Chapter 201 The Arrival of the Tsuchikage and Raikage
Facing Nagato's question, Uchiha Touko took a sip of tea and slowly said, "I plan to launch a war, a war to end all conflict." Nagato's
pupils contracted immediately upon hearing this.
"In the Third Shinobi World War, although Konoha was technically the victor, I witnessed Kumogakure using war as leverage to force the Hyuga clan's branch head to end the conflict with his death. At that time, I realized that if the problem wasn't solved at its source, the war would never end,"
Uchiha Touko said. "What the shinobi world needs is unification, so I will achieve this in one battle, ending everything in our generation."
"Including the Land of Rain?" Nagato frowned.
"Of course, including the Land of Rain." Uchiha Touko looked directly into Nagato's eyes.
"Why tell me your plan? Aren't you afraid I'll spread your plan throughout the shinobi world? Then, the Land of Fire will become the target of everyone's attacks," Nagato asked.
"You won't do that," Uchiha Touko shook his head.
"Are you so sure?"
"Of course, because you are one of the few leaders of all the major and minor forces in the entire ninja world who genuinely yearns for peace and has been working towards it." Uchiha Touko said, "That's why I agreed to your request for a meeting."
Uchiha Touko refilled the teacup that Nagato had unknowingly finished, and then said, "I think we can be companions."
"Companions?" Nagato fell into deep thought upon hearing this.
Uchiha Touko wasn't in a hurry. While Nagato was thinking, Uchiha Touko looked up at Konan.
"By the way, Miss Angel." Uchiha Touko said with a smile.
"Your Hokage can just call me Konan." Konan said.
"Alright, Miss Konan, may I ask who is in charge of personnel in your organization?" Uchiha Touko asked.
"It is I who am in charge. May I ask why Your Hokage asks this?" Konan asked, puzzled.
"It's like this, I have a child here who's currently homeless because of a conflict with his family. Due to some special considerations, Konoha can't take him in. So, Miss Konan, could you and your organization take care of him for a while? Of course, you don't need to worry about his strength. That child is exceptionally talented. Although he only graduated from the Ninja Academy less than two years ago, his strength is already enough to defeat some of Konoha's veteran Jonin," Uchiha Touko said.
"Hokage, you should know the identities of the people our Akatsuki currently recruits," Konan subtly reminded Uchiha Touko, as their organization is currently full of rogue ninja.
"Regarding that, you two don't need to worry. That child isn't a Konoha ninja," Uchiha Touko shook his head, then continued, "However, that child's hobby is a bit unusual. If you plan to recruit him as a member, it might cause your organization a lot of trouble."
"Unique hobbies are fine," Nagato said at this moment.
(Just kidding, which Akatsuki ninja doesn't have some unique hobbies?) There are those who are obsessed with money and trade their teammates for cash, and those who like to take apart two parts of their own bodies for no reason. Recently, a cult member with a shaky mind has also joined them. In Uchiha Tokō's words, how much trouble can the hobby of a kid who just graduated from the Ninja Academy two years ago cause them?
"Hokage, please tell us how you intend to cooperate with the Land of Rain," Nagato said, looking at Uchiha Touko. "Do you require the Land of Rain to join your Konoha Pact?"
"Not for now," Uchiha Touko replied. "The problems in the Land of Waterfall aren't completely resolved yet. If the Land of Rain shows any inclination to ally with us, I think Onoki will immediately launch a direct attack on Konoha, regardless of the consequences. At that time, Kumogakure and Sunagakure won't let this opportunity pass, and the Fourth Shinobi World War will begin."
"With Konoha's current strength, plus our Akatsuki organization, the possibility of winning this war should be quite high, right?" Nagato said after a moment's thought.
"It is high, but this is not the war I want," Uchiha Touko shook his head.
