Might Guy's Life Mission Settlement

Inside the meeting room, Konoha ninja and Ninshu ninja each occupied half of the conference table.

Kakuzu did not provoke them. He merely watched Orochimaru quietly.

Though he was dissatisfied with Konoha's idiotic demands last time, Ninshu was generally still at a disadvantage.

If Konoha wanted to throw its weight around, they would not back down. But if Konoha was willing to talk properly, they would not deliberately stir up trouble either.

"Our Third Hokage greatly admires the strength of your sect leader, Sōsuke, and wishes to have a battle between ninja with him. After this battle, regardless of the outcome, the matter of Shimura Danzō will be put to rest," Orochimaru said.

"Hm?" Kakuzu revealed a surprised expression.

What kind of grudge was this? They were really fixated on Sōsuke—even proposing a one-on-one duel.

For a moment, Kakuzu could not understand what Konoha was trying to do. A Kage was personally stepping up for a duel.

Rōshi was equally surprised and somewhat at a loss.

Having lived so long, this was the first time he had seen a conflict handled this way: the leaders of both sides settling their dispute through a one-on-one duel.

The strongest Ninja Village was unexpectedly straightforward.

Orochimaru remained calm. The Ninshu ninja's reactions were within his expectations, because even he had been surprised when he heard Hiruzen Sarutobi's request.

Everyone knew that Kage were powerful, but beyond their strength, they were also the leaders of Ninja Villages and bore the burden of their entire villages. Unless there were special circumstances, they generally remained behind to guard their villages.

The matter with Ninshu was neither insignificant nor particularly serious.

In Orochimaru's view, a somewhat larger ninja unit would have been enough to deal with Ninshu. There was no need for the Hokage to personally enter