In a fight to the death, any one of the people Hokage Madara had brought could slaughter all the dozens of high-ranking nobles of the Land of Fire before them. But when it came to scheming and maneuvering between nations, without resorting to force, all the ninja combined—including Hokage Madara—might not measure up to even one of these courtiers.
The man who had spoken of securing the greatest possible benefits was Shinhiko Kōzuki's trusted subordinate, Yamaguchi Aoyama.
When he found that neither Shinhiko nor Yuanxin interrupted him after he finished speaking, and that Hokage Madara was watching him with interest, he knew he could continue.
When it came to reading people, these men were all old hands.
"All Five Great Nations have suffered devastating losses. Shouldn't our immediate priority be to organize the Five-Nation Allied Army? If we scheme against our allies and end up turning everyone's weapons against each other, wouldn't that be exactly what Akatsuki wants?"
The three leaders did not question Yamaguchi Aoyama's words, but Sasuke, who had accompanied Madara to the Capital of the Land of Fire, was the first to voice his doubts.
Yamaguchi Aoyama's next words were cut short. After being interrupted, Aoyama first examined Sasuke's clothing.
When Aoyama noticed that Sasuke's clothes bore the Uchiha Clan's crest, and that the famed sword at his waist was Futsu-no-Mitama, which had once belonged to Shinhiko, he immediately understood that Sasuke was not someone he could afford to offend.
The cutting remarks Aoyama had been about to make instantly softened into a gentle response.
"May I ask your name, young man?"
Yamaguchi Aoyama was the highest official in charge of allocating the Land of Fire's supplies. In the past, even the Hokage would have had to show him some respect. Now, however, he set aside his