"With Konoha now, plus your Land of Rain and other allies, although I'm confident of victory in the war, it will drag on for a long time," Uchiha Touko said. "The longer the war drags on, the greater the harm to civilians will be. What I want is a swift and decisive war, which is why I've used various means to hinder my opponents and weaken their strength."
"I see," Nagato nodded. Now, he truly believed in Uchiha Touko's peace plan. He had deeply experienced the harm that a prolonged war would cause to civilians when he was young. "I just wonder how much time Hokage needs?"
"Three years, at most three years," Uchiha Touko held up three fingers and said slowly. "Once Konoha has enough strength, I can end the war and unify the ninja world in just three months!"
Uchiha Touko's tone was very enthusiastic. Nagato was also infected by the confidence shown by Uchiha Touko and nodded, saying, "Alright, I believe you."
"But I also want to know, what are your plans for the Land of Rain after the war?" Nagato asked the most crucial question.
"In my plan, after the unification of the ninja world, Konoha will retain a certain degree of autonomy for its allies, as long as they are willing to accept the leadership of the Land of Fire. Furthermore, Konoha will also make some modifications to the natural environment of the Land of Rain, opening up the mountain ranges between the Land of Rain and the Land of Earth and Wind, allowing the moist monsoon winds of the Land of Fire to pass through normally instead of being completely blocked within the Land of Rain. This will solve the huge impact on your country's agriculture caused by the year-round rainy season. At that time, the people of the Land of Rain will also be able to share the warm sunshine with us."
Uchiha Touko's words made Nagato somewhat realize something. For those who had lived in the Land of Rain since childhood, sunshine was indeed a precious thing.
"Is it only by joining you that we can obtain all this?" Nagato asked.
"No, we will do all of this after unification. Even if your Akatsuki chooses to be an enemy of Konoha in the future, our plan to reshape the Land of Rain will not change," Uchiha Touko said, shaking his head. "The only difference is whether the Land of Rain can retain a certain degree of autonomy."
"I understand," Nagato nodded. "Akatsuki is willing to cooperate with Konoha."
…
After both sides reached an agreement on cooperation, Nagato and Uchiha Touko talked until late at night. During their conversation, Nagato was moved by the sincerity shown by Uchiha Touko and took the initiative to propose releasing the Five-Tails, whose Jinchuriki had lost all signs of life but was being kept alive by its seal, back into Konoha's Tailed Beast Nature Reserve. He also informed Uchiha Touko of the existence of the Gedo Mazo.
In response, Uchiha Touko invited Nagato to undergo a detailed physical examination in Konoha to see if a way could be found to suppress the enormous burden the Rinnegan placed on his body.
However, all of this would have to wait until after the Joint Chunin Exams. In the following days, after the ninjas from the smaller countries gradually arrived, the ninjas from Iwagakure and Kumogakure who came to participate in the Joint Chunin Exams also arrived in Konoha under the leadership of their respective Kage.
As for Sunagakure, who originally came to participate in the exams? They were still overwhelmed by the matter of the Fifth Kazekage. After Gaara and Rasa's deaths, Gaara naturally had no chance of becoming Kazekage. However, within Sunagakure, there was no one with enough strength and influence to become the Fifth Kazekage. Although Temari, the eldest princess of Sunagakure, had expressed her desire for the position of Kazekage in order to save her brother's life, her current strength was insufficient.
Of course, more importantly, without Rasa as their economic lifeline, Sunagakure's finances were on the verge of collapse. If it weren't for taking over the leftovers from Uchiha Toko's military reforms, the ninjas of Sunagakure would already be eating sand, and naturally, they wouldn't have the leisure to participate in the Chunin Exams.
Onoki and A's convoy arrived almost simultaneously. Konoha naturally attached great importance to the arrival of the two Kage. Even Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was engrossed in using his retirement savings to restore the ecosystem and population of the Naka River system, donned his Hokage robes, which he hadn't worn in a long time, and arrived at the village entrance with Touko Uchiha to welcome the two Kage.
