Undercurrents Stirring

"Sa Lei, I wonder how your lord is doing these days. We haven't heard any news in so long—he hasn't developed some hidden illness, has he?" The corners of Danzo's mouth curled into a meaningful smile as he sat calmly in his chair, paying no heed to Hiruzen Sarutobi's warning glance.

Facing Danzo's provocation, Sa Lei narrowed his eyes and said, "Thank you for your concern, Brother Danzo. The Third Raikage has been diligently practicing a secret technique these days, and there have been no problems whatsoever." After a pause, Sa Lei continued, "Still, I never expected Konoha to care so much about our current Raikage. This old man is truly flattered."

"Sa Lei, spare us the nonsense. Tell us, what exactly is your purpose in coming here? I refuse to believe you came merely to offer congratulations."

Mitokado Homura, who had not spoken much until then, got straight to the point.

"Haha, I never expected Brother Mitokado to be as straightforward as ever. Then this old man will stop beating around the bush. I did indeed come here for another purpose."

Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi revealed an expression of unsurprised understanding and said, "Then what, precisely, is the purpose you just mentioned?"

"An alliance. Kumogakure wishes to form an alliance with Konoha."

Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his brows and said thoughtfully, "Why do you wish to form an alliance? I do not believe your Raikage is someone who would form one for no reason."

"Amegakure!" The moment Sa Lei spoke those three words, the Hokage Office fell utterly silent.

After a long while, Danzo was the first to speak. "I never expected your Cloud Ninja to have such enormous appetites. We worked so hard to take Amegakure, yet you want it too. Should we throw Konoha in as a bonus for your Raikage as well? Or perhaps..."

"Danzo!!!" Hiruzen Sarutobi cut off what Danzo was about to say, his face cold.

"Hmph!" Danzo snorted indignantly. He first shot Sa Lei a vicious glare, then turned his head away and said nothing more.

"I understand what you mean, but as Danzo just said, don't you think your appetite is too great? Besides, although we defeated the Rain Ninja, Amegakure does not belong to us. Even if you form an alliance with us, you would not gain the slightest benefit, would you?"

"Heh!" The aged Sa Lei smiled dismissively. "It seems Lord Hokage has misunderstood what I said. Kumogakure has no intention of seizing Konoha's spoils. We merely ask that Konoha not interfere in what follows."

"What exactly do you mean? Do you not know that we have already made a treaty with Amegakure?" Utatane Koharu, who had remained silent until then, said.

"Of course we know. Not only that, I know there is a clause in the treaty requiring you to protect Amegakure from attacks by other ninja villages."

"Since you know that, how dare you—" Mitokado Homura rose angrily, pointing at Sa Lei's nose.

"But in the end, Konoha is protecting Amegakure only for the sake of profit, isn't it?" Sa Lei smiled unconcernedly. "If Kumogakure offers greater benefits, I wonder whether you would accept."

"You mean for us to betray our ally?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression darkened somewhat.

Sa Lei shook his head. "That is not quite right. Before the treaty is formally signed, Lord Hokage, you cannot be considered Amegakure's ally."

At those words, a cold gleam flashed in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes. "What do you take Konoha for?"

As though he had long expected to be refused, Sa Lei hurriedly said, "Three years. As long as Konoha guarantees that it will not interfere in any disputes concerning Amegakure for three years, whatever Amegakure can offer, Kumogakure can offer as well."

Hearing Kumogakure's generous terms, the two elders in their seats were both tempted. Even Danzo looked at the old man before him with considerable surprise.

They kept signaling to Sarutobi with their eyes, wanting their Hokage to accept the other side's terms.

Yet Hiruzen Sarutobi turned a blind eye to them. After pondering for a moment, he continued, "I wonder whether the terms you just proposed are your Raikage's idea, or yours alone."

"Naturally, they are Lord Raikage's idea."

With his brows tightly furrowed, Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered again. "In that case, if you do not mind, please rest in Konoha tonight. I believe I will give you a definite reply tomorrow."

"I understand Lord Hokage's meaning. Then I shall await good news here." With that, Sa Lei rose again and left the Hokage Office with the three Chunin behind him.

The moment Sa Lei left, Utatane Koharu said to Hiruzen Sarutobi, "Why did you not agree directly just now? The terms they offered were already generous enough. What exactly are you still worried about?"

"Koharu is right. Their terms would bring us nothing but benefits. If we form an alliance with them, not only would we no longer need to fight those Rain Ninja and Cloud Ninja for Amegakure, but we would also obtain more supplies. Why wait another night?" Mitokado Homura questioned as well.

Sarutobi pressed both hands downward, signaling for the two to calm down. He then turned his gaze to Danzo. "Danzo, what do you think? How credible were Sa Lei's words just now?"

"Heh. Words from an old fox like him are bound to be seven parts truth and three parts lies. I believe they genuinely want an alliance, but the terms he just mentioned may not be real."

"Oh? What do you mean by that?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze flickered as he wanted to hear a different view from his old friend.

"I do not believe those Kumogakure people would give up most of the benefits to us just to attack Amegakure," Danzo analyzed.

Sarutobi nodded in agreement. "That is what I think as well. But for now, we cannot determine whether they harbor ulterior motives."

After saying that, Hiruzen Sarutobi gestured behind him. Immediately afterward, an ANBU wearing a mask emerged from the shadows.

"Send an ANBU squad to monitor where Sa Lei is staying. If you discover anything unusual, report it to me immediately."

Danzo was somewhat dismissive of the Hokage's arrangement. "Sarutobi, you are being overly cautious. I already sent a Root Squad to monitor them. There will be no problem."

"Is that so?" Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Danzo an extra glance but said nothing more. He still had the ANBU carry out the surveillance. Danzo merely shrugged and did not object further.

Sa Lei's Guest Room

"All right, you may return and report to your master." Sa Lei glanced at the map in his hand, then waved at the shadow before him.

Only after the shadow had completely disappeared from the guest room did one of the Chunin beside Sa Lei step forward and ask, "Lord Sa Lei, can we truly trust that Danzo?"

"You think he is untrustworthy?" Sa Lei stared at his subordinate with an ambiguous smile.

"This subordinate would not dare. It is only that, during the meeting just now, Danzo kept opposing you. I do not think he sincerely wants to help us." The Kumogakure Chunin hurriedly lowered his head.

Sa Lei waved his hand and sneered. "You were right about that. That sinister viper Danzo truly cannot be trusted, and I never intended to trust him completely." His tone shifted as he continued, "But there is one thing you misunderstood. The reason that fellow opposed me in the meeting room was simply to prevent the Third Hokage from suspecting him should the matter be exposed."