"Uchiha... Elder, you make it sound easy enough, but is the situation really that simple?"
Homura Mitokado took several deep breaths to calm himself before speaking earnestly.
"Sunagakure's position is already clear. Getting them to compromise through negotiations is practically impossible!"
"You say we should fight, but can the village really afford another war right now?"
"You all know the state of the village's finances. The funds we currently have are barely enough to keep our existing operations running. We simply can't support another war!"
Minato hesitated slightly upon hearing this.
Putting everything else aside, Homura did have a point on this particular matter.
Konoha's finances were indeed extremely strained. To wage another war, the village would need at least six months to a year of financial recovery and accumulation.
However...
Minato suddenly remembered the man named Kado whom Ren had under his control.
If money was the issue, then perhaps money really wasn't an issue at all.
With that thought, Minato regained his composure.
Ren, however, hadn't considered that angle. He looked at Homura and sneered.
"Elder Mitokado, isn't that statement somewhat contradictory?"
"Can Konoha really be poorer than Sunagakure?"
"If Konoha can't afford another war, can Sunagakure afford one?"
"If another war really breaks out, which side do you think will be more desperate—Konoha or Sunagakure?"
Although the losses from this defeat had been divided among Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure, Sunagakure's individual losses were absolutely no smaller than Konoha's.
Moreover, given the difference in the two villages' overall strength and resources, even if both sides paid the same price, what might be merely a minor inconvenience to Konoha could be devastating to Sunagakure.
So while Konoha's current situation was certainly extremely strained, Sunagakure was already at the end of its strength.
Both sides were holding their breath and forcing themselves to endure.
Konoha still had some strength left. How could it be the first to let that breath go?
Homura, however, had calmed down by this point.
"Elder Uchiha, you're an elder of the village now. You need to look at things from a longer-term perspective. You can't limit your thinking to the interests of a single village or country."
"It's true that Sunagakure's situation is more difficult than Konoha's. But don't forget that Sunagakure isn't the only defeated nation this time."
"Iwagakure and Kumogakure are also defeated parties, and they are Sunagakure's greatest source of confidence."
"I'll stake my reputation on this: the moment we put even a little more pressure on Sunagakure, Iwagakure and Kumogakure will definitely step in to help them."
"Because their interests are aligned on this matter!"
At this point, Minato's expression also became solemn.
Homura's concern wasn't without merit.
"Elder Uchiha, Elder Mitokado has a point."
"The reason Iwagakure and Kumogakure haven't taken a position yet is probably because they're waiting to see the outcome of the peace negotiations between Konoha and Sunagakure."
"In other words, Sunagakure is currently being used as a pawn. The moment they see the situation turning against them, Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and even Kirigakure could intervene for the sake of their own interests."
Homura became even more confident upon hearing Minato take his side.
"Not 'could.' They definitely will!"
"The reason I dare stake everything on this judgment is because I have my reasons."
"The shinobi world isn't particularly large, nor is it particularly small. But ever since the one country, one village system was established, there have only been a handful of main players on the world stage."
"Konoha, Iwagakure, Kumogakure, Kirigakure, and Sunagakure."
"Other than these Five Great Shinobi Villages, the smaller countries and villages are essentially supporting actors. They aren't worth worrying about."
"So Konoha's opponents are Iwagakure, Kumogakure, Kirigakure, and Sunagakure—the other four great villages."
"And, speaking without exaggeration, I've spent decades contending with all four of them."
"I know their temperaments, their attitudes, and their thinking inside and out."
"Likewise, they know Konoha's situation just as thoroughly."
"We've been dealing with one another this way for decades. My judgment cannot possibly be wrong!"
Homura's words were forceful and carried considerable authority.
And he truly had the experience to back them up.
Ren narrowed his eyes slightly.
"I've never doubted Elder Mitokado's judgment on this matter."
"But whether the other villages can correctly predict how Konoha will respond is another question entirely."
"After all, the Konoha of today is no longer the Konoha of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi."
"This is a new era centered around the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze!"
Those words left both Homura and Minato stunned.
Minato felt his blood surge with excitement.
Homura, on the other hand, felt his heart sink as an ominous premonition arose within him.
"Elder Uchiha... what exactly are you implying?"
Ren ignored Homura and looked directly at Minato.
"Hokage-sama, I think this is an opportunity for us."
"Just as Elder Mitokado said, decades of conflict have caused the other shinobi villages to become accustomed to Konoha's way of doing things."
"If we change our usual approach now, we may instead catch them completely off guard."
Homura was stunned.
Was that what I meant by what I just said?
Minato, however, had become interested.
"Elder Uchiha, tell me exactly what you have in mind."
Ren nodded.
"The possibility Elder Mitokado mentioned—that the other villages may come to Sunagakure's aid—certainly exists."
"So if we want to make a move, we only have one chance."
"Since they've made Sunagakure their pawn, we'll seize that pawn with overwhelming speed and deliver a check directly to their king!"
"Likewise, the village's finances genuinely can't support a prolonged war. So we have to settle the matter in a single decisive campaign!"
"We'll mobilize our jōnin and form an elite strike force. With overwhelming force, we'll push straight through from the border and drive directly into Sunagakure!"
After a pause, Ren continued.
"I've done the calculations. The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, probably hasn't fully recovered from his injuries yet. At present, the people who truly have authority in Sunagakure are Chiyo and Ebizō."
"Furthermore, according to our intelligence, the reason Sunagakure didn't bring the One-Tailed Beast, Shukaku, to the Battle of Kikyō Mountain last time was because something went wrong with their Renchūriki."
"Combined with the losses Sunagakure suffered during the Battle of Kikyō Mountain, this is probably the weakest Sunagakure has ever been."
"As long as we make the proper preparations, Sunagakure simply won't be able to withstand our assault."
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