Yakitori Meeting

On the banks of the Shule River stood an inconspicuous izakaya. It was tucked away in a remote location, far from the Hourglass Group's factory district, but it was wonderfully quiet.

Its exterior was utterly ordinary, no different from any roadside eatery. Yet once inside, the difference became clear. The interior was not lavishly decorated, but it carried a rich, lived-in warmth. The layout was clean and tidy, and the soft lighting was easy on the eyes, making anyone who sat down feel immediately comfortable and at home.

The entire restaurant had been cleared out. Only six guests sat at a single table: Konoha's Hiruzen Sarutobi, Mitokado Homura, and Shimura Danzō, as well as Sunagakure's Keiko, Rasa, and Yashamaru—Rasa's future brother-in-law and a Jonin of Sunagakure. In the kitchen not far away, someone was working amid smoke and flames, sending waves of delicious aromas drifting over.

Before long, a plump chef with an honest-looking face carried over a large platter of grilled yakitori and set it before them, followed by a large bottle of sake.

"My lords, everything you asked for is ready. Please enjoy."

Keiko nodded. "You've worked hard. Go get some rest."

He turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Come on, try some. The chochin here is exceptional."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was in high spirits as well. Without hesitation, he picked up a chochin skewer and put it in his mouth. The egg yolk burst open at once, its texture balanced wonderfully between raw and cooked. The chicken that followed was crisp outside and tender within. This chef truly had mastered the heat for yakitori.

"Not bad! Not bad at all! I really underestimated this place. The storefront may be small, but the food is genuinely excellent. Homura, Danzō, you two should try some too." Hiruzen urged them on, then downed a cup of sake in one gulp and let out a satisfied breath.

Mitokado Homura and Shimura Danzō did not stand on ceremony, immediately joining in the eating and drinking. Keiko and the others were not about to fall behind either, grabbing skewers and digging in.

After several rounds of food and with the sake half gone, everyone had relaxed. Their postures became more casual as well. Keiko felt the time was about right. It was time to discuss business, so he slowed his pace of eating.

"All right, that's about enough. Shall we talk business, brothers?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi exchanged glances with Homura and Danzō. Hiruzen gave a slight nod, and Mitokado Homura spoke first.

"Lord Hokage's intention is to use this opportunity to combine the strength of Konoha and Sunagakure. First, we would issue a joint declaration of peace, calling on the Lands of Earth and Thunder to cease hostilities and make peace. If that fails, both sides could form a ninja coalition of no fewer than twenty thousand men and deploy them in the Land of Rain, using military pressure to force the two nations to submit..."

"Stop, stop, stop... let's leave it there for now." Keiko rudely cut Mitokado Homura off, still holding an empty bamboo skewer in his hand. He pointed it at Mito. "Answer one question for me first."

"Please speak, Lord Kazekage." Mitokado Homura did not mind Keiko's rudeness in the slightest. Then again, when they were eating skewers and drinking sake, what was the point of all that tedious etiquette? Say what you wanted, sing if you wanted to sing—putting on airs would only be out of place.

"If—just if—we deploy troops in the Land of Rain, and that blockhead, the Third Raikage, and that stubborn old fool, the Third Tsuchikage, still refuse to listen, what then?"

The three Konoha men were all taken aback. It seemed none of them had considered that possibility. It simply did not fit their assumptions.

"According to repeated simulations by Konoha General Staff, that situation will not occur, because..."

"Elder Mito, answer my question directly. I am not asking for the results of your Staff Department's simulations. I am asking what we do if the situation I described happens."

"This..."

Seeing Mitokado Homura at a loss for words, Keiko pressed his advantage.

"Heh. Right now, it is only the Lands of Earth and Thunder at war. If things go as you propose, will it become a four-nation war between Wind, Fire, Earth, and Thunder? Wouldn't that only make the war larger? Wouldn't that go against Brother Hiruzen's original goal of pursuing peace?"

