Chapter 118: Dawn of peace
After sending away the envoy from the capital, Shamen, the Second Kazekage sat down weakly, as if all the strength had drained from his body. A trace of fatigue appeared on his usually stern face. No one had ever seen such a vulnerable side of this strong Kazekage before.
"You've all heard it," the Second Kazekage said, glancing at the clan leaders present. "The Daimyo demands we cease the war immediately and negotiate peace with the Land of Fire."
Although the inevitability of peace talks was already apparent, no one expected it to come this soon. According to the Second Kazekage's original plan, they needed to establish a stalemate with the Land of Fire before negotiating. That way, they wouldn't be led by the nose during discussions.
However, Konoha's forces, led by Fumori Masaki, were still pressing hard against the Land of Wind's troops, and the Land of Fire's regular army was crushing the Wind's samurai. The situation was looking bleak.
Sunagakure wasn't without counterattack potential. They had been formulating a battle plan over the past few days. It didn't require a major victory—just a way to avoid outright defeat. But before they could put it into action, the order from the Daimyo arrived.
"Kazekage-sama, are we really just going to surrender like this?" Chiyo asked angrily. "We still have plenty of strength left!"
"The Daimyo has spoken. We are still shinobi hired by the Daimyo, and we must obey the employer's orders," the Second Kazekage replied, shaking his head.
Even though Sunagakure had gained significant power, the traditional shinobi mindset still constrained them—loyalty to the employer and doing one's utmost for the job were ingrained in them. For the Second Kazekage, a shinobi who had grown up in the Warring States period, breaking from that mindset wasn't easy.
Chiyo, who had been raised with similar values, couldn't voice further objections. Frustrated, she slammed her fist onto the table. "Damn it! Why now, of all times, did the Daimyo have to intervene...?"
"The Land of Fire's envoys told the Daimyo that continuing the war was pointless since defeat was inevitable. The officials in the capital had already been pushing to end the conflict for some time. This finally convinced the Daimyo to nod in agreement," the Second Kazekage explained, sighing.
He had considered appealing to the Daimyo, but the message from the capital was clear, "You were allowed to fight for the nation's benefit, and the military budget was increased accordingly. But given the situation, there's no point in wasting more resources on a losing battle."
The Land of Wind's treasury had always been tight due to the barren land, and the Daimyo, a notorious miser, had only supported Sunagakure's military expansion to enhance the nation's power. Once it became clear the war wasn't going in their favor, he simply withdrew support. Maintaining military spending for a lost cause was seen as wasteful.
"Although it's disappointing, the peace proposal from the Land of Fire shows sincerity. They're not demanding too much from us," the Second Kazekage added with a bitter smile. "Besides, there's not much in this land worth coveting, is there?"
His self-deprecating words struck a chord with everyone. Why had they fought so hard and sacrificed so much if not for the betterment of their land?
"The exact terms of the peace treaty still need to be discussed with Konoha, but we should try to gain as many concessions as possible for our country," the Second Kazekage concluded.
Sunagakure then requested a temporary ceasefire and peace talks with Konoha. Pleased to see their adversaries finally willing to negotiate, Konoha swiftly sent emissaries to begin drafting a treaty. True to their word, the terms presented by the Land of Fire were fair.
Fumori Masaki had proposed the strategy: the Land of Wind was powerful militarily but fragile in its economy and infrastructure. Since destroying it entirely wasn't feasible, a gradual weakening—"bleeding it out"—would be more effective. The key was to offer short-term concessions to avoid cornering the enemy, while maintaining a long-term strategy that ensured Konoha's dominance.
The proposed terms were as follows:
1. Mutual Withdrawal: Both sides would immediately withdraw their troops and not re-enter the Land of Rivers. This was non-negotiable, and neither side objected.
2. Non-Aggression Pact: Both nations would sign a treaty to ensure peace and mutual respect. If one side requested military assistance, the other would provide reasonable support to maintain peace in the ninja world.
3. Territory Compensation: The Land of Wind would return the territories it had gained during the tailed beast entrustment process as part of its compensation for invading the Land of Fire. War reparations would be reduced accordingly.
4. Trade Agreement: A commercial route would be established through the Land of Rivers, allowing trade between the two nations. The Land of Fire would supply food, fruit, and household goods at reasonable prices, with potential discounts depending on the situation. If the Land of Wind couldn't pay in currency, it could offer ore in exchange.
5. Chakra Metal Leasing: Sunagakure would lease part of its chakra metal veins to Konoha in exchange for an annual fee paid in food and currency.
The chakra metal clause caused some concern among Sunagakure's clan leaders. Chakra metal was a valuable resource used to craft ninja tools, particularly puppets. There were suspicions that Konoha might be trying to copy Sunagakure's puppet techniques.
However, the Second Kazekage reassured them. "Even if Konoha tried to replicate our puppetry methods, they would never master it as well as we have. Puppet mastery is deeply rooted in our unique culture and environment."
Moreover, Konoha was only renting the chakra metal. While it felt like occupation in disguise, Sunagakure would still receive food and money in exchange, which made the condition more acceptable.
After reviewing the terms, both parties were satisfied. The Second Kazekage addressed his advisors. "Konoha has shown genuine sincerity in these peace talks. The treaty is more favorable than we expected. And establishing a mutual market is something we desperately need. This war wasn't fought entirely in vain."
"Still, it's a bitter pill to swallow," Chiyo muttered, lowering her head.
"Yes, but remember this day," the Second Kazekage said firmly. "If the opportunity arises in the future, we must make Konoha pay for this. However, if that chance never comes, don't let emotion cloud your judgment. Focus on what's best for our nation. That's the path we must follow."
"Yes, Kazekage-sama," everyone replied in unison.
With that, the two sides agreed on a location for the formal peace talks. This time, there were no interruptions like the Golden and Silver Brothers. The treaty was signed successfully, the armies withdrew, and compensation and land were delivered over time. Though many challenges lay ahead, the dawn of peace had quietly arrived.
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