[Land of Iron, Hall of neutral concord]
Danzo himself wore the Otokage's mantle, dyed in a purple colour. His cloak made the symbol of Otogakure, a music note, clear and strong, his aura imposing respect. The Four-Tails' chakra simmered beneath his skin, a contained wildfire, unperceptible by all.
"Apologies for my tardiness," Danzo said, smooth as a drawn knife, "Otogakure's affairs… require precision"
Hiruzen's pipe clattered. Images of the fallen friend he had missed so much flashed in his eyes, his funerals vivid in his mind.
"Danzo…?", Relief, grief, betrayal...These feelings all warred in the name alone.
Danzo was a hero to konohagakure, a figure that was hailed by citizens and political powers, a figure that was often associated of the 'rightful hokage who never got to become one'. Often, Hiruzen would be compared to him, or rather, the hokage version Danzo would have been. Yet, in spite of all that, Hiruzen never once resented his friend.
Never once but...now.
"If you were alive...why did you not say anything?", Hiruzen questioned
Ōnoki's chair shattered as he surged upward. "YOU!"
The Kazekage bowed mockingly: "Ah, our ally, the first Otokage, arrives."
The Raikage's eyes narrowed. "Otokage. How… entrepreneurial"
Chasing the samurai away from their seat, his aura penetrating their skin, Danzo took the now-empty dais with confidence:
"This war is folly. Otogakure proposes…realignment"
A scroll unfurled, its terms glowing:
Sunagakure and Otogakure's compensation—territorial mutual defense. All lands seized post-armistice recognized.
Tributary System – Defeated villages must pay yearly tribute in ryo, rare materials, or jutsu scrolls to both Suna and Oto.
Trade Exclusivity – Permission to merchant institutions to build routes towards Otogakure, founding to be negotiated.
Ninja Registration Oversight – Any emerging shinobi of significant power in the defeated lands must be reported and assessed by the summit of five kage to prevent potential threats.
Mandatory Disarmament – Any shinobi forces from defeated nations must disband their ANBU and specialized combat divisions
Hiruzen paled: "Danzo, you can't—! Maybe you don't know this, but Konohagakure cannot afford these tributary terms! It just cannot afford it!"
Ōnoki spat. "Traitor! That scroll is worth less than your corpse! Again, what preposterous event made you think you were even worthy of attending this summit? You might be strong, but your forces are minuscule"
Danzo's smile was glacial: "Careful, Tsuchikage. Stones crumble…You would be wise not to undersetimate Oto"
Taking a scroll out her kimono, Harumi revealed Hanzo's poisonous scythe still gripped tightly by Hanzo's arm. Hissing in satisfaction, she hissed: "Is it proof enough?"
Everyone gasped.
Hanzo was not just a monstrous shinobi, he was someone who had made the Uchihas retreat at numerous occasions, and caused Chiyo to back down despite her victories against Konohagakure. He was a semi-god, not yet able to claim the title of 'demi-god', but still. His salamander was known to all as the ultimate summon. Yet...his arms was cut, along with his shinobi reputation.
Rather, everyone looked at Danzo, the first Otokage, in a new light.
The Raikage stood, a thunderclap of muscle, "Enough. Kumo withdraws. Settle your squabbles in the dirt. Your speech was poetic, Otokage. But Kumo doesn't kneel to poets."
He pointed at Harumi: "That woman holds my jinchūriki. Return Matatabi, and we'll consider your terms"
"Come take her, Raikage. I'd love to see you try" Blue flames ignited along her fingertips, the Two-Tails' growl vibrating the air.
The rest of the kage looked at the woman wearing the Shimura kimono with interest. Her strength, her mastery of the jinchuriki...They had never seen this.
