The rainy season came earlier than usual that year. The grass of Early Spring had only just begun to sprout when Konoha was shrouded in a dark, gloomy curtain of rain.
Outside the council tent, used only in wartime, Izumo and Kotetsu stood guard.
Heated arguments and the sound of fists pounding the table came from inside from time to time.
Izumo said, "Since Lady Tsunade returned to the village, this is already the seventh round of talks she's called. The key issue is still unresolved."
Kotetsu said, "Asking the major clans to hand over their prized secret techniques to trade with other ninja villages? Just thinking about it sounds unrealistic."
Izumo said, "Since ancient times, Ninja have organized themselves into clans. It took nearly a thousand years for them to form the village community. But throughout history... inherited secret techniques have always been a clan's lifeblood, as well as a village's most closely guarded Core secrets."
Kotetsu said, "Even with Lady Tsunade's influence and the three Ino-Shika-Cho clans setting an example, getting everyone to yield would be next to impossible."
Inside the meeting room.
The usually conservative Aburame Shii was exceptionally unyielding in the face of Tsunade's pressure.
"The Aburame Clan's insect secret techniques involve selecting mutations to breed suitable young insects. For humanitarian reasons, we actively eliminate highly venomous strains that might cause uncontrollable consequences during this process... but can outsiders guarantee they will do the same? If venomous young insects fall into the hands of people with malicious intentions, the consequences would be unthinkable!"
"I'm sorry, Lady Tsunade. No matter how earnest your proposal is, the Aburame Clan cannot surrender its inherited secret techniques. As clan leader, I cannot let our clan become a villain in history!"
The leader of the Inuzuka Clan was Inuzuka Gaku, who