"Mizukage, for intelligence matters, it's better to ask old man Ōnoki and the Raikage. After all, they're the ones most eager to send shinobi into the Sand Federation to gather intel."
Tsunade couldn't hold back anymore. Only those two villages would send spies, then refuse to pay ransom after they were caught—forcing their own shinobi to mine instead.
When this spread through the shinobi world, it became a joke. Many had never heard of a village abandoning its spies to the mines just to avoid paying ransom. Worse still, they were forced to dig while wearing Iwa and Kumo forehead protectors.
"Hokage, are you looking for a fight!"
The Raikage's temper flared at once, smashing the table before him. But C quickly held him back.
They were here to discuss war strategy. Even if no progress was made, provoking the Hokage was unwise. With her temper, she might really mobilize shinobi to strike at them.
C also remembered that the Fifth Hokage had awakened Wood Release, and on the battlefield of the Land of Rain, she had fought the Rinnegan wielder to a standstill, both sides left heavily wounded.
"Quarreling is meaningless. Mizukage-dono, regarding intelligence on the Federation, Konoha doesn't know much either. Our intel is years old. In the past two years, we've gained nothing."
Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled smoke as he spoke. Konoha had also had spies captured, but they immediately paid ransom. After failing once, they never tried again, so the matter didn't spread like it had with Iwa and Kumo.
Mei Terumi shook her head. "If intelligence isn't detailed, rushing into war may lead us to heavy losses. Especially regarding the tailed beasts—if I recall, the Nine-Tails should be in the Federation now, correct? Can they control its power?"
At this, Hiruzen's face darkened. News of the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki defecting from Konoha together with the Uchiha had never been hidden by the Federation. Now all four great villages knew they held both the One-Tail and the Nine-Tails.
It had happened during his term, and mentioning it now only deepened his shame.
"Then how about holding a joint Chunin Exam? The four of us could include the Federation, making it the final venue. We could seize the chance to gather intelligence."
Ōnoki's suggestion made the others pause in thought. It was plausible.
Joint Chunin Exams were traditionally used to probe enemy strength, collect intelligence, and showcase one's village. If the four great nations jointly proposed it, the Federation likely wouldn't refuse. With small nations also participating, more and more people would flood into the Federation, lowering the difficulty of espionage.
With shinobi from four great nations plus half a dozen smaller ones entering the Federation, even with jōnin escorts, it would be nearly impossible for the Federation to root out all spies.
They already knew part of the Federation's spy-detection methods. As long as they were careful next time and secured those identity magnetic chips in advance, no alarm would be triggered.
"A good idea. A Chunin Exam involving the entire shinobi world—surely the Federation won't refuse. And we also need time to prepare for war. After the exams, when everyone relaxes, we can declare war on the Federation."
Hiruzen nodded. The Chunin Exams were perhaps their only chance to send many shinobi openly into the Federation. Otherwise, the Federation scrutinized outsiders with extreme vigilance.
The Raikage and Mizukage didn't object. They didn't care much about the exams themselves, only about intelligence gathering—and about postwar division of spoils. Kumogakure was especially concerned with that.
The Federation had two trade associations that were irresistible: the Keiko Trade Association and the Uzumaki Trade Association. Their goods were money machines. The Raikage coveted them greatly. If not for distance and the daimyō's insistence on restoring the Land of Wind, he would have wanted Kumogakure to seize the Federation's land after its fall.
The last impression of the Federation's might was two years ago, during the battle at Kikyo Castle against Konoha.
At that time, Konoha had relied on pure defense, refusing to leave the castle, stubbornly holding against the Fifth Kazekage, Pakura. Though Konoha later yielded, the Federation had revealed its strength in that war.
After discussing intel, Hiruzen hesitated, then finally spoke. "Everyone, the Federation's high-level combat power must be addressed. If war begins, I suggest all villages deploy their jinchūriki."
He detailed the Uchiha's Mangekyō, Hyuga Mirai's mysterious dōjutsu and great strength, and the Federation's ties to Orochimaru. With both the One-Tail and the Nine-Tails, the Federation's upper-level power exceeded what one or two villages could manage.
