The ceasefire meeting was held near the Land of Fire's border, not far from the massive crater Hanzō had blasted open with explosive tags.
Even after all this time, the long cracks spreading across the earth still silently testified to the horrifying power of that attack.
"Impressive that you chose this place for negotiations. Trying to remind Sunagakure of my threat?"
Several days later, upon arriving at the signing site, Hanzō let out a low, muffled remark:
"This completely lacks the dignity of the so-called 'First Great Village.' Did the defeat hit you that hard?"
The Konoha shinobi—who had been waiting here for days—felt their cheeks twitch violently.
Could he not talk so directly?
Saying something like that… what can it even do?
Does he think we don't know he's just trying to rage bait us?
"N-no, Lord Hanzō, you misunderstand. This location is simply the midpoint between Konoha, Sunagakure, and Amegakure. Convenient for all three parties."
A Nara clansman with a tall ponytail stepped forward:
"Besides, Lord Hanzō's strength is recognized across the entire shinobi world. Your title of 'Demi-God' resounds like thunder. You hardly need such tactics."
"You overthink it, my lord."
Those words made Hanzō glance at him sideways.
"Well said. You're from the Nara clan, aren't you?"
The man bowed.
"For my humble words to reach Lord Hanzō's ears is the honor of the Nara."
"Mhm. Not bad. You're quite clever."
As Hanzō spoke, he had already sentenced the man to death in his mind.
The Nara clan, huh…
When a fight breaks out, he'll be the first I kill.
Without the Nara, Konoha instantly loses ten years of strategic ability.
And that Shadow Bind Jutsu—far too dangerous. If I get caught even once, I'm dead. Must eliminate him first.
Alright then. If you don't die first, who will?
"Oh? Hanzō, you really moved fast."
He turned his head—
The Third Kazekage and Chiyo had already arrived.
"Lord Hanzō is as confident as ever. Coming alone again—no escort?"
"Right now, I'm the only one in Amegakure with the authority to decide anything. If there's another chance like this next time, I might bring a few people."
"And look at you, didn't you also come with only two people?"
"Well, bringing many is useless for something like this."
"Thank you all for coming such a long way. Please, take your seats."
A tall man in white robes approached.
"And you are?"
"I am a shinobi of the Shimura clan. I'll be handling reception.
The Third Hokage will be delayed due to military affairs. Until he arrives, Nara-dono will fully represent Konoha."
The Third Kazekage frowned slightly:
"This is unacceptable, Konoha. Matters of this scale must be handled by a Kage. Both Sunagakure and Amegakure sent their highest leaders. Are you looking down on us?"
At that moment—
Hanzō suddenly flared with chakra and moved in an instant, appