While Danzō and Hiruko were plotting how to capture Nawaki, at the border of the Land of Wind, Hoshiyomi was reluctantly taking part in the first peace talks between Konoha and Sunagakure.
Truthfully, he was already itching to return to Konoha, but he had no choice. His name was the loudest on this battlefield, and just his presence forced the Sunagakure's delegation to lower their tone by several decibels during negotiations—each of them terrified that if they provoked Hoshiyomi, he might cut them down in an instant.
It's worth mentioning that the Third Kazekage, Ryūnosuke, also attended the talks. In just a few days, Chiyo had completed the basic modifications on him.
That old woman Chiyo truly had skill in puppet modifications. In a matter of days, she had transformed the half-dead Ryūnosuke into a puppet human capable of simple movement.
Ryūnosuke bore no resentment toward Chiyo or Bunpuku's methods. Knowing that his original body wouldn't last much longer, he silently accepted this half-human, half-puppet existence.
His purpose in attending this first round of talks was to ease the concerns of his subordinates, and also to use his public appearance to deter the ambitions of the other three villages. In that sense, his devotion to Sunagakure ran deep.
To conceal the fact that he had become a puppet human, he wore a large cloak and wrapped his face heavily in bandages like the Second Tsuchikage, claiming publicly that he had been grievously wounded and disfigured, unwilling to let others see his ruined face.
The act worked well — even the shinobi within Sunagakure had no idea that their Kazekage had become a puppet.
Since his head and internal organs had been preserved, Ryūnosuke still retained his consciousness and could move without external control.
However, perhaps because he hadn't fully adapted to his new body yet, his gait looked strange. Still, that only reinforced his cover as someone gravely injured.
When his eyes, wrapped tightly in bandages, fell on Hoshiyomi, an unavoidable trace of venomous hatred flickered within them — but he quickly concealed it.
Of course, Hoshiyomi immediately realized that Ryūnosuke had become a puppet human. He also understood why—after all, Ryūnosuke's ghastly state was thanks to him.
Although he was surprised that Ryūnosuke could "resurrect" in such a form, Hoshiyomi chose not to expose him.
As he often said, Gekko Hoshiyomi was no devil. For an enemy he had already defeated once, he had no interest in humiliating them repeatedly.
Besides, if he pushed too far and provoked Sunagakure into fighting Konoha to the bitter end, it would be nothing but trouble.
After giving the Suna delegation a symbolic nod of acknowledgment, Hoshiyomi's role was already 80% complete. All that was left was to sit back with an expression that said, "I'm awesome, don't bother me," and that was enough.
The main negotiators weren't him, but two Nara clan members whom Hiruzen had specifically dispatched. The older one Hoshiyomi didn't recognize — probably one of those who wouldn't live long enough to make it into the main story.
But the younger one Hoshiyomi did know — Nara Shikaku, Shikamaru's father, and the future brain of the Allied Shinobi Forces during the Fourth Great Ninja War.
Hoshiyomi had a good impression of Shikaku and already had plans in mind: once he returned to the village and supported Tsunade's rise to power, he would bring Shikaku over to be Tsunade's strategist.
With him around, Tsunade wouldn't have to struggle as hard as she did in the original timeline.
The twelve or thirteen-year-old Shikaku, of course, had no idea what kind of "tool-man" life awaited him. At this moment, he was energetically clashing with Suna's negotiating team, working to secure maximum benefits for Konoha.
After a whole day of verbal sparring that stretched into the afternoon, both sides still hadn't reached any real agreement. In the end, they could only part ways and set another time to continue negotiations.
That was the way war negotiations always went in Naruto world—dragging on endlessly, full of stalling and underhanded schemes. Both sides were prepared for a long battle of words.
When Hoshiyomi returned to camp, he found Tsunade sitting alone, looking uneasy and restless. Hoshiyomi found it a little amusing and teased her:
"Really? I've only been gone for a day. Don't tell me you've been missing me so much you can't even sit still?"
Tsunade snorted in response
"Who's missing you? Don't flatter yourself."
But after saying that, she pulled Hoshiyomi to sit with her. Finding a comfortable position, she wrapped her arms around him and slowly rested her head against his shoulder.
"I don't know why… I just feel this inexplicable unease, like something bad is about to happen."
Hoshiyomi raised a brow at that:
"That doesn't sound like you. Don't tell me it's just that time of the month?"
Tsunade rolled her eyes, instinctively slapped him, and said seriously:
"I'm not joking with you. I really feel something is off — a strange panic I can't shake."
Hoshiyomi thought for a moment and said:
"Then how about we make a bet? It'll shift your focus and also serve as a kind of test. If you lose, then it probably means nothing's wrong. But if you win…"
He didn't finish the sentence. Because if Tsunade did win, then it would mean something really bad was indeed looming — and that would need to be taken seriously.
At the mention of a bet, Tsunade's eyes lit up. It had been a long time since she had gambled with anyone. The war had left no opportunity for it, and Hoshiyomi had also forbidden this "money-losing woman" from wasting herself on gambling.
Now that Hoshiyomi himself suggested they gamble a bit to test whether something was wrong, Tsunade readily bought into it. She hurried back to her room and quickly returned with three dice and a dice cup.
"We don't have much else prepared, so let's just bet with these."
Hoshiyomi twitched the corner of his mouth. Not prepared? You even carry dice around?
Without hesitation, Tsunade declared boldly, almost as if daring fate itself:
"I bet on triple sixes!"
Hoshiyomi shrugged, took the dice cup, and began shaking it. He didn't use any tricks, just rattled them randomly—because there was no way three sixes could come up.
After a long shake, he lifted the cup under Tsunade's nervous gaze. The moment the dice were revealed, both of their faces changed.
There, on the table, lay three dice. Each one showed six.
Hoshiyomi was certain he hadn't tampered with them, which meant Tsunade's intuition was right. Something very bad was indeed looming over her.
His expression darkened instantly. Without hesitation, he strode out and barked an order to the guards at the door:
"Relay my command—add two more patrol squads to tonight's watch. And summon Jōnin Kōhei immediately."
Moments later, Senju Kōhei hurried in. Hoshiyomi spoke directly:
"Uncle Kōhei, I need you to return to Konoha. Work with the other Senju clan members we've gathered and keep a close watch on Konoha and the Fire Country. If you detect any unusual activity, use your messenger pigeon summon to notify me at once."
Author's Notes: Consider this a warning, and a way for the main character to return to the village faster. Otherwise, if Nawaki is kept for three to five months, he won't survive.