046 Reborn as the Third Kazekage

In a modest izakaya on the banks of the Shule River, tucked away far from the Hourglass Group's factory district, the setting was serene and quiet. From the outside, it looked like any ordinary roadside eatery. However, stepping inside revealed a different story. The decor wasn't lavish, but it exuded a warm, rustic charm. The layout was clean and organized, with soft lighting that made the atmosphere feel cozy and inviting.

The place had been entirely cleared out, leaving only one table occupied by six individuals. On the Konoha side sat Hiruzen Sarutobi, Mitokado Homura, and Shimura Danzo. Representing Sunagakure were Arashi, Rasa, and Yashamaru (Rasa's future brother-in-law and a Jonin of the Sand). The faint aroma of grilled meat wafted in from the kitchen, where a bustling chef worked in the smoky air.

Before long, a round-faced chef with a genial expression emerged, carrying a large platter of freshly grilled yakitori skewers. He set them on the table alongside a bottle of sake.

"Honored guests, your order is ready. Please enjoy," the chef said, bowing politely.

Arashi nodded and replied, "Thank you for your hard work. Take a break now."

He turned to Hiruzen with a grin. "Come, come, try these. The lanterns here are the best!"

Hiruzen, clearly at ease, didn't hesitate. He picked up a skewer and bit into a lantern-shaped piece of chicken. The burst of egg yolk filled his mouth with a rich, silky flavor, perfectly balanced between raw and cooked. The chicken meat that followed was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, showcasing the chef's impeccable skill with grilling.

"Excellent! Truly excellent! I underestimated this place. The exterior may be unassuming, but the taste is genuinely superb. Homura, Danzo, give it a try," Hiruzen said, gesturing to his companions while downing a cup of sake with a contented sigh.

Mitokado Homura and Shimura Danzo needed no further encouragement. They joined the others in the feast, while Arashi and his fellow Sunagakure representatives were equally enthusiastic.

As the dishes disappeared and the sake flowed, the atmosphere grew increasingly relaxed. With everyone settled, Arashi decided it was time to address the main topic. Slowing his pace, he set down his skewer and spoke.

"Well, now that we've had our fill, shall we get down to business?"

Hiruzen exchanged glances with Homura and Danzo before nodding lightly. Homura took the lead.

"The Hokage's proposal is this: we seize this opportunity to unite the strength of Konoha and Sunagakure. First, we issue a joint peace declaration, urging the Lands of Earth and Lightning to cease hostilities. If they refuse, our two villages can form a joint ninja force of no less than 20,000 troops to station near the Land of Rain, using our military presence to pressure them into compliance…"

"Hold it right there." Arashi rudely interrupted, twirling an empty skewer in his hand and pointing it at Homura.

"Answer me one question first."

"Of course, Kazekage-sama. Please ask," Homura replied calmly. After all, during a casual drinking session like this, formalities felt out of place.

"If—and I mean if—we deploy forces near the Land of Rain, and the Third Raikage and Third Tsuchikage refuse to back down, then what?"

The Konoha trio froze. It seemed none of them had considered this possibility—it simply didn't align with their calculations.

"According to our simulations, this scenario is highly unlikely because…"

"Homura-sama, answer my question directly. I don't want your think tank's conclusions. I want to know what you'll do if my hypothetical scenario becomes reality."

"Well…"

Homura faltered, and Arashi pressed his advantage.

"Hah! So what then? A four-nation war between Wind, Fire, Earth, and Lightning? The conflict would escalate even further, completely undermining Hiruzen-sama's pursuit of peace, wouldn't it?"

"That… shouldn't happen…" Homura was visibly flustered. As someone accustomed to relying on strategic projections, he was ill-prepared for such direct counterarguments.

Arashi's tone grew sharper.

"Shouldn't? The art of war is the gravest matter of a nation, the path of life and death, the road to survival or ruin. It must not be taken lightly! And you're asking me to gamble the lives of Sunagakure's children on the guesses of a few strategists? I'm sorry, but I cannot agree to such recklessness!"

His words were righteous and uncompromising, leaving no room for rebuttal. To argue against him would be to paint oneself as a warmonger.

Homura, rendered speechless, took a sip of sake to mask his embarrassment.

Danzo, however, gave Arashi a discreet nod of approval and interjected, "Kazekage-sama, there's no need to be upset. We can hold off on deploying troops, but surely a peace declaration is acceptable?"

With one sentence, Danzo shifted the tone from military action to diplomatic formalities. Yet everyone knew that, in a world ruled by strength, a peace declaration without force to back it up was as meaningless as a scrap of paper.

Hiruzen shot Danzo a disapproving glance.

"That approach lacks the necessary deterrent."

"Of course, we can issue the declaration, but military threats can be delivered in a different way," Arashi said calmly.

Hiruzen's interest was piqued. "What do you have in mind?"

Arashi took a slow sip of sake before answering with two words: "Military exercises."

"Military exercises?" The Konoha trio echoed in unison, puzzled by the unfamiliar term.

"Yes. Konoha and Sunagakure each send around a thousand elite shinobi to stage a simulated battle near the borders of the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning. Demonstrate large-scale ninjutsu and tactical coordination to showcase our combined strength. This show of force would make both Iwagakure and Kumogakure think twice about continuing their conflict. Wouldn't that bring about a temporary peace?"

Hiruzen's eyes lit up at the idea, but moments later, his expression darkened.

"Even if it works, such peace would be fleeting."

"Hahaha!" Arashi laughed loudly, startling the room.

"Do you think your plan would lead to lasting peace?" Arashi asked, his laughter fading into a wry smile.

The Konoha trio fell silent.

"Have any of you ever seen a bullfight?" Arashi asked suddenly, changing the subject.

"A bullfight?" Yashamaru echoed, intrigued.

"Yes, a bullfight. When two bulls clash, their horns lock with immense force. If you try to separate them, not only will you fail, but you might end up being attacked by both. Even if you manage to pull them apart, they'll fight again the moment they meet, and the battle will be even fiercer."

"Then what should be done?" Yashamaru asked earnestly.

"Let them fight until they exhaust themselves. Then crack a whip to scare them into submission. That's when you'll achieve peace."

The room fell into a thoughtful silence.

Hiruzen finally spoke, downing another cup of sake.

"If the war drags on, countless lives will be lost…"

Danzo's voice cut through the somber mood.

"Kazekage-sama's perspective isn't without merit. Forcing a ceasefire now would only delay the inevitable. A prolonged stalemate might pave the way for an even bloodier conflict later. Besides…"

Danzo's expression darkened.

"A weakened Kumogakure and Iwagakure are more in line with the interests of Konoha and Sunagakure."

His words sent shockwaves through the room.

While Arashi and his companions quietly sipped their drinks, Hiruzen stared at Danzo in surprise, and Homura furiously gnawed on a nearly bare skewer to hide his unease.