"Do we choose one from these three options?"
Looking at the scrolls laid out on the table, Hada Kazune, whose emotions had completely settled, slowly raised her head and looked at Watanabe Kensei before asking.
"Yes."
Watanabe Kensei nodded.
At this moment, Watanabe Kenshin's expression had also returned to its usual amicable state. The only thing left in his attitude toward Hada Kazune was respect, as though their earlier sharp exchange had never happened.
Though these plans had been conceived on short notice, since Kenshin and a group of Defense Force strategists, along with other heavyweight advisors, had devised them, they should already be the most comprehensive solutions Konoha could come up with.
I hope she can accept them.
That thought passed through his mind.
To be honest, it was not that Konoha had failed to take Kusagakure's position in this matter seriously. The one-month delay had indeed been an emergency order issued by the Third Hokage. The Hokage had exercised his authority to issue it directly. It was an absolute order, requiring no discussion before being put into effect. There had been no room for negotiation.
At the time, Kusagakure had indeed not been taken into consideration, because it had been an emergency order.
That was precisely why Watanabe Kensei had lowered his posture so much after Kazune's barrage of words.
It was also why he had lingered by the windowsill earlier. Especially after hearing the two discuss this issue, he had suddenly spoken up when Kazune mentioned standing with hostile forces.
What he had wanted was to level out some of the advantage on the side of the rules.
He wanted to prevent Kusagakure from making exorbitant demands and forcing Konoha to take measures it could not afford merely to protect Kusagakure.
But in the end, it had