Kumogakure received a reply.
It was brief, just a single sentence.
"Our village will send Xuanhui as our envoy to lead our delegation to the negotiations."
The moment Dodai read the letter, he realized something was wrong.
If this was merely a negotiation, why send someone with such overwhelming combat strength?
He told A that there was definitely more to this than met the eye. Kumogakure should lower its demands and try not to antagonize the people from Konoha.
But A flatly rejected Dodai's advice.
"Impossible. During the war, Konoha fought three great nations in succession, and that went on for years!
"Even if they've recovered in the years since, they've gone and formed an alliance with the Hidden Mist Village. That proves they still need outside forces to strengthen themselves."
"No... no, that's not right..."
Dodai rejected A's reasoning, struggling to get his own point across.
"Not a single one of Konoha's major fighters fell during all those years of battle!
"Konoha's Two Lights have the fighting power of an entire army between them!
"They haven't apologized or bent over backward to appease us. That single, brief sentence alone shows that they have no fear of war!"
A snorted, sweeping his gaze over his subordinates.
"Aren't the negotiations tomorrow?
"I'll see for myself whether Konoha is bluffing or really has the strength to back it up!"
"I'm going to the negotiations tomorrow. Want to come with me?"
"You're taking me along even for negotiations?"
"You play bad cop, I'll play good cop.
"If it really comes to blows, they can't do anything to you. Between the two of us, we can beat every last one of them up."
"But this is important... can I really represent Konoha alongside you?
"Wouldn't Shikaku Nara be a slightly better choice...?"
Xuanhui