Chapter 612: The Hokage

(PS: Sorry, gentlemen, there's a drinking party; I'll stay up late tonight to make up for five chapters.)

Shikaku Nara looked serious.

Yes.

He certainly knew that the current Ino-Shika-Cho had no basis for trust with the Hokage; since the moment they entered the Uchiha clan today, Hiruzen Sarutobi was only willing to find him now because he valued his ability and could conveniently assign the remaining Ino-Shika-Cho members to do things.

To put it bluntly, it was mostly exploitation.

If they didn't even have the value of being exploited, then they, Ino-Shika-Cho, could just get lost.

Therefore.

Since Hiruzen Sarutobi posed a problem, he naturally had to provide a solution.

But, likewise.

He could provide a solution, but whether Hiruzen Sarutobi could do it was not something he needed to consider.

"My cooperation?"

"And I have to persuade Danzo?"

"This is interesting; you might as well say it out loud."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was slightly stunned.

Yes.

He really hadn't expected Shikaku Nara to say such things.

He was truly interested.

"The Third Raikage A certainly won't want to negotiate." Shikaku Nara said with a smile: "But what if he dies?"

"According to what we know, the grudge between the Rock Village and Cloud Village is very deep; Onoki dreams of killing the Third Raikage A."

"And the Anbu also learned some time ago that Onoki has actually prepared to surround and kill the Third Raikage A."

"It's just that because of the battle with Uchiha Jin, he lost three thousand elite Rock ninja directly."

"In this situation, what if we, the Leaf, are willing to support Onoki?"

"Of course, I also know that our village shouldn't act directly, otherwise it would be unfavorable for the future Five Kage peace talks."

"That's why I said this matter requires Lord Danzo's help."

"Only Danzo's Root has the ability to secretly contact Onoki without affecting our Leaf."

Shikaku Nara's tone was serious.

Yes.

Although Hiruzen Sarutobi also controlled the Anbu, most of the Anbu's energy was concentrated within the Land of Fire.

But, Root was different.

Root possessed a massive spy network in other countries.

It could even be said.

The vast majority of Root's power was not within the Land of Fire.

This was also the reason why Danzo truly didn't fear Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Even if he failed to compete for Hokage, even if he truly became a rogue ninja, he could still live very comfortably in the ninja world.

You could say Danzo's heart and hands were dirty, but he didn't reach this point solely by Hiruzen Sarutobi's so-called support.

Why did Danzo dare to slam the table with Hiruzen Sarutobi?

This was his confidence!

Over the years, relying on the Leaf, brainwashing, and curse seal control, he had sent everyone to other countries.

On one hand, it was indeed for the Leaf, but more so, wasn't it to leave a retreat for himself?

Hiruzen Sarutobi: "..."

He was dumbfounded!

Yes.

No matter what, he hadn't expected Shikaku Nara to propose such a method.

Can't solve the problem, so solve the person who proposed it?

Good fellow!

This method was indeed ruthless.

However, Onoki?

All the information about this person instantly flowed through his mind.

After a long time, he nodded.

"Alright, no problem."

"That guy Onoki certainly won't refuse."

"After all, according to Anbu investigations, if not for the three thousand elites lost when surrounding Uchiha Jin, he would have gone to deal with the Third Raikage A himself without us even asking."

"However, there is still one problem."

"Even if Danzo can persuade Onoki, perhaps he cannot provide support; will Onoki agree to this?"

Shikaku Nara's expression was calm.

Since he dared to propose this solution, he had naturally considered all aspects of the matter.

Without hesitation, he said immediately.

"First, we don't need to send troops."

"According to Anbu investigations, since the battlefields of Rock, Sand, and Mist have ended one after another, Cloud Village actually no longer feels it can truly break through our Leaf."

"And according to the Third Raikage's style, the reason he doesn't want to negotiate with the Leaf now is mostly to gain more benefits."

"Therefore, as long as Lord Danzo lets Root exert a little effort to make the Third Raikage A feel that breaking through the Leaf is too difficult, and that it would be more cost-effective to take advantage of the Rock Village's empty defenses to launch a sneak attack, it will be enough."

"Given the level of hatred between the Rock and Cloud, the Third Raikage A will definitely not be able to resist acting!"

"After the Third Raikage A acts, we just need to hold back Cloud Village on the front lines of the Land of Hot Water so their main force cannot support him."

"In this situation, Onoki will definitely be tempted."

"We can even send an elite squad to assist from the sidelines and help Onoki at a critical moment."

"As long as the Third Raikage A dies, Cloud Village will inevitably negotiate!"

Shikaku Nara didn't talk nonsense.

He explained the entire layout clearly; after all, this was the key to whether the three Ino-Shika-Cho clans could gain Hiruzen Sarutobi's support.

After all.

Half of their clansmen had joined the Uchiha; if they couldn't produce some results, they would inevitably be discarded by Hiruzen Sarutobi.

And he believed Hiruzen Sarutobi would definitely agree to his plan.

Onoki would also agree.

The reason was simple.

The Third Raikage A was too strong!

Although he wasn't as strong as Hashirama Senju or Madara Uchiha, for the current ninja world, he was the undisputed number one expert.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Onoki were both Kage of their respective villages.

If there was a chance, neither would give up on killing the Third Raikage A.

And the facts were indeed so.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was indeed tempted!

He was indeed no match for Onoki, but if there was a chance, he would certainly want to get rid of the Third Raikage A.

And persuading Onoki wouldn't be difficult!

Everyone was an old rival; Hiruzen Sarutobi knew very well that Onoki wanted to kill the Third Raikage A even more than he did.

The only problem now was how to persuade Danzo.