Danzo arrived, and with him came a total of 1,000 Konoha ninjas.
Upon the arrival of the Konoha reinforcements, Sunagakure showed tremendous enthusiasm.
Under the leadership of the Fourth Kazekage, Sunagakure welcomed the "royal army" with the highest standards.
As the head of the Konoha support forces, Danzo, under the reception of Chiyo and Ebizo, entered the exclusive meeting room of the Kazekage.
Here, Danzo learned that his nephew, Kizaru, had single-handedly repelled the invasion of the Iwa and Kumo ninja yesterday afternoon.
Kizaru's reputation in the ninja world had reached the level of the First Hokage.
Back in the day, when the First Hokage was alive, he single-handedly dominated the entire ninja world.
The First Hokage loved peace, so none of the ninja villages dared to start a war.
That's the prestige of a strong leader!
Feeling relieved in his heart, Danzo looked at Chiyo and Ebizo, preparing to start friendly exchanges.
Knowing that Danzo's visit this time was not friendly, Chiyo and Ebizo were also fully prepared.
At yesterday's meeting, Chiyo relied on his strength to intimidate the village's senior members and successfully persuaded some who still couldn't see the situation clearly.
At the most critical moment for the village, in order to survive and preserve the legacy of Sunagakure, apart from the village's autonomy and mission allocation quota, everything else could be conceded to Konoha.
Under the premise of ensuring the bottom line, conceding everything possible to let the village live peacefully under Konoha's protection, as long as everyone is alive, there is hope for the future.
As long as enough development time can be gained, the village will one day be able to regain its vitality and accumulate enough strength.
Perhaps in the future, the village could cultivate geniuses like Kizaru.
No, they don't need someone as strong as Kizaru. Having someone with seventy or eighty percent of Kizaru's strength would be enough.
By then, the village would naturally regain what it had lost.
The revenge for the invasion of Iwa and Kumo could also be repaid.
This was Chiyo and Ebizo's idea, as well as the idea of the persuaded senior members of Sunagakure.
With the goal of surviving and preserving the vitality of Sunagakure for a comeback, negotiations between Sunagakure and Konoha began.
"Princess Danzo, aren't your demands too excessive? Is this how Konoha treats its allies?"
Even though he was prepared for significant concessions, when Ebizo heard Danzo's demands, he couldn't help but get excited.
It's not surprising that Ebizo was so shocked; Danzo's demands were indeed excessive.
It's not just making demands anymore; it's like digging up the roots of Sunagakure, or even uprooting them completely.
The cost of 500 million for the reinforcement troops, signing a brotherhood alliance with Konoha where everything is led by Konoha, these two points Ebizo and Chiyo could reluctantly accept.
But what followed was even more excessive.
In order to better protect the Land of Wind and Sunagakure, Sunagakure had to contribute 300 million annually to hire Konoha ninja for regular peacekeeping patrols in the Land of Wind.
To better assist Sunagakure in reconstruction, Sunagakure had to contribute 200 million annually to hire Konoha education consultants to assist in Sunagakure education reform.
At the same time, any minerals mined by Sunagakure in the future could only be sold to Konoha.
These three points were simply asking for the lifeblood of Sunagakure.
Let alone the rest, just the annual five billion protection fee would make it impossible for Sunagakure to develop in the future if they agreed to it.
Ninjas in the village, risking their lives, working hard for a year, would have to hand over more than half of their earnings to Konoha.
Under such circumstances, what does Sunagakure have left to develop with? Just being able to maintain its current size would be good enough.
Moreover, Konoha wanted to send consultants to interfere in Sunagakure's education system. What were they trying to do? This was fundamentally undermining the roots of Sunagakure!
"All these demands I've made are to help your village develop better." With a dark heart and a thick face, Danzo paid no attention to Ebizo and Chiyo's worsening expressions.
"We are very grateful for Konoha's support and assistance, but we have our own plans for internal affairs in the village." Not wanting to break relations with Konoha, Ebizo politely refused.