"That... probably won't happen..." Mitokado Homura had completely fallen into a disadvantageous position. In the end, he was thinking like a typical staff officer, relying too heavily on map exercises and war-game simulations. His argument could not withstand a question posed from the opposite direction. Keiko had no intention of letting him off with words alone, and his expression immediately hardened.

"Hmph! Probably won't happen? Warfare is a matter of the state, the ground of life and death, the path of survival and ruin. It cannot be examined carelessly! You want me to entrust the lives of Sunagakure's children to the war-game simulations of a few Konoha staff officers? Sorry, but deploying troops is absolutely out of the question!"

His words were righteous and awe-inspiring, leaving no room for rebuttal. Whoever argued back would practically be admitting to being a war criminal. Sunagakure's children had precious lives, but Konoha's children had parents too.

Mitokado Homura was left speechless. He could only take a drink of sake to hide his embarrassment.

Danzō silently gave Keiko an approving look and took over. "Lord Kazekage, there is no need to be angry. We can postpone the matter of deploying troops, but surely we can still issue a declaration of peace."

With a single sentence, Danzō had reduced a near-military operation to diplomatic rhetoric. Everyone knew that in this era, where the side with the stronger fist had the final say, a peace declaration without military backing was not much different from toilet paper.

Hiruzen Sarutobi shot Danzō a sidelong glance, clearly dissatisfied with his wording.

"Then its deterrent power would be greatly diminished."

"A peace declaration can certainly be issued. As for military intimidation, we can use another method."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's interest was immediately piqued.

"What method?"

Keiko calmly took a sip of sake and spoke four words.

"Military exercises."

"Military exercises?" The three Konoha men repeated the unfamiliar term in unison.

"Yes, military exercises. Konoha and Sunagakure can each send around a thousand elite ninja to conduct an exercise at the Earth-Thunder Border. We can demonstrate powerful ninjutsu and tactical coordination. It would be like flexing our muscles and showing off our strength. Whether it is Hidden Cloud or Hidden Stone Village, they will have to weigh the meaning behind those exercises. Wouldn't that bring temporary peace?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes lit up at first, only to dim again after a while.

"I doubt that kind of peace would last long."

"Hahahaha!" Keiko could not help bursting into laughter. The Konoha trio's expressions turned rather unpleasant, while Rasa and Yashamaru tugged at Keiko's sleeve, worried that things would become awkward.

"Brother, do you think your approach would bring lasting peace?" Keiko did not push things too far.

The three Konoha men fell silent.

"Have any of you ever seen bulls fight?" Everyone was stunned again. The topic had jumped from heaven to earth.

"Lord Kazekage, do you mean bulls fighting each other?"

Yashamaru clearly knew how to set up a joke.

"That's right, bulls fighting each other. When two bulls fight, their horns lock together, each exerting tremendous force. If you try to pull them apart at that moment, not only will you fail, but both bulls might turn their horns on you. Even if you force them apart with brute strength, as long as they have strength left, the next time they meet, they will surely fight an even fiercer battle."

"Then what should be done?" Yashamaru continued to ask. Keiko nodded approvingly. The young man had potential.

"What should be done? Let them fight first! Let them fight until they have no strength left. Then crack a whip and scare them around the head, and they will naturally stop fighting."

Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others naturally understood what he meant.

Hiruzen picked up his cup, tilted back his head, and took another drink.

"If the war drags on, who knows how many lives will suffer."

At that moment, Danzō spoke up from beside him.

"I think Lord Kazekage's words make sense. Forcing a lid on things now would only create a temporary truce. It would not end the war, and a larger war might break out in a few years. Besides..."

Danzō's expression suddenly darkened.

"I believe a Kumogakure and Iwagakure ravaged by war would better serve the interests of Konoha and Sunagakure."

His words shocked everyone at the table. Keiko and the other two from Sunagakure merely lowered their eyes and drank in silence. Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Danzō in surprise, while Mitokado Homura picked up one of the few remaining chicken-skin skewers and chewed it vigorously.