"Kirigakure has refused to provide any information whatsoever about this Anbu agent. That simply doesn't comply with Konoha's mission regulations. They even designated the meeting location and refuse to come to our village. I can't shake the feeling that Kirigakure is hiding something.
"Also, having a team disguise themselves as a supply convoy to enter Iwagakure is far too risky. Tsunade and the other two are still children, and that's deep inside Iwagakure territory. If they truly encounter danger, we won't be able to rescue them in time."
Nara Kashin went on at length. Hiruzen Sarutobi merely smiled, rose to his feet, walked past him to the window, and opened it. A hot breeze blew into the room. "I know everything you've said." Taking a deep breath, Hiruzen said calmly, "But some things must be done even when we know the risks. I am the Hokage. The matters I consider must serve the greater good. In the last Ninja World War, Konoha appeared to have emerged victorious, but in truth, we suffered grievous losses in our clashes with Kumogakure and Sunagakure. The ones who truly benefited were Kirigakure and Sunagakure.
"The war ended partly because we drove back Kumogakure and Sunagakure, but more importantly, it had dragged on too long and every village could no longer sustain the cost. So tell me—how long do you think this peace can last?"
"Lord Hokage..." Nara Kashin looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, unable to speak.
Hiruzen chuckled softly. "I don't know how long peace will last, but I do know that there will inevitably be another Ninja World War. The era of the Three Gods has passed. It is impossible for Konoha to once again achieve the glory of facing four enemies alone. We need allies, and we must have allies. That is why,