"How's it going, Nozomi?"

In the lounge where Kumogakure was, the Fourth Raikage sat on the bed with his arms folded, his eyes glancing at his guard, Jonin Nozomi, and asked him a question.

"Don't worry, Raikage-sama, no one is listening around."

Nozomi used perception ninjutsu to sense the surrounding environment and nodded to the Fourth Raikage.

Hearing Nozomi's affirmation, another guard Jonin Darui said: "Obviously it is a neutral country, but the attitude just now was really aggressive. I feel like things have become troublesome."

Nozomi replied: "Don't say that, Darui, after the Five Shadows Conference, it is still unclear whether the Kingdom of Demons can maintain its status as a neutral country. Moreover, this is the fate of a defeated country. Although Chiba Shiraishi was born in Konoha, he has

In terms of attitude towards war, it is completely different from Konoha's gentleness, but it is somewhat similar to our Kumogakure's style of dealing with things."

Darui nodded without refuting.

In the Third Ninja World War, Konoha was undoubtedly the biggest victor, but in the face of Sunagakure, Iwagakure and Kumogakure, they all ended the war without any compensation conditions.

But in contrast, Shiraishi, who was born in Konoha, undoubtedly has a much more radical attitude towards the defeated countries.

No matter what, the Kingdom of Wind could not accept the compensation conditions of the Kingdom of Ghosts and gave the entire northwest region to the Kingdom of Ghosts to quell the war.

This is also where the Kingdom of Wind and the Kingdom of Ghosts are now unable to negotiate a peace treaty.

The two sides are at loggerheads over compensation.

"What does the boss think we should do next?"

Darui looked at the Fourth Raikage.

The Fourth Raikage gave a slight hum, his expression calm, not at all as irritable as when he first came here during the day.

"The Kingdom of Oni can defeat Sunagakure's ninja troops head-on this time. No matter what it relies on, the five major countries cannot sit idly by. The only thing I care about is that if I support the Kingdom of Oni, can the Kingdom of Oni be able to follow our instructions?"

As expected, it completely disrupts the pattern of the western part of the continent and plunges the three kingdoms of wind, earth and ghost into chaos."

Strictly speaking, the rise of the Kingdom of Ghosts has not affected too deeply the Kingdom of Thunder on the other side of the continent. Even if it involves issues of interest, the western part of the continent is originally jointly governed by the Kingdom of Wind and the Kingdom of Earth.

In this situation, the Kingdom of Thunder cannot intervene deeply. Once it intervenes, it will be suppressed by the two countries, Wind and Earth.

But now, a powerful third party - the Kingdom of Ghosts - has emerged, destroying the balance between the two countries, Wind and Earth, jointly managing the western part of the continent.

It will undoubtedly make the two big countries of wind and earth passive, and a slight mistake will trigger a war.

At that time, the three major powers of thunder, fire, and water must be prevented from reaping the benefits, and other unrelated major powers may also be involved, triggering the Fourth Ninja War.

It can be said that one move affects the whole body, and the balance is maintained very delicately.

With just the slightest touch, it could lose its stability and plunge the ninja world into war again.

In that case, it would be difficult to judge whether it would be good or bad for Kumogakure.

Just when Darui was about to say something, Nozomi suddenly hissed at the side, signaling for silence, and began to use the Sensing Ninjutsu to sense.

When Nozomi started to sense with the sensory ninjutsu, there was a knock on the door.

"Xi, who is it?"

Darui asked quietly.

After Nozomi finished sensing, he whispered to Darui and the Fourth Raikage: "It's Chiyo from Sunagakure."

The Fourth Raikage thought thoughtfully and ordered Nozomi: "Let her come in."

"Yes, Lord Raikage."

Xi nodded, walked to the door, opened it, and let the visitors in.

◎

About half an hour later, Chiyo and Hagakura walked out of Kumogakure's lounge and returned to the lounge where Sunagakure was.

Walking in the corridor illuminated by lights, Chiyo felt a little worried. How should I put it, the negotiation with the Fourth Raikage of Kumogakure was not as smooth as expected.

Although they did not make their attitudes clear, the Fourth Raikage and Kumogakure clearly had their own set of ideas before coming.

"What should we do next, Elder Chiyo?"

Ye Cang asked quietly.

She was very dissatisfied with the Fourth Raikage's attitude, but she also knew that he was one of the Five Shadows, and any decision he made was not something she, as a Sunagakure jounin, could question.