Ebizo's refusal was within Danzo's expectations. Such excessive demands, if Ebizo had agreed directly, would indicate a problem.
Following Kizaru's advice, the plan formulated by Konoha before Danzo's departure was to first propose excessive demands to Sunagakure. Then, through rounds of lengthy negotiations, get Sunagakure to agree to Konoha's actual demands.
Despite feeling calm inside, Danzo frowned unhappily on the surface.
His face darkened, and Danzo deliberately threatened, "Is Sunagakure refusing our goodwill? Have you thought about the consequences?"
"It's not that we want to reject your village's goodwill, but your demands are simply too excessive!" Ebizo no longer showed weakness but argued strongly.
"Humph! Excessive? What do you mean by excessive? These are all Konoha's sincere efforts to help Sunagakure."
"I haven't seen any sincerity from you!"
"My nephew is still here."
"You!"
The first day of negotiation between Danzo and Sunagakure passed in arguments.
That night, after the negotiations ended, Danzo went to Kizaru's resting room.
Entering the room and seeing Kizaru playing cards with Matatabi and Shukaku on the bed, Danzo's expression was peculiar.
During today's negotiation, Danzo learned that Kizaru had subdued Shukaku and was planning to take him away.
Ebizo also seized on this point, stating that Sunagakure had already paid a hefty price, showing their sincerity.
To this, Danzo's response was that even if one tail remained in the Sand, Sunagakure wouldn't be able to stop the power of a rampaging Shukaku.
Taking his nephew away was also for the safety of Sunagakure.His nephew took Ichibi away for Sunagakure's safety.
Danzo was telling the truth on this point. With only Chiyo, a shadow-level powerhouse left, Sunagakure Village was indeed powerless to stop Ichibi's rampage.
Chiyo's puppet technique is very strong, but she prefers fighting people rather than suppressing tailed beasts.
The ability to suppress tailed beasts is also a very important requirement for the five great ninja villages when choosing a Kage.
This is also the reason why Chiyo was not chosen when choosing the third Kazekage.
While Danzo's words were true, stating them so bluntly still angered Ebizo and Chiyo greatly.
It was like a eunuch marrying a wife, only to have someone snatch the wife away on the grounds of inability, discomfort, and harm to health. It was both humiliating and frustrating.
Even more frustrating was that Ebizo and Chiyo, despite being mocked, didn't have the strength or confidence to fight back, let alone overturn the table!
"Kizaru, an old geezer is coming in!" Noticing Danzo entering the room, Shukaku, who was playing cards, kindly reminded.
Danzo's first impression of Shukaku couldn't be worse.
This kind of tailed beast should be sealed away, nurtured into a human weapon!
With a twitch of his cheek, Danzo's expression towards Shukaku was extremely grim. But as Kizaru walked out of the inner room, Danzo's expression softened into a gentle smile.
"Kizaru, you've worked hard!" Danzo said with concern as he looked at Kizaru.
"Hehe! It'll be your turn to work hard next, Uncle!" Kizaru smiled back.
As they spoke, Kizaru and Danzo sat on the sofa in the living room.
After understanding the specific details of yesterday's battle from Kizaru, Danzo detailed today's negotiation content to Kizaru.
"In this war, Sunagakure has suffered considerable losses. They have no other choice now but to rely on us." After finishing his explanation, Danzo also gave his assessment.
After speaking, Danzo looked at Kizaru and somewhat smugly said, "I did pretty well in today's drama, didn't I! Hahaha!"
"Yeah! If you could be a bit more restrained, it would be even better!" In Kizaru's view, Danzo playing the bad guy wasn't acting; it was simply a natural performance.
"Hahaha!" Hearing Kizaru's teasing, Danzo didn't get angry but burst into laughter.
"In terms of acting skills, I'm still far behind you." Mentally convinced that Kizaru had been acting all along to conceal his ambitions, Danzo said meaningfully.
Rubbing his head in distress, Kizaru didn't explain aloud, letting Danzo misunderstand. That was fine!
