The old woman, Chiyo, looked conflicted.
"In this attack, aside from the serious damage to the buildings, the village's injuries and losses weren't substantial. Most of the ninjas who died sacrificed themselves to intercept the puppets, and most of the ordinary residents were casualties of collapsing debris."
This served as a classic warning.
The intention wasn't to kill but to destroy a few buildings and send a message to the Third Kazekage and other villages:
Stop stirring up trouble, or face the consequences. Pay what you owe, or suffer the repercussions.
The Third Kazekage regretted his decisions. If he had known earlier, he wouldn't have provoked this. The result was a puppet landing in Suna Ninja Village, using it as a stage for a calculated warning.
"Has the situation on the battlefield changed?"
The Third Kazekage asked suddenly.
Chiyo's expression faltered. She hesitated, unsure how to report the war's grim developments. In particular, they had suffered significant losses against Orochimaru in recent days.
The Situation Worsens
The Third Kazekage deduced from Chiyo's silence that the battlefield held no good news. He didn't press her further, instead picking up the scrolls and documents on the table.
If you can't explain it, I'll read it myself.
As he scanned the reports, his expression grew darker with each passing moment.
Had he not trusted Chiyo, he might have questioned how they could suffer such a blow from a young ninja named Orochimaru.
"Is this war even worth continuing?"
Chiyo sighed inwardly, preparing for the inevitable scolding.
The war had gone poorly, and she bore an undeniable responsibility for underestimating Orochimaru.
The Costs of War
"How is the material supply situation in the village?"
The Third Kazekage shifted focus, suppressing his anger. Chiyo, momentarily surprised, answered truthfully:
"It's dire. Our war preparation supplies are depleting rapidly, while replenishments can't keep up. The war's impact has also caused the prices of basic goods to soar. We're struggling heavily."
The soaring costs had a universal impact, affecting not only Suna Ninja Village but also other nations and villages across the ninja world. Even Konoha wasn't immune.
Konoha's villagers were increasingly opposed to the war. Rising prices, compounded by the sacrifices of many ninjas and the suffering of countless families, fueled unrest. Items that once cost 100 ryō now cost twice as much, but incomes remained stagnant.
At first, families endured these hardships to support the village. But as time dragged on, patience wore thin, and complaints grew louder. Some villagers even began to protest the war outright.
A Village in Crisis
Konoha, despite its abundant resources and self-sufficiency, struggled under these conditions. For a resource-poor village like Suna, the situation was exponentially worse.
The Third Kazekage fell silent, the anger dissipating from his heart.
"Chiyo," he said after a long pause, placing the scroll aside. "Do you believe we should continue this war?"
Chiyo's heart sank.
The Third Kazekage's words implied that Suna Ninja Village could no longer sustain the war effort.
Meanwhile, Konoha—though strained—could continue tightening its belt and maintain its momentum.
Suna Ninja Village, however, could not.
Ending the war now would mean admitting defeat, but continuing the fight would lead to complete collapse.
Still, Chiyo hesitated. The war had dragged on for nearly three years. If they stopped now, the blame would fall heavily on the Third Kazekage. And ending a war wasn't as simple as deciding to stop.
Seeking Peace
"Can the village truly endure this no longer?"
The Third Kazekage sighed. "The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, is a cautious and indecisive man. He's under immense pressure as well. If we initiate peace talks, we may reduce the losses for our village."
He trailed off, leaving unspoken the reality Chiyo already knew.
Victory was no longer possible.
In wars, the losing side pays dearly, often with steep reparations. By proposing peace before a clear winner emerged, they could avoid being saddled with compensation demands.
"We're not losing—we're just choosing not to fight anymore," he stated firmly.
A Risky Proposal
"Would Sarutobi Hiruzen even agree?"
Chiyo looked surprised. She hadn't expected the Third Kazekage to consider this so thoroughly.
"We can at least try to contact him," the Kazekage replied. "If Konoha is willing to negotiate, this war could end on less damaging terms."
Peace halfway through the war was far better than being forced to surrender under dire terms.
"Then Kazekage, let me take responsibility for this failure," Chiyo volunteered. "The village needs stability, and you can't afford to shoulder the blame. I'll bear it myself."
The Third Kazekage didn't argue. Chiyo's willingness to accept responsibility made her the ideal scapegoat.
Indirect Negotiations
"But we can't approach Konoha directly," the Kazekage said. "We should send an envoy to the Fire Country's Daimyo first to express our willingness to end the war."
Direct negotiations with Konoha would be challenging. However, approaching the Daimyo of the Fire Country, who likely also wished for an end to the war, might yield better results.
The Third Kazekage understood that the longer this conflict dragged on, the greater the debt and suffering for Suna Ninja Village.
For the sake of their people, it was time to lay down their arms.
>>>>>
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