"I recognize you...You are the Hebikaze matriarch...Why are you wearing the Shimura crest?", an elder behind Onoki spoke, "Surely, you joined Otogakure after being pressured and were sacrificed to become a jinchuriki. You don't know the power they hold. Leave Danzo and join us, and we will gift you the meditation technique to calm the voices in your head"
Harumi shook her head, amused by the situation: "I am the Hebikaze matriarch, it is true. You comissioned us two years ago to deal with kumogakure scouts. However, it is all in the past. I am Otogakure's queen, Danzo's wife, and I chose to become jinchuriki. Matatabi is not an object, but I guess this is something you never considered"
"Two jinchuriki?", Onoki mused, "You are willing to let a village which stole two jinchuriki establish itself on top of our losses? You think this grants you legitimacy? It makes you a thief—a plague to be purged!"
Hiroto shook his head: "With all due respect, Tsuchikage, you cannot afford to hold this position. Otogakure wishes for peace, otherwise we could have simply joined Sunagakure's mantle and attack you. Our lord has already obliterated Iwagakure once, and would not hesitate to do it once more"
"Suna recognizes strength. Otogakure's terms are… pragmatic. The weak cling to morality. The strong write history." He glanced at Hiruzen. "Wouldn't you agree, Hokage? Or has Konoha's will of fire become ash?"
"You once swore to protect Konoha. Was that a lie? Or did the man I called brother die in that fire?"
Danzo's expression hardened, his face exactly the same from the friend Hiruzen remembered. Every word, decision Danzo made screamed of the friend who was blown up:
"Konoha is a relic, Hiruzen. Clinging to Hashirama's dream while the world burns. I've built something that endures. I do not know who chased me from Konoha three years ago, and I certainly do not care anymore. Whether it is you, Iwagakure or both. Let bygones be bygones. Choose peace, Hiruzen"
Homura, mixed feelings of guilt and horror at the terms, ended up choosing Danzo's side: "Hiruzen...Danzo is right. It is not in Otogakure's interest to choose peace in this situation. This is his will of fire. He is offering Konoha...no...all kage a way out to recuperate and bury this madness of a war"
Homura's words hit the chord of every kage. Everyone had suffered greatly. All villages were on the brink of destruction, bankruptcy and if the battle lasted one more year, then the consequences would be irremediable. Clans were already considering leaving, some having already claimed independance.
The third mizukage, who had seen half of its forces desert the village, was the first to accept: "We accept the terms. We will write a detailed reports to the summit on our forces and economy. We will also accept mild contributions to Otogakure, who sacrificed profits for peace. In exchange, I hope you can make the Kirigakure Merchant Union one of your privileged clients"
Danzo's grin was visible to all. He nodded: "Consider it done"
Seeing the mizukage comply, the Raikage followed suit: "We will not pay any compensation. Losing a tailed beast is enough losses"
"Suna agrees. The age of the Five Great Nations is over. Let the strong inherit the ashes. Let the era of the Six Great Nations begin", the Kazekage exclaimed, his arms elevated to the sky, his excitement growing. His words held tremendous meanings. By accepting the terms, it also meant acknowledging Otogakure as a new major hidden village.
Hiruzen closed his eyes. Konoha's defeat wasn't on this battlefield...it was in the years of erosion, the allies lost, the trust broken.
When he spoke, it was a whisper. "Konoha… accepts"
Saying the words seemed to age his body ten more years. Danzo and Hiruzen were the same age, roughly 24 at this point. Yet, Hiruzen seemed like a middle-aged man, the back of his hair greying already.
Ōnoki spat blood. "Iwa does not—"
"You will" the third kazekage's voice was final. "Or your villages will starve when Sunagakure's sand seals your caverns. Your children will choke when our winds bury your fields. Don't force our hands, Onoki"
The Raikage stood abruptly. "Kumo withdraws. For now." He locked eyes with Danzo. "But know this, Otokage—lightning strikes hardest when least expected."
As the Kage dispersed, Ōnoki seething, Hiruzen broken, the Kazekage triumphant, Danzo lingered. The hall's shadows stretched toward him like subjects bowing.
Harumi brushed his arm, her voice a purr. "A victory, Otokage"