Amado chimed in. "That's right. The Kage have been so supportive of Konohagakure's electronics; naturally, I must come to see them off."
Anka understood the situation. "I see. General Mifune, the Tsuchikage, and the Kazekage will surely be very touched to see Amado-sama come to send them off."
Amado nodded on the surface, but inwardly he thought, 'I don't care if they are touched or not. I'm actually here for you.'
But he knew he couldn't push too hard, or it would have the opposite effect.
Torifu and Amado had arrived early; the Kage hadn't finished preparing yet, so they waited in the office.
About an hour later, the village was beginning to stir. The supporting crowds had assembled near the central street, waiting for the Kage to depart Konohagakure so they could begin the send-off. Only about half of the crowd were hired performers; the other half were genuinely there to see off the Kage. Since there were no longer barriers between the villages, the Tsuchikage and Kazekage had gained some goodwill from the villagers of Konohagakure. They also visited the village frequently, so it was perfectly normal for villagers to voluntarily come out for a send-off. Similarly, if Torifu were to visit other villages, many people would sincerely welcome him.
"Hokage-sama, General Mifune has finished his preparations and is ready to leave. We should head down."
Torifu looked behind him. Through the glass, he saw that Mifune and his retinue were indeed gathered at the apartment entrance, ready to depart.
"Good, let's go."
Torifu, Amado, and Anka walked from the Hokage Residence to the apartment entrance. In the meantime, the Tsuchikage and Kazekage also completed their preparations and were ready to leave Konohagakure. Upon seeing the Hokage, they greeted him with smiles. "Hokage, thank you for the hospitality these past few days. We are ready to depart now."
Torifu showed a look of regret. "Alas, our time together was too short, and with this incident popping up, even if I wished to keep you, I can't."
Ōnoki sighed as well. "Tell me about it. The Shinobi World has only been stable for a few years; we can't let them stir up trouble again. Once we return, we must dedicate all our efforts to maintaining the peace of the Shinobi World!"
The Kazekage echoed the sentiment. "Both of you are right. War brings us no benefit, only pain. The stability we enjoy now was hard-won, and we must cherish it."
The surrounding villagers were touched to hear the Kage speak this way. It wasn't just ordinary people who yearned for peace; the Kage longed for it, too. The power of these villagers was weak and couldn't substantially contribute to maintaining peace, but the Kage could! As long as they all aspired to peace, the Shinobi World would remain stable!
Seeing the scene, Mifune immediately declared, "We Samurai are also members of the Shinobi World, and we will certainly strive to maintain its peace. I have already learned about the situation in the Amegakure region. If you have need of us, we Samurai will immediately go to assist."
Before Ōnoki and the Kazekage could speak, Torifu stepped forward and patted Mifune's shoulder. "With that assurance from the General, I am relieved. If manpower in the Amegakure region is truly insufficient, I will request aid from the General immediately."
"I will do my utmost!"
The fact that four of the world's most powerful figures made such a statement in Konohagakure required no further explanation. This greatly stirred the blood of the villagers and was a shot in the arm for those who were worried. With four nations working together, the small Land of Rain couldn't possibly cause any major disturbance. Torifu had no fear of them unless Hanzō and that Blaze somehow broke through to Six Paths level.
The four walked and chatted all the way to the main gate, with their retinues following behind.
In the procession, Amado talked extensively with Anka about the Amegakure situation, offering his own views. Many of the solutions he proposed, while not entirely perfect, were novel, which Anka found very interesting. The two conversed softly behind Torifu, occasionally checking the progress of the farewell crowd.
It was only when the Kage reached the main gate of Konohagakure that they stopped talking, preparing for the final send-off. Although Amado was officially there to meet the Kage, he hadn't said a single word to them the entire time, focusing entirely on Anka. The only interaction the Kage received from him was through his insightful ideas, which had diverted Anka's attention.
"Alright, Hokage-sama, this is far enough. Who knows when we will meet again," the Kazekage said with a laugh. Torifu could tell he was a little reluctant, though he wasn't sure if it was because he would miss Konohagakure's food.
Ōnoki was more carefree. "Haha, Kazekage, there's no need to be so sentimental. Once we resolve the Amegakure situation, we can just get together again. It's not like there's much else to do during peacetime."
Torifu also smiled and nodded. "Yes, the Tsuchikage is right. We can meet again anytime. Besides, I've already sent a Clone to the Amegakure region to oversee things. If you send clones too, it'll be a kind of reunion."
Hearing this, both the Kazekage and Tsuchikage looked a little awkward.
"Cough, I say, Hokage, you talk like it's easy. Who among us has the chakra reserves of your magnitude? Who can support a clone over such a long distance?"
Realizing his blunder, Torifu waved his hand. "Just a joke, just a joke. But since neither of you can send a clone, who will you send to oversee the Amegakure region?"
Ōnoki shook his head and spoke first. "I won't send anyone for the time being. Your clone is stationed in the central city, Hokage, right? Our shinobi will just help guard the area."
The Kazekage shared Ōnoki's sentiment. They had a mountain of miscellaneous tasks to deal with back home and couldn't leave right away. As for the Elders, they were all seventy or eighty and nearing retirement, so it wouldn't be right to bother them.
Given the situation, Torifu accepted the task. It wasn't a vital role, just one of security and oversight. The local administrators would handle the internal details; Torifu wouldn't need to interfere. However, it was crucial to have a Kage present, otherwise, the administrators would feel constrained when carrying out their plans. Torifu's role was exactly that—to lend his authority.
"Good. Since the Hokage has agreed to it, I have nothing to worry about. Once I've handled the immediate matters, I will personally travel to the Amegakure region."
The Kazekage held the same attitude. Only Mifune stood by without speaking. He simply needed to wait in the Land of Iron for a signal requesting aid. If he sent troops without being asked, it would be viewed as meddling in the affairs of other nations.