"To the strongest of the Ninja World, the Doctor of Ninjutsu, the mightiest Hokage, the Ninja Hero, Lord Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi… Having received your esteemed Village's letter detailing the undercurrents now surging through the Ninja World and Konoha's steadfast resolve to safeguard the peace, we have perused it with the deepest agreement and admiration."
"The Land of Wind and the Land of Fire, Sunagakure and Konohagakure, though our lands differ, have shared profound foundations of peaceful coexistence and mutual benefit since the days of the First. Our peoples alike yearn for stability; our shinobi know the worth of peace. Your maxim that 'the peace of the Ninja World stands above all' is precisely the creed of every citizen of the Wind. When menaces arise that could overturn the order of the entire world, the Wind will never stand aloof."
"Yet the Wind's lands are scoured year-round by tempests of sand, our resources meager, our people's life harsh—our national and Village coffers ever strained, as the world well knows."
"To ensure this peacekeeping campaign can be launched swiftly, effectively, and sustained, should Konoha advance fifty million ryō as a special operations fund, Sunagakure pledges: the moment the sum arrives, our forces will march at once, fighting shoulder to shoulder with you for the peace of the Ninja World."
Konoha.
Currently the strongest Ninja Village in the world.
Inside the Hokage Office.
Still in his vigorous years, Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe; across from him sat two men and one woman.
Together they formed the famed F4 of the Ninja World.
The Third Hokage set down his pipe, leaned forward, and spoke with a grave face.
"What do you make of the Wind Country's reply?"
Crack! The desk in front of Shimura Danzō shattered under his palm.
"'What do we make of it?' Hiruzen, are you regressing with age?"
"This is outright extortion while the fire's still burning.
Today they dare stretch out a hand for money—tomorrow will they stretch out a leg for land?"
Danzō's roar echoed through the Hokage Building, never mind Hiruzen's darkening face.
At last Utatane Koharu shot him a look that silenced him.
"A-hem, Hiruzen."
"Though Danzō's tone is harsh, he has a point—Sunagakure has gone too far this time."
"'Gone too far'? It's outright outrageous."
"Hiruzen, give me three thousand Ninja; I'll strike the Wind Country and bring you the Third Kazekage's head."
Hiruzen's eyelid twitched at Danzō's boast.
He knew exactly why Danzō was so eager—left out of the war, no military merit to reap—but that was no license for nonsense.
"Enough, Danzō."
"Do you want to ignite an all-out war between Fire and Wind?"
Lightning and Water are still watching like tigers."
Frankly, Hiruzen thought fifty million was cheap.
In peacetime alone the Daimyō of Fire already granted five hundred million; add Konoha's mission fees and the Village's yearly income topped a billion.
That didn't even count the extra wartime subsidies the lord now poured in.
If fifty million could avert war, it was nothing!
But he couldn't say so himself, so he turned to Homura Mitokado.
"Homura, what's your view?"
Called upon, Homura instantly grasped Hiruzen's intent—decades of partnership told.
"A-hem, Hiruzen, I believe we can agree."
"Sunagakure remains one of the Five Great Villages; their strength counts. Since we're the ones asking for troops, aid to win them over is only fair—but fifty million is too steep."
"Homura speaks sense."
Hiruzen rose and gazed out at Konoha Village.
"Gold has a price, but human life is priceless."
"When Lord Tobirama entrusted the Village to me, it was to protect the people."
"If a little silver spares the villagers the scourge of war, the cost is but a sliver of my own reputation—no great matter."
"Hiruzen, you shoulder such scorn for the Village's sake."
Homura and Koharu stood to console him, leaving Danzō standing alone.
Damn—if that's scorn, what am I?
"But we can't let Sunagakure off lightly, or every Village will think us easy prey."
At those words Danzō's lone eye lit up. "Hiruzen, send troops to teach them a lesson—leave it to me—"
"Tell Sunagakure: fifty million is too much—thirty million. Konoha offers thirty."
The two statements overlapped.
Their eyes locked.
Danzō broke first.
"Hiruzen!"
"You make me sick!"
Meanwhile, in the Land of Earth…
Iwagakure.
A young Kitsuchi barged into the Tsuchikage Office.
"Father—Sunagakure—"
"Is in the Land of Birds. I already know."
"Eh?"
"How did you know, Father?"
Rubbing his big head, Kitsuchi wondered how his father had the intel just delivered to him.
Ōnoki floated in the air with the Light-Weight Rock Technique, sighing at his foolish son.
He handed the letter on his desk to Kitsuchi.
"To the Land of Earth, the twin-heaven scales, Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki…"
"Konoha's hegemony drags the Wind Country to attack us; this is not the will of Wind…"
"But Konoha is strong, and fearing invasion, Wind has no choice but to inform you…"
"The friendship of Wind and Earth, Suna and Iwa, has endured since the First and remains unbroken."
"Therefore, only fifty million!"
"Right now, for just fifty million, Suna Ninja will not set foot in the Land of Earth!"
"May the friendship between Wind and Earth last forever."
"Father… this…"
"Address me by title during work."
"Yes, Tsuchikage-sama."
"Tsuchikage-sama, how do we respond?"
"Sunagakure has produced another remarkable Kazekage."
"?"
Shouldn't he be giving orders instead of praising people?
"Hmph!"
Seeing Kitsuchi's bewilderment, Ōnoki's temper flared.
"Kitsuchi."
Present."
Do you know what it takes to become a Kage?"
"Strength? Prestige?"