"This is what we found during our investigation in the Land of Rain."
Sasuke Uchiha stood in the Hokage's Office and recounted his earlier experiences in the Land of Rain in detail.
The implication of his words was clear.
Unless the Five Great Shinobi Villages applied pressure, the Land of Rain certainly would not readily hand over what they had obtained from the Akatsuki's base.
Shihōin Naraku nodded. "All right, I have a general idea of what happened."
"I'll send a letter to pressure the Land of Rain, but it's hard to say what we'll get out of it. They certainly won't hand over anything truly important."
"Unless we launch another Shinobi World War!"
Naraku knew that the other Shinobi Villages would not even need to get involved. As long as he applied pressure, the Land of Rain would yield and hand over a few things to satisfy him.
They had no choice. Konoha was the one backing the Land of Rain now.
The other villages were all dissatisfied with the Land of Rain to varying degrees, and some even hated it.
Only Konoha had accepted the Land of Rain's submission and, after receiving substantial benefits, provided the power to protect them.
That was also why the other Shinobi Villages had not moved against the Land of Rain.
The Land of Rain's contributions during the Shinobi World War alone were not enough to offset its past sins.
Ultimately, the Fourth Shinobi World War had been started by the Akatsuki.
It would not be so easy for the Land of Rain to simply cast off its responsibility.
That was why they had submitted to Konoha!
It was not even an alliance!
The Land of Rain was not currently qualified to form an alliance with Konoha, or rather, the Land of Fire.