Sōsuke Intelligence

"I think we can join forces with Iwagakure, then bring in the Hidden Mist Village as well. That way, the Five Great Ninja Villages will be gathered together, and we can deal with Ninshu at the lowest possible cost," Mitokado Homura was the first to suggest.

He had always considered Ninshu a considerable threat. Now that they had an opportunity to eliminate it, they naturally had to seize it.

Without Sōsuke, Mu Yue would have no equal left in the ninja world. At that point, no one would be able to stop Konoha's development, and Konoha would become stronger than ever before.

"If Ninshu is allowed to grow, the balance of the ninja world will change again. That would be detrimental to Konoha," Utatane Koharu added.

Konoha was undoubtedly the greatest beneficiary of the current order in the ninja world. As long as things remained as they were and no major upheavals occurred in the future, no Ninja Village would be able to catch up to Konoha.

Ninshu was the one exceptional variable.

Both Ninshu's development model and Sōsuke's strength could threaten Konoha's position as the dominant power.

"We should test their attitude. If there are no issues, I think we can take part," Hiruzen Sarutobi said after some thought.

On a personal level, Hiruzen Sarutobi no longer hated Sōsuke that much.

It was true that Sōsuke had killed Shimura Danzō, but Sōsuke had not attacked Konoha and killed Shimura Danzō there. Shimura Danzō had gone looking for trouble himself and been killed in return.

After that battle, Hiruzen Sarutobi understood that Sōsuke was not a petty person.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had used war to force Sōsuke into battle, yet Sōsuke had still held back against him.

Shimura Danzō had most likely done something excessive in the Land of Rain before