Shinsei sat down in the main seat, with Shikaku and Kakashi standing on either side.
He didn't rush to open the letter, but first looked at Kurotsuchi, then at Samui, and then said.
"I was quite surprised that both of you arrived at the same time. Have the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning joined forces?"
"No." They answered almost simultaneously, then glanced at each other.
Kurotsuchi spoke first.
"We have received intelligence that troops from the Land of Lightning are moving towards the Land of Fire. Iwagakure is closely monitoring the situation."
Samui replied expressionlessly, "We've received intelligence that the Land of Earth's army is moving towards the Land of Fire's border. The Kumogakure is also closely monitoring the situation."
Shikaku couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Both villages followed suit after seeing the other's troop movements, and as a result, they both thought the other was about to attack, and neither wanted to fall behind.
The so-called joint force of the two countries was a blunder from the very beginning.
As for the two daimyo pressuring each other to send troops, that only made the misunderstanding seem more official.
Shinsei opened the Raikage's letter and scanned it. The wording in the letter was just Raikage himself—direct and straightforward, without any beating around the bush.
The gist of it is that the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning requested that the Kumogakure Village send troops to intervene in the Land of Fire. I sent a second-line force to the border as a show of force, not because I really wanted to fight.
Don't let your people misjudge the situation. Also, how reliable is your Council system?
He put the letter down and looked at Kurotsuchi: "Is this also what Lord Tsuchikage meant?"
Kurotsuchi Tu nodded and took out a more formal document from his pocket, handing it over.
Ōnoki's handwriting was old and powerful, and the content was more cautious than the Raikage's letter, but the core meaning was the same.
The Daimyo of the Land of Earth was furious. Iwagakure couldn't explain itself by not sending troops, but even if it did, it wouldn't actually fight.
In addition, Iwagakure is closely monitoring the reforms in the Land of Fire.
Shinsei placed the two documents on the table and leaned forward slightly.
The air in the meeting room grew heavy. Kurotsuchi and Samui were intelligent people; they knew that the conversation they had just had was merely an opening, and the real discussion was only just beginning.
The two daimyo requested military assistance, but the two kage secretly sent their trusted envoys. What this meant was clear to everyone present.
"Do you want to abolish the Daimyo?"
Shinsei asked a very direct question. Both Kurotsuchi and Samui were struck at the heart of the matter by this question.
Their expressions remained unchanged; one was the granddaughter of a career diplomat, and the other a professional secretary—but their silence lasted longer than ever before.
Finally, Kurotsuchi spoke first.
The diplomatic rhetoric faded from her tone, leaving only the truth. "I think... One-third of Iwagakure's annual budget has to be handed over to the Daimyo of the Land of Earth, in return for the Daimyo's meddling in deciding the allocation of ninja missions."
During the Third Shinobi World War, the daimyo cut Iwagakure's military budget by 40%, arguing that "the war doesn't need so many ninjas."
Thousands of Iwagakure Ninja died in that battle. But there's a "but" after the word "want"—
She looked at Shinsei.
" Iwagakure doesn't have the strength of Konoha. The Daimyo has his own samurai corps, private armies of hereditary nobles, and allies with neighboring small countries."
If Iwagakure unilaterally abolishes the daimyo's rule, civil war will be inevitable.
Ōnoki said he wasn't afraid of war, but he didn't want his decision to drag Iwagakure into a war devoid of morality.
"Moral integrity, "Shinsei pouted. " Ōnoki is subtly mocking me."
But it doesn't matter. What suits the Land of Fire may not suit the Land of Earth.
If the Third Tsuchikage is willing to be a dog, then so be it.
Samui waited until Kurotsuchi finished speaking before speaking.
Her voice was steady, each word precise and concise. "The situation in the Land of Lightning is similar. The Daimyo controls the Land of Land of Lightning's foreign trade routes, and the Kumogakure relies on the ports controlled by the Daimyo for 60% of its supplies."
If the daimyo blocks the port, Kumogakure won't last three months.
The Lord Raikage said he could smash a daimyo's head with one punch, but he couldn't smash a port.
Shinsei leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping across the two faces.
He understood. It wasn't that Ōnoki and Ai didn't want to reform; they had simply calculated the costs and realized that, given their strength and resources, they couldn't afford the price of forcing things.
The Land of Fire was able to abolish the Daimyo because Konoha had the strength to withstand any backlash.
The private armies of the old nobles were no match for the surveillance ninjas armed with Hashirama Cells fluid and A-rank Ninjutsu, and the combined pressure from the external daimyo was also neutralized by the institutional advantages of the Council.
However, Iwagakure and Kumogakure do not have these.
"So you've come," Shinsei said. "Not to declare war, not to negotiate, but to investigate. You want to see if my Council system can be implemented on your side."
If you can, go back and push for reforms. If you can't, continue loitering along the border and give the daimyo an explanation.
Kurotsuchi nodded, readily admitting it. Samui also nodded, sparing with words.
"Then let's see."
Shinsei stood up, walked to the window, and opened it. Outside were the streets of Konoha, bustling with pedestrians and lively shops.
An older woman selling fruit was grabbing a Genin ear and yelling at him for knocking over her stall. The Genin apologetically, squatted on the ground picking up apples.
Both Kurotsuchi and Samui witnessed this scene.
"Do Iwagakure and Kumogakure have such scenes?" Shinsei asked.
Kurotsuchi shook his head. Samui remained silent.
"I understand that you want to do it but don't dare to." Shinsei turned around, leaning against the window frame. "So I'm giving you a chance."
Go back and tell Ōnoki and A that Konoha is willing to provide support. Not by sending troops to help you fight your civil war, but by sharing technology and experience.
As the Hokage of Konoha, I do not aspire to conquer the world and gather everyone under my command.
I only wish for my people to be safe. I want everyone to live freely, regardless of whether they are ninjas or civilians.
Kurotsuchi and Samui both raised their heads at the same time.
Before they came, they had imagined all sorts of possibilities—being rejected, being harassed, being asked to sign an unequal treaty—but they never expected Shinsei to agree so easily.
"What are the conditions?" Samui asked. She was more cautious than Kurotsuchi.
"Conditions?" Shinsei chuckled. "No conditions. Just consider me an arrogant madman."
Kurotsuchi and Samui didn't know how to respond.
The young man before them was indeed the leader of Konoha.
Moreover, his strength was enough to make even ninjas look up to him.
Shinsei can jokingly call herself crazy, but they wouldn't dare think that way.
After exchanging perfunctory pleasantries with Shinsei, the two took their leave.
After the two left the room, Shinsei took a scroll from the drawer.
Take out a calligraphy brush and sign your name at the end of the scroll.
"Then, let's begin the plan."
Shikaku Nara accepted the scroll and nodded solemnly.
"Yes, Lord Hokage."