Iwagakure, Medical Office.
Ōnoki was receiving treatment from a physician.
Ishikawa was reporting beside him. When Ōnoki heard the casualty numbers, he couldn't help but close his eyes in pain.
"Our side... has lost three hundred forty-seven men."
"What about Sunagakure?"
"Unclear, but their losses are no less than six hundred, double ours."
Ōnoki showed no joy upon hearing this.
Sunagakure losing six hundred and Iwagakure losing three hundred might seem like a great advantage.
But in reality, Iwagakure had lost.
"We can't afford these losses," Ōnoki's voice carried helplessness.
"Sunagakure is backed by the entire Land of Wind. They have an endless supply of troops."
"But these four thousand men are Iwagakure's last strength. Every death is one less."
Ishikawa remained silent.
"Pass on my order," Ōnoki took a deep breath, "every shinobi, preserving your lives is your top priority."
"But Tsuchikage-sama, with passive defense, the city walls will eventually fall."
"I know." Ōnoki looked at the sun high in the sky. "Right now, the alliance's top combat power is tied up by the two Tailed Beasts. As long as they dare to mass their troops, my Dust Release can show its power."
Ishikawa nodded. "Yes, I'll go deliver the order now."
…Western Front.
The battle between Sunagakure and the Four-Tails continued.
Both sides were fighting with bloodshot eyes.
Especially the Four-Tails. Its Lava Release practically swept the battlefield.
Countless Sunagakure shinobi were buried in the lava.
Rasa attacked the Four-Tails continuously but could only inflict some pain.
From the corner of his eye, he watched as more of his subordinates were caught in the lava.
Rasa's face had turned ashen.
In just half a day, the forces he brought had already lost several hundred men.
If this continued for a few more days, they would be wiped out.
This cannot go on. He had to find a way to stall the Four-Tails.
Rasa immediately shouted, "All units, temporarily retreat!"
"Keep your distance from the Four-Tails. Focus on harassment."
"Yes!"
The Sunagakure shinobi sighed in relief.
They quickly pulled back.
Meanwhile, Rasa and the Hidden Guard continued to engage the Four-Tails, creating an opening for the rest of the force to disengage.
Looking at the still-roaring Four-Tails, helplessness flashed across Rasa's face.
"Jinchūriki…"
"How long can you maintain your full transformation?"
"One hour? Two hours?"
"When you revert…"
"That will be Iwagakure's end."
The battle dragged into the night.
When the final ray of sunlight vanished, the world was plunged into darkness.
The day-long fighting finally came to an end.
The entire battlefield.
Fell into silence.
The Alliance and Iwagakure both tended to their wounded, resting for the battles to come.
In the days that followed,
the fighting continued.
Every morning, the Alliance would launch their assault.
Every night, they would retreat to camp.
This cycle repeated.
Iwagakure's defenses grew weaker by the day.
Casualties continued to mount.
However, the intensity of the battles in the following days was far less than on the first day.
On the fifth day, just as the day's fighting came to an end.
Land of Fire, Konoha.
Hokage Office.
Arashi was working inside.
Ever since the battle to defend Iwagakure began, Arashi had moved to Konoha to oversee operations.
Thump-thump.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Come in," Arashi said without looking up.
The door opened.
A Hidden Guard stepped in and handed over a letter. "Feudal Lord-sama, a message from the Daimyo of the Land of Earth."
Arashi took it and opened the letter.
A moment later.
He set it down, a smile spreading across his face.
"They can't hold out anymore."
Inside the letter
were the Land of Earth's terms for peace.
First, the Land of Earth was willing to relinquish all interests in the Land of Lightning.
Second, they would compensate the Land of Fire for war damages with one billion ryo.
Third, they would compensate the Land of Wind with three hundred million ryo.
Fourth, Iwagakure pledged not to launch any offensive against the Land of Fire or the Land of Wind.
Arashi was very satisfied with these conditions. They were exactly what he had expected.
However… negotiations always require pressure.
He picked up a pen,
jotted a few lines on the paper, then handed it back to the Hidden Guard.
