Long-Term Cooperation

Ebizo looked out at the yellow sands ahead.

"Sasori of the Red Sands."

Chiyo's expression darkened further.

That name was precisely the answer she least wanted to face.

"Once the war is over, conduct a full-scale search for Sasori."

"Whether the Third Kazekage's disappearance has anything to do with him or not, he must be found."

Elsewhere.

The surviving Konoha ninja were gathering their comrades' bodies.

A one-armed Jonin knelt beside two corpses and did not rise for a long time.

"My younger brother died a month ago."

"My father also died on the Iwagakure battlefield."

A Chunin beside him spoke in a low voice.

"Of the squad I was in, I'm the only one left."

More and more people stopped what they were doing.

The fury they had suppressed for so long finally erupted.

"Fang Xu could have ended this war by himself!"

"Why did Hiruzen Sarutobi keep him sidelined for a year?"

"Shimura Danzō feared he would accumulate military merit, while Hiruzen Sarutobi feared he would threaten the Hokage's position!"

"How many comrades did they bury for the sake of their own power?"

A Jonin from a ninja clan clenched his bloodstained forehead protector.

"Once the war is over, the Hokage must be replaced."

"Those higher-ups who care only about power and not their clansmen or the ninja on the front lines have no right to keep controlling Konoha!"

More and more voices joined in agreement.

No one spoke for Hiruzen Sarutobi or Shimura Danzō.

Fang Xu handed all negotiation matters over to Orochimaru.

He stood alone at the edge of the battlefield, waiting for Chiyo's group to deliver the 150 million ryō ransom.

The money could replenish the war funds.

Before Shukaku was handed over, he could still extract a large amount of One-Tail Chakra.

That Tailed