Negotiations proceeded smoothly, and the surrender agreement was officially signed.
During the remainder of the war, Sunagakure would become an allied force of Konoha, drawing the focus and pressure of Iwagakure's military strength toward them.
Naturally, the agreement wasn't so one-sided. In addition to not demanding any land reparations from Suna, Konoha negotiated numerous smaller and larger compensations to balance the terms.
Only after personally sending off Rasa and the many shinobi from Sunagakure did Hui finally allow himself to breathe a sigh of relief.
It was his first time leading high-level diplomatic negotiations—he was slightly nervous, admittedly inexperienced.
Yet, surprisingly, it didn't seem that difficult.
"Shinichi Aburame, I'm assigning you to escort the remaining shinobi from here. Make sure they arrive safely."
After handing off the task to him, Hui felt no anxiety.
Back during the Battle of Wind and Fire, Shinichi and two other elite jonin stood with Hui against Chiyo. Together, they held their ground against a Kage-level shinobi. His strength and capability made him the best candidate for this task.
Entrusting the withdrawal of the remaining Konoha forces to Shinichi was no risk. Unless an enemy shadow-level and a large force made a deliberate move, they wouldn't be in danger. Even then, Hui had arranged contingency plans: should they be ambushed by such overwhelming force, they were to immediately signal Namikaze Minato, who would then lead a surprise strike against Iwagakure's vulnerable flanks. If Iwa lost a Kage and a contingent of elite shinobi, they would suffer enormous setbacks.
And with the Aburame clan's insects providing surveillance and early warning, Shinichi was perfectly suited for this assignment.
"Well then, I should be on my way."
...
"My lord, our forces lost a total of fifty-eight shinobi in this operation. Fifteen of them were from the clans."
The numbers from this seemingly minor engagement were telling.
Only fifteen clan shinobi were among the casualties, yet the total dead numbered fifty-eight.
This was especially notable because, while clan-affiliated shinobi made up less than a quarter of the forces on the Kirigakure front, the combined total of clan shinobi actually constituted more than half of Konoha's effective combat strength.
This discrepancy was alarming.
No wonder Kirigakure became so ruthless with their own bloodlines—pushing them away and later exterminating them.
This situation was different from the Uchiha case. The Uchiha were feared due to their power and potential rebellion, but Kirigakure's bloodline users were considered internal threats due to uncontrollable, destabilizing abilities.
Even under Madara Uchiha's control, the Fourth Mizukage still retained fragments of his own will. Clearly, Madara couldn't fully overwrite the host's core convictions with standard genjutsu—his illusions weren't on the level of Kotoamatsukami, which could completely rewrite a person's beliefs.
This made things complex.
Kirigakure's internal structure left Zhen responsible for overseeing the non-clan shinobi deployment, coordinating them with the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. This delegation of responsibility highlighted Zhen's status. He was a prodigy in sealing techniques and had even developed Ice Release on his own—an incredibly rare feat.
Although some of the Swordsmen were from noble bloodlines, their loyalty to the village was absolute. They prioritized the interests of Kirigakure above familial ties, making them efficient but dangerous tools of the regime.
"Achoo."
Back at the Konoha frontlines, inside Uchiha Fugaku's tent, young Itachi let out a sneeze.
"Hui should be arriving soon. With him managing the Konoha side while I handle Wuyin's, there shouldn't be any issues with the Byakugan project."
Fugaku remained particularly focused on the plan regarding the Byakugan. The potential for evolution was straightforward—by combining Otsutsuki lineage and pure Byakugan, or merging large numbers of Byakugan, a new dojutsu could be born.
The Tenseigan was theorized to be the first target—a fusion that could rival both the Rinnegan and Mangekyō Sharingan in utility and power.
And if that succeeded, perhaps they could even upgrade the Cloud Village's unique ocular dojutsu, the "Heavy Eye," using similar methods.
...
Two days later, southeastern edge of the Land of Fire, Konoha's forward command base.
"Hui, you've finally arrived."
Uchiha Fugaku was the most enthusiastic in welcoming Hui. Of course—he had the deepest connection to Hui and also understood Hui's true identity. Their rapport had been long established.
The Hyuga clan head greeted Hui as well, but not all reactions were so positive.
Sarutobio—once a comrade alongside Shinichi in resisting a shadow-level enemy—stood off to the side, visibly disgruntled.
As a member of the Sarutobi clan, his resentment toward Hui wasn't hidden. After all, it was Hui's actions that had led to the Third Hokage stepping down.
That transition deeply impacted the Sarutobi clan's political influence.
The Hokage's office during wartime had immense power to channel resources and secure missions that favored their clan. With Tsunade now in charge, impartial and meritocratic, the Sarutobi could no longer expect preferential treatment. Their casualties might even surpass those of others now.
Yet, Sarutobio couldn't publicly oppose Hui's deployment.
After all, this front's battlefield stretched over the southeast coastline and even into naval operations. For a master of Water Release like Hui, this terrain was perfect.
In fact, his deployment was a strategic masterstroke.
Furthermore, two days ago, Hui's achievements in the Land of Rivers had reached the Konoha command center. These were deliberately circulated throughout the forces on the Wuyin front to boost morale before his arrival, establishing him as a powerful presence that inspired confidence.
To the front-line shinobi, Hui's mere presence meant the rear was secure.
With Hui guarding the base, they didn't fear retreat. No enemy dared press an assault too close, knowing Hui could strike from any direction with devastating countermeasures.
Unlike most Kage-level shinobi who risked assassination if they ventured too far from allied lines, Hui had no such vulnerability. As long as he stayed near his prepared fallback zones, he was invincible.
Kirigakure's scouts might probe the borders, but infiltrating Hui's sphere of control was impossible.
This was the assurance he brought to the battlefield.
There had been proposals to have Hui teach his "Multiple Water Severing Waves" technique to other elite shinobi, but such ideas were quickly dismissed.
Aside from the political consequences of forcing someone to divulge secret jutsu, there was also the simple reality that very few could master it.
Even among those who had trained in the Second Hokage's original "Water Severing Wave," only Hui had developed it to a comparable—or possibly superior—level.
Now, the general consensus was that Hui, like the Second Hokage, was someone who had signed a spiritual pact with the sea itself.
In the hands of such users, Water Release reached its apex. In others' hands, the technique lost its force.
"Lord Hui!" ×n
As Hui walked through the command base, shinobi on all sides saluted and greeted him with reverence. It was clear they held him in high esteem.
Hui could sense the difference clearly. The Uchiha shinobi were especially welcoming—particularly the elite ones.
He understood the reasons.
One, Fugaku had likely instructed them to cooperate closely.
Two, and more importantly, Hui had killed Danzo Shimura.
Even if the average Uchiha didn't know the full extent of Danzo's oppression, the upper-tier members certainly did. Hui's role in Danzo's fall earned their gratitude and respect.
According to his own terms, Hui would primarily act in a supervisory role, holding the nominal post of Commander-in-Chief.
Operational logistics and administrative minutiae were left to others.
This not only allowed Hui time to rest and contemplate the next stage of their greater plan—it also served as a political signal to Tsunade. He supported Namikaze Minato's succession and made that support clear by voluntarily relinquishing control.
"Orochimaru... just watch him for now."
Hui wasn't certain about Orochimaru's political ambitions. Without Danzo's interference, perhaps the Sannin might still harbor desires for the Hokage seat.
Then again, nothing was set in stone.
Uchiha Qing's earlier influence had already nudged Orochimaru toward the scientific path.
Now, having embraced research ahead of schedule, Orochimaru might be too engrossed in his experiments to pursue leadership at all.
Still... uncertainty remained.