Mitokado Homura shot the idea down immediately.
"But if we do that, the Hidden Mist won't be able to hold out. They'll collapse, and Sunagakure will swing straight around and come for us. Once that happens, Iwagakure will definitely regroup and hit us again."
"They didn't surrender last time—we only drove them back. The damage we dealt wasn't nearly enough. They still have plenty of fight left in them."
Homura paused, then added with a pointed look at Danzo, "None of this would be a problem if you hadn't gone behind our backs and tried to assassinate Rasa with that Sand traitor. Now the Hidden Sand hates us. Thanks to you."
Danzo's face darkened, but he didn't even glance at Homura.
Instead he looked straight at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"That's exactly why we need to reach an agreement with Sunagakure first, Hiruzen."
Hiruzen met Danzo's eyes. "Who's going?"
Danzo didn't hesitate. "Since this mess started with me, I'll go. But I want Orochimaru with me. I'm confident I can talk that kid Rasa into it—he's hot-headed, though. I need someone who can keep things from blowing up before I finish speaking."
Hiruzen nodded. "Fine."
When Danzo and Orochimaru appeared at the Sand camp, every Hidden Sand ninja went on high alert.
"Who the hell are they?"
"It's Konoha's Danzo!"
"And Orochimaru!"
"What are those two doing here?"
"Trying to sneak-attack our army?"
"Get word to Lord Kazekage and Lady Pakura—now!"
Danzo raised both hands, palms open, showing he carried no weapons.
"Sand shinobi, we're not here to fight. We came to discuss something with your Kazekage—something that benefits both the Hidden Leaf and the Hidden Sand. Please pass the message."
He stopped right there and waited, doing everything he could to look non-threatening.
Orochimaru stood beside him with his arms folded, eyes narrowed as he studied the Sand ninja around them.
"Danzo and Orochimaru?" Rasa raised an eyebrow when the report reached him. "Got it. I'll head over in a minute."
Pakura glanced over. "Husband, should I come with you?"
Rasa shook his head. "No need. I'll handle it alone."
He stood up and formed a single seal.
"Sand Soldier: Emerge!"
A Chunin-level sand soldier appeared inside the tent—shield in one hand, spear in the other—crouching silently in the corner like a statue.
Pakura studied it with quiet admiration.
"So this is that new jutsu of yours… Sand soldiers that can be as weak or as strong as you need. You can use them to swarm enemies or send elites, and you can teleport to any of them instantly. It's every bit as good as Minato's Flying Thunder God. Developing something this powerful on top of your Magnet Release… Husband, you really are a genius."
She smiled softly. "You've already surpassed the Third Kazekage."
Danzo and Orochimaru waited a long time.
Finally they saw Rasa walking toward them in the distance.
Orochimaru's gaze sharpened as he sized the young Kazekage up. He hadn't met Rasa before and knew little about him until recently—when the kid's name suddenly flooded the entire ninja world.
Single-handedly wiped out the Beni-yama clan.
Killed four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen in one day.
Turned the Hidden Sand's hopeless war around.
Crushed Danzo and Shiro-Suna Koichi's plot.
Fought Minato Namikaze to a standstill.
"Never expected talent like this to come out of Sunagakure," Orochimaru murmured, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
Danzo's feelings were more complicated.
On one hand, he hated Rasa with a burning passion—the arm he'd lost still ached every night.
On the other hand, he desperately needed this peace deal.
For the Leaf, it was the best possible move.
If they could cut ties with the useless Mist and make peace with the Sand, they could focus everything on crushing Iwagakure. Once the Rock was beaten, the Leaf could finally step out of the war.
And once the Leaf was no longer fighting, the other villages would think twice before attacking.
"Revenge can wait," Danzo told himself. "Right now everything is for the village."
He forced a smile as Rasa drew closer.
The old man reminded himself again: I am the Darkness of the Leaf, the Root that supports the great tree. I can bear any insult, any curse, if it helps the village. This is nothing.
Rasa stopped a few paces away and spoke first, voice dripping with contempt.
"Old bastard, what the hell do you want? Another scheme?"
Danzo's smile froze, but he swallowed the rage and kept his voice steady.
"Kazekage, we came here because we have something that benefits both our villages."
He paused for effect.
"The Hidden Leaf is willing to sign a peace treaty with Sunagakure. We stay out of each other's way. That frees you to throw everything at the Hidden Mist."
Rasa's eyes narrowed. "You're selling out the Mist?"
Danzo shook his head. "We're simply choosing not to participate in your war with them anymore. The Leaf never had a real reason to fight you in the first place."
Rasa studied him for a long moment.
"How do I know this isn't a trick?"
"To prove our sincerity," Danzo said smoothly, "you may station observers inside our main force. The second we make any suspicious move, you'll know immediately. That way we couldn't possibly launch a sneak attack on you."
He spread his hands. "What do you say, Kazekage? This is a huge win for Sunagakure. You crush the Mist, collect massive war reparations, and enter a peaceful era—exactly what your village wants, isn't it?"
Danzo's tone turned almost coaxing.v