Looking at the problem from the perspective of different countries, the choice of the Fourth Raikage is actually the most rational one.

Don't think that the other person is a foolhardy person just because he has strong muscles.

"Go find that old man Onoki. When Kumogakure's attitude is unclear, Iwagakure is the only ally that can be won over. Then we can just find a way to keep Kirigakure neutral."

As for Konoha, Chiyo has no idea for the time being.

Apparently Konoha has reached some secret agreement with the Demon Country's military, which resulted in the Five Shadows Conference being completely in favor of the Demon Country's decision.

Fortunately, there are other Kage who can win over, so that Sunagakure will not be left in an isolated and helpless situation.

If that's the case, Sunagakure's situation is really passive.

No matter what, using the northwest region of the Wind Country as compensation to end the war is too harsh a condition.

The Kingdom of Ghosts has no sincerity in peace talks at all.

Although the top military leaders of the Demon Country were born in Konoha, they did not adhere to Konoha's traditional ideas at all, and instead embarked on a path of hegemony similar to Kumogakure.

If such an ambitious neighbor appears in the west of the continent, if it is not curbed at this time, the Kingdom of Wind and the Kingdom of Earth will have trouble sleeping and eating, and the west will fall into a long-term conflict of interests.

"Tsuchikage? I understand."

Ye Cang nodded.

If the Kingdom of Ghosts is allowed to rise, the interests of the west will inevitably be re-divided, with the greatest impact on the Kingdom of Wind and the Kingdom of Earth.

Under the premise that the Kingdom of Ghosts has directly harmed the interests of the Earth Kingdom, wooing the Earth Shadow is the best choice.

The two of them headed towards the lounge where Iwagakure was.

Before they arrived, a person walked towards them, causing Chiyo and Yakura to stop immediately and their eyes narrowed.

"Oh my, aren't these the Yakura Jounin who acts as the agent for His Excellency Kazekage and the Burning Release? It's so late, do you still have time to go out for a walk?"

Ayane, wearing a white bathrobe and with wet hair, smiled softly at Chiyo and Hagura.

Ye Cang subconsciously stood in front of Chiyo, staring at Ayane warily.

Compared to Ye Cang's vigilance, Ayane's attitude and actions seemed very casual.

"Don't be so nervous. I just took a bath and I don't really want to exercise now."

Ye Cang ignored Ayane and still stood in front of Chiyo without losing his vigilance.

"..."

Looking at Chiyo and Hagura who were silent, Ayane sighed with regret.

"Forget it, if you want to find the Tsuchikage at this time, it may be too late. About ten minutes ago, I saw the Tsuchikage and his guards leaving the castle in a hurry. I don't know where they went.

.”

Chiyo and Ye Cang frowned when they heard this, as if they were considering whether Ayane's words were true or false.

"Actually, to be honest, I hope that Sunagakure's attitude can be tough to the end. But the difference is that last time it was the Sharingan woman, and this time it will be led by me. I look forward to meeting you all on the battlefield.

, please give me some advice at that time.”

Ayane chuckled and walked past Chiyo and Hagura until she disappeared around the corner.

"That woman..."

Ye Cang's face was obviously angry.

"Calm down, Ye Cang, she just wants to induce you to take action first, don't fall for the other party's provocation."

Chiyo signaled to Ye Cang to calm down.

If Ye Cang couldn't help but take action just now, he would probably be killed.

This is a trick that the Kingdom of Ghosts has used on the battlefield before. It provokes the Kingdom of Wind to attack first, and then they launch a so-called self-defense counterattack.

Now it's just a repeat of the same old tricks.

"……yes."

Ye Cang's face still looked unwilling.

"According to what the little girl with white eyes said, Onoki doesn't know what happened, and I'm afraid he won't be present at the meeting tomorrow. But according to my understanding of Onoki, he will definitely leave his decision to

Mifune's agent, let's go to Mifune's place first, and then go to get Mifune's support."

Chiyo calmly analyzed the current situation and did not have any inner turmoil because of Ayane's deliberate provocation.

With Konoha unable to become allies for the time being and Kumogakure maintaining a no-nonsense attitude, the attitudes of Iwagakure and Kirigakure have become crucial figures.

As long as the support of two villages is obtained, it will be enough for Sunagakure to be invincible in this negotiation.

…

"are you back?"

In the lounge, Shiraishi stood at the edge of the window, quietly looking at the falling snowflakes outside.
To be continued...