Kirigakure's blue buildings loomed faintly through the mist.
Naruto and Konan stood on high ground, looking toward Kirigakure's entrance. Everything seemed normal, with no sign of an invasion.
Naruto said, "Like we did with Iwagakure, let's try diplomacy before force. If we can avoid unnecessary conflict, all the better."
Konan, however, held out little hope.
"We already traded Kumogakure's scroll for Iwagakure's, and you promised the Tsuchikage not to disclose the contents of their scroll. Without anything to trade, you'd be asking a major nation's shinobi village for a vital secret technique scroll as a rogue ninja from another village. The chances are slim."
Then Konan changed tack. "Of course, if you were to break your agreement with Iwagakure, that would be another matter. It was only a verbal agreement anyway. They probably just wanted to save face and never expected you to honor it. After all, when interests are at stake, such agreements don't hold up..."
But Naruto smiled. "How could I do that? A lot of things have changed, but charging ahead and keeping my word is still my ninja way as Naruto Uzumaki, believe it!"
"And what we offer in exchange doesn't have to be a secret technique scroll! If Kirigakure is willing to part with it, then whenever they're in trouble, I, Naruto Uzumaki, will spare no effort to help them! Konan, write my exact words in a letter to the Mizukage. Whether she agrees is up to her, believe it!"
Konan nodded readily. "All right. Let's do that."
So Konan wrote a letter and sent it to Kirigakure.
Soon... Naruto received an affirmative reply from Kirigakure. The Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi, would personally deliver the scroll.
Konan couldn't help feeling surprised. "That went a little too smoothly."
Naruto agreed. "Yeah. Something about it leaves me