บท 79: Still a familiar recipe

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**Council Chambers, Hidden Leaf Village**

"The Sunagakure started this war, and now you intend to make peace without any repercussions? Are you out of your mind, Tsunade?" Danzo's voice was laced with venom, his sharp gaze fixed on the Fifth Hokage. "You would release the One-Tail's Jinchūriki and return the captured Suna shinobi? And what of Uzumaki Menma, the most valuable asset we possess—the Kyūbi's Jinchūriki? Don't you understand the whole shinobi world has its eyes on him? If the Kyūbi falls into the hands of another village, can you even fathom the consequences? Will you take responsibility for that? Or are you going to keep holding Root back from doing what needs to be done?"

Danzo's words settled over the room like a storm cloud, casting a thick silence.

For once, despite his questionable methods, Danzo's argument held weight. His point, though steeped in ruthless pragmatism, addressed a crucial concern for Konoha's security.

"Is this really the time to be concerned about the feelings and interests of other villages?" he pressed, his voice dropping to a chilling calm. "This is madness."

In Danzo's eyes, a true leader chose the path that best served the village, and today, his logic was sound. Even Menma, in Danzo's position, might have come to the same conclusion.

"Yes, Tsunade, I find myself agreeing with Danzo on this,"Homura said, frowning as he held the Hokage's gaze. "Your handling of both the Sunagakure situation and Uzumaki Menma seems… careless."

Koharu Utatane, seated beside him, remained silent, but her crossed arms and tightened lips conveyed her dissatisfaction.

Tsunade's golden eyes narrowed, a glint of defiance flashing within them. "Careless? I don't think so." She smirked, undeterred. "Shikaku, why don't you bring the elders up to speed on Konoha's current situation?"

"Yes, Hokage-sama," Shikaku Nara replied with a slight bow. He stepped forward, facing Danzo, Homura, and Koharu. "The latest intelligence from ANBU and the border patrol details the situation we're facing."

He handed Homura a thick report, which the elder skimmed quickly before passing it along. The elders' faces grew more grim with every page.

Shikaku cleared his throat, continuing, "Kumogakure has increased its military presence near the Land of Hot Water. They have over three thousand shinobi stationed there, and border skirmishes have been frequent. Additionally, Iwagakure has mobilized a large force, including potential sightings of the Five-Tails' Jinchūriki, near the borders of the Land of Grass and the Land of Taki. Though unconfirmed, the number of Iwa shinobi in the region has also risen to nearly three thousand."

He paused, letting the gravity of the situation sink in.

As the implications grew clear, Homura and Koharu's faces paled. Konoha's forces were already stretched thin; a multi-front threat from both Kumogakure and Iwagakure, with possible Jinchūriki involvement, was beyond what they could handle alone.

Danzo's expression darkened further, his hands clenching tightly. "The other villages… they're testing our limits. If Hiruzen hadn't been so weak, we wouldn't be in this position. After three Great Ninja Wars, Konoha was victorious each time, and yet… what remains of that legacy?"

His words were heavy with bitterness. "This is what mercy leads to. The strength of a village lies in its shinobi, not in some foolish ideal of 'mutual understanding.' A village survives only by wielding the sharpest blade."

Danzo's resentment was unmistakable. His anger wasn't only aimed at the other villages but also at Hiruzen Sarutobi, the former Hokage, whose idealistic approach had, in Danzo's eyes, made Konoha vulnerable.

"Furthermore," Shikaku resumed, breaking the tense silence, "Sunagakure has stationed over five thousand shinobi near the River Country border. While Kirigakure has remained inactive, we cannot risk underestimating them either."

Tsunade's voice rang through the room, firm and unyielding. "Do you hear that? This is Konoha's reality. We're on the brink of war with multiple villages. What we need is stability, not provocations. Strengthening our relations with Sunagakure is the best course of action."

Her fists clenched as she glared at the council. "Yet instead of supporting me, you all stand in my way."

Homura grimaced, his face clouded as he absorbed the weight of the situation. "It's worse than I thought. Perhaps… caution is necessary."

Koharu let out a reluctant sigh, nodding slowly. "Given the circumstances, we have little choice."

Danzo's scowl deepened as he noted his allies' hesitation. His frustration with their indecision was evident in his rigid posture.

Tsunade's gaze softened slightly, but her tone remained sharp. "Alienating Sunagakure isn't an option. We need them as allies if we're to stand any chance against Iwa and Kumo's combined forces. That's the reality, whether you like it or not."

