"There's no problem with Iwagakure either."

Ma Ji and Huang Tu responded.

Afterwards, the four people looked at each other and smiled, and the originally stiff atmosphere became much more relaxed and harmonious.

◎

Early December.

The diplomatic missions from the Kingdom of Fire and the Kingdom of Wind, who had stayed in the Kingdom of Ghosts for a long time, could not get satisfactory results. In the negotiation meetings, they faced each other coldly due to disagreements many times.

The missions from the two countries kept accusing the Kingdom of Demons of wanting to control the war market of small countries, thereby affecting the big countries, and eventually spreading the war to all countries. Such reckless and reckless behavior will definitely cause more trouble in the ninja world than the previous three times.

The Fourth Ninja War was a more serious war.

Not only that, the Kingdom of Fire also prompted many small countries to unite, and together with the Kingdom of Wind, put pressure on the Kingdom of Ghosts.

So much so that the diplomatic department of the Kingdom of Ghosts was in a panic for a while. Faced with so many voices, even the diplomatic department of the Kingdom of Ghosts, which has always been a strong diplomacy, was inevitably confused.

He was suppressed by the missions from the two countries Fire and Wind.

However, although the Kingdom of Ghosts is at a disadvantage in diplomacy, having been defeated steadily by the two great powers of Fire and Wind, in terms of external military operations, it still relies on its original style, penetrating the bottom of small countries to trigger conflicts between the upper levels and

Conflicts at the lower levels have caused signs of chaos in many small countries.

If this were the case, things might still remain in such a long and boring stalemate, and it would be difficult to make substantial progress.

However, an opportunity arose.

——Mid-December.

The Kingdom of Pines fell into internal turmoil.

The aristocratic rule in the country was seriously shaken. Taking advantage of the declining power of the aristocratic rule, a large number of peasants revolted one after another, and the war quickly burned the entire country of Pine Country. The civil war across the Country of Pine was in full swing and burning crazily.

The Country of Pines is one of the small United States that previously surrendered to the Country of Fire.

During the talks, a military mutual assistance agreement was formally signed with the Fire Nation.

Now this country is plunged into a frightening civil war, and the remote controller behind the scenes, although there is no concrete evidence, is undoubtedly secretly pointing to a certain big country.

"What do you want from the Kingdom of Demons? Provoke a civil war in the Land of Pines. Do you really want to provoke the Fourth Ninja War?"

In the conference room, diplomats from the three major powers, Ghost, Fire and Wind, started a new round of debate.

The first person to speak was the diplomat from the Country of Fire. His face was ashen and he stared in the direction of where the Country of Ghosts was sitting with an angry expression.

"Why do you say this? Please speak slowly if you have anything to say. The civil war in the Kingdom of Pines is entirely due to the fact that their lords and nobles were too harsh on the lower classes. It has nothing to do with our Kingdom of Ghosts. They

The civil war was entirely caused by ourselves.”

The diplomats from the Kingdom of Ghosts shook their heads in denial.

"So, where did the organized militias get their weapons?"

"In the arms trade agreement a few years ago, the Kingdom of Ghosts has the ability to sell arms to small countries without much ninja power, allowing them to seek self-protection. As long as the buyer is willing, we, the Kingdom of Ghosts, will naturally provide services to the buyers

.This was also an agreement that you all unanimously approved at that time, wasn’t it?”

The diplomat from the Kingdom of Ghosts answered slowly, explaining the source of the weapons in the hands of those militiamen.

The only thing he could tell himself about this matter was to be calm.

"These words are just for deceiving those who don't know the inside story. We are not fools. The Kingdom of Ghosts must give a satisfactory explanation for this matter."

The Fire Country diplomat said coldly.

The diplomats from the Kingdom of Wind also stared at the seats of the Kingdom of Ghosts, vaguely forming an alliance with the Kingdom of Fire, and using their gazes to put pressure on the diplomats from the Kingdom of Ghosts.

"This is simply nonsense." The diplomat from the Kingdom of Ghosts frowned slightly, "Once again, we only conduct normal arms trade with businessmen from the Kingdom of Pine. As for what they used those arms to do, it is not

We, the country of ghosts, need to take care of it.”

"When things have evolved to this point, do you still want to continue to quibble? Now many small countries are involved in the war. If this continues, big countries will not be able to stay alone!"

Fire Nation officials glared angrily.

"This is not a quibble. I am just stating a fact to you."

"Then I would also like to give you a piece of advice. Since our Fire Nation has officially signed a military mutual assistance agreement with the Pine Country, if the Ghost Country does not give a reasonable explanation to the Pine Country in this matter, then our Fire Country will

Don’t be shy about taking the ultimate violent measure to get justice for the Country of Pines.”

As the diplomat from the Country of Fire spoke these words, the diplomat from the Country of Ghosts' expression changed slightly and stared at the other party unkindly.

"Is the Fire Country planning to go to war with our Ghost Country?"

"This is the power of a just struggle to safeguard the sovereignty of the Allied Powers! Your ambitions in the Kingdom of Demons are too huge. If you continue to insist on going your own way, the Fourth Ninja World War will inevitably explode with your activities everywhere.

Destroy the peace that was finally concluded! Not only the Kingdom of Fire, but other major countries will also come to stop it. I hope you, the Kingdom of Ghosts, will not make mistakes!"

The diplomats of the Country of Fire made a declaration solemnly, pointing their fingers at the opponent very rudely, trying to suppress the opponent's momentum.

"Again, we are just selling arms to various countries normally. In addition, because of these things, the Fourth Ninja War was triggered. Your words are too alarmist."

After the official from the Kingdom of Ghosts finished speaking, he closed his eyes, obviously not intending to argue on this matter anymore.

Seeing this situation, the diplomat from the Country of Fire snorted coldly, left his seat and walked out the door with an annoyed look on his face.

The diplomats from the Country of Wind also stood up and left with him.

This means that the current negotiations have broken down again.

◎

Two more days passed.

The time has come to December 25th.

Heavy snowfall for days has covered Konoha Village.

On this day, Konoha was liberated from the wind and snow. Although the weather was not sunny, the gray-white sky was still bright in this season.

The freezing air hit, and pedestrians walking on the streets of the village put on thick warm clothes and wrapped scarves around their necks to keep out the cold.

The attire of the ninjas is much simpler. They just add an extra thermal underwear to the uniform, and then wrap a scarf around their necks. If they find it troublesome, they even omit the scarf to avoid hindering their movements.

Located on the rooftop of the Hokage Building, Tsunade stood on the edge, wearing thin short-sleeves and a jacket as usual, completely oblivious to the cold outside.

She looked down at Konoha Village from here, taking in all the scenery in the village.

For a long time, she looked up at the gray-white sky above her head and let out a long sigh.

Then, he turned around and leaned against the railing of the rooftop, staring at the Hokage Rock carved on the mountain wall behind the Hokage Building. Starting from the first Hokage, his eyes moved step by step.

Compared with the previous four Hokage Rocks, her Hokage Rock is still brand new, unlike the previous four Hokage Rocks, which have accumulated over time and have been weathered.

Finally, her eyes settled on the Hokage Rock of the First Hokage again, and Tsunade's eyes became blank for a while.

'A ninja is a person who can endure endlessly in order to achieve his goals.'

When I was young, the words taught by my grandfather Senju Hashirama still echoed in my mind so familiarly.

The original Konoha was the center of her grandfather, and Uchiha Madara of the Uchiha clan, in order to connect the various clans, establish a new order from the disordered Warring States period, and protect the children affected by the war... and

A springboard to peace.

However, the current high-level officials must have forgotten all these things.

Patience...patience...whenever she thought of this word, Tsunade couldn't help but feel restless and clenched her fists hard.

How long do I have to endure these guys?

"Grandpa, if you were still alive, what choice would you make? Should you support the Kingdom of Demons or Konoha now...I don't understand what I am doing more and more. Really, even I

Are you starting to get older too?”

Speaking in a voice that only she could hear, Tsunade looked at the Hokage Rock of the First Hokage, and touched her forehead helplessly, as if she was lamenting the ruthlessness of the years, and her will seemed to be decaying.

Shiraishi once said that Konoha, and even all ninja villages today, are no different in essence from the ninja clan in the Warring States Period. They are all mercenary groups with violent means. She couldn't find an excuse to refute it in the past. What's funny is that she can't find one now.

There is no excuse to refute him.

"Honestly, for the next action, I hope not to fail, but at the same time I hope it will fail..."

It was as if they were talking in the air, and Tsunade didn't know what she was talking about.

Maybe he was telling all the Hokages his truest thoughts.

Only to these dead people can I reveal my heart and confess my current complicated state of mind, instead of wearing a mask all the time to cover my heart.

At this moment, Tsunade heard the sound of footsteps, and her eyes left the Hokage Rock of the First Hokage and turned to the entrance to the rooftop.

"Tsunade, there is a letter from the daimyo. Now we can arrange it in advance."

The two consultants who came to inform were Koharu who had transferred to another dormitory and Mono Mito.

The two of them couldn't wait for the Jonin meeting that was going to start next. Of course, they could only be active in this kind of thing and not hinder her. They simply did not have the awareness and ability to serve as consultants.

"I know, I'll come right away."

Nodding indifferently, Tsunade straightened her body, moved away from the railing, and finally glanced at the Hokage Rock of the First Hokage inadvertently again.

I wonder if I will bless this village again this time, Grandpa.
Chapter completed!