Two days later, after dozens of hours of intense negotiation, the marathon of bickering finally drew to an end.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, seated comfortably, smiled as he handed over a pre-prepared document.
"Hmph."
Masa, leader of Sunagakure, snorted lightly, picked up the pen, and signed without hesitation. Why so straightforward? Naturally, he had consulted with the Third Kazekage the night before.
The Third Kazekage, starved after days without proper food and exhausted from the relentless demands of the Ninja Interrogation Squad, had whispered urgently, "Sister, go boldly forward, don't look back."
He could endure no more. If the negotiations continued, he might become the first Kage in history to starve while imprisoned. And as for the ransom? Leave it for later—he trusted his skill and knowledge of political leverage. Hidden Cloud and Iwagakure were still engaged in conflict; once he returned, he could likely get them to offset some of Sunagakure's losses.
Dragging this out only risked greater suffering for his village. So he had no choice but to approve Masa signing on his behalf. With the backing of the Third Hokage, Shamon felt no stiffness in his legs or fatigue in his back and quickly coordinated with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
With the signature finalized, the war between Konoha and Sunagakure was officially declared over.
[Ding.]
Hayashi, standing just outside the main hall, heard the long-awaited announcement:
"Congratulations to the host for helping Konoha secure victory in the Second Great Ninja War..."
Hayashi smiled softly, a quiet warmth in his expression.
But before he could dwell on it, Masa's voice rang from behind: "Where are our Kazekage and Elder Chiyo?"
"No need to worry. You will meet them soon," Hiruzen Sarutobi replied with a faint smile.
He beckoned Orochimaru over and whispered, "Go and escort the Kazekage and Chiyo from Konoha Prison."
"Yes," Orochimaru replied curtly, ignoring both the Elder Council and Sunagakure representatives. He departed toward the venue's main entrance without delay.
Masa refused any offer from the Third Hokage for a "tour" of Konoha, understanding the embarrassment a defeated nation would feel paraded through the village. The safest course was to wait for the escort to bring the Kazekage and Chiyo back to him.
Twenty minutes passed. During this time, Hiruzen leisurely brewed two cups of tea. Konoha's Elder Council visibly relaxed. Though not all profits would land in their pockets, as Konoha was the clear beneficiary, strategically they knew they stood to gain much.
Soon, Orochimaru returned.
"The Kazekage and Chiyo have been handed over to the Konoha Ninja outside."
"Well done." The Third Hokage drank his tea in a single gulp.
"Then Masa, according to our agreement, Konoha's forces will escort you and depart after crossing the Land of Fire border. Any other instructions?"
"Hmph. Let's go. I hope Hokage-sama doesn't burst his gut over the ransom and supplies," Masa muttered before departing to meet Konoha's escort unit.
"Meeting adjourned," Hiruzen Sarutobi declared, clapping hands. The Ninja and Anbu outside acknowledged silently. Orochimaru, most eager to resume his experiments, led the way, followed by Hayashi, Sakumo, and Jiraiya.
The Hokage and Elder Council remained seated, understanding that the next battle was internal: disputes over distribution of profits. It promised to be another long struggle.
Hayashi stepped into the sunlight, shielding his eyes, observing the cheerful faces of the assembled ninja. He sighed.
Only now did he fully understand why the Third Great Ninja War had erupted so shortly after the Second. Victorious nations always demanded too much; defeated nations were forced into ruin.
Sunagakure could attempt to shift losses onto Iwagakure, but Iwagakure itself was defeated by Konoha. No ally could prevent this exploitation. Sunagakure had no choice but to shoulder its despair, unable to repay the debt—only sinking deeper.
Even Danzo had openly declared, "We must search every pocket in Sunagakure and find the money!" Hayashi recognized the pattern. This treaty was a setup for the next war, an economic stranglehold designed to provoke conflict years later—just like the Treaty of Versailles in his past life.
How long could this peace last? In the manga, such treaties faltered within three to four years, giving rise to the Third Great Ninja War. Hayashi realized that while his actions had expedited the Second War's end, the time gained was negligible. Without persuading Hiruzen to ease the terms or dismantle Sunagakure now, the pattern was inevitable.
Hayashi's attention shifted as Sakumo Hatake nodded toward a group of ninja in Fan Clan uniforms, huddled with Sunagakure forces.
"Oh, by the way, Hayashi, your escort unit is entirely comprised of your family members," Sakumo remarked casually.
Hayashi nodded, quietly wondering how many would return alive.
Sakumo then turned to lighten the mood. "So, how did your blind date go yesterday, Senior?"
"Don't even mention it," Sakumo pouted. "It was chaotic—like a fan gathering gone wild."
Hayashi laughed softly. "After all, it was the blind date of the famous White Fang of Konoha. You must have many admirers, Senior. Being overwhelmed is inevitable."
Sakumo blushed faintly. "Hey, Hayashi, why are you teasing me? You're hardly inexperienced yourself. How long have you been single, by the way?"
Sakumo pouted further, "Don't you know it's impolite to ask someone's age casually?"
Hayashi merely smiled, shaking his head, the corner of his mouth tugged in quiet amusement.