Clang!
Kaze turned around coldly, drew his sword, and with one strike, sent Masakura's long sword flying. Then he pressed his sword against the other's neck.
What... What?
Everything happened so fast that Masakura was stunned.
Before he even realized what was happening, his long sword had slipped out of his hand uncontrollably, and he himself was now being held at sword - point by his assassination target.
"He's just a child..."
After getting a clear look at Masakura's face, Nonou said with a touch of mercy, "Captain, how about sparing him?"
Masakura had been a bit scared at first, but after hearing Nonou's words, he felt a lot more at ease.
"Come on, if you have the guts, let me go. One's fortune may change every thirty years."
"I don't have the guts."
Kaze swiped his sword across Masakura's neck and watched as the other fell with a shocked look on his face. Then he looked at Nonou and said,
"A sword isn't a toy. Since he drew it out, he must have been ready to bet his life on it."
"Besides, I'm just a child who graduated not long ago."
Having said that, Kaze tucked the long sword under his arm, wiped it clean, sheathed it, and turned to continue walking forward.
"But..."
"Huh?!"
Nonou wanted to say something more, but under Yuto's sharp gaze, she chose to remain silent.
Soon, all the groups completed their missions and gathered again at the entrance of Sunagakure.
During the mission, it wasn't just Kaze's group that encountered resistance. Other groups also faced similar situations.
However, as Sakumo had said, those who resisted were to be killed without mercy.
They didn't want to kill wantonly. They didn't want to force Sunagakure and Konoha into a life - or - death situation either. But they would never show mercy to those who were looking for death.
Sakumo's gaze slowly swept over the remaining ninjas and said in a deep voice,
"The mission was successfully completed. Take our fellow villagers and let's head back home!"
"Yes!"
Half a month later.
In the Konoha base in the Land of Rain, in a simple room surrounded by tents like stars around the moon, Kaze sat across the table from his father, Tanzō.
As usual, Tanzō closed his eyes slightly and said calmly,
"Hiruzen has issued a strict order. If Sunagakure is willing to negotiate peace, Konoha must reach a peace agreement with them unconditionally."
Pong!
Kaze slapped the table hard. He almost lost control and activated his Sharingan.
"Unconditional peace negotiation?!"
"Yes," Tanzō slowly opened his eyes and said in a gloomy tone.
"Hiruzen said that Konoha can't afford any more casualties. So for the sake of peace, it doesn't matter to give up some interests."
"Ridiculous!" Kaze said coldly. "It was Sunagakure that started the war first. We've paid such a high price to gain the upper hand. Why should we reach a peace agreement with them unconditionally?"
"Afraid of casualties? Then what about our colleagues who sacrificed themselves on the battlefield? Are their lives not lives? Was their sacrifice meaningless?!"
"
Tanzō looked at the tents outside the window and scoffed. "Hiruzen's order has put me in a situation where I don't know how to face these soldiers."
However, over the years, he had gotten used to it. Anyway, whenever there was an unpopular task, it was always handed over to him.
Only when it came to winning people's hearts would that guy Hiruzen show his face.
"There's nothing we can do. After all, he is the Hokage," Tanzō said with a complicated tone.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi... is too weak," Kaze shook his head. "Peace has never been achieved through concession."
At the end of the Naruto story, the five great ninja villages could coexist harmoniously not because they had a good relationship with Naruto and chose to tolerate each other.
It's all because they couldn't beat Naruto, dammit! So they all became so easy - going.
When one wields the power of the Six Paths, even the reckless warriors from Kumogakure turn into good - natured guys who can sing and dance.
"Yeah, peace has to be maintained by force. Dignity is only on the blade of the sword, and truth is in the hands of the strong."
Tanzō nodded in satisfaction and then sneered mockingly.
"Pity that a principle even my son understands, the great Hokage fails to grasp. It would be better to let my son take the position of Hokage."
The room fell into a brief silence.
After a moment, Tanzō stood up, patted Kaze on the shoulder, and said, "Take Yukino back to Konoha first. I'll handle the rest."
"Yes, Father."
In the Land of Rain, at the Sunagakure camp.
"Peace talks? Absolutely impossible! I won't agree!"
Chiyo glared angrily at the Third Kazekage who had just spoken those words, nearly overturning the table.
"Elder Chiyo, don't be so head - strong!" The Third Kazekage rubbed his temples in distress. "Our Sunagakure has been seriously weakened. Kumogakure and Iwagakure are eager for a fight..."
"I don't wanna hear this!" Chiyo interrupted the Third Kazekage and said angrily. "My son and daughter - in - law died on the battlefield. How can I swallow this anger?"
"Peace talks are out of the question unless Konoha hands over the murderer of my son and daughter - in - law!"
The Third Kazekage felt even more headache after hearing this.
Currently, Sunagakure was at a disadvantage. The fact that Konoha was willing to offer unconditional peace talks was already the best outcome.
Chiyo was actually asking Konoha to hand over someone... Isn't this just a pipe dream?
He thought that even if Konoha was at a disadvantage, it would never meet the enemy's demands and hand over someone voluntarily to buy peace.
No ninja village would do such a self - deprecating thing!
Otherwise, how could they face the ninja world in the future?
"Alas, Elder Chiyo, our Sunagakure really can't afford to keep dragging on with Konoha," the Third Kazekage sighed.
"If we keep stalemating like this, do you want our Sunagakure to be wiped out?"
A month later.
On the streets of Konoha, two teenagers walked side by side.
One with blond hair and the other with red hair, they stood out among the passers - by.
"Minato, Kaze has been in a really bad state lately. I'm a bit worried about him," Kushina said anxiously.
Since Kaze came back, he has been acting like a normal person and hasn't done anything stupid or crazy. This is so abnormal!
"Kaze was deeply affected by the death of Yukino. It's normal that he can't get over it," Minato sighed.
On the battlefield against Cloud Ninja, he also lost several teammates.
Even if they were just ordinary comrades - in - arms, it made him feel sad for a long time. How much worse must it be for Kaze now...
"Let's invite him out tonight!" Kushina clenched her small fist and made up her mind. "We can't let him turn us down again, Databane!"
"If he dares to say no, we'll tie him up and drag him out!"
"Ah... Um," Minato seemed a bit hesitant. "Is this really a good idea?"
Minato thought to himself, "You probably have no idea how many secret guards are around Kaze's house..."
If we really dared to tie him up, we'd be held down on the ground by a bunch of people before we even got out the door.
"Minato, Kaze is our good friend!"
Kushina was a bit unhappy. Her red hair fluttered as she glared at Minato angrily.
"Now is the time he needs us. We can't let him down, big Databane!"
"Kushina is so cute when she's mad..."
Looking at Kushina's pretty face, Minato suddenly lost his rationality and nodded involuntarily.
"Okay, I'll do as you say, little Kushina."
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