After Onoki and A alighted at the village entrance, they exchanged pleasantries before stepping onto the red carpet leading into Konoha.
Upon arriving at the village entrance, Touko Uchiha and Hiruzen Sarutobi greeted them with smiles.
"Thank you both for coming from afar." Uchiha Touko smiled and extended his hand to Onoki first. "It's been a while, and the Tsuchikage is still as vigorous as ever."
"Hehe, Hokage, you flatter me. The things that have happened in Iwagakure lately have been giving this old man a real headache." Onoki said, "By the way, that brat Deidara didn't come to Konoha, did he?"
"Of course not." Uchiha Touko lied without batting an eye. "If that kid had come to Konoha, I would have taken him into custody immediately and handed him over to you, Tsuchikage."
"You'd better do that." Onoki nodded and then began catching up with Hiruzen Sarutobi beside him.
"The Third Hokage seems to be getting more and more leisurely lately. Retirement seems to be quite rewarding." Although Onoki was outwardly greeting Hiruzen Sarutobi, he also harbored a desire to stir up Hiruzen Sarutobi's lust for power and cause trouble for Uchiha Touko.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't exactly a saint either. Hearing Onoki's words, he chuckled and said, "Yes, with a young talent like Touko guiding the village, this old man can finally enjoy a peaceful life of playing with his grandchildren. Speaking of which, the Tsuchikage should be about my age, right? I wonder when I can invite you fishing with me."
The two old men were exchanging witty remarks when Touko Uchiha approached A.
Touko looked up at A, who was a head taller than him. At that moment, the towering giant was also sizing up Touko.
"Fourth Raikage, it's a pleasure to meet you," Touko said with a smile, extending his hand to A first.
"A pleasure to meet you," A replied, extending his hand in return, grasping Touko's hand and slowly tightening his grip.
Touko returned the handshake without changing his expression.
Then, the lightning-attribute chakra clashed in their clasped palms, creating a battlefield. Within a few breaths, countless tiny arcs of electricity exploded in that small space. Although both were uncomfortable, after their hands separated, neither Uchiha Touko nor A showed any unusual symptoms.
"The Fifth Hokage, truly formidable," A said, nodding despite the numbness in his right hand.
"The Fourth Raikage is the real deal. I heard of your deeds when I was still a genin, and seeing you now, it's truly well-deserved," Uchiha Touko replied, equally uncomfortable. Although his lightning chakra was more powerful than the Fourth Raikage's, in terms of pure strength, Uchiha Touko was still inferior. His right hand had been squeezed painfully during the handshake.
"In short, welcome both of you. Before the Chunin Exams officially begin, you are welcome to wander around Konoha at your leisure," said Uchiha Touko. "Of course, please keep your subordinates in check. Soon, this will be the first joint Chunin Exams since I became Hokage, and I don't want any unpleasantness with other villages over this matter. I hope you can understand."
As Uchiha Touko spoke, his eyes were fixed on the Fourth Raikage, and a faint killing intent emanated from him. Onoki was alright; at least the old man was a respectable person and knew Uchiha Touko's strength, so he probably wouldn't cause trouble within Konoha. But the Fourth Raikage, A, had a history of such behavior.
"Heh, Hokage, you jest," A said with a dry laugh.
"That's for the best," Uchiha Touko said, narrowing his eyes. "Konoha has prepared a sumptuous welcome banquet for you both. Please."
"Please!" Onoki glanced at Uchiha Touko and A with some regret, disappointed that the two hadn't fought directly.
"Please." Ai composed himself and followed Uchiha Touko's steps.
At this banquet welcoming the Kage of the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning, the Fifth Mizukage, Takagi Seiwan, who considered himself on par with the two, also arrived and wanted to greet them. Onoki, at least, gave him some face, but Ai completely ignored Takagi Seiwan's outstretched hand and walked straight to the center of the banquet.
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(End of Chapter)