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Danzo's patience wore thin. "Hmph. If they want to come, let them! The last thing we should do now is show weakness—it'll only invite them to strike harder. Konoha cannot afford to appear vulnerable! If they push, we'll push back twice as hard. Konoha has never feared threats or challenges!"

His voice echoed with fierce conviction. In some ways, Danzo's view had merit. Showing weakness to an enemy could be dangerous, as it would only embolden their aggressions. But there was a fine line between strength and recklessness. While his stance might have been justifiable regarding Sunagakure and Menma, challenging the combined forces of three great villages was another matter.

Konoha, as it stood now, couldn't face off against three major villages at once. During the Third Hokage's prime, Sarutobi Hiruzen had strong allies—Hatake Sakumo, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru, and a young Namikaze Minato ascending through the ranks. In those days, Konoha could withstand assaults from multiple villages and still prevail.

But Danzo seemed blind to the present reality. In his mind, Konoha remained the indomitable power it once was, and he believed that with the right leadership—his leadership—the village could still dominate the shinobi world.

Tsunade, however, had no such illusions. As the granddaughter of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, she carried his dream of peace and stability. Her priority was a strong Konoha in a world where conflicts could be prevented, not invited.

"Strength?!" Tsunade snapped, frustration flashing in her amber eyes. "Danzo, do you hear yourself? There are over ten thousand shinobi from three major villages at our borders—and that number could increase any time! Iwagakure has already deployed the Five-Tails' Jinchūriki. If you provoke Kirigakure as well, you'll drag Konoha into a full-scale war. Who will answer for that, Danzo? You?"

Her voice was sharp, and though she fought to remain composed, the anger was clear in her tone. Every fiber of her wanted to call Danzo out for his arrogance directly.

Danzo's scowl deepened, clearly bristling at her open defiance.

Before he could retort, Homura interjected, "Tsunade, you're right. We can't withstand pressure from three villages. What's your plan?"

Tsunade took a deep breath, calming herself as she regained her composure. "We'll use the captured Suna shinobi and the One-Tail Jinchūriki, Gaara, as leverage. If Sunagakure withdraws its forces, restores our alliance, and compensates us for damages, we'll return Gaara to them. This will neutralize the threat from the west. As for Kumogakure and Iwagakure, their old tensions from the last Great Ninja War remain unresolved. We can use that to our advantage. This approach won't eliminate all pressure, but it will reduce it to a level we can manage."

Her tone was steady, embodying the careful balance of diplomacy and strength—a plan crafted with Shikaku Nara's strategic insight. Konoha would not appear weak, but neither would it provoke its enemies needlessly.

Homura and Koharu Utatane exchanged glances before nodding. "It's a sound approach," Homura conceded.

"I agree," Koharu added. "It's the best option we have."

For the first time that day, Homura and Koharu looked at Tsunade with respect and understanding. This was the Hokage they had hoped for.

Danzo, however, was far from satisfied. His expression grew colder as Tsunade spoke. To him, Konoha should never negotiate from a position of weakness. Even facing threats from three major villages, surrendering a bargaining tool like the One-Tail Jinchūriki was unthinkable.

How could Konoha, the greatest of the Five Great Shinobi Nations, maintain its power without Jinchūriki? Especially after the loss of the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki? In Danzo's eyes, handing Gaara back to Sunagakure was tantamount to forfeiting Konoha's last real advantage.

Yet with Homura and Koharu backing Tsunade's plan, he knew his objections would fall on deaf ears.

Tsunade then addressed the final matter. "As for Uzumaki Menma—he is the son of Minato and Kushina. We can't afford to handle this matter recklessly, or risk further destabilizing the village. The best course of action is to entrust this to Jiraiya. As Menma's godfather and Minato's teacher, he'll know how to reach him. There's still a chance to bring him back."

She didn't need to explain further. The elders quickly grasped her intention.

"If Jiraiya's taking on this mission, we trust his judgment," Koharu said. "There's still hope Menma can be saved."

The two advisors visibly relaxed, evidently relieved that Tsunade had a plan for Menma that didn't involve outright confrontation.

Danzo, however, sat in silence, his face a mask of frustration. He had hoped to rally Homura and Koharu to his side and press Tsunade into a more aggressive stance. Instead, they had sided with her once again. It felt all too familiar—just as it had under Hiruzen, when his calls for decisive action were often ignored.

Now, with Tsunade as Hokage, Danzo found himself sidelined yet again. But he would not give up. His ambition to lead Konoha, to mold it into the world's most powerful village, still burned hotter than ever.

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