During the time Kizaru persuaded Shukaku, the ninjas from the Sunagakure and Kumogakure quickly distanced themselves from Shukaku, forming two opposing camps centered around their respective commanders.
The central part of the battlefield was left to Kizaru and the two tailed beasts by the proactive choice of the ninjas from both sides.
Everyone acknowledged that the fight between the monsters was not something they could participate in.
"Become my partner, and you can roam the ninja world freely like me, no longer sealed by humans." Standing atop Shukaku, Kizaru at that moment resembled a creepy uncle coaxing a child.
"Yes, Shukaku! Normally in the village, we just needed to shrink in size to avoid causing destruction." Matatabi was also pleased with the addition of a new companion, speaking up proactively.
Without speaking, Shukaku glanced at Matatabi, then back at Kizaru, feeling somewhat tempted, somewhat hesitant.
"So what's the price?" The tailed beast, who had been deceived and manipulated by humans for centuries, found it hard to believe in a human's promise.
"Follow my orders when necessary." Kizaru didn't beat around the bush, stating it directly.
"Hmph! You just want to use my power, you humans are all the same!" Unhappy, Shukaku complained like a child.
"Shukaku, the Nine-Tails is also in Konoha, still locked up." Sensing Shukaku's ambivalence and understanding it, Matatabi tempted.
Hearing Matatabi's words, Shukaku's eyes lit up, feeling excited.
If only it could roam freely every day like Matatabi, wouldn't it be able to taunt that stinking fox every day?
"Hehe! Stinking fox, why are you still locked up? Hehehe!"
Just thinking of the Nine Tails' frustrated expression, Shukaku couldn't help but laugh.
"Hehehe!"
Shukaku's inexplicable laughter made the ninjas present confused, becoming nervous one after another.
"Is the One-Tail going mad again?"
This was the thought in the minds of most ninjas.
After laughing excitedly, Shukaku looked at Kizaru, wanting to agree, but another concern made it hesitate again.
If it followed the ninja in front of it, that already dying stinky monk would be completely doomed.
"I'm leaving, you stinky monk! If I'm able to live this long, it's already lucky. If I could see you find someone who truly understands you, who could make you understand the true meaning of love before I die, I have no regrets." "Stinky... monk, you..." Hearing Bunpuku's words, Shukaku's heart was touched.
"Go! Don't worry about me. I was almost dead anyway." Bunpuku's calm voice sounded again, "End the cycle of Jinchuriki! The tailed beasts shouldn't be weapons for humans."
"Old monk... you really are like the Sage of Six Paths!" Shukaku evaluated Bunpuku in his mind.
Hearing Shukaku's acknowledgment, Bunpuku's consciousness cried with emotion, "I finally got your acknowledgment, Shukaku!"
"I'll remember you well!" Shukaku promised earnestly in his mind.
After saying that, Shukaku left the consciousness space and said to Kizaru, "I'll temporarily trust you, humans, on Danzo's guarantee."
"Oh ho ho! I'm truly grateful!" Laughing, Kizaru extended his right hand towards Shukaku.
Understanding Kizaru's intention, Shukaku also raised his right claw, gently touching Kizaru's right fist amidst the gaze of all the ninjas present.
It's over, the village's tailed beasts have been taken away!
Seeing this scene, Ebizo felt both anxious and heartbroken, his expression contorted.
How should he stop Kizaru from taking Shukaku away? If the village lost Shukaku, then...
Thinking to this point, Ebizo couldn't help but doubt whether it was correct for him and his sister to seek help from Konoha.
Iwagakure and Kumogakure came to plunder money and minerals, but Konoha is here to uproot everything!
Uncomfortable, anxious, self-doubting!
Ebizo felt he should do something, but he found that he couldn't do anything.
If he stopped Kizaru from taking Shukaku away now, who knows if Kizaru would choose not to rescue the Sunagakure, or even lean towards the Kumogakure.
The attacks from the Kumogakure and Iwagakure had already left the Sunagakure powerless to resist. With Kizaru joining them, the village would be completely hopeless.
Thinking of this, Ebizo could only forcibly suppress his anxiety and choose to remain silent.
Surviving, as long as he could survive, no matter how much he lost, there was still a glimmer of hope.
Comforting himself like this in his heart, Ebizo not only refrained from speaking himself but also gestured for those around him not to speak.
"Raikage, give me some face and retreat!"
After subduing Shukaku, Kizaru turned to face the Third Raikage, who stood at the forefront of the Kumogakure ninja forces.
Facing two tailed beasts, plus one Kizaru, the corner of the Third Raikage's eye twitched.
This is ridiculous!
"One Kizaru alone I can't deal with, let alone two tailed beasts! If I continue fighting on our side, it's just asking for trouble."
"Kizaru, the Sunagakure is weak and not our match. How about the two of us join forces to completely divide the Land of Wind?" Knowing they couldn't win, but also unwilling to let go of the duck they had in hand, the Third Raikage chose to entice.
As soon as the Third Raikage spoke, tension rose instantly on the Sunagakure's side. They knew the fate of the village lay in Kizaru's hands.
If Kizaru agreed to the Third Raikage's invitation, then the Sunagakure Village would have no chance of survival.
Even more nervous, Ebizo clenched his fists tightly and hurried forward, wanting to speak up and refute the Third Raikage's enticement.
"No!" Kizaru refused directly.
Taking two large steps forward, Ebizo, who had just opened his mouth, immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
"Close call! The village almost lost everything!"
Feeling emotional, Ebizo looked at Kizaru with mixed feelings.
The village had declined to this state because of Kizaru, yet now it was also saved by Kizaru. Irony!
After rejecting the Raikage, Kizaru turned into light and flashed from Danzo's head to stand in front of the Third Raikage.
With hands in his pockets, ignoring the weapons wielded by the excited Kumogakure ninja, Kizaru stood eye to eye with the towering Third Raikage.
"As long as you agree, my Kumogakure will only take thirty percent of the profits from dividing the Land of Wind." Staring directly at Kizaru, the Third Raikage made one final effort.
"It's truly tempting!" Revealing a lewd grin, Kizaru continued, "But alas, my mission is to stop this war."
"Ugh! I hate trouble the most! Don't put me in a difficult position!" Clenching his fists tightly at his thighs, the Third Raikage really wanted to refuse Kizaru's request to retreat, but the disparity in strength between the two sides kept him rational.
It's clear that the current situation, with the Kumogakure and myself, isn't a match for Kizaru and the two tailed beasts. If a battle were to break out, it would only result in massive casualties for our forces. Understanding this, the Third Raikage, despite his reluctance, had to accept reality and ordered a retreat.
"Retreat!" he bellowed, unwillingly issuing the command.
"But Lord Raikage..." one of the Kumogakure ninja beside him was clearly reluctant and wanted to persuade otherwise.
"Shut up and retreat!" the Third Raikage interrupted his subordinate, understanding the dire situation and not wanting to invite further humiliation.
Standing calmly in place with his hands in his pockets, maintaining a smile, Kizaru watched as the Third Raikage led his forces away.
With Kizaru alone forcing back the two major ninja villages, the crisis in the Sunagakure Village was half resolved.
The other half remained: how to satisfy the arriving Konoha reinforcements.
After confirming the Kumogakure's departure, Ebizo politely escorted Kizaru back to the village.
Settling Kizaru in the most luxurious residence, after assigning a trusted subordinate to attend to him, Ebizo hastily departed.
The village's crisis wasn't completely over yet; Ebizo needed to confer with his sister and other village leaders on how to handle the Konoha's aid.
Meanwhile, Shukaku, now under Kizaru's control, was relishing his newfound freedom in the human world.
"This bed, I like it! Hahaha!" Shrank to a smaller size, Shukaku was rolling around on the large bed, excited to be in a human's room for the first time.
Sitting casually on the couch beside Kizaru, Matatabi manipulated chakra, grabbed some fruit from the table, and continued eating dinner.
With his legs crossed and leaning back on the couch, Kizaru lazily chuckled before closing his eyes to rest.
The negotiations and maneuvering with the Sunagakure didn't require Kizaru's involvement; that was left to his uncle, Danzo.
Kizaru's presence in the Sunagakure was mainly for intimidation, facilitating Danzo's demands.
When the Iwagakure and Kumogakure invaded, Kizaru was the Sunagakure's greatest savior. But after the two major ninja villages retreated, he became the village's biggest threat.
Kizaru's power to destroy an entire major ninja village on his own was a consensus among the Five Great Countries.
Therefore, his stay served as the greatest deterrent against the Sunagakure for the Konoha.
"No, absolutely not! We cannot let Kizaru take away even one tailed beast!" In a meeting of the Sunagakure's top leaders, one elder voiced his dissent passionately.
"What strength does the village have now to retain even one tailed beast from Kizaru?" another leader countered.
"Isn't Konoha our ally? Since when do allies snatch tailed beasts from each other?" The elder stood up, his frustration evident.
Without immediately expressing her stance, Ebizo and his sister, Chiyo, remained silent in their seats.
"What's your attitude, Kazekage? Throughout history, Shukaku has been a treasure of the Land of Wind. Are you going to watch Konoha snatch it away?" The elder continued to press Chiyo, who remained silent.
"Now is not the time for agreement or disagreement. It's about finding a way to keep one tailed beast from Kizaru," Ebizo intervened, trying to prevent his sister from being put in a difficult position.
"Kazekage, you need to take responsibility!" Ignoring Ebizo's words, the elder threw the responsibility onto Chiyo's shoulders.
Meeting his sister's gaze, Chiyo understood his malicious intent. He didn't genuinely want to keep Shukaku; he wanted to shift the blame onto her.
Burning with anger, Chiyo stood up and slammed her hands on the table.
"With Konoha's reinforcements on the way, we must prepare. If anyone is still seeking personal gain and stirring up internal strife at this critical moment..." she paused, her eyes coldly scanning the room, "I'll kill them, one by one."
Shaken by her fierce demeanor, the room fell silent, no one daring to speak.
"Elder Nakaze, from now on, you're relieved of all your duties. Go home and retire!" Chiyo pointed at the elder, her voice icy.
Stunned and terrified, Nakaze tried to speak but found himself silenced by Chiyo's puppets, their blades at his throat.
"Take him away and keep him under guard," Chiyo commanded coldly.
With the suppression of the political forces left by the Third Kazekage, Chiyo resumed her seat.
Now, the real meeting could finally begin.