Naruto: Uchiha Youngjo's Konoha Spring

Chapter 158 Takigakure's Choice and Iwagakure's Response
After hearing that the Land of Hot Springs and the Land of Rice had signed a treaty and that Konoha's ninja army had been stationed on the border between the two countries to help them resist the threat from the Land of Lightning, the discussions between Iwata Ze Moto and the Daimyo of the Land of Taki also came to a conclusion.

"So, if we rely solely on Takigakure Village, the possibility that our Taki Country can withstand the threat from the Land of Earth is zero, right?" The Daimyo of Taki Country looked at the map of the "Konoha Pact Plan" brought back by Iwata Zeji, sighed and said.

"Yes, according to the current situation, our tailed beasts will not be able to fight for five years." Iwata Zeji said helplessly, "Without the tailed beasts, we Takigakure are no different from ants in front of the ninja villages of the great powers."

"Also, even if we could use the power of the Seven-Tails now, facing Iwagakure, which possesses two tailed beasts, we would only be able to make them slightly wary." Iwata Zeki said helplessly, "After all, the tailed beasts are our only reliance, but the other side also has this kind of power."

"So, if we want to truly protect the safety of Takikuni, we can only rely on the power of Konoha, right?" The Daimyo of Takikuni said bitterly.

"Your Highness, I am incompetent." Iwata Zeji knelt on one knee and saluted.

"Forget it, this is not your fault. It's too difficult for a small country like ours to produce a strong enough ninja." The Daimyo of Taki Country sighed, "Since the establishment of the ninja village system, only the Rain Country has produced a Hanzo over the years." The Daimyo of Taki Country said after helping Iwata Zeji up.

"However, once this contract is signed, there will be no possibility for Taki Country to escape from the control of Fire Country," said the Daimyo of Taki Country.

"Is it that serious?" Iwata Zeki asked with some confusion.

"Iwata, you have been educated as a ninja since childhood, so you don't understand what this contract actually means. As for the part about jointly developing the economy in this contract, although Konoha seems to have given many favorable conditions to small countries like us, once this contract is signed, the future of our country will forever be to become a raw material base for their Land of Fire. Moreover, the money we earn from selling raw materials will eventually be earned back by them in various forms. This is a chronic poison." The Daimyo of Takikuni said after a sigh.

Speaking of which, the Daimyo of Taki Country is an outlier among the Daimyo of the Ninja World. As the illegitimate son of the previous Daimyo, he was originally not qualified to inherit the position of Daimyo. Therefore, he started to get involved in business affairs very early, wanting to make a difference in this area. But coincidentally, his eldest brother, the prince, was too suicidal. He obviously did not have the talent, but insisted on learning Ninjutsu. Not only did he learn Ninjutsu, but he also learned it secretly. In the end, he died from the funny reason of chakra out of control in his body. As a result, he became the Daimyo of Taki Country by accident.

His experiences as a teenager made him much more mature than most of the daimyos in the ninja world who only knew how to eat, drink and have fun. Therefore, he could clearly see the malice hidden in Uchiha Tokou's seemingly sincere contract.

"This..." Iwata Zeki was also shocked. He finally understood why the daimyo had not made up his mind to form an alliance with Konoha even though he had been back from Konoha for a whole month.

"Then we won't sign?" Iwata Zeji said after hesitating for a while.

"Do we have a choice?" The Daimyo of Takigakure said with a wry smile. "I heard that Takigakure's share of missions has decreased again this month, right? Also, the number of Iwagakure ninjas on our border with the Land of Earth has almost doubled, right?"

"Yes." Iwata Zeki said helplessly.

"This Grand Minister of the Land of Fire is using an overt scheme," the Daimyo of the Land of Taki said with a wry smile. "After the Land of Hot Springs and the Land of Fields signed this contract, no matter what choice we make, Ohnoki will regard us as potential enemies, unless we completely side with the Land of Earth. However, you also know that the Land of Earth is in a very bad situation now. Ohnoki is already too old, and the huge Iwagakure Village can't find anyone to replace him. But Uchiha Doukou is not even 20 years old this year. According to the standard ninja, he still has at least years of peak age. What's more, he is an Uchiha ninja."

"Yes, we have no choice." At this time, Iwata Zeji's face also had a bitter expression. The king and minister of Taki Country looked at each other, and no one spoke.

This is the sorrow of a small country located between big countries. Unless they can immediately give birth to a strong man who can be on par with Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, otherwise, they can only be pawns in the game between big countries.

