At that time, there will be a legitimate reason to send people into the Land of Rain, and Konoha will have no choice but to fight. There will be no room for negotiations.
For this war, the Sand Village has been preparing for a long time. Everything is ready; all that is left is a favorable wind from the Daimyo's mansion.
And how do you provoke the Daimyo's anger and make him feel the crisis?
It's simple.
As long as someone helps create chaos, it will save the Third Kazekage a lot of trouble.
The trouble of framing someone else can be skipped; all that's necessary is to identify the conflict as caused by Konoha.
Creating chaos by oneself carries risks of exposure. If the Daimyo finds out he's been deceived, he will definitely be furious.
If someone else does it, then the Third Kazekage won't have those worries.
---
In Konoha, Tsunade once again arrived at the Hokage office building.
This was the third time the Third Hokage had summoned Tsunade after the meeting.
The first time was in the conference room, where Tsunade didn't give a clear answer. The second time, he urged her, and Tsunade said she needed more time to think. Now it was the third time.
Tsunade needed to give the Third Hokage a satisfying answer.
After all, things can't go on and on indefinitely.
"Old man."
As she walked into the Hokage's office, Tsunade greeted him first, then shut the door and casually plopped down on the sofa in the Hokage's office.
"Tsunade, according to the information collected by the village, the Sand Village has already dispatched a group of reinforcements and is preparing to enter the Land of Rain."
The Third Hokage did not explicitly ask Tsunade to go to the Land of Rain, but he was hinting at her that once the war breaks out, the front lines will need her.
It seemed that Tsunade didn't catch the Hokage's hint; she waved her fist and said:
"If war is inevitable, then let's fight!"
"Tsunade—"
"Old man, I won't go to the front lines. I need to stay in the village, at the medical department."
Tsunade directly cut off the Third Hokage's persuasion:
"Grandma is gone. Nawaki and Kushina are still young; they need me, and the medical department cannot function without me."
"But the front lines need you!"
The Third Hokage couldn't help but raise his voice.
Unfortunately, that didn't scare Tsunade.
"Don't try to intimidate me, old man. Otherwise, I'll be so scared I might run to the Daimyo's mansion, and then who knows what might happen."
"—"
The Third Hokage's aura was immediately snuffed out.
It was as if someone had grabbed him by the throat.
"I understand the front lines need me, but I can't leave without peace of mind."
Tsunade made her stance clear to the Third Hokage.
The Third Hokage asked in confusion, "Tsunade, what are you uneasy about? Could it be that I would target Nawaki or Kushina, or perhaps Hyuga Takashi?"
The only people in Konoha that Tsunade could worry about were Nawaki, Kushina, and Takashi.
"I don't feel at ease with that person in the Anbu prison. If I leave, and you decide to use him, Akimichi Torifu won't be able to stop him. You and I both know what he might do, so I can't leave."
I'll just put it plainly: I don't feel at ease. That's why I can't leave, unless you get rid of Danzo Shimura.
"I—"
The Third Hokage wanted to make a promise to Tsunade that he wouldn't use Danzo Shimura, but before he could say anything, he realized that it was a promise he couldn't make.
Because the Third Hokage needed someone to help him handle matters he couldn't address openly.
And Danzo Shimura was the best choice for that.
Besides, Danzo Shimura had proven himself to be capable in battlefield command during the First Great Ninja War.
"If the war breaks out, Takashi will go to the front lines in my place. He can do what I can do. Additionally, Nara Shikashin is an excellent strategist."
Tsunade had come to make things clear to the Third Hokage, explicitly telling him why she didn't want to leave the village for the front lines.
Now it was clear. Since he wasn't willing to make her a promise, why would she dare to leave?
Who knows if as soon as she leaves, Danzo Shimura gets released and starts causing trouble?
While laying her cards on the table, Tsunade also recommended Takashi and Nara Shikashin.
"Is Takashi capable?"
The Third Hokage was highly skeptical, though he had no doubt about Nara Shikashin. He was well aware of how capable Shikashin was.
If the Hokage faction hadn't been torn into two, with the Ino-Shika-Cho trio allied with Tsunade, the Third Hokage would not have removed Nara Shikashin from the position of Jonin Commander
Tsunade stood up from the sofa, adjusted her clothes, and said irritably:
"Old man, don't underestimate him. Takashi is someone I trained. I dare say, in all of Konoha, besides me, there is no better choice than him. Since you can't give me a promise, Takashi will go to the front lines in my place."
If Tsunade was willing to say that, it meant Takashi truly had the ability to replace her.
The Third Hokage irritably picked up his pipe and began smoking.
"Tsunade, Danzo's abilities—"
"Absolutely not!!!"
Tsunade harshly refused the Third Hokage.
Want to release Danzo Shimura?
I won't allow it. As long as I am in Konoha, Danzo Shimura will never be released from the Anbu prison.
Tsunade would go to Anbu at any time to make sure the Third Hokage wasn't trying to play any tricks by secretly releasing Danzo and letting him operate in the shadows.
"Sigh..."
The Third Hokage let out a long sigh.
What a mess.
Danzo, Danzo, you have really disappointed me.
"Is there no room for negotiation?"
The Third Hokage's voice grew solemn.
Tsunade's attitude was firm: "No room for negotiation whatsoever, unless you hand him over to me. If you do that, I will immediately lead people to the border camp."
Forget I asked.
The Third Hokage promptly shut his mouth.
Keeping Danzo Shimura in the Anbu prison meant that at least he was alive, even if he couldn't be used. If Tsunade got her hands on him, given her decisiveness, he wouldn't survive three days.
Forget three days—surviving three hours would be lucky.
"In any case, I won't leave, and Danzo Shimura cannot be released. Old man, I respect you, and I hope you respect me as well. Don't do anything that makes it hard for everyone."
When Takashi mentioned this matter, Tsunade still had some hope for the Third Hokage, but now, there wasn't any hope left.
If she left, Danzo Shimura would surely be released.
Since she had lost all hope, they'd do things by the book. She respected him and hoped for the same. Even though he was the Hokage, if things escalated, it wouldn't be good for anyone.
Tsunade left in a huff.
Not long after she left, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado arrived at the Hokage's office.
Noticing the Third Hokage's gloomy expression, the two knew the negotiation hadn't gone well.
"Hiruzen, did Tsunade refuse?" Koharu tentatively asked.
"She refused." The Third Hokage sighed. "She explicitly told me that she didn't want to leave the village because she was afraid I'd release Danzo and use him. However, she recommended Hyuga Takashi and Nara Shikashin."
"Hyuga Takashi? Can he manage?"
Koharu and Homura couldn't help but question his capability.