Chapter 351: Official Excuse
Masahiko did not participate in the wrangling negotiations. He only paid attention to the results: the Hidden Sand Village and the Hidden Stone Village intended to form an alliance with the Land of Rain, but the specific details of the alliance still needed to be discussed.
The alliance was facilitated so quickly not because that money-grubber Kakuzu did anything, but because Chiyo made a request to Sasori. After it was agreed upon, she decisively supported the alliance.
This request, naturally, was not for Sasori to return to the Hidden Sand Village; that would only make him more rebellious. Chiyo chose the next best option, hoping that after the Akatsuki organization was established, Sasori could join it as the representative of the Hidden Sand Village.
After repeated consideration, Sasori reluctantly agreed, but he flatly refused to return to the village and even demanded a high commission... Chiyo stated that she couldn't spend all her pension anyway.
"This can be considered a good outcome. It seems I need to find an opportunity to confiscate Sasori's Third Kazekage human puppet. Otherwise, if it's exposed, it will put Chiyo in a very difficult position." Masahiko muttered to himself, then shook his head and sighed. "Wait, why am I starting to meddle in other people's business again? What does this have to do with me? Am I actually feeling sorry for Chiyo?"
It was undeniable that Chiyo's aged face, so close to her appearance in the original story, did soften Masahiko's heart a bit. One must know, it was only Konoha Year 54 right now. Perhaps losing her younger brother had caused Chiyo to age even faster...
With the intention to ally reached, Sasori and Kakuzu completed the Land of Rain's commission. The specific signing of the treaty would require Yahiko to come in person.
Yahiko and Ameyuri Ringo arrived even faster than imagined. Before Chiyo's letter to the Hidden Sand Village had even received a reply, they arrived at the Hidden Stone Village and immediately sought out Masahiko.
"Senior, regarding our previous time in the Land of Rain, thank you very much for looking after us." Yahiko smiled brightly.
"He beat you half to death. It's a wonder you can say he was looking after you with a smile on your face." Ameyuri Ringo said with a sinister grin.
Masahiko smiled. "It's nothing, no need to thank me. Sowing the seeds of peace is what an old senior like me should do. The 'Akatsuki Peace Plan' you proposed is quite good, but there are still some flaws..."
Yahiko nodded. "I know, Senior. That's why I came to find you, hoping you could help."
Masahiko was startled. "What, you want me to help you keep those ninjas from other villages with their own ulterior motives in line? It's useless. Your strength is insufficient. Even if I forcibly suppress them, you won't be able to convince the masses. Or are you asking me to step up as the leader of Akatsuki? That would be even more unnecessary. If I were to personally take action, what difference would it make whether Akatsuki is established or not?"
Yahiko, however, shook his head and said, "I just want your help to make the various ninja villages select ninjas who are more inclined toward peace to join Akatsuki, someone like Obito, for example..."
"Obito?" Masahiko was somewhat surprised. "Hiruzen actually agreed to the alliance?"
Yahiko smiled and nodded. "Lord Third Hokage was very kind. He told us that he would consider it."
The corner of Masahiko's mouth twitched. That sly old Hiruzen...
Looking at the passionate Yahiko in front of him, Masahiko felt helpless inwardly and chose to remind him indirectly.
"Did Hiruzen say how long he would consider it?"
Yahiko was taken aback. "This kind of thing shouldn't require considering for too long, right? After I sign the treaties with the Hidden Stone Village and the Hidden Sand Village, I will make another trip to Konoha."
Masahiko couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, wait until you successfully sign an alliance treaty with Konoha, and I can help you pick people. But aside from Konoha, I truly don't know which powerful ninjas in other villages are inclined toward peace."
"Moreover, it's not as simple as you imagine. Even if they agree to ally, they will definitely carefully select the ninjas joining Akatsuki to fight for more benefits for their own villages."
Yahiko's brows furrowed tightly. "Are benefits really more important than the lives of comrades? Starting wars will only cause more pain."
Ameyuri Ringo grinned sinisterly. "Of course benefits are important. Kakuzu and Sasori of the Red Sand participated precisely because of benefits. Otherwise, who knows how much more effort we would have had to expend."
Hearing this, Yahiko sighed and turned to Masahiko. "Senior, do you have a solution?"
Masahiko spread his hands. "I naturally have a solution, but right now you are the one striving for peace. Relying on me for everything won't do."
"I told you, Yahiko, it's useless to seek out this old geezer..."
Bang!
Ugh!
Masahiko shook his wrist and smiled at the dumbfounded Yahiko. "Her strength might have improved a bit, making her a bit too jumpy. I had to slap her face to wake her up."
It took a long while before Ameyuri Ringo quickly walked back, weighing her twin swords in one hand and clutching her cheek with the other, glaring at Masahiko with eyes full of fury.
Masahiko frowned slightly. "The defensive power of those teeth of yours is a bit high. Even that couldn't knock them out?"
Yahiko hurriedly spoke up, "Ringo, let's go. Let's not disturb Senior anymore."
Masahiko smiled and stopped them. "Alright, I was just acting on a momentary impulse just now. Now that I've calmed down, I'll give you an idea."
"Tch..." Ameyuri Ringo was about to speak again, but Yahiko quickly pulled her back.
Masahiko pondered for a moment, then raised his head and said, "The people joining the Akatsuki organization must be S-rank ninjas. The quantity doesn't need to be high; one or two from each village is optimal."
"The Hidden Sand Village has already confirmed that one of them is Sasori of the Red Sand. The other person... Chiyo, for the sake of this grandson of hers, might join personally. This way, the candidates for the Hidden Sand Village are basically set."
"The key is the Hidden Stone Village. Besides Ohnoki, the Hidden Stone Village only has three S-rank ninjas. Kitsuchi, as his father's right-hand man, is unlikely to join. The possibility of the Five-Tails Jinchuriki joining is also relatively small. That leaves the Explosion Release ninja Gari, who I am not familiar with... Oh, actually, there is another candidate: Roshi, the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, who left the Hidden Stone Village a few years ago due to political disagreements with Ohnoki. If you can find him and get him to join, there will be much less interference from the Hidden Stone Village. Also, that brat over there, his sense of belonging to the Hidden Stone Village isn't strong either..."
Masahiko pointed into the distance. Deidara was riding a flying bird, constantly shouting wildly, "Art is an explosion! Katsu!"
Akatsuchi, on the other hand, silently cast Earth Release defenses, sparring with Deidara.
Yahiko was startled. "That blond-haired child? He's still too young, and his strength is a bit lacking, right?"
Masahiko shook his head and chuckled softly. "I think this Akatsuki organization of yours won't be established anytime soon. Who knows, Hiruzen might consider it for two or three years. Not to mention, there's still the Hidden Cloud Village, the Hidden Mist Village, and other smaller villages. By the time you run around and visit them all, he will have grown up quite a bit."
Yahiko's brows knit together as he somewhat realized what was happening. "Are you saying that Lord Third Hokage was making an excuse to brush us off..."
Masahiko waved his hand. "Experience it for yourself. I can only help you up to this point. You'll have to work hard on the rest by yourself."
Yahiko pondered for a moment and nodded heavily. "Thank you for your help, Senior!"
Watching the two walk away, Masahiko whispered to himself, "As expected, it won't be that easy. Konoha won't join easily. Hiruzen's excuse was quite official..."
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