The Rinnegan couldn't be returned to Obito for now.
Nagato's Uzumaki physique was still needed to nurture it.
To capture Tailed Beasts, a container was essential.
And if this mission failed, the storage vault for the Six Paths ninja tools would only become more heavily guarded.
So this time—
They had to succeed in one decisive strike.
Obito's message had conveyed two options:
Abort the mission and try again later.Continue the operation, launching a surprise second attempt before Kumogakure could react.
Wen Lan stood in the corridor, thinking quietly.
After a moment, he made his decision.
He wrote two words on a slip of paper:
Continue the mission.
He handed it to the crow.
The bird instantly dissolved into smoke and vanished.
Delaying the Enemy
Wen Lan re-entered the room.
Inside, the agreement had already been signed.
The Kumogakure envoys were standing, preparing to leave.
But he couldn't let them go yet.
What he needed now was time.
More importantly—
He needed to draw the Raikage's attention toward Konoha.
Because when the Raikage focused on Konoha,
He would loosen his guard over the Six Paths treasure vault.
"Wait."
Wen Lan's voice came from the doorway.
Everyone froze.
Tutai's heart skipped.
He desperately wanted to leave Konoha—too many variables, too much danger.
He inhaled slowly and forced out the words:
"May I ask what further insight the Hokage Advisor has?"
The Hostage Proposal
"Insight? Not really."
Wen Lan walked to the table, picked up the signed agreement, glanced at it—
Then casually sat on the table and tossed the document onto the floor.
"Let's be honest."
"These agreements are just pieces of paper."
"You could return home and refuse to acknowledge them—and we'd have no way to stop you."
He smiled slightly.
"So if Kumogakure truly wishes to form an alliance…"
"Why don't all of you remain in Konoha?"
"Send one ninja back to report to the Raikage."
"Then have the Raikage bring the agreement to the Land of Iron, where we can sign it under neutral supervision."
The room exploded with tension.
The Kumogakure envoys' expressions changed instantly.
Tutai's pupils shrank.
Cold sweat covered his palms.
This was clearly a hostage demand.
The Raikage was proud and stubborn.
He would never humble himself by traveling abroad like this.
Wen Lan's move wasn't diplomacy—
It was pressure.
Several envoys gripped their weapons in anger.
They knew they couldn't defeat him—
But the humiliation burned.
Tutai suppressed his rage and spoke coldly:
"If Konoha uses such methods to coerce allies, it belittles the Raikage's honor."
Even Allies Are Confused
At this moment—
Minato, Shikaku, and Fugaku all showed subtle shock.
This was not the plan they had agreed on.
But Wen Lan acted as if nothing was wrong.
He shrugged lightly.
"Sorry."
"I don't follow rules."
"You saw that earlier."
"They say envoys cannot be killed in war."
"I almost killed you anyway."
He smiled calmly.
"And when I do something like that…"
"I assume others might do the same."
"So if you return home, tear up the agreement, and send an army to attack us—"
"We'd lose the initiative."
"So keeping you here isn't a threat."
"It's simply insurance that those two territories remain peacefully in Konoha's hands."
He paused, then added:
"And I've already shown sincerity."
"I'm not asking the Raikage to come to Konoha."
"I'm suggesting the neutral Land of Iron."
Tutai's Realization
Tutai clenched his fists.
His nails dug into his palms.
Blood nearly rose in his throat.
Because Wen Lan had just exposed his exact plan.
He had intended to:
Sign the treatyReturn homeDelay negotiationsRally the other villagesLaunch a combined assault on Konoha
Konoha sat in the center of the continent.
Surrounded on all sides.
If the other four villages united—
They could crush it.
That had been the strategy.
But now—
The plan was completely exposed.
And the initiative belonged to Wen Lan.
If he refused—
The delegation would die here.
If he agreed—
Kumogakure would appear weak.
Either way—
They had lost.
After a long silence, Tutai finally spoke in a low voice:
"Fine."
"Darui… return to the village and report this matter to the Raikage."
"Yes."
Darui had no choice.
He immediately departed.
Understanding the Raikage
Still—
Both Tutai and Wen Lan knew one thing.
The Fourth Raikage, A, was not foolish.
He appeared rough and impulsive.
But in reality—
He was sharp-minded and fiercely loyal to his village.
Unlike his predecessors—
He made very few strategic mistakes.
Under his leadership:
No ninja defectedThe village remained stableDiscipline stayed strong
Even Naruto's famous persuasion techniques couldn't sway him.
When Naruto once knelt and begged him to spare Sasuke—
The Raikage replied:
"Then forgive me after I kill him."
Cold.
Logical.
Unshakable.
A leader defined by duty.
After the Delegation Leaves
Once the Kumogakure envoys exited the building—
Minato immediately turned to Wen Lan.
"What happened?"
"This wasn't part of the plan."
Wen Lan rubbed his temples, looking tired.
"The situation changed."
"We need to delay Kumogakure as long as possible."
Honestly—
He was exhausted too.
If Obito's message had arrived even a little later—
The delegation would already be gone.
And finding another excuse to detain them would have been much harder.
Shikaku asked calmly:
"Are we really going to the Land of Iron?"
The Land of Iron was neutral territory.
Major decisions between villages were traditionally witnessed there.
And inside its borders—
Combat was strictly forbidden.
Wen Lan nodded.
"Send a request to the Land of Iron."
"If Kumogakure agrees—"
"We leave immediately."
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