Konoha Notes

Chapter 390 The Edge
Among Onoki's usual methods of communication were ninja hawks, sensory ninjutsu, or directly dispatching messengers.

As for the gadgets provided by Kumogakure, he was somewhat unaccustomed to them. But it wouldn't be accurate to say he couldn't understand them at all; after all, short-range wireless communication devices weren't exactly new to ninjas.

After fiddling around for a while, Onoki sent a communication request to Sunagakure.

It took quite a while to get the news, and Onoki was certain that it was old lady Chiyo putting on airs.

Each village has someone specifically waiting by their side for this thing, since the purpose of Cloud Village sending it out is to facilitate immediate communication.

"What do you want? Contacting me alone? Our relationship isn't close enough for casual conversation." After a few minutes, Chiyo's face finally appeared on the screen.

Onoki didn't bother beating around the bush and asked directly, "Where are your Jinchūriki?"

On the other side of the screen, Chiyo's eyebrows didn't even twitch; she simply reached out and placed her hand on the area outside the screen.

The communication was abruptly cut off. The screen went black again, with only the indicator light flashing.

The liaison officer glanced at Tu Ying instinctively.

Onoki's lips twitched.

"Continue to apply for contact."

The liaison officer quickly took action, requesting the signal to be sent again.

This time, the wait was even longer. So long that Onoki almost thought Chiyo was going to completely ignore the contact before the screen lit up again.

The same snowflakes, the same steady process. Chiyo's face reappeared, her expression unchanged from before.

The current Fifth Kazekage said, "I won't ask where your Iwagakure's Jinchuriki are."

"Of course, you yourself may not be fully aware of it."

The sarcasm in his words was undisguised.

Onoki's forehead veins throbbed as he forced himself to suppress the rising anger.

“That kid hasn’t contacted you guys for a while now.” He changed direction. “Last time he made a special trip to Iwagakure, but he didn’t go to Sunagakure.”

Chiyo's lips twitched, and a hint of mockery shone in her eyes.

“At your age,” she said slowly, “you still act like a child, caring about who you get along with. Ohnoki.”

She looked at the little old man opposite her.

"Although you are indeed shorter than a child."

Personal attack. Hitting a sore spot.

Onoki felt his blood pressure soaring.

He lowered his voice: "Do you think I'm here to use Sunagakure again?"

Chiyo expressed surprise: "Isn't that so?"

"Hmph, do you think Iwagakure would give up the Land of Stone a narrow path?"

Chiyo answered almost without thinking, "Because you're throwing a tantrum."

"I'm talking to you about business, you old hag!" Onoki finally couldn't hold back anymore, slamming his hand on the table, then his waist snapped as he lost his grip.

"Well--"

Onoki swallowed back the groan of pain that almost escaped his lips, his face contorted in pain. He pressed one hand tightly against his lower back, the other bracing himself against the table, cold sweat instantly beading on his forehead.

The liaison officer lowered his head and silently took two steps back, trying to disappear from the Earth Shadow's sight.

On the screen, Chiyo clearly heard the crisp sound and muffled groan. She clicked her tongue twice and shook her head: "The old man's body is failing. If we weren't so far apart, I would be happy to use chakra threads to help you reset."

"Of course, it's hard to say whether things will get worse."

Onoki winced in pain, but forced himself to keep his expression from crumbling.

"I ceded the Land of Stone to test Konoha's reaction and inclination! I had Wenya convene the meeting ahead of schedule to find out exactly how far Kirigakure and Kumogakure have progressed in their secret dealings!"

Chiyo's tone was indifferent: "Oh, you really are very farsighted."

Onoki's face twitched as he suppressed the urge to turn off the communication.

"In short!" He raised his voice, suppressing his physical reaction, "That kid told me a lot in Iwagakure."

“I believe he is serious and intends to continue down this path.” “That is why I tacitly allow your Sunagakure forces to enter the front line of the Land of Stone for defense.”

“Old woman, listen carefully. If this alliance can really be maintained, the little territory that Sunagakure occupies now will be completely useless.”

"The rules no longer work the way they used to."

Onoki's voice suddenly turned cold and hard.

"If this alliance ultimately fails and falls apart, Iwagakure will be able to reclaim what belongs to them."

"I will also take back what belongs to Iwagakure."

After saying this, Chiyo on the other side of the screen finally completely dropped her mocking expression.

She neither refuted nor continued to mock him, but waited for Onoki to continue.

"The lands of fire, thunder, and water have convenient transportation and abundant resources, far exceeding the combined resources of the lands of earth and wind."

"This means that even setting aside the current Tailed Beast crisis, and even if other major threats emerge in the future..."

"In terms of resources, support, and even decision-making priorities, priority will be given to the Cloud Village and the Mist Village."

"Even considering only the speed and efficiency of support, the mutual support between the three kingdoms of Fire, Thunder, and Water is much faster than crossing deserts and mountains."

He looked at Chiyo.

"If Sunagakure is content with its current gains and completely abandons its neighbors who are also on the margins."

"So, when a real storm, powerful enough to shake the very foundations of the ninja world, comes, who do you expect to lend you a hand?"

"Are we to expect an ally facing multiple choices and under pressure to make the least economical and irrational decision every time?"

"Chiyo."
-
The afternoon of the third day after the main agenda of the joint meeting concluded.

Tsunade had just finished approving the budget request and land use plan for the expansion of the Joint Affairs Bureau. She put down her pen and looked at the other side of the sofa.

Shuji leaned there, his eyes closed, as if he were asleep.

"He's quite convincing at pretending to be asleep."

Shuji didn't open his eyes.

"Where is your wooden clone now? Is it fishing again?"

Shuji opened his eyes: "I'm soaking in a hot spring."

"You can feel the comfort of being enveloped in warmth without even having to go into the water, and you can sleep very well."

At that moment, a voice from the Anbu came from outside the door: "Hokage, Mr. Shuji. The Jonin Bunga from the Joint Affairs Bureau and the Jonin Baki from Sunagakure have both requested a meeting, saying that they have important matters to report in person."

Tsunade and Shuji exchanged a glance.

Tsunade said, "This stance looks familiar."

"really."

Tsunade approved the application, and the two waited for the other two to arrive.

Wenya and Maki entered one after the other.

"Lord Hokage, Mr. Shuji. I have come on the orders of Lord Tsuchikage to convey the official decision of Iwagakure."

"After internal discussions, Iwagakure agrees that, given the current situation and from the perspective of joint defense, it is appropriate to appoint Han, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki of Iwagakure, as the commander of the proposed joint rapid reaction mobile force."

"At the same time, Iwagakure agreed to make the Forest Country a permanent base and operational hub."

Upon hearing this, Shuji nodded, his gaze falling on Maki.

Maki was filled with apprehension under their gaze.

“Mr. Shuji, Hokage,” Maki said, his voice slightly lower than usual. “Iwagakure has expressed its willingness to provide necessary technical support and personnel assistance for the construction projects in the Land of Wind and the Land of Rain.”

"After evaluation, Sunagakure believes that this will benefit the progress of the project and further consolidate the cooperative relationship between the three countries."

“This matter,” Maki said, bowing slightly, “I have come to inform you and His Hokage.”

(End of this chapter)