"This..." A's expression turned ugly upon hearing this. Given what he knew of his father, what the other party said was very likely true.
"Lord Nawaki, did you tell Lord Raikage about the terms of our treaty?" Dodai asked worriedly.
"Of course! As the Raikage, I believe he had the right to know about them!" Nawaki nodded in confirmation.
The Kumogakure higher-ups all forced bitter smiles. Lord Raikage had always been a man who would rather break than bend. If Kumogakure had defeated Konoha and exchanged for his return, that would have been one thing. But this time, they had suffered a crushing defeat and signed a humiliating treaty of territorial cession and reparations. They had even agreed to give up Yugito, the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, as a condition of the exchange. How could a hero who would rather die than abandon his companions possibly agree to trade a young girl for his freedom?
"This is troublesome! Given Lord Raikage's temperament, it's no wonder he chose to kill himself," Dodai said anxiously.
"Oh? I don't quite understand. Is being alive not a good thing?" Nawaki asked in confusion.
"Given Lord Raikage's temperament, even if he sacrificed himself, he would never accept the previous treaty! Lord Nawaki should have concealed it from him. Now that Lord Raikage has regained his freedom, he will likely immediately die to prove his resolve!" Dodai said.
"But he would find out sooner or later, wouldn't he?" Nawaki said dismissively.
"We had originally planned to explain things to Lord Raikage gradually after he returned, but now... sigh!" Under the Third Raikage's questioning gaze, Dodai lowered his head in shame.
A was caught in a dilemma as well. Even without the Third Raikage saying a word, he understood the meaning in his father's eyes: "Even if you ransom