After the previous debacle at Chishui City, it was clear that Konoha couldn't win a war against three opponents simultaneously! Thus, Zashi was forced to change his strategy and resort to offering substantial benefits to win over the Land of Iron in order to counter Sunagakure and Amegakure.
Aizen suspected that this alliance was likely to succeed! After several years of intense fighting, even a fool could see that defeating Konoha was simply impossible! Perhaps the "impoverished" and vicious Sunagakure, along with the ambitious demigod Hanzō, would stubbornly persist in fighting Konoha.
But the Land of Iron, which practically monopolized the production of ninja tools and weapons and possessed relatively strong resources and power. They lacked the resolve to continue the war against Konoha. After all, their primary motivation for war was to secure certain benefits! The Land of Fire's abundant land and resources were a source of envy for many nations across the continent.
However, despite the unimaginable rewards that could be gained from defeating Konoha. The key question was, could they actually achieve it? Especially after years of warfare, not only had they suffered heavy losses, but victory seemed increasingly distant.
Therefore, Aizen suspected that the Land of Iron's leadership was already contemplating an alliance with Konoha.
"Yo! Aizen's back!" A familiar voice interrupted Aizen's thoughts.
Aizen turned to see Jiraiya approaching with a smile. "Master Jiraiya!" Aizen greeted him politely.
Jiraiya waved his hand casually, sizing Aizen up and down with a scrutinizing gaze, then said with a grin: "Minato and I heard about your serious injury in the air raid. We were quite worried about you, but it seems you've recovered well, hmm!"
Jiraiya nodded repeatedly, a playful tone in his voice. Beside him, Minato Namikaze offered a sheepish smile.
"I apologize for causing you concern," Aizen said apologetically.
"No worries, you're fine now. When we heard about your injury, we suspected it might be a plot by Ryuken. But not long after, we received news that both Ryuken and the high-ranking Sky Ninjas had perished. Ah, life is truly unpredictable!" Jiraiya said with a sigh.
Minato also nodded, his expression complex. Strictly speaking, neither of them had been fond of Ryuken. For Minato, this went without saying. Aizen was his best friend! And Ryuken had made no secret of his animosity towards Aizen, which soured Minato's impression of him.
As for Jiraiya, besides Ryuken's hostility towards Aizen, there was also the matter of Tsunade. Since the decline of the Senju clan was partly blamed on the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju. Ryuken had always held a grudge against Tsunade and her brother, Nawaki.
For Jiraiya, who harbored feelings for Tsunade, it was no surprise that he disliked Ryuken!
However, this time, Ryuken was a hero who had sacrificed his life for Konoha. Therefore, their feelings towards him were now quite complicated.
"In any case, Ryuken is gone, and the grievances between him and our previous generation are now water under the bridge. Moreover, personal feelings aside, I still admire Ryuken's heroic sacrifice this time. Despite his flaws, he was a true Konoha hero," Aizen said with a solemn expression.
Looking at Aizen, Jiraiya and Minato were filled with awe at his "generous" and noble sentiments.
"Aizen is still the same as always, so gentle and kind. To treat Senju Ryuken, who clearly disliked him, with such respect. He's truly a good person!" Minato thought to himself.
This kid Aizen, such a righteous and kind soul! When he and Minato grow up and take on the burden of Konoha, we can finally rest easy, Jiraiya mused inwardly.
Just as Aizen consistently maintained his persona, within the central tent of Konoha's camp, a major event that could potentially alter the entire war was unfolding.
The three Anbu leaders, headed by Zashi, sat opposite several representatives from the Land of Iron, their expressions grave.
"We've exchanged our basic ideas and reached a consensus on ending the Second Shinobi World War and halting the ongoing losses caused by the conflict. With that, the next steps will be easier," Zashi said with a warm smile.
Hearing this, the representatives of the Land of Iron, who had removed their helmets, exchanged glances. They knew that the next phase involved the crucial exchange of interests!
So, they all turned their attention to their spokesperson for this negotiation.
He was a stern-looking young samurai with a neatly trimmed beard on his chin. This individual was Mifune, who, in the original story, had presided over the Five Kage Summit.
Although Mifune's strength hadn't yet peaked, he already possessed Kage-level combat power and was the leader of the younger generation in the Land of Iron. His participation in this alliance negotiation was a testament to his status, on par with Zashi and the others.
"We don't ask for much. We can even forgo war reparations from Sunagakure and Amegakure. But we require a territory with a suitable climate. I wonder if you can fulfill our request," Mifune said calmly, looking at Zashi with anticipation.
The Land of Iron wasn't short of funds, but much of their territory was situated in cold, high-altitude regions. They had always longed for warmer and more fertile land. This was the very reason they had previously gone to war with Konoha.
Hearing this, a flicker of emotion crossed Zashi face, and he said with a smile: "No problem, we can fully satisfy your conditions! You should know that not long ago, we, Konoha, annihilated the Sky Ninja and occupied the Land of Sky. If you find it suitable, after the war, the entire Land of Sky can be incorporated into the territory of the Land of Iron."
Upon hearing this, the representatives of the Land of Iron were filled with excitement. The land and climate of the Land of Sky were no less desirable than those of the Land of Fire.
The reason other nations hadn't previously attacked it was due to its status as a vassal state of the Land of Fire. That's right, the Land of Sky had always been a vassal of the Land of Fire! This was also why Zashi hadn't anticipated the Sky Ninja's betrayal of Konoha.
Who would have thought that a nation that had always been protected by Konoha, surviving solely under its protection, would turn against them?
Out of anger towards the treacherous Land of Sky and to secure this alliance, Zashi didn't hesitate to sell out the Land of Sky. After all, the rainy climate in Amegakure wasn't ideal throughout the year, and ceding territory from their own country was out of the question. Thus, the Land of Sky had to be sacrificed.