"Sign it." After a long time, the daimyo of Taki Country sighed, took out a pen, and signed his name heavily on the document.

After affixing the seal of the Daimyo, he said self-deprecatingly, "By signing this, at least I can still safely serve as the Daimyo of the Land of Water Taki. The Land of Fire looks down on our barren land, which has only a few minerals."

"Iwata, you should go to Konoha again and bring back the Konoha garrison as soon as possible. Ohnoki and Uesugi Hidetoshi will not give us much time." The daimyo of Takiguni instructed.

"Yes!" Iwata Sawaki gritted his teeth and nodded. However, just as Iwata Sawaki left the palace of the Daimyo of Taki no Kuni with the agreement signed and sealed by the Daimyo of Taki no Kuni, a spy from the Land of Earth hidden in the shadows quickly transmitted this information back to the Land of Earth.

So, just when Iwata Zeji returned to Takigakure Village and had not yet prepared the carriage to go to Konoha, the envoy from Iwagakure Village arrived first.

Iwata Sawaki gritted his teeth and received the envoy from the Hidden Rock Village. As soon as the other party opened his mouth, he directly asked Iwata Sawaki whether he planned to join the Konoha Pact and bring Konoha's garrison to their border.

Iwata Zeki could only deny it, but the Iwagakure messenger continued to aggressively speak the message that Ohnoki asked him to bring.

If Takigakure intends to join the Konohagakure Pact, Iwagakure will regard it as a declaration of war by the Kingdom of Taki against the Kingdom of Earth and will take direct military action.

Faced with Ohnoki's warning, Iwata Sawaki almost gritted his teeth, but the situation was stronger than him at the moment, so Iwata Sawaki could only say that Takigakure never had such an intention, and sent the envoy of Iwagakure Village away in a good tone.

After the envoy from Iwagakure left, Iwata Zeji had no choice but to return to the capital of Takikuni and find the daimyo.

After hearing this, the Daimyo of Taki no Kuni could only take a deep breath and grit his teeth, saying, "No more hesitation! Right now, only Konoha can make Iwagakure fearful. You must go to Konoha immediately, strike an alliance with them, and request that they send troops to garrison there as soon as possible. Travel light and move quickly!"

"I understand." Iwata Zeji nodded and accepted the order.

When Iwata Sawaki left the daimyo's palace this time, he deliberately used a water clone technique. After leaving the palace, the clone returned to Takigakure Village, while his original body did not dare to stop for a moment and rushed towards Konoha Village overnight.

Just when Iwata Ze Moto and the Daimyo of Takiguni made up their minds, Uchiha Tokou in Konoha received a request from Ohnoki for a TV connection.

"After waiting for so long, the big fish is finally going to take the bait." Uchiha Douguang chuckled, changed into the most formal Hokage robe and put on the Hokage hat, then answered the video call with Ohnoki.

On the other side of the screen, Ohnoki was also dressed in formal attire. After the two looked at each other across the screen, they took off their conical hats together and placed them on the table beside them to show that they were honest with each other. This was what the first Hokage did before pleading for peace at the first Five Kage Summit. From that day on, this matter was retained as a traditional etiquette when meeting between Kage.

"Mr. Tsuchikage, how are you?" Uchiha Douguang said to Ohnoki on the other side of the screen with a smile.

"That's it. You're nothing compared to the Hokage. You've been so proud of yourself recently." Ohnoki said with a fake smile, "Your Konoha Pact is really going strong."

"Your Excellency Tsuchikage is joking. This is just a small attempt I made as Hokage for the peace of the ninja world. After all, only with peace can the village and the country have an environment for development." Uchiha Toguchi said slowly.

"Are you really doing this for peace?" Ohnoki sneered, "If Takigakure joins your alliance, then your Fire Country ninjas can be stationed directly on the border of our Earth Country. The Hokage has made a good calculation."

"Haha, this is just to make our allies feel safe. I hope Your Excellency the Tsuchikage won't think too much about it." Uchiha Douguang said with a smile, "There is a non-aggression treaty between our two countries."

"Yes, our two countries have a non-aggression treaty, but Takigakure doesn't." Ohnoki said with a sullen face, "I don't care what Kumogakure thinks of your alliance, but Iwagakure will not sit idly by and watch this happen. If something bad happens, I hope the Hokage won't blame me."

(End of this chapter)