The talks between Konoha and Sunagakure did not end because of Iwagakure's disruption; they continued under the witness of Hanzō and Aokawa.
Leaving aside the matter of the One-Tail Jinchuriki for now, Sunagakure hoped that Konoha, as an allied country, could provide Sunagakure with a batch of aid.
It was called aid, but in reality, it meant: "Look, Sunagakure is dirt poor, and Konoha has everything. Since we are forming an alliance, shouldn't Konoha show some generosity?"
Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the Third Kazekage with a hint of disbelief. He had truly never seen such a shameless person, but considering he was doing it for his Village, Hiruzen Sarutobi refrained from saying anything harsh, stating that Konoha was currently fighting Iwagakure and Hidden Mist simultaneously, facing difficult circumstances, tight on supplies, and short on funds.
In short, if you cry poverty, I'll cry poverty too.
Ōnoki, who was watching the show from the side, almost couldn't hold back, wanting to ask them:
Are you here to talk or to cry poverty?
Finally, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Third Kazekage signed the alliance agreement…
Once Sunagakure's party returned to Hidden Sand Village, the children of Sunagakure's high-ranking officials would have to go to Konoha to exchange for Bunbuku, otherwise, this alliance agreement would be void.
The talks were over, and Ōnoki couldn't move against Hiruzen Sarutobi anymore. Moreover, Orochimaru directly used the Flying Thunder God Technique to take Hiruzen Sarutobi away from the meeting place, not giving him a chance to speak at all.
Ōnoki returned to Iwagakure in frustration. He had originally thought that even if he couldn't kill Hiruzen Sarutobi on this trip, he would at least severely injure him to avenge the Ninja of Iwagakure's supply unit. He never expected that Aokawa, the President of White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company, would also be in the Land of Rain, as a witness to the Konoha and Sunagakure talks. If he had known, he would never have gone to the Land of Rain to ask for trouble.
In Iwagakure, people who had lost body parts due to war accidents and other reasons and became disabled were still waiting for White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company's Limb Regeneration Technique to be released. Once the Limb Regeneration Technique was put into use, it would be a huge revolution for the Ninja World!
There would no longer be disabled people in the Ninja World!
Even though the Limb Regeneration Technique was Orochimaru's research achievement, it was undeniably a truly useful technique!
If one were to ask which force in the world Ōnoki least wanted to provoke, it would undoubtedly be White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company.
Iwagakure could not do without White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company in both war and daily life.
Not only Iwagakure, but also the entire Land of Earth, White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company's products had silently permeated people's lives, truly ubiquitous. Even small night lights and small table lamps were produced by this company.
It could be said that as long as it was profitable and related to pharmaceutical technology, and would not violate the laws of various countries, White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company was willing to try it.
"Lord Tsuchikage, are we just going to let this operation go?"
An Hidden Stone Ninja said somewhat angrily; his younger brother was among the Hidden Stone Ninja who died in that great fire.
"The moment we were discovered, we lost the best opportunity to act."
Ōnoki said in a deep voice. He also really wanted to act recklessly, but he ultimately had to consider what impact his actions would have on Iwagakure and the Land of Earth.
"I understand you want revenge, and I also want revenge, but before we act, we must consider what impact our actions will have!"
Ōnoki clearly understood their desire to avenge their fellow Village Ninja; he felt the same.
On the other side, in a hotel room in White Snake Hub Town, Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at the alliance agreement in his hand for a long time, then looked at Orochimaru, who was writing something in a notebook, and asked, "Orochimaru, do you think the information leak has anything to do with Sunagakure?"
"Teacher Hiruzen, you already have a guess, so why ask me?"
Orochimaru closed the notebook in her hand and said with a hint of impatience, "Do you think your guess stops being a guess just because you ask me?"
Anyone would find it hard to speak kindly when there's someone making faces at you.
What's more, Ichikishimahime had been messing around in front of her for a full half an hour!
Taking advantage of the fact that no one else could see her, and only she could, and she couldn't show it, Ichikishimahime began to torment her.
Is this… a research bottleneck?
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the notebook in Orochimaru's hand, thinking she had hit a bottleneck and was therefore so impatient.
"Hiruzen-sensei, even if we believe Sunagakure leaked the intelligence, suspicion without evidence is still just suspicion, especially since the alliance treaty has already been signed."
Orochimaru spread her hands and said, "Even if Sunagakure leaked the intelligence, we cannot tear up the alliance treaty now. Sunagakure has too many excuses to exonerate themselves. Unless you want to go to war with Sunagakure, then you could tear up the alliance treaty."
"Tearing up the alliance treaty is out of the question."
Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly put away the alliance treaty scroll, afraid that Orochimaru would snatch it and tear it up.
An alliance with ulterior motives was better than no alliance at all. At least after this incident, he knew not to fully trust Sunagakure.
Danzo was right. There must be a way to counterbalance Sunagakure and the Land of Wind. Only then could Sunagakure be prevented from betraying Konoha.
Hiruzen Sarutobi increasingly felt that Danzo Shimura was correct.
"Hiruzen-sensei, if there's nothing else, I'm returning to my room."
Orochimaru stood up and walked out. She paused at the door, her peripheral vision sharply fixed on Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Hiruzen-sensei, please don't be like that pervert Jiraiya, running off to peep in the women's bathhouses and hot springs. If you do go peeping, make sure you don't get caught, otherwise, I'll pretend I don't know you."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's old face flushed, and he said indignantly, "Orochimaru, what are you talking about! I am your teacher, am I that kind of person?"
When I return to Konoha, it will be necessary to give Jiraiya a good talking to, lest that fellow ruin my reputation.
Hiruzen Sarutobi secretly made a decision in his heart.
"Orochimaru-sama, there's something suspicious about the intelligence leak from this meeting."
Aokawa stood respectfully beside Orochimaru, slightly behind her.
"Not many in Konoha knew about the meeting, so it's impossible for them to have leaked the intelligence. It's highly likely that Sunagakure leaked it... the black market?"
Orochimaru thought of the black market. If Iwagakure obtained the intelligence from the black market, then the source of the intelligence would be difficult to trace.
"Aokawa, why are you in the Land of Rain?" Orochimaru asked.
"I thought I might encounter Orochimaru-sama in the Land of Rain, and perhaps I could be of assistance."
Aokawa lowered his head and sincerely said, "Orochimaru-sama, please forgive me for presumptuously agreeing to Sunagakure's choice of the Land of Rain as the meeting location."
"I've told you before, don't ask me about everything. You need to make your own judgments. You did well this time, Aokawa."
Orochimaru patted Aokawa's shoulder, and with a 'poof', she vanished in a puff of smoke. Clearly, this was Orochimaru's Shadow Clone.
"Yes, Orochimaru-sama!"
Aokawa felt greatly honored, and only after a long while did he raise his head.
He had always wanted to do something for Orochimaru-sama, and now he finally got his wish to help Orochimaru-sama, even if it was just a trivial matter.
Aokawa felt that everything he and his clansmen possessed was bestowed by Orochimaru-sama. If not for Orochimaru-sama, their Iburi Clan would still be living in dark, damp caves, fearfully awaiting the day of their demise, watching their bodies slowly turn into smoke and dissipate, leaving no corpse behind after death.
Aokawa often thought of his deceased clansmen. If they had lived a little longer, they would have waited for Orochimaru-sama's arrival and wouldn't have had to watch their bodies uncontrollably turn into smoke and die.
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