"I don't understand what you're talking about, Uncle!" Kizaru pretended to be confused.
"Hahaha! I'm happy with your performance!" Danzo laughed heartily.
After that, Danzo restrained his smile and got to the point, "You'll stay in Sunagakure for a few more days. You can leave anytime after Homura arrives."
By leaving Kizaru behind, Danzo wasn't planning to involve his nephew in the negotiations but rather to use him as the ultimate deterrent.
Nowadays, Kizaru's reputation in the ninja world was immense, truly a one-man army.
"What a hassle!"
"You don't need to worry about the negotiations. Just stay in Sunagakure."
"Got it!"
After informing Kizaru of the arrangements, Danzo didn't stay long and left the room directly.
For the next two days, Danzo continued to wear a stern face, singing the bad guy tune at full intensity, occasionally using Kizaru's influence to intimidate Chiyo and Ebizo.
For Danzo's behavior, Sunagakure more or less guessed that Konoha was playing the bad guy to intimidate them first.
Everyone was an old fox, understanding each other's intentions with such actions.
Ebizo and Chiyo didn't confront it directly but kept up their usual routine, arguing with Danzo every day.
Compared to the intense arguments on Danzo's side, Kizaru was quite relaxed.
For the past two days, he had been basically wandering around with the hospitality of Sunagakure ninjas, enjoying the scenery and tasting the local delicacies.
While Sunagakure was slightly lacking in resources compared to Konoha, their local delicacies were still quite good.
Especially their barbecue, which had an exotic flavor that Kizaru particularly enjoyed.
In addition to the food, the quality and quantity of beautiful women in Sunagakure were also excellent.
Unfortunately, being in the desert, there wasn't a hot spring street like in the outskirts of Konoha.
"Hehe! Little guy, want to play with big brother?" Kizaru blocked a red-haired kid in the commercial street of Sunagakure's central district.
Holding a wooden doll in his hands, the four-year-old boy, Sasori, looked at the strange uncle in front of him blankly, a little scared, shaking his head silently and stepping back.
"So adorable!" Hands in pockets, bending down to look at Sasori, Kizaru revealed a creepy smile.
Not far away, Sunagakure ninja responsible for hosting Kizaru hurriedly ran over.
"Kizaru-sama, did Sasori offend you in any way?"
Not knowing what had happened, and remembering Ebizo's instructions not to provoke Kizaru, Sunagakure ninja quickly apologized.
Standing up straight, Kizaru smiled and explained, "I just really like kids."
Hearing this, Sunagakure ninja relaxed a little, smiling and saying, "This is Kazekage-sama's grandson, named Sasori, who just turned four this year."
After speaking, Sunagakure ninja looked at Sasori and gently said, "Sasori, this is Kizaru-sama, a distinguished guest from Konoha."
Konoha?
Upon hearing this name, Sasori suddenly remembered that his parents had mentioned it when they left.
"Have you seen my mom and dad? Uncle Kizaru!" Looking up at Kizaru, Sasori asked expectantly.
Hearing this question, Sunagakure ninja's expression dimmed slightly, and he quickly looked at Kizaru, his eyes pleading.
Understanding the ninja's meaning, Kizaru slightly restrained his smile and nodded.
Sasori's parents were elite puppeteers of Sunagakure. In the ambush in Amegakure, Sunagakure's puppeteer corps was completely wiped out by Sakumo.
In the original plot, Sasori's parents also died at the hands of Sakumo, and Kizaru's arrival was like a butterfly flapping its wings, changing the plot.
Under Kizaru's influence, Sasori's parents died even earlier.
In the original plot, Sasori also turned to darkness because of his parents' deaths and his grandmother Chiyo's creation of puppet parents to alleviate his pain, focusing on researching and developing the forbidden jutsu of reviving the dead. However, he neglected Sasori's companionship, leading him to darkness.
If Chiyo hadn't chosen to escape and conceal after the deaths of her son and daughter-in-law, and had used the time she spent researching forbidden jutsu to accompany Sasori, perhaps Sasori wouldn't have turned to darkness.