Without jinchūriki gathered together, even the Four Kage wouldn't be enough.
"What about the Land of Rain? They seem allied with the Federation."
Tsunade frowned. She knew that power well. Without Hyuga Mirai's help, the Rinnegan alone could annihilate a great village's entire fighting force.
If the Rinnegan joined the war, their whole discussion would be meaningless.
"That has already been resolved by the daimyō."
Hiruzen produced a letter. After the Land of Fire's daimyō inquired, the Rain's daimyō had replied: as long as the war didn't touch their land, they wouldn't intervene.
Moreover, Akatsuki could even accept contracts as mercenaries for the four nations. Hiruzen withheld this part, knowing Iwa's hatred for the Rain.
Nagato would never side with the Federation in this war. With the Rain's environment improved, its people were well-fed. And since the Federation held the One-Tail and Nine-Tails, Nagato would be eager for war to break out.
Tsunade remained silent. She rarely spoke.
Even with four great villages combined, she doubted they could oppose Hyuga Mirai. If he could grant her Wood Release and Sage Mode, he could give others the same.
If the shinobi alliance marched, they might face a dozen Wood Release users.
In the end, the four villages reached consensus. In six months, a joint Chunin Exam would be held involving the five great nations and smaller countries. During that time, each nation would prepare forces. Supplies would be provided by the daimyō, and during the war, the Land of Fire's daimyō would cover all expenses.
Of course, there was repayment. A branch of the former Land of Wind's daimyō lived within the Land of Fire. After the war, the other three daimyō would support this person to reclaim the throne.
The Land of Fire's expenses would be repaid later through Wind's taxes and revenues.
These details were hidden from the shinobi. The daimyō had already agreed in secret.
The Federation's rise had sounded alarms for all daimyō, especially after what happened in the Land of Rivers. If shinobi were not restrained, the blade would one day fall on them.
That was why the Land of Fire's daimyō kept recruiting guards. The Twelve Guardian Ninja had already expanded to twenty-one, yet he still wasn't reassured. He also recruited the Fire Temple's monks to station permanently at his mansion.
Until the Federation was destroyed, the four daimyō would never sleep soundly. The Land of Fire's daimyō especially. If not for Tsunade's Wood Release and her overwhelming prestige in Konoha, he would have supported Hiruzen's return as Hokage long ago.
Her conduct these past two years only deepened his unease, fearing she would become the next Wind daimyō.
"Is the discussion finished?"
Soon after the Four Kage concluded, the Land of Fire's daimyō entered, replacing the Raikage-broken table and serving new tea.
Hiruzen nodded. "We've nearly reached consensus. Now we just need to draft the detailed agreement."
"Oh-ho-ho, so quickly? Then we can safely entrust this matter to you four."
The daimyō chuckled behind his fan. With a wave, he summoned officials from the other three daimyō residences.
"Since that is the case, let us sign the agreement here."
On postwar division, the four daimyō had already agreed beforehand. They presented the signed draft, and after the Kage confirmed, the new war-preparation clauses were added.
Raikage A frowned as he read. The postwar spoils were to be distributed entirely by the daimyō courts. If Kumogakure wished to profit from victory, they would have to wait for the daimyō's allocation.
He wanted to protest, but this was not the Land of Lightning's court, and without his own daimyō present, he had no choice but to sign, planning to contest it later.
Ōnoki and Mei Terumi had no objections. They had already reviewed the draft before departure. Adding the new clauses, they signed without hesitation.
Once all four had signed, the Land of Fire's daimyō smiled, intending to keep them as guests. But Ōnoki and Mei declined.
Staying even one day had been difficult enough. Now they had to return to prepare for war.
Tsunade also refused. Turning to her guards, she said, "Let's go, Tokuma, Kurenai," preparing to return to Konoha.
Before leaving, she cast a long look at Hiruzen.
She realized she had been too sentimental. Her leniency had let such things happen again and again.
As Hokage, she was the last to know of the Four Nations Alliance. And that agreement—clearly it had been arranged long in advance.
(End of Chapter)