With the deliberate indulgence of Sarutobi Hiruzen, coupled with other factors such as Hatake Sakumo and Orochimaru gaining the approval he so desperately craved, Shimura Danzo began his gradual descent. Later on, even after striking down Hatake Sakumo and others in the shadows, he found no satisfaction; his inner emptiness and bloated ambition only grew, giving rise to covetous desires for the dazzling position of Hokage.
Because both the Konoha and Iwagakure warfronts had ended in victories for Konoha, Onoki had no choice but to take the initiative and send envoys to signal his desire for peace talks.
Just as Uchiha Chi had anticipated, the moment Iwagakure made their initial gesture, Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others accepted immediately, showing none of the demeanor expected of a victorious nation. At the same time, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu continuously urged their own people to speed up the negotiation process, leaving Konoha's representatives completely unable to secure the advantages they deserved at the negotiating table.
Chapter 47