"Were you planning to hand all the initiative over to Konoha? And Shihōin Naraku?"
"What else could we do?"
"What right did the Land of Rain have to get involved in something like this now?"
"Don't forget, all the nations in the shinobi world have it in for us now. Who knows when they might find an excuse to invade the Land of Rain."
"Surely it wouldn't come to that."
"Some of the village's ninja died unexpectedly, and their bodies were found. That's all. It's not that serious."
"Are you done arguing?!"
"What did you say?"
Bursts of arguing rang out from time to time inside the towering building.
This was the difference between Amegakure and Sunagakure.
The situation Gaara faced in Sunagakure was complicated too.
There had long been disputes between the Daimyo and the Kazekage over budget approvals, and some of the village elders favored a conservative, isolationist foreign policy.
But at least Gaara was the Kazekage.
Once Gaara had secured his position, all of Sunagakure's military power, administrative authority, and authority to represent the village externally had been concentrated in his hands alone.
Unless it was a major decision, he could make it himself without discussing it with the other elders and senior officials.
Just like this time.
He had simply ordered that the Sand shinobi's body remain in Konoha for further examination. Even if Baki disagreed, he would follow the order.
But the Land of Rain was different.
Since the eras of Hanzō and Nagato had ended, Amegakure had never again had a leader capable of truly uniting all its factions.
Among their successors, several senior officials governed jointly to keep the village running. In name, decisions were made collectively; in reality, each held a piece of the power structure firmly in their grasp.
None wanted