"Will Konoha's Shinobi, Shimura Kizaru, also participate?"
Looking at the list of attendees reported from Konoha, the Third Tsuchikage Onoki had a mix of anticipation and wariness in his eyes.
Anticipation naturally stemmed from Onoki's desire to get a good look at this super genius who defeated Iwagakure and captured the Third Raikage.
On the other hand, Onoki's wariness arose from the concern about Konoha bringing Kizaru as a bodyguard for the Hokage. He wondered if there might be some ulterior motives, like taking advantage of the meeting to launch a surprise attack.
Thinking about Kizaru's record of fighting against the Kumogakure and the fate of the Third Raikage, Onoki couldn't help but feel uneasy.
However, considering the good reputation of the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi in the shinobi world and the importance of this meeting, Onoki decided to put his worries aside, make preparations, and continue to participate.
"Kizaru, do you really have to bring it along?"
At the entrance of Konoha, Hiruzen, wearing the Hokage cloak, looked at the two-tailed cat on Kizaru's shoulder with a peculiar expression.
"Sensei, you don't want to leave the Two-Tails alone in the village, do you?" Facing Hiruzen's question, Kizaru rubbed his head, soothing the irritated Matatabi, and spoke.
After considering leaving an unsealed, freely moving tailed beast in the village while both Kizaru and himself were outside the village, Hiruzen didn't dare to continue thinking.
"Well, we better bring it along!"
After saying this, Hiruzen put his pipe in his mouth, smoked, and turned to leave.
For this journey, in addition to having Kizaru as a bodyguard, Hiruzen also brought two teams of ANBU ninja and two ninja assistants responsible for administrative affairs, making sure the preparations were sufficient.
Setting off in the morning, taking care of two administrative ninjas of average strength, the entire expedition team took a whole day to reach the border between the Land of Fire and the Kusagakure.
After resting overnight in a town on the border, on the second morning at 8 AM, the well-rested team entered the Kusagakure.
Similar to the Kumogakure's dealings with the Land of Lightning, this time entering the Kusagakure, neither Konoha nor Iwagakure informed the Kusagakure. They chose to secretly infiltrate.
Everyone believed that even if the Kusagakure found out, they wouldn't have any objections.
In the heartland of the Kusagakure, on a vast and flat plain with a wide field of view, a newly built earth house stood on both sides. The teams from Konoha and Iwagakure appeared at the agreed-upon time.
The short-statured Onoki walked at the forefront of the team, followed by four Iwagakure ninja on the surface, with two elite jonin serving as guards and two assistant ninja recording the meeting.
With the same configuration as the Third Tsuchikage, Hiruzen's party, following behind him, included Kizaru and an elite jonin from the Sarutobi clan. Two administrative assistants walked at the rear.
Walking at the forefront, Onoki immediately noticed Kizaru, who was eye-catching in terms of both stature and attire.
"He is indeed, tall!"
While walking, Onoki scrutinized Kizaru and finally fixed his gaze on Kizaru's shoulder.
The footsteps came to a sudden stop, and Onoki looked at Kizaru's shoulder with a hint of surprise.
On that guy's shoulder was the Two-Tails of the Kumogakure!
He really subdued the Two-Tails, and without using a seal!
A huge wave surged in his heart, and Onoki withdrew his gaze, opening his mouth in an ambiguous tone. "Hokage, what do you mean by this?"
As Onoki spoke, the four ninja behind him showed a vigilant gaze, looking towards Konoha's team.
Hearing Onoki's question, Hiruzen also stopped walking, hands behind his back, and with a smile, he said, "Tsuchikage, what do you mean by your question?"
At this moment, Hiruzen knew what Onoki meant by asking, and Onoki also knew that Hiruzen understood the meaning behind his question.
Two old foxes played dumb!
Internalizing this sarcastic thought, Kizaru, who served as the bodyguard, raised his hand to scratch Two-Tails while entering entertainment mode, ready to watch the show.
"Is Konoha bringing the Two-Tails to the negotiations, intending to show off to Iwagakure?" Seizing the initiative, Onoki, the Third Tsuchikage, first labeled Konoha with a big hat.
"Hahaha!" Laughing heartily, Hiruzen said, "This disciple of mine is really mischievous, insisting on bringing the Two-Tails to the meeting. I can't control him, so I might as well trouble the Tsuchikage to discipline him a bit."
After speaking, Hiruzen cast a slightly proud glance at Kizaru, making his intention to show off clear.
"Darn it! So frustrating!"
After being shown up by Hiruzen, Onoki cast an envious glance at Kizaru, who was stroking the tailed beast. He couldn't help but hate Iwagakure for not producing such a super genius.
With a snort in his mind, Onoki continued speaking, "I wonder how the Hokage plans to deal with this Two-Tails. The First Hokage, Lord Senju Hashirama, selflessly distributed the tailed beasts to the major ninja villages. I must say I deeply admire him now when I think about it."
"Old bastard!"
Seeing Onoki using the First Hokage to pressure him, Sarutobi maintained a smile on his face, not giving a direct answer. Instead, he looked towards Kizaru beside him.
Since Onoki, this old coot, wouldn't talk nicely, why not let Kizaru, who wouldn't talk even more, join the conversation?
Kizaru, who was busy stroking the cat and watching the show, faced his sensei's continuously signaling eyes with an expression of helplessness.
"Why are you dragging me into this when you were having a good conversation?"
Smiling wryly and scratching the back of his head, Kizaru looked towards Onoki.
Observing the small interactions between Hiruzen and Kizaru, Onoki saw it, but he didn't understand the meaning behind Hiruzen's actions. Could it be that he's preparing for a fight, not able to argue verbally?
Thinking this, Onoki heightened his alertness in his mind.
"Really heart-wrenching! Lord Tsuchikage! The Two-Tails was a gift from Kumogakure when we first met." Pausing intentionally after saying this, Kizaru continued with a squinting smile, "I wonder what gift Lord Tsuchikage will give me when we meet for the first time. I'm really looking forward to it!"
"Tch! Shameless! Which ninja village would gift a tailed beast to someone?"
Oh, right! Yours, Konoha, did it!
Onoki was irritated by Kizaru's words, not looking at Kizaru but glaring angrily at the smiling Hiruzen.
"Now thinking about it, I really admire Lord Raikage!"
Using the words Lord Tsuchikage said, Kizaru sarcastically continued.
"Admire him? After all the things you've let him through??"
Thinking about how the Third Raikage is still touring around the Land of Fire, Onoki felt a chill running down his spine, and a feeling of sorrow and resentment arose within him.
"Kizaru, show some respect! This time, Lord Tsuchikage invited us for a meeting with good intentions, aiming to form an alliance." Towards the end, Hiruzen emphasized his tone, reminding Onoki not to forget the purpose of this visit.
Getting this reminder from Hiruzen, Onoki, who was angered, also knew it was time to get to the main topic. He took the initiative to speak, "The Hokage is right. I've come this time for the long-term peace between our two nations.
"I hope Iwagakure and Konoha can become true friendly allies, working together to discuss how to prevent the ambitions of Hanzo of the Salamander in the Amegakure!"
"Tsuchikage's words align with Konoha's expectations." With Hiruzen finally speaking like a person, Hiruzen naturally smiled and agreed.
"Then, Lord Hokage, please!" Speaking of words, Onoki pointed to a nearby place not far ahead, a jointly built earth house where the ninja from both sides would negotiate.
"Please!" Responding by raising his hand, Hiruzen, accompanied by the four people behind him, walked towards the earthen house designated for negotiations.