Conflict

The handwritten letter, exceeding a thousand words, detailed Tsunade's analysis of Akatsuki's strength and her assessment of the current and future situation in the Shinobi World.

In short--

The Shinobi World is doomed... Pshaw, those who believe in the "drugs" should step aside. Tsunade's meaning is that the situation is not optimistic.

Raikage stared intently at the letter in his hand.

His gaze slowly swept over the area from top to bottom, and then he looked at it again.

After carefully reading it twice, his silkworm-like eyebrows twitched, and his thick fingers dusted off the scroll in his hand.

He had no objection to Tsunade's analysis. After losing the Two-Tails Jinchūriki, A was filled with apprehension towards Akatsuki and also considered it a major threat to the Shinobi World.

But in other matters, one attains enlightenment.

"An alliance?"

Raikage put away the scroll, speaking in a deep, muffled voice.

"I have no objection to alliances themselves..."

Inviting the Konoha delegation to visit already made a clear stance, and the Raikage didn't need to elaborate further; he directly expressed his approval.

But— Sakura Haruno knew there would be a turning point here— the Raikage paused for a moment, then said:

"But before that, I have a few questions."

He took off the Raikage's hat and casually tossed it aside.

I would like to hear more details.

Sakura Haruno tilted her head back, looking at Raikage, who was still a head taller than her even when seated, and said calmly.

"Firstly, the Fifth Hokage agreed to let bygones be bygones regarding historical issues and to put aside past grudges. To what extent can your Konoha do that?" The Fourth Raikage's voice boomed, his rugged face solemn and composed, exuding an aura of authority without anger. "In other words, can Konoha simply erase the hatred brewing from the war between Kumogakure Ninja and Konoha more than a decade ago?"

Sakura Haruno's faint smile faded, and her expression turned serious.

"Faced with a formidable enemy, clinging to old grudges is tantamount to courting death. I presume the Raikage isn't the kind of person to engage in such petty schemes and understands why we made this promise," she said slowly.

"Yes... If you join the Allied Forces, Konoha can put aside the hatred caused by the war years ago. Even..." She paused, her eyes turning cold, "... can forgive your atrocities in the kidnapping of the young Hinata Hyuga, where you forced the Konoha Ninja Hizashi Hyuga to commit suicide."

We will not pursue the shameful things you did back then.

The Raikage's thick, short eyebrows furrowed sharply.

Back then, taking advantage of Konoha's heavy losses in the Nine-Tails Incident, the Kumogakure Ninja went to Konoha to extort money. Later, they secretly tried to kidnap Hinata to steal the Byakugan. In the Kumogakure Ninja's propaganda, their dishonorable deeds were naturally concealed, and the kidnapping of Hinata Kumogakure Ninja deliberately omitted. Only the fact that Konoha killed a Kumogakure Ninja leader—equivalent to a Jonin Commander in Konoha —due to past grudges was mentioned.

Therefore, the ordinary ninjas of the Kumogakure Ninja believed that the blame lay with the Konoha, that the Konoha had been despicable and shameless in attacking the Kumogakure Ninja. If the Konoha had not later presented Hizashi Hyuga's corpse to admit its mistake, the Kumogakure Ninja, filled with righteous indignation and surging emotions, would have likely caused friction between the two countries, and even led to war.

Of course, if that were the case, the weakened Konoha would undoubtedly lose, but the Kumogakure Ninja would probably not fare any better either. In the end, both villages would suffer heavy losses, and other villages would only benefit from the outcome.

Therefore, neither village actually intended to expand it.

What caused such a stir ultimately fizzled out and was left unresolved.

Hizashi Hyuga claimed he committed suicide for his brother and to escape his fate, but in reality, he saw through the village's weakness and had no choice but to sacrifice himself to extinguish the Kumogakure Ninja's anger, in order to protect Konoha and, more importantly, Neji.

Every time Sakura Haruno reads about such frustrating incidents happening right on her doorstep, she feels a surge of anger that she can't vent.

It's somewhat similar to my previous life, not so far back, but the last decade or so of the last century... never mind, let's not talk about it.

The difference is that in his previous life, he was just an ordinary person, powerless to change anything; but in this life, she is a ninja with extraordinary power—even one of the top ninjas. Sakura Haruno's identity, status, and abilities give her the right to seek justice from the perpetrators.

Tragically, when she had the power to seek justice... Sakura Haruno had to suppress her clenched fist because of the greater good of the Five Villages Alliance!

She needs to... consider the bigger picture.

The Raikage knew the truth of the incident from back then and knew he was in the wrong. Although he was very unhappy with Sakura Haruno's hurtful attitude, he couldn't refute it and remained silent with a gloomy expression.

