## Iwagakure ##
The current Tsuchikage of Iwagakure was Ōnoki.
Iwa shinobi were known for their rock-solid resolve and extreme loyalty.
Once their leader gave an order, they would carry it out to the end, even at the cost of their lives.
That day, the Tsuchikage heard a knock at his office door.
"Come in," Ōnoki said.
The door opened, and a man walked in. He wore the standard Iwagakure uniform.
"Good morning, Lord Tsuchikage." The man knelt before him.
"Yaren... what is it?" Ōnoki asked.
Yaren was, in fact, the village's spymaster.
"Yes, Lord Tsuchikage," Yaren replied, rising to his feet. "We received a letter from Sunagakure, and we've also heard some interesting news from Konoha." He handed the letter to the Tsuchikage.
The Tsuchikage opened the envelope:
Lord Tsuchikage,
Our situation is urgent, and we hope to receive a reply as soon as possible.
Five days ago, our village allied with the Hidden Sound Village and launched an invasion of Konoha.
The invasion failed. Both we and the Hidden Sound Village were defeated. It seemed Konoha had been prepared all along.
We severely underestimated their strength and placed our trust in a suspicious person.
We suffered a heavy blow, and therefore propose an alliance with your village.
Sincerely,
Sunagakure Council
The Tsuchikage read the letter several times.
They let Orochimaru take the lead... fools, Ōnoki thought.
"Sunagakure wants to form an alliance with us, yet you don't seem surprised," Ōnoki said.
"Our spies in Konoha sent back some very interesting news." Yaren handed him the report on the invasion.
Ōnoki skimmed through it quickly and soon noticed the part about Naruto:
Apparently, this jinchūriki was no more than a fourteen-year-old boy, yet he killed one-fifth of Sunagakure's forces. He possessed high-level ninjutsu and sealing techniques.
Sealing techniques...