"Tell the Daimyo of the Land of Earth."
"Either accept."
"Or keep fighting."
"Yes." The Hidden Guard accepted the paper. "This subordinate will deliver it at once."
With that, he turned and left.
Arashi sat back down,
gazing out the window.
"With the Land of Earth resolved, next…"
"The real performance begins."
…At the same time.
The Land of Wind also received the Land of Earth's peace overture.
"Peace overture?"
The Daimyo of the Land of Wind furrowed his brow as he read the letter. "How is Rasa's side faring?"
A servant replied.
"According to the latest intel,
Sunagakure has already lost nearly two thousand men."
"Two thousand?" The Daimyo's expression sank. "He brought a little over three thousand. In just a few days, more than half are dead?"
The servant lowered his head, not daring to speak.
The Daimyo stroked his chin.
Two thousand losses. The entire Land of Wind only has just over five thousand shinobi.
That number was too large.
"If this continues, Sunagakure will be destroyed."
"Feudal Lord-sama," a minister stepped forward, "the Land of Earth is willing to compensate us five hundred million ryo."
"They've also agreed to withdraw from the Land of Lightning."
"These terms are more than acceptable."
"Indeed," another minister added, "our goal in entering this war was to regain our interests in the Land of Lightning."
"That objective has already been achieved."
"If we keep fighting, Sunagakure will only suffer more losses."
The Daimyo thought for a moment, then nodded.
"You make a good point. Accept the peace overture from the Land of Earth."
"Send word to Rasa."
"If the Land of Earth is sincere about peace…"
"Then cease hostilities."
"Yes."
The attendants withdrew.
The Daimyo of the Land of Wind remained seated, but he felt no relief.
The heavy losses of Sunagakure had made him feel a true sense of crisis.
The Land of Wind was now at its weakest point in history.
Among the Five Great Nations at this moment—
the Land of Lightning had been carved up.
The Land of Earth was severely weakened.
The Land of Water was in deep internal chaos.
This…
Two days later.
Outside Iwagakure.
Alliance camp.
Rasa received the Daimyo's order.
"Ceasefire?"
He looked at the message in surprise. "The Daimyo-sama wants us to halt the attack?"
"Yes, Kazekage-sama," the messenger shinobi said. "The Land of Earth is seeking peace, and the terms have been agreed upon."
"The Daimyo-sama said…"
"Continuing the war would harm the Land of Wind."
"What are the terms?"
"The Land of Earth will compensate us five hundred million ryo, and give up its interests in the Land of Lightning."
Rasa fell silent. His original reason for entering the war was for the Land of Lightning.
It's just… his gaze involuntarily shifted toward the distant Iwagakure walls.
That wall was already on the verge of collapse. In just a few more days, they could break through.
But now a ceasefire… he felt a bit unwilling.
Rasa sighed. "I understand."
"Relay the order. All units cease attack and await the results of the peace talks."
"Yes." The shinobi departed.
Rasa stood alone,
looking out at Iwagakure from afar, his eyes filled with frustration.
If only it had broken earlier.
But he also knew
this was already the best outcome.
If the fighting continued, Sunagakure would suffer even heavier losses.
…Konoha also received the news.
Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Fugaku gathered in Minato's tent.
Minato asked, "What do you all think?"
"A ceasefire is good," Jiraiya said. "Our goal has been accomplished."
"There's no point in continuing the fight."
Fugaku nodded. "I agree with Jiraiya-sama."
"Also…" He looked at Orochimaru. "Hokage-sama, I assume there are other plans in motion?"
Hearing that, both Minato and Jiraiya turned to look at Orochimaru. They knew he had long since pledged loyalty to the Feudal Lord-sama.
Orochimaru smiled. "Fugaku-kun is quite sharp."
"That's right."
"The Feudal Lord-sama does have another plan."
"But the time isn't right yet. For now, we cease fire."
"Understood." Minato nodded. "Then notify everyone, ceasefire."
"Yes."
…Night, in Orochimaru's tent.
He stood alone before a map.
His finger slowly moved across it.
Eventually,
it stopped at the Land of Wind.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
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