Shingetsu's demands plunged the three Hokage into a deep silence. They simply could not bring themselves to decide.
But after only a brief wait, Shingetsu's already limited patience rapidly ran out.
Following the principle that nothing outranked the person footing the bill, she tapped the two scrolls in her hands, her expression growing uglier by the second.
"What, you still won't accept? Hmph, then I'll give all this money and these missions to the other villages."
With that, Shingetsu abruptly stood and strode toward the door without so much as looking at them.
"Lady Shingetsu, please wait!"
At that critical moment, Impure World Reincarnation Minato seemed to make up his mind and stepped forward once again to shoulder the burden.
He moved to block Shingetsu's path, took the two scrolls firmly in both hands, and said respectfully:
"We in Konoha will do everything in our power to fulfill your demands."
At this, Impure World Reincarnation Tobirama and Big Tsunade could not help looking troubled. Both shook their heads, their eyes full of disapproval and worry.
But Minato had already thought things through and paid no heed to their objections.
He understood that Konoha now stood at the edge of a cliff. One wrong step could doom it beyond recovery.
Since the road ahead was uncertain and strewn with thorns, they might as well choose a slightly more dignified way forward.
Rather than risk enraging Shingetsu, it was better to accept her terms as soon as possible. Even a little breathing room would be worth it.
Even if Konoha ultimately declined, that was still far better than having several Gundams flatten the whole place together.
Of course, Impure World Reincarnation Minato had also realized that Shingetsu had not come to destroy Konoha.
At the end of the day, this really was