This treaty had already been signed with Uchiha Minamoto?
Then what was the point of bringing it to me now?
Was this just going through the motions?
"Fifth Mizukage, please wait a moment."
Hiruzen Sarutobi forcibly suppressed his surging emotions and unrolled the scroll to read it.
"Let me... take a look."
The contents of this treaty...
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression changed at a visible pace.
This was an alliance treaty that was extremely favorable to Konoha.
Every clause carved flesh off Kirigakure and fed it to Konoha.
Had this been decades ago.
It did not even have to be decades-just a dozen years, or even a few years ago.
If Hiruzen Sarutobi had seen a treaty like this placed before him, he would certainly have slapped the table and leaped to his feet in excitement.
This was an achievement every Hokage in history had dreamed of!
It did not expand their territory, but it was better than expanding their territory.
But the problem was.
The signing of this treaty had nothing whatsoever to do with him, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
From beginning to end, the person who had driven this treaty forward was Uchiha Minamoto.
All he, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had to do now was put a stamp on it.
What did that make him?
A rubber-stamp Hokage?
"Lord Third Hokage?"
Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi remain silent for so long, Mei Terumi could not help prompting him.
"Do you see... any problems with this treaty?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent for a long time before slowly shaking his head.
"...No."
"That's good, then."
Mei Terumi inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. She had thought this old man might have some particular ideas of his own.
"If Lord Third Hokage has no objections, I hope we can complete the signing as soon as possible.
"After all,