The Anbu ninja delivered the response letters from the major Hidden Villages to the desk.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Jiraiya both began to breathe heavily.
Among these responses, according to the estimations of Hiruzen and Jiraiya, the best-case scenario would be only three nations declaring war on Konoha. Under normal circumstances, all would declare war against Konoha, leaving not a single one out...
Sarutobi Hiruzen picked up the envelope and slowly began to open it, his movements so slow as if time had frozen, unwilling to face this final judgment.
"Tobirama-sensei, you really have put me in a tough spot..." Hiruzen sighed inwardly but still opened the envelope.
No matter how cruel the result might be, as Hokage, he had to face it.
Jiraiya walked around the desk and stood behind Hiruzen, staring intently at the contents of the letter.
Jiraiya was considered one of the ninjas in Konoha Village most knowledgeable about the current military strength.
After all, in the last Great Ninja War, he had contributed to Konoha and fought on the front lines.
In the Second Ninja World War, when combating only the Hidden Sand and Hidden Rain, Konoha was already somewhat exhausted, and that was when Hidden Sand and Hidden Rain were not united and were even fighting among themselves.
If other Hidden Villages joined in, the pressure on Konoha would be unimaginable to Jiraiya...
In fact, Jiraiya's concerns were not unwarranted.
If in the original timeline, the Hidden Rock and Hidden Cloud hadn't blown themselves up halfway through the attack on Konoha, resulting in the loss of the Third Raikage and nearly ten thousand Hidden Rock ninjas...
Then the outcome for Konoha would not be just heavy casualties.
"This, this..."
With a heavy heart, Sarutobi Hiruzen opened the letter and read it, his expression changing from anxious to puzzled.
Jiraiya stared at the letter in Hiruzen's hand, his eyes wide open.
It was completely different from what they had expected!
The other four major Hidden Villages, along with the Hidden Rain Village, actually did not declare war on Konoha...
Though their tone remained accusatory, there was an inexplicable sense of discomfort, and they mostly focused on clarifying themselves in the letters.
We, the Hidden Sand Village, have a good relationship with the Daimyo, the Kazekage's disciple doesn't need to mine, the misunderstanding with Hatake Sakumo can be explained, don't slander us economically!
Although there are many ninjas in the Hidden Rock Village, we would never use war to deplete our kin, every Hidden Rock ninja is not cannon fodder, don't blindly accuse us!
We, the Hidden Mist Village, are a big happy family, even if there are small conflicts, outsiders don't need to interfere, please, Konoha, be mindful of boundaries!
Although the Hidden Cloud Village has mastered Jinchuriki technology, we have no intention of starting a war, by the way, can you tell us if Konoha invented any new techniques to deal with Tailed Beasts?
Hanzo, on the other hand, was comical, stating that with his reputation as a demigod of the Ninja World, how could he not be something dignified?
Please, show some respect!
"This is really strange, Jiraiya..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen subconsciously took a puff on his pipe and exhaled a cloud of smoke: "Could this be the correct way of diplomacy?"
Jiraiya covered his face: "I don't know, old man, if it were a pretty woman scolding me, I wouldn't get angry, but Aomi is not a pretty woman, and neither are the other village's Kages..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen silently nodded, refraining from commenting on Jiraiya's peculiar preferences.
He wondered why things had developed this way.
Aomi had been stepping on them and insulting them, so why weren't they getting angry!
"Is that how it is..."
After a long while, Hiruzen, lost in thought, nodded as if in understanding: "No wonder it's Tobir... Aomi."
"What are you talking about, old man, if you've figured it out, just say it!"
Jiraiya shook Hiruzen's shoulders vigorously:
"If peace could be achieved this way, why am I still looking for the Child of Prophecy? I might as well write novels and scold the Five Great Hidden Villages every day..."
"You really are an idiot, Jiraiya!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen solemnly patted Jiraiya's head and said with feeling:
"At first, we all thought Aomi was just forcibly adopting a hawkish stance, but his every word is highly targeted."
"It looks like he's provoking the Hidden Villages, but in reality, he's revealing their most secret intelligence and their own reliance, telling each of them individually that Konoha is fully aware of their intelligence and is not afraid of them."
Jiraiya furrowed his brow, picked up Aomi's response, and read it carefully once more.
This was too unusual!
"If the Land of Wind really had conflicts with the Daimyo, and Hanzo's power truly declined to the point of being negligible, how would they feel upon seeing such a strong reply from Aomi?"
"They would be terrified, uneasy, as their responses deflected the issue like this!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly said:
"Compared to the previous arrogant claim as a demigod of the Ninja World, Hanzo has lost the sharpness of the Second Ninja World War. Aomi could be said to have stomped on his dignity, yet he explained himself instead..."
"This indicates that Hanzo lacks confidence in his heart toward war, and the Land of Wind's economy is worse than imagined."
"As for Hidden Mist and Hidden Rock, these two villages traditionally enthusiastic about war are now eager to announce their internal tranquility to the Ninja World, which can only mean that the internal conflicts within their villages have intensified."
"The internal turmoil in Hidden Mist might indeed have reached the extent of a ninja clan rebellion, and the population of Hidden Rock has reached the economic threshold; however, these things that cannot be publicly stated were uttered by Aomi, and without suitable excuses to start a war, they first need to stabilize their own people's voices."