Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!
Chapter 487: Debt Collection Like a Death Sentence

Chapter 487 - 487: Debt Collection Like a Death Sentence

"It seems like the shinobi world has finally calmed down."

"Is the war really over?"

A meeting was underway in the Kazekage's conference room in Sunagakure, the Land of Wind.

These past few months had been tough on the Suna shinobi. They had constantly feared getting dragged into the war, but now, the situation seemed to have stabilized.

It felt like everything had finally come to an end.

"Ever since Akatsuki took over the Land of Water, they haven't made any moves."

"Konoha withdrew from the Land of Earth, and then Kumo ninja retreated as well."

"With the crisis now resolved, Ōnoki has been busy managing post-war affairs."

"If nothing unexpected happens, this war should be considered over."

"To think the biggest winner turned out to be Akatsuki, of all places."

"They stepped out of the Land of Rain, and in the blink of an eye, they've replaced the Land of Water as one of the Five Great Villages."

"Give them a little more time, and they might even be able to challenge Konoha."

One of Sunagakure's high-ranking officials spoke confidently, sharing his thoughts on the war.

But he was still too optimistic. What he saw was only the surface of the situation.

"You're not wrong."

"We all underestimated Akatsuki. Who would've thought they had this much power?"

Another official chimed in, his tone laced with unease.

To be honest, they had never taken Akatsuki seriously before.

The foundations of the Five Great Nations were far beyond anything the Land of Rain could match.

Even though Sunagakure had suffered heavy losses, they still had their pride—after all, even a dying camel was bigger than a horse.

But now, no one dared to look down on Akatsuki anymore.

In reality, their strength had already surpassed Sunagakure.

Whatever pride Suna had left had been shattered by cold, hard facts.

"You all really think it's over?"

"You think the storm has passed?"

Rasa finally spoke, his voice calm but his furrowed brow revealing a different perspective.

"Lord Kazekage, are you saying there's more to come?"

If Rasa were just another shinobi, no one would pay much attention to his words. But he was the Fourth Kazekage—the man who had led Sunagakure through its lowest point and now held true power.

"Do you remember where the Konoha forces left the Land of Earth?"

Instead of answering, Rasa posed a question.

"They passed through the Land of Rain. What about it?"

"Konoha is powerful, and Akatsuki has already gained so much. It makes sense that they wouldn't want to make an enemy of them."

The Suna official still saw no issue. After all, both Konoha and Akatsuki had intervened in the Land of Earth—they weren't exactly enemies.

"Letting Konoha's entire army march through their territory—do you really think that's just about not wanting to make enemies with a stronger force?"

Rasa's words, though spoken lightly, hit the room like a thunderclap.

It wasn't that no one had thought about this possibility.

They simply didn't want to believe something so bold.

Ōnoki had also noticed this detail, but there was nothing he could do about it. The situation had already spiraled beyond his control.

"You're saying Akatsuki and Konoha are working together?"

The moment that unthinkable possibility was voiced, the room was filled with a heavy silence—fear and anxiety creeping in.

"It's hard to say."

"But this isn't over yet. It's far too soon to celebrate."

"Pass down my orders—no one is to let their guard down."

"If there's any news, report it immediately."

Rasa's frown deepened. Looking at the subordinates before him, he only felt exhausted.

"Yes, Lord Kazekage."

The room echoed with their unified response, then fell into a heavy silence.

If Rasa's suspicions were correct, then an even bigger shift was coming to the shinobi world.

And when that time came, could the Land of Wind truly stay out of it?

Many left the meeting room in a daze, their minds clouded with uncertainty.

The current peace...

It was nothing more than the calm before the storm.

...

Rasa wasn't the only one losing sleep—Ōnoki hadn't been able to get a full night's rest in a long time.

Konoha's forces had come swiftly and left just as cleanly.

What should have been a situation where "inviting gods is easy, but sending them away is difficult" never materialized.

But Ōnoki found no relief in that.

Over the past few days, letters from Konoha urging the Land of Earth to fulfill its promises had been arriving one after another, piling up on his desk and that of the Daimyō.

The words were polite but left no room for negotiation.

Looking at those cold, formal letters, Ōnoki found it impossible to sleep.

Konoha's final ultimatum had arrived.

They had given the Land of Earth three days.

If the agreed terms weren't met by then...

Konoha wouldn't show mercy.

"This isn't just a demand for repayment—it's a death sentence!"

Ōnoki slammed the letter down onto his desk, his anger rising.

"Father, you should rest for a while."

"If you keep this up, I'm afraid your body won't be able to take it."

Kitsuchi stood by his side, his face full of concern.

He wasn't just worried about his father—he feared what would happen if the pillar holding Iwagakure together suddenly collapsed.

"What did the Daimyō say?"

Ōnoki didn't even acknowledge his son's words, his expression dark as he spoke in a harsh tone.

"The Daimyō said the timeframe is too tight—he can't gather that many resources on such short notice."

Kitsuchi carefully observed his father's reaction, his voice growing quieter toward the end.

"Idiot!"

"At a time like this, and he's still making excuses?!"

Ōnoki slammed his hand against the table again, fury boiling inside him. He wanted nothing more than to storm into the Daimyō's palace, grab him by the collar, and shake some sense into him.

Did he really think Konoha wouldn't attack?!

"Father, most of the promises made when we requested aid were your own decisions."

"The Daimyō is bound to be dissatisfied."

"Now that the immediate crisis has passed, his attitude is understandable..."

Though Kitsuchi didn't finish his sentence, his words carried a hint of justification for the Daimyō's actions.

"So now I'm the one at fault?"

"If I hadn't offered major concessions, would Konoha have come?"

"If Konoha hadn't come, would the Land of Earth even still exist?!"

Ōnoki's voice grew louder, his long-suppressed anger threatening to explode.

"No, that's not what I meant."

"I'll go see the Daimyō right away and convince him."

Kitsuchi turned to leave, confident that he could handle the situation. He didn't believe Konoha would launch an attack so hastily.

From his dealings with Konoha's shinobi, he knew they weren't the type to be completely unreasonable.

They had given a three-day deadline—surely being late by a day or two wouldn't be a big issue.

As long as he presented a logical and convincing argument, he was certain the Daimyō would see the bigger picture.

Whatever was promised to Konoha had to be delivered in full.

Only then could the Land of Earth truly have a chance to recover.

"Go."

If it weren't for his current obligations, Ōnoki would have gone himself without hesitation.

Unfortunately, in the aftermath of the war, Iwagakure couldn't function without him.

"Father, just wait for my good news."

Kitsuchi bowed before leaving, a confident smile still lingering on his face.

"I just hope the Daimyō acts quickly..."

After some thought, Ōnoki decided to write a personal letter of apology to Konoha, hoping to negotiate for a few extra days.

Once he handed the letter off to a subordinate, he slumped into his chair.

His mind kept replaying the shifts in the shinobi world, each thought adding to the pounding in his head.

Akatsuki, Kumo, Konoha—those names circled endlessly in his mind.

In the end, only one remained fixed at the center.

Konoha.

It weighed down on him so heavily, he could barely breathe.

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