowing his eyes. What could Danzo be planning?
As Baki turned to leave, Akihiko called out, "Oh! Send another letter requesting additional funds. The village roads are in disrepair, and to keep things running smoothly, the amount we've received isn't enough. Ask for another hundred million Ryo."
Baki's steps faltered, and he nearly stumbled into the sand. He turned back, looking at Akihiko with a mix of disbelief and concern. 'Another request?' He opened his mouth, unsure of how to respond, but finally managed to say, "Yes, understood."
With that, Baki continued on his way, the vast desert stretching before him. He sighed involuntarily, marveling at how drastically the ninja world was changing. He couldn't help but wonder… if the Allied Shinobi Forces would agree to yet another request.
…
"Another hundred million?" Danzo raised an eyebrow as he reviewed the letter from Sand Village. His eyes were filled with a mix of surprise and frustration. Unable to contain himself, he sighed and shook his head.
"This Sand Village is really…" He hesitated, "Too petty!"
The surrounding ninjas, who had anticipated Danzo's fury and a harsh reprimand toward Sand Village, were now bewildered. Was Danzo seriously calling them petty? Shouldn't he be denouncing their audacity?
Even the Kages from the other villages exchanged surprised glances. The Konoha's Hokage Assistant showed such remarkable composure? Despite the immense pressure, he appeared as though the demand for additional funds was trivial?
Before anyone could respond, Danzo handed the letter to a nearby ninja, tapped his cane thoughtfully, and said calmly, "Send a message to the Daimyo of the Land of Wind. Inform him that Sand Village is stubbornly refusing to disband, despite our heavy casualties and severe resource shortages. We are unable to sustain our efforts any longer. We request that the Daimyo send five hundred million Ryo immediately; otherwise..."
His expression darkened as he finished, "We may have to consider a strategic retreat."
At Danzo's words, everyone in the room was momentarily stunned. Was this tactic real? The assembled ninjas were taken aback. No wonder Danzo was so determined not to let Sand Village disband. The realization settled in, and they couldn't help but reflect on Danzo's cunning. With such a strategic mind at the helm in Konoha, it was no wonder the village thrived.
The conference room buzzed with an unexpectedly lively atmosphere. Everyone shared the same thought: 'We've made a profit!' 'This was worth it!'
Yet, amid the excitement, no one seemed to notice that the course of the war had taken an intriguingly bizarre turn.