Xuandou smiled at her words and said:
"What can Konoha still offer the Uchiha now?"
"Money?"
"Konoha has lost battle after battle. The Daimyō of the Land of Fire is probably preparing to cut off its financial support, isn't he?"
"And with the war going on, Konoha has no income from mission commissions. How much could be left in its treasury?"
He paused, then continued:
"An alliance?"
"Konoha is notorious for going back on its word."
"The Uzumaki Clan's Uzushiogakure signed an alliance with Konoha, not only providing it with powerful sealing ninjutsu, but even marrying the princess of the Land of Whirlpools to Hashirama."
"Yet when the Land of Whirlpools faced an assault by the major ninja villages, Konoha didn't send a single soldier."
"The Uchiha joined Konoha and gave so much over the years, only for the Hokage to discard them once they had served their purpose."
He stared into Tsunade's eyes.
"Princess Tsunade, tell me, would I dare trust Konoha enough to sign an alliance?"
Tsunade was momentarily at a loss for words.
She wanted to argue, but found that every word Xuandou had said was true.
Suddenly, she felt a little powerless.
Konoha's credibility had long since been exhausted by the Hokage who succeeded the First.
The Second, Tobirama, had used up some of the trust established by the First, Hashirama, and during Hiruzen's decades as the Third, he had utterly ruined what remained of Konoha's reputation.
Now that she was the Fifth, what could she use to restore it?
What could she offer to ask for help?
Standing behind her, Shizune wanted to say something, but did not know how to begin either.
Silence fell over the reception room.
Xuandou picked up his teacup and leisurely took a sip.
He set it down, then changed