This world was really messed up!
Kizaru didn't regret defeating enemies on the battlefield, nor did he think Sakumo wiping out Sunagakure's puppeteer corps was wrong.
It was a war between two countries, two ninja villages, with no right or wrong, only victory or defeat.
Perhaps the only mistake was that everyone was born in the ninja world, this messed-up chaotic world!
Because of so many tragedies, the world of Kizaru was filled with so many antagonists and protagonists, each using their own methods and ideals, wanting to change the world, wanting to bring peace to the world.
Perhaps unifying the entire world, establishing a great unified country, was the correct path!
Kizaru couldn't help but think this.
But soon, another thought overshadowed Kizaru's mind.
Unified what, it's such a hassle! It's better to just fool around with some passionate young people, let them do it! Just need to talk a lot and motivate them, and cheer them on!
Thinking of this, Kizaru's expression towards Sasori looked even more sinister, like an ill-intentioned creepy uncle.
"Your parents were on a mission in Konoha. You'll see them in the future," squatting down, Kizaru smiled and said.
Hearing Kizaru's words, Sasori's big and adorable eyes lit up, eagerly asking, "Really?"
After grandma returned to the village and the reactions of other ninjas, Sasori vaguely felt that his parents might have passed away.
But Kizaru's words brought Sasori a glimmer of hope.
Although knowing that Kizaru might be deceiving him, Sasori still held onto a shred of hope in his heart, just in case what he said was true!
"Really!" With a gentle smile, Kizaru placed his hand on Sasori's head and gently rubbed it.
He didn't deceive Sasori; Kizaru really had a way to let Sasori see his parents again, and he even knew how to completely resurrect Sasori's parents.
The Edo Tensei could let Sasori see his parents again.
As for the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique, it could revive the deceased.
Of course, the cost of using the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique was the life of the caster.
But, no big deal! There were many wicked ninjas in the ninja world, and their lives could be used for a better purpose.
As for whether these ninjas could withstand the Sharingan and use the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique, it would depend on Orochimaru's future research on the DNA of the Sage of Six Paths.
First, enhance the vessels with the DNA of the Sage of Six Paths and leave behind hidden manipulations. Then, transplant the Sharingan to them, and finally, use the genjutsu of the Sharingan to manipulate the vessels and use the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique.
According to this plan, there was still a good chance of success.
"Can you take me to Konoha to see Mom and Dad?" Looking at Kizaru, Sasori asked eagerly.
"Be a good boy and listen to me. I'll come find you later." Kizaru said with a smile.
Kizaru, who had seen Sasori's talents in both mechanics and biology and had seen the original storyline, was very clear.
Compared to puppetry, Kizaru felt that Sasori should focus on developing Gundams. Playing with puppetry? Building mechs and piloting Gundams, that's the real man's romance!
Nodding earnestly, Sasori said expectantly, "I'll behave myself!"
After patting Sasori's head again, Kizaru withdrew his hand and stood up again.
Kizaru didn't know how far Orochimaru, his senior brother, had progressed in his research on the Edo Tensei.
Looking at Sasori in front of him, who was full of anticipation, Kizaru felt that after returning to the village, he might inquire about the progress.
Kizaru remembered that when he took Sakumo to visit Orochimaru, the first solution Orochimaru proposed for Shisui Uchiha's wife's problem was the Edo Tensei.
As long as there were no technical issues, then other problems could be solved.
As the first pilot of the student exchange program, the plan for Sunagakure was for the descendants of the high-ranking officials to attend the ninja school in Konoha.
As the grandson of the Kazekage, Sasori was already on the list of participants in Konoha's student exchange program.
As long as Chiyo and Ebizo successfully persuaded Sunagakure and agreed to Konoha's requests for exchange students and stationed troops, Sasori, who was already four years old, would soon go to Konoha to study.
As for whether Sunagakure would refuse this request, Kizaru thought it unlikely.
