Whether to help them target Kumogakure was an extremely difficult decision. Even as the leaders of their respective villages, they hesitated. Mei Terumi could not help tapping on the table, each tap seeming to strike deep into their hearts.
None of them stated their position immediately. Instead, they waited for those around them to reveal their stance.
Minato Namikaze looked toward Uchiha Yū. The other man had fallen into thought, knowing that this decision concerned Konoha's future alignment.
If they helped Akatsuki truly defeat Kumogakure, then the Kumogakure of old would become history. Even if a few stragglers were lucky enough to escape, compared with a behemoth like Konoha, and without a country's support, they would be unable to sustain further development at all.
Not only would Konoha obtain Kumogakure's considerable remaining wealth, it would also receive a massive sum of money from Akatsuki, allowing Konoha to recover from the exhaustion of war.
Of course, all of this rested on Akatsuki being able to defeat them.
If they failed to defeat Kumogakure, then any villages that had helped Akatsuki would become Kumogakure's enemies. Should another Shinobi World War break out in the future, Kumogakure would certainly take revenge on them first.
With the village's future stability at stake, no one present agreed right away.
The atmosphere fell stagnant, but fortunately, they had plenty of time.
They were all weighing the strength of both sides, trying to determine which had the greater chance of victory.
Then, amid the quiet atmosphere, a voice broke the deadlock. Ebizo's aged voice rang out, drawing everyone's attention.
"Our village is willing to send shinobi to support your invasion."
Ebizo placed his hand on the summoning scroll, though he did not immediately withdraw it. His gaze swept over the others, and in the end, Mei Terumi