But the Kumogakure Ninja listening below had a different perspective.

The Konoha Kumogakure Ninja leader, a hero who was killed in a despicable ambush by Konoha Ninja, was portrayed by Sakura Haruno as a vile kidnapper of children. The Konoha Ninja openly insulted the Kumogakure, trampling on Kumogakure Ninja reputation. How could the straightforward Kumogakure Ninja tolerate this?

Someone immediately shouted angrily!

"You bastard! What nonsense are you spouting!" Omoi's eyebrows shot up, his longsword drawn, and he roared furiously, "You greenhorn, how dare you spout such blasphemous words and slander our Kumogakure Ninja!"

The other Kumogakure Ninja beside her, though they didn't openly berate Sakura Haruno, all placed their hands on their swords, and their gazes turned cold and dangerous!

Sakura Haruno, who was being condemned by everyone, did not back down but instead sneered.

"Slandering Kumogakure Ninja?"

She turned her head and gave each of the Kumogakure Ninja glared at her angrily a cold look.

How laughable! How hateful!

She compromised and put aside her hatred and desire for revenge for the sake of the greater good, only to be bitten back by the Kumogakure Ninja who committed such a despicable act!

The Sakura Haruno became, the colder her expression grew, and the icier her voice became. "Ha... I was just stating the facts. What? You're angry because the truth has been exposed? You bunch of cowardly bullies!"

Kumogakure Ninja Omoi's eyes widened in fury, his teeth clenched, and he trembled with rage.

If it weren't for reason holding him back, Omoi would probably have already drawn his sword and attacked, regardless of whether Sakura Haruno was Konoha envoy or not, he would have chopped her into mincemeat!

But there were people even more impulsive than her!

"You're asking for it!"

With a furious shout, a black figure lashed out, a sharp blade flashing with cold light and a fierce whistling sound as it slashed at Sakura Haruno!

Swish!

The blade's movements were ruthless and decisive, its tip sharp and chilling!

This attack was launched by Kumogakure Ninja filled with hatred, leaving no room for retreat, and aimed directly at the girl's vital points!

Sakura Haruno's eyes narrowed dangerously.

In an instant, her murderous aura was released for the first time in the Raikage Building.

It was icy cold, with a chilling aura.

It felt like falling into an ice cave!

"Stop!" "Karui!" "Don't be impulsive!" Several loud shouts rang out simultaneously!

Boom!

In an instant, dust filled the air and gravel flew everywhere!

A blur flashed by, and the last image that remained was the Raikage holding Sakura Haruno's hand.

Sakura Haruno held Karui's hand.

Karui's blade stopped at Sakura Haruno's forehead, just a hand's width away from her smooth skin, but was held in Sakura Haruno's other hand and could not advance an inch.

"Release Karui."

Raikage's face was ashen, and he said in a cold voice.

Sakura Haruno wore a dangerous smile, not even glancing at the Raikage, but coldly staring at the woman who impulsively slashed at her.

The woman tried to pull out her knife, but found it didn't budge. A look of astonishment flashed across her face.

"Want a knife?" Sakura Haruno sneered. "Sure, I'll give it back to you."

With a flick of her wrist, the girl exerted force, and the steel longsword in her palm became as soft as tofu, being crushed into a lump of scrap metal!

"Snort."

Sakura Haruno released her grip and casually tossed the metal slag to Karui, causing the woman to stumble and fall awkwardly to the ground.

"Roll!"

After doing all this, she turned her head and coldly looked back at Raikage A.

Two figures, one tall and one short, stood together, their sizes seemingly disproportionate. However, to the Cloud Kumogakure Ninja watching, their auras appeared evenly matched, one icy and the other fiery, each occupying half of the hall!

The Raikage's eyes seemed to hold a burning flame.

Sakura Haruno reprimanded his subordinates in front of him, how could this hot-tempered Raikage not be furious!

But he still held back.

For the sake of the greater good of cooperation among the five villages, Konoha had to be patient. Even though he, the Raikage, was being treated with such contempt, he had no choice but to endure it!

More importantly, even though he had already gripped Sakura Haruno's arm tightly, the girl's ability to break the long sword remained unaffected; this Monstrous Strength was even greater than his own, the Raikage's...

So strong...

In that brief exchange, Raikage could already tell the girl's strength—she was incredibly powerful!

Even if he were to turn against them, the Raikage wouldn't dare; he was confident of victory!

Is this the sincerity with which your village is forming an alliance with our Kumogakure Ninja?

Raikage in a cold voice.

[Second update.]