Because Sunagakure only had two options before them: either agree to Konoha's request, become Konoha's true ally, and continue to survive, or refuse Konoha's request, become Konoha's enemy, and be divided up by the three nations of Lightning, Fire, and Earth.
And as long as Sunagakure agreed to Konoha's student exchange program, Sasori, as a direct descendant of Chiyo, would naturally have to be sent to Konoha.
As the Kazekage, if Chiyo herself did not lead by example, it would provoke the resentment and dissatisfaction of other high-ranking officials.
Moreover, Konoha would not agree!
As Kizaru had anticipated, when Ebizo came to Sunagakure, the negotiations between the two villages made real progress.
Despite being very dissatisfied with Konoha's proposal for educational support and peacekeeping troops, compared to Ebizo's previous demands, the high-ranking officials of Sunagakure felt that they could accept it.
Konoha's free stationed troops could help Sunagakure maintain territorial security without any economic expenditure.
Sunagakure only had to pay two prices: one was to provide nearby territories to Konoha's ninja forces for garrison, and the other was for the high-ranking descendants of the village to become hostages and go to Konoha to study.
Compared to the first stationed troops, the second condition was easier for the high-ranking officials of Sunagakure to accept.
As political creatures, most of the high-ranking officials of Sunagakure had several children and felt that sacrificing one child for the village was acceptable.
This did not include Chiyo!
Chiyo, who had only one grandson, was unwilling in any case to send Sasori to Konoha.
But her responsibility as Kazekage prevented her from letting personal feelings affect the overall situation of the village.
"Sister, as long as we maintain an alliance with Konoha, Sasori will be safe in Konoha." Understanding her sister, but for the sake of the village, Ebizo could only choose to persuade her.
"I only have Sasori left; he's only four years old!" Her eyes reddened, Chiyo didn't cry, but her voice choked.
"For the sake of the village, we can only sacrifice Sasori." It was also very difficult for her, but Ebizo was more rational. He knew that everything they were doing now was for the survival of the village.
Keeping silent, clenching his fists, trembling, Chiyo didn't speak for a long time.
"Grandma Chiyo, I'm willing to go to Konoha!" Pushing the door open, Sasori, who had been eavesdropping outside, spoke up.
"Sasori!" Wiping the corner of her eye, Chiyo's expression became a bit flustered, and she hurriedly stepped forward, walking to Sasori's side, "You heard everything?"
Nodding, Sasori said, "I want to go to Konoha, Grandma Chiyo."
"Why? Don't you want to stay with Grandma?" Chiyo asked softly.
"Because if I go to Konoha, I can see Mom and Dad." Sasori said with anticipation.
Her expression froze for a moment, and suddenly, Chiyo remembered the report from her subordinates the day before yesterday.
A hint of bitterness flashed across her face. Chiyo knew that Kizaru was lying to Sasori to deceive him.
If Sasori went to Konoha and didn't see his mom and dad, she didn't know how heartbroken he would be!
Thinking of this, Chiyo was even more reluctant to let Sasori go to Konoha.
"Sasori, would you stay and accompany Grandma? If you leave, Grandma will be all alone and will be very sad." Chiyo gently combed Sasori's hair with her hand and said softly.
A hint of hesitation and entanglement appeared on her face, and Sasori really wanted to see his parents, but he didn't want to make Grandma Chiyo sad.
"Grandma Chiyo, I'll come back after I see Mom and Dad, okay?" Looking at Chiyo, Sasori said carefully, "I'll be back very soon."
Wanting to cry but having to smile, Chiyo reached out and hugged Sasori to her chest.
Standing behind Chiyo, looking at Chiyo tightly hugging Sasori, Ebizo couldn't help but sigh.
For the sake of his sister and Sasori, he could only try again. Perhaps he could try asking Kizaru.
Compared to the cold-blooded Ebizo and Chiyo, Kizaru, who was not much older, might be moved after hearing about Sasori's plight and willing to help Sasori.
After all, according to the report from his subordinates, Kizaru had lied to Sasori out of kindness to take care of him.