I Nominate Chōjūrō for Kazekage!

Minato Namikaze was injured in his fight with A. Konoha is now forced to retreat on two fronts, with the Ino-Shika-Cho trio and the Hyuga Clan responsible for the Eastern Defense Line.

In the Elder Council hall, Hoshino Maki put down the intelligence he was holding, his expression strange.

This shouldn't be happening?

Did I make A stronger, or did I make Minato weaker?

I only met Minato once. There's no way this has anything to do with me, right?

But the letter from the Cloud Ninja did express gratitude for the intelligence he provided.

Hoshino Maki scratched his head. The only time he interacted with A was at the negotiation table. He had said so many things back then, how could A remember which specific sentence inspired him?

He had done many good deeds, such as helping the people of the Land of Lightning achieve common prosperity; helping merchants from the Land of Fire find new business opportunities, promoting business exchange between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning; helping the Cloud Ninja realize that the resources they had accumulated through their past "free shopping" were far from enough, and they needed to increase their efforts, and so on.

I can't think about it anymore, or even smashing my new wooden fish won't recover my lost merit.

In short, he knows he's a good boy.

The Elders asked Hoshino Maki a few questions and didn't think much of it. After all, given Hoshino Maki's identity, there was no reason for him to betray Sunagakure. They just took it as a polite gesture from the Cloud Ninja and didn't pay much attention to the battle mentioned in the letter.

Only Hoshino Maki knew that this was a decisive variable.

In the original history, Minato Namikaze's role in Konoha was huge and irreplaceable.

From fighting Stone Ninja to Cloud Ninja, from west to east, he was the one who blew up the granaries, and he was the one who resisted the enemy's elite troops. He was truly like eight people in one.

Although he didn't know the extent of Minato's injuries now, judging by the tone of the Cloud Ninja, he probably wasn't doing too well. He definitely couldn't be used like a robot as before, otherwise, Konoha would be holding Minato's funeral before the war was even over.

It was conceivable that Konoha's casualties would be even heavier than in the original history.

This was naturally good news for the Sand Ninja. The more intense the fighting between the three ninja villages, the better.

"Given the current situation, I believe the Cloud Ninja and Stone Ninja are very likely to send us large orders for ninja tools. The workers should work overtime to stock up."

After Hoshino Maki finished speaking, Ebizo smiled and nodded.

Ninja tools were an important source of income for the Chiyo Clan. Because of the war, this income had tripled.

Conservatively estimated, the profits from the three-way conflict would at least double their income again.

Ebizo was different from Chiyo. He loved the village, but he also cared deeply about the interests of his clan.

If Chiyo's admiration for Hoshino Maki stemmed from considerations for the village's development and Sasori, then Ebizo's was more mixed with personal gain. After all, Chiyo didn't handle village affairs, and he had to worry about many of the clan's business issues.

Seeing the increase in income figures every day made him love Hoshino Maki a little more.

"What does everyone think about the Cloud Ninja's proposal?"

Chōjūrō spoke up.

The Cloud Ninja sending a formal letter to the Sand Ninja was naturally not just to thank Hoshino Maki. In fact, it was an invitation to an alliance.

"I think it's feasible. Konoha is currently retreating under the dual attacks of Cloud and Stone. The Yellow Flash was hyped up to be godlike, but in the end, he was still defeated by A. This shows that Konoha is strong on the outside but weak on the inside. If the three of us form an alliance, taking down Konoha won't be difficult."

"Exactly. Konoha can't beat the Cloud Ninja, and we just defeated the Cloud Ninja, so our morale is high. Whether facing the Cloud Ninja or Konoha, we have the advantage in momentum. Forming an alliance now allows us to demand significant benefits."

"I think the forests in the west can be ceded to us."

"..."

Hoshino Maki stood behind Chiyo, watching them act as if they were popping champagne halfway through the game, no, they had already finished drinking the champagne before the game even started. He didn't even have the desire to complain.

After all, this wasn't the first time they had shown such foolish confidence.

These stupid men are so disappointing!

If they had even bothered to ask the ninja who fought the Cloud Ninja, they wouldn't have made such a judgment.

However, the situation was still okay. With smart people like Chiyo, the Elder Council would never approve this proposal.

Chiyo sat at the head of the Elder seats, with the past Kazekages of Sunagakure behind her.

Her eyelids drooped, as if she were about to fall asleep.

After everyone discussed for a long time, they all turned their gaze to Chiyo. Chōjūrō beside her frowned, feeling that ever since Chiyo returned, they no longer loved him.

"Rasa, what do you think?"

"I think it's feasible. With the Stone Ninja and Cloud Ninja tying up most of Konoha's forces, the pressure on us won't be great. We can fully send troops to occupy the western forest first and then observe the situation."

Rasa's words made the others nod in agreement.

Chiyo did not express her opinion. After a few seconds of silence, she turned her head, "Tell me your thoughts."

Hoshino Maki nodded. "I strongly agree with Lord Rasa's words. Sending troops at this time would also put great pressure on Konoha, but..."

Hoshino Maki changed the subject, drawing out his words. When everyone's attention was focused on him, he continued, "Our benefits are too few."

Chōjūrō immediately retorted, "Konoha's funds and ninjutsu, and vast forests in the west, aren't these benefits great enough?"

Hoshino Maki smiled, "Does Lord Chōjūrō believe that Konoha will be destroyed because of this?"

Chōjūrō sneered, "With an alliance of the Three Great Ninja Villages, the Mist Ninja won't stand idly by. When the Four Great Ninja Villages besiege Konoha, what reason will it have to survive?"

Hoshino Maki nodded, then suddenly raised his right arm high. "I nominate Lord Chōjūrō to succeed the Kazekage!"

Everyone was stunned, not understanding why Hoshino Maki suddenly said this.

"Hoshino Maki, we are discussing an alliance right now."

Rasa frowned, feeling a bit displeased.

Unexpectedly, Hoshino Maki didn't stop there. He spread his hands and said, "This can all be decided together. Lord Chojuro has the ability to fight the Nine-Tails one-on-one. If he sits in the Kazekage position, I will be convinced."

"You're talking nonsense!"

Chojuro, abandoning all pretense of decorum, slammed the table and stood up, pointing at Hoshino Maki and cursing him.

If he didn't understand the other party was being sarcastic now, he would have lived those decades in vain.

Rasa froze and said nothing, picking up his teacup and taking a sip.

Keep talking!

I love hearing this!

Hoshino Maki, with a face full of innocence, said aggrievedly, "I'm speaking from the heart. Why are you cursing me, Elder?"

"If Konoha were to be destroyed, what would Konoha do to the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki? I thought about it from their perspective. If I were the Hokage, I would have Minato Namikaze take the Jinchuriki to the enemy village and release the Nine-Tails directly. It would be one for one, and no one would survive!"

Hoshino Maki's words were delivered with a hint of grievance, but they chilled everyone present as if they had drunk a large bowl of ice water in the dead of winter.

Was this possibility he mentioned real?

Yes.

Was it likely?

With three or four choices, it wasn't exactly high.

But who dared to gamble on it!

"Elder Chojuro's wisdom surely considered this, yet he still wants to destroy Konoha. He must have complete preparations. He bears the Nine-Tails for the village, he fights Minato for everyone. He has talent and virtue. If I don't recommend him for Kazekage, who else should I recommend?"

"Pfft—!"

Rasa spat out the tea in his mouth, quickly waved his hands, covered his mouth, and coughed, saying:

"Continue, continue, don't mind me!"

At this moment, Chojuro's face was as black as coal.