Guiding Public Opinion

Inside the secret chamber.

Ōnoki finally turned his gaze to Yagura.

"The Hidden Mist Village is even worse." Ōnoki sneered. "You sent a group of elites over to wander around the coast twice, putting in effort without actually doing anything. The moment things looked bad, you ran faster than rabbits."

"This was our so-called 'alliance' last time!"

Ōnoki dropped heavily into his stone chair, his gaze sinister. "Every last one of you was an idiot played in the palm of Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand!"

The secret chamber fell into dead silence.

Ōnoki had torn open the terrifying political maneuvering of Hiruzen Sarutobi, along with the shortsightedness and greed of the four nations back then, leaving it bloody and exposed.

Pakura lowered her eyes, her cold face devoid of any extra expression.

"Rasa is already dead." Pakura's voice was as rough as grit. "That kind of thing will not happen again in today's Sunagakure. We need Konoha's supplies. Even if we have to seize them, we will take them back."

Yagura toyed with the coral staff in his hand.

"The Hidden Mist Village has only just ended its civil strife and urgently needs external resources to ease its domestic conflicts." His violet eyes remained fixed on the tabletop. "As long as the benefits are sufficient, the Hidden Mist Village will not retreat even half a step this time."

A took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the killing intent and shock churning in his heart.

He knew Ōnoki was not lying.

In wars between nations, there was no such thing as morality.

"Fine!" A's fierce gaze swept across the other three. "Since we've laid everything out, then let's set the rules."

A gritted his teeth. "If anyone dares stab the others in the back again, the remaining three nations will join forces