Watching Danzo draw closer, Hoshino Maki's eyes darted around. He hurriedly called out, "The Elder Council has replied!"
Danzo stopped in his tracks, his expression briefly troubled. Then he sat back down, picked up his teacup, thought for a moment, and set it down again. "Go on."
Hoshino Maki composed himself. "We can give up the Western Forest, but the Southwest Forest must come under the Land of Wind's control."
Danzo frowned. That would leave the Land of Rivers bordering only a small part of the Land of Rain, meaning it would be almost completely surrounded by the Land of Wind. The two countries would have no buffer between them, becoming the first pair of nations among the Five Great Nations to share a border.
Was that a problem?
Yes and no. It mostly depended on their strength.
If Konoha had sufficient strength—not necessarily the strength it had under the First Hokage, but even what it had five years ago—then perhaps this wouldn't be a bad thing. But right now, Konoha had no desire to sleep beside a tiger.
"Konoha can pay more, but it can't accept ceding territory."
Hoshino Maki sighed and shrugged. "Sir, if that's the case, then there's really nothing more I can negotiate."
With that, Hoshino Maki picked up his teacup, lowered his head, and sipped his tea without another word.
Silence. More silence.
Five minutes. Ten minutes.
In the end, Danzo spoke first.
Sunagakure could afford to drag things out, but Konoha's front line was probably already clashing with the enemy. Every second that passed could mean another casualty.
It was true that he wanted to become Hokage, but if Konoha's forces were wiped out, what would be the point? He'd be a commander of an empty shell.
"I need to make a call."
Since