"Oh?"
Hearing Haneda Yu Ze's sudden words, the Third Hokage slightly raised his head. As his eyelids lifted, a faint, imperceptible sharpness flashed through his eyes, though all he said was that single word.
A clan?
At a time like this... was he going to introduce their Hada Clan?
A trace of doubt passed through his mind.
"Yes! Since Konoha has shown such sincerity and, under these circumstances, given us a written alliance agreement with full effect, we cannot be too stingy either."
Haneda Yu Ze remained humble as he spoke, bowing slightly. He did not place himself on equal footing with Konoha merely because they had signed an equal written alliance agreement.
As for the matter of the fully effective agreement, the ninja wrapped up from head to toe had intercepted every letter He Yin had sent back. He already knew about it.
Without question, whether it was the initial written alliance agreement with half effect or the later agreement with full effect, both were concessions from Konoha. They had to show some gesture in return.
Besides, his trip to Konoha had been meant to understand what kind of person the Third Hokage was, while also letting the Third Hokage understand what kind of person he was working with, thereby strengthening their relationship of trust.
Just now, the Third Hokage had handed him the formal document for signing without hesitation. That already showed that, at least before them, the Third Hokage possessed the broad-mindedness to neither employ those he doubted nor doubt those he employed. Even if, inwardly, he might have been using this method to win over Kusagakure because circumstances had forced his hand.
Still, it was enough to see that during this period, and throughout the long process in which the Shinobi World's landscape would change in