"Elder Ryun, I, Ōnoki, admit defeat. From this moment on, Iwagakure will follow Konohagakure's lead!" Ōnoki closed his eyes, his entire body seeming to wither as if drained of all energy.
"Not enough. Since you started this war, do you think mere words of surrender are sufficient?" Uchiha Ryun chuckled.
Kitsuchi couldn't hold back. "Uchiha Ryun, don't push your luck! Your Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, is the one who holds equal status with my father. What right do you have to speak here!"
Orochimaru's expression shifted slightly. He quickly observed Ryun's reaction, noting how Kitsuchi still tried to sow discord between the Hokage and the Uchiha even at this moment.
Ryun's face remained unchanged. "A defeated general dares to speak of status? Even if I sat on your Tsuchikage's seat, do you think he would dare utter a word of protest?"
"Damn it, I'll endure this!" Ōnoki gritted his teeth so hard his gums nearly bled.
"Ōnoki, let me tell you something. When you're weak, even your resistance seems laughable. After abandoning the Will of Stone, do you really think you can reclaim it?" Ryun's words struck deep into Ōnoki's heart.
His face paled, and he slumped to the ground, staring at Ryun standing atop Kokuō, arms crossed, his hair tousled by the wind.
This figure overlapped perfectly with the one Ōnoki had seen at the age of 13.
He couldn't help but mutter, 'Uchiha Madara...'
Shaking his head, he looked up at Ryun, cloaked in Susanoo atop Kokuō. His ambition seemed extinguished—or perhaps, as long as Ryun lived, he would never have a chance to win.
Konoha... Konoha... Why are you so favored by fate? The protagonists of the last era were yours, and now this era belongs to you again.
Heaven aids the Fire, not the Earth!
Before he could dwell further, Konoha's reinforcements arrived.
Leading them was Danzō Shimura, his expression cold and menacing. He scanned the battlefield, finally noticing the figure standing atop Kokuō. The silhouette seemed familiar.
Orochimaru spoke up. "Lord Danzō, what is this?" He gestured to the troops behind Danzō.
"Lady Mito insisted on ensuring the safety of Konoha's second 'God of Shinobi.' By the way, Orochimaru, where is Ryun?" Danzō answered Orochimaru's question and inquired about Ryun's whereabouts.
Orochimaru smiled faintly. It seemed Mito had considered everything. But why hadn't Danzō mentioned the Hokage's name? Could it be...
"Orochimaru, I asked you where Ryun is!" Danzō frowned, displeased at Orochimaru's distracted silence.
"Ah, yes! Elder Danzō, the one standing atop Kokuō negotiating with Tsuchikage Ōnoki—that's him!" Orochimaru replied.
"Oh, the one on Kokuō's head... Wait, what?" Danzō's expression shifted. "Kokuō? Head? Ōnoki? Negotiations?"
Every word made sense, but together, they baffled him. Was this even possible?
Kitsuchi spotted Danzō and immediately called out, "Lord Danzō, as a Konoha elder, we wish to discuss post-war reparations with you."
Danzō was stunned. Ryun turned and saw Danzō and the eight thousand soldiers behind him, warmth filling his heart. Whether it was his wife, grandmother, Danzō, or the Hokage's orders, he was grateful.
"Lord Danzō, please join me in negotiating with Iwagakure!" Ryun said with a smile.
He then lowered Kokuō's majestic head. Danzō hesitated, unsure what this meant, and looked up at Ryun.
Ryun explained, "The view here is excellent. Come up, Lord Danzō, and experience what it feels like to overlook everything!"
Danzō took a deep breath and stepped onto Kokuō's head. This was Kokuō—one of the Nine Tailed Beasts of the shinobi world—now tamed by Uchiha Ryun!
As Kokuō rose, Danzō was lifted high, his vision expanding, the people below shrinking. A surge of pride swelled in his chest.
He looked at Ōnoki, who now appeared disheveled, his hair streaked with white. Danzō remembered Ōnoki as a middle-aged man, but now he seemed like an old man, hunched over.
"Ryun, what is this?" Danzō had countless questions, but Ryun simply smiled. "We've won this war and are discussing reparations. We've captured the Four-Tails' Jinchūriki, and the Five-Tails' Jinchūriki is currently under my control..."
Ryun calmly recounted the battle, downplaying his own role. Yet, the more he spoke, the more fervently Danzō gazed at him.
Though Ryun made it sound effortless, Danzō noticed the fatigue in his eyes and knew the truth was far more grueling.
Truly, Konoha was blessed to have Uchiha Ryun.
"Tsuchikage Ōnoki, this war was started by you and has caused immense losses to Konoha," Ryun declared.
Ōnoki's lips twitched as he surveyed the battlefield littered with over three thousand Iwa-nin corpses. 'Are you seriously saying this right now?' he thought bitterly.
But he dared not refute. History was written by the victors, and reparations were tributes from the defeated to the victorious. He had no say.
"Therefore, after discussing with Elder Danzō, we demand the following:
Compensation of 500 million ryō in silver.
Surrender 20% of Iwagakure's mission assignments.
Tsuchikage Ōnoki must sign the surrender treaty and fulfill the reparations within one year.
After signing, three copies will be made: one for you, one for us, and one for the Hokage. We will then return your Jinchūriki."
Each demand made Ōnoki's heart ache. Iwagakure's finances were stable, but 500 million ryō was a staggering sum, and losing 20% of their missions left him dizzy.
But with the enemy's overwhelming strength and Ryun's uncompromising stance, he had no choice but to agree.
"Fine, Uchiha Ryun. I accept. Let's sign the agreement immediately." Ōnoki closed his eyes, a single tear rolling down his cheek.
Ryun noticed but felt no pity. Mercy to enemies was cruelty to oneself. The five hundred Konoha shinobi who had died in battle deserved justice, and he would not betray their sacrifice.
Orochimaru stepped forward with pen and paper, transcribing Ryun's terms. Ōnoki reviewed them, confirming they matched what had been stated, then signed and stamped the documents.
Three copies were made. Orochimaru licked his lips, returning to the ranks, already imagining how much research funding this would bring.