Chapter 12: Don’t Worry, We Absolutely Won’t Tail You
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Sitting across from him, Jinghang wore a calm, composed smile, but Danzo's face was as dark as a storm cloud. Inside, he was seething, wishing he could tear this man to pieces. After pacifying Sunagakure's elders, Jinghang had wasted no time extending an olive branch of peace to Konoha the very next day. For Danzo, whose Beast Cage Plan had failed and who was now caught in the dilemma of advancing or retreating his forces, Jinghang's proposal was like a lifeline.
To be fair, Danzo's overall performance in this campaign wasn't bad. In the first half, he had conquered Amegakure, bringing the mighty Hanzo the Salamander to his knees. In the second half, he dealt a crushing blow to Sunagakure, even killing the Second Kazekage, Shamon. On paper, if the war ended now, it would undoubtedly be a triumphant return. Yet, who could have foreseen the disaster during the "injury time"? Ever since Jinghang took over the battlefield, Konoha's forces had suffered repeated losses. Not only had the decapitation operation failed, but the army was now also stuck in a precarious position.
If they continued the offensive, their depleted supplies and low morale made victory nearly impossible. Worse still, the army risked annihilation due to supply shortages. On the other hand, retreating would mean admitting the failure of the expedition. And if Sunagakure were to ambush them during the withdrawal, the army might not even make it to the Night-Singing Sand Sea before being decimated.
However, accepting Sunagakure's offer of alliance at this moment could ensure the army's safe retreat, pulling them out of this quagmire of war. It would also solidify their gains in the Land of Rain, deterring Iwagakure's ambitions. Furthermore, it would provide Danzo with a respectable narrative to present back home. Before the Third Hokage and the Konoha Council, he could boast: "Look at me! I subdued two shinobi villages, one of which is one of the Five Great Nations, and even killed a Kazekage. This is a resounding victory!" Signing a peace treaty would undoubtedly be acceptable to Konoha's leadership. It would save face for all parties involved, allowing Danzo to return to Konoha as a conqueror and victor, securing a higher position among the upper echelons. As for the sacrifices and losses in this campaign? Well, wars always come with casualties. Shinobi are destined to make sacrifices, after all.
Yet, the one thing that truly irked Danzo was the man sitting before him.
Carrying on the legacy of his predecessors, Jinghang had navigated the battlefield with remarkable prowess, defeating formidable enemies in desperate situations and turning the tide of war. There was no doubt that he would gain immense prestige in Sunagakure. His authority there was on the verge of becoming absolute. Now, riding the momentum of his victory to propose peace, who knew what harsh terms he might demand?
As Danzo was still pondering, Jinghang broke the silence. "Danzo-senpai, it's just the two of us here. We're both straightforward men, aren't we? Let's skip the formalities and the diplomatic jargon. Here are the terms; take a look." With that, he handed over a piece of paper.
Danzo took it and was surprised to find that the conditions weren't harsh at all. In fact, Konoha seemed to gain a slight advantage.