Konoha, Hokage Building, conference room.
Hiruzen held the letter transmitted back by Shikaku, silently for a while, sitting there without speaking.
"Hiruzen, how did Tsunade respond?"
Advisor Mitokado Homura asked urgently, and Utatane Koharu was the same, while Danzo sat steadily on the side, his eyes instinctively looking towards Hiruzen, a sharp gleam in his eyes.
Hiruzen put down the letter, glanced at his three old friends, and slowly said, "Regarding whether to cancel the bounty on Chiba Hakushi and others, she let us make our own decision and follow all village commands."
"This kind of response is really evasive, are you sure she said it herself?"
Utatane Koharu frowned.
"Yes, it was personally heard by the three of Shikaku."
Hiruzen closed his eyes and sighed.
It's said to be following the village's decision, but in reality, it's just an avoidance behavior.
Not stating a position is a form of silent opposition.
Naturally, the opposition is not about lifting the bounty documents on Chiba Hakushi and others but about the life and safety of Jiraiya.
After all, this is a deal with the Land of Demons.
Only by agreeing to some harsh demands from the other side, will the Land of Demons release Jiraiya, and they only gave Konoha a few days to consider.
Cancel the bounty, acknowledge the legal status of the Uchiha and Hyuga clans from the Land of Demons.
And deliver the Ninja Techniques and literature collection from the extermination of the Uchiha Clan of Konoha.
Otherwise, before the Five Kage Summit convenes, the Land of Demons will secretly execute Jiraiya.
Even knowing it's a threat, it indeed strikes at Konoha's current weak point.
Hiruzen looked at Danzo and the other two, only then realizing their faces were already covered with wrinkles, they were elders over sixty.
Once they can no longer fight due to old age, or even attend various major meetings, what kind of chaotic situation Konoha will face is unpredictable.
For the development of Konoha, he has spent his lifelong efforts, striving to maintain the balance of various forces within the village, letting the village grow in a stable environment.
But when it comes to the issue of succession, Hiruzen somewhat understands the difficult situation of the Third Tsuchikage Onoki of Hidden Rock Village.
At their age, the issue of succession must be carefully considered.
"So what does she mean by this? Konoha is the precious legacy left by the First Lord, doesn't she cherish it at all?"
Utatane Koharu was somewhat discontented.
Honestly, under the pressure of Chiba Hakushi, she, as an advisor, felt very uncomfortable.
For Konoha as the leader of the Five Great Ninja Villages to be pressured to this extent by a group of renegade ninja, yet unable to do anything about it, gives Utatane Koharu a sense of anger that cannot be vented.
"Isn't this very clear? She is inclined to rescue Jiraiya, women are indeed a bunch of emotional beings."
Danzo inserted at this time.
But it has to be said, Tsunade's intentions made him feel awkward.
Originally, they were debating whether to agree to Chiba Hakushi's demands, cancel the bounty, and return the Uchiha clan's Ninja Techniques and literature, thereby saving Jiraiya's life.
Now it seems that there is no choice but to agree.
Even though he does not like women such as Tsunade who act emotionally, he has to admit her immense contribution to Konoha and her importance at this time.
Jiraiya could go unsaved, they could vehemently reject the unreasonable demands of the Land of Demons, allowing them to handle it, but he cannot ignore Tsunade's stance.
Seemingly weak and unsupported, Tsunade is actually the most influential among the Sannin.
"Danzo, I cannot agree with your words."
Utatane Koharu, as a woman, refuted.
You aren't emotional; you're just stupid. Danzo glanced at Utatane Koharu, saying inwardly.
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura constantly jump back and forth between his and Hiruzen's positions, having no opinions of their own as advisors, just following along, not advancing at all after decades.
Craving power is not wrong, but the error lies in incompetence.
Such useless waste, he would definitely abolish once he becomes Hokage.
In his mind, the most suitable candidate for advisor is the current clan leader of the Nara Clan, Nara Shikaku.
"In this view, the meeting's outcome is already very clear, with three days left until the Five Kage Summit is convened, make a decision early. You don't want to end up isolated and alone, do you, Hiruzen."
Danzo saw Hiruzen's hesitation.
He wants to save Jiraiya but also doesn't want to cancel the bounty, doesn't want to hand over the heritage of the Uchiha Clan of Konoha.
But there is no such easy thing in this world.
He believes if he doesn't take a firm stand at this time, forcing Hiruzen to make a decision, Hiruzen will surely say something like 'let me think about it' as he did with the Uchiha issue.
But there are only three days left until the Five Kage Summit; if decisions aren't made quickly, these repetitive and meaningless meetings will only lead to Jiraiya's death and will leave a thorn in Tsunade's heart, creating a rift with Konoha.
The extinction of the Uchiha has already caused unrest in the village; if further issues arise with the remaining Sannin, it won't just be unrest.
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura did not express any opinions, sitting silently aside, as if waiting for Hiruzen to make a decision.
Because this matter is different from the Uchiha issue, the Uchiha was an internal strife within Konoha, along with having Itachi, a ninja who firmly stood on the village's stance, allowing them to act according to their wishes.