Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 531 The Bottom Line That Cannot Be Yielded

Ebizo pushed up his thick glasses, a glint of shrewdness flashing behind the lenses.

He rose from the shadows, his gaunt body appearing somewhat empty within the large elder's robes.

He walked to the pillar of light, took out a scroll sealed with sealing wax from his pocket, but did not open it immediately.

"Lord Kazekage, esteemed elders."

Ebizo's voice, like the man himself, was dry and lacked moisture, like a weathered rock in the desert.

"Based on intelligence gathered by our spies in the Land of Fire and even in the towns surrounding Konoha..."

He paused for a moment, as if organizing his thoughts, or perhaps adding a weight to what he was about to say.

"...Konoha did not conduct any large-scale military mobilization after the war."

"What?"

In the corner, Long Sha, an elder with even more seniority and wrinkles so deep they could crush a sand scorpion, let out a sneer.

"No military expansion? Did that old man Hiruzen Sarutobi lose his mind after winning one battle? Or does he think that the entire Sand Village and the Iwagakure combined are not worthy of his serious attention?"

These words carried obvious sarcasm and resentment, but they also voiced the doubts in the hearts of many present.

In the world of ninjas, victory in war often means further expansion of military equipment and the transformation of the fruits of victory into a stronger deterrent.

Konoha's behavior is completely illogical.

"No."

Ebizo slowly shook his head, pushed up his glasses, and the dust in the beam of light reflected off the lenses, making his expression unclear.

"That's the scariest part."

"Intelligence indicates that even in the years following the Battle of Uzushiogakure, Konoha not only did not expand its military, but instead invested a huge amount of war reparations and resources into the village's internal development. They called it... the Konoha Village Five-Year Plan."

"Build...build?"

Elder Longsha's sneer stuck in his throat, his face full of disbelief.

Not only him, but everyone, including the hot-tempered Yecang, had an expression of absurdity on their faces.

Ninjas, tools of killing, weapons of war.

Ninja Village, a military fortress.

When did this ironclad rule, which has remained unchanged since the Warring States period, change? Is it about using money to build roads? To construct houses? To... farm?

Ignoring the shock of the crowd, Ebizo continued to state the facts in his emotionless tone.

"They widened the streets, established functional zones, built huge reservoirs, and even... invested more resources in pigsties and vegetable gardens than in training a Jonin. According to intelligence reports, Konoha is now filled with high-rise buildings, and there are even iron boxes that can move on tracks without ninjas having to run. They... seem to have nothing to fear."

The meeting room was deathly silent.

If the news of defeat was a heavy blow, then the intelligence that Ebizo brought was an invisible dagger. It did not bring physical pain, but it made everyone present feel a chill from the depths of their souls.

It wasn't fear of overwhelming force, but rather a sense of panic about unknown and incomprehensible patterns.

Konoha is turning into a monster they don't recognize at all.

"and……"

Ebizo took a deep breath and dropped another bombshell: "According to the latest intelligence from our spies in the Land of Rain, the newly appointed Fourth Raikage of Kumogakure has reached a preliminary agreement with Konoha on behalf of Kumogakure and has officially joined the war orphans relief fund led by Konoha."

"What!?"

"Those barbarians from Kumogakure actually bowing down to Konoha?"

"This is impossible! Hiruzen Sarutobi is the murderer who killed their Third Raikage!"

The crowd erupted in uproar again.

Hatred is a stronger bond than blood ties.

Between Kumogakure and Konoha lies the life of a Kage, a universally acknowledged and irreconcilable feud in the ninja world.

"Nothing is impossible."

Luo Sha's cold voice rang out again, and the golden sand around him rippled slightly. "When your village is besieged by three parties and almost destroyed, and your enemy becomes your only lifeline, will you also bow your head?"

Luo Sha's words were harsh, yet incredibly realistic.

Everyone fell silent.

After the commotion subsided slightly, Ebizo and the others continued, "The addition of Kumogakure is just the beginning. If I'm not mistaken, it won't be long before envoys from Konoha arrive with their 'goodwill' to knock on the door of Sunagakure."

"Will you offer compensation?"

Luo Sha snorted coldly, and the golden sand floating around his body emitted a faint hum.

"Every grain of sand from my Sand Village is more precious than the gold of their Land of Fire. If they want money, let them come over our dead bodies!"

"That's right! We absolutely will not pay compensation!"

"This is a trampling of the village's dignity!"

The hardliners immediately echoed his sentiments, and Yekura clenched her fists even more tightly.

For them, dying in battle was an honor, while paying reparations and seeking peace in humiliation was worse than being killed.

Just then, Granny Chiyo, who had been resting with her eyes closed, finally spoke slowly.

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was like the cold dew falling in the desert at night, instantly extinguishing everyone's flames.

"If it's just compensation, perhaps that's acceptable."

Chiyo slightly lifted her eyelids, revealing her cloudy eyes that seemed to have seen through the vicissitudes of life.

Her gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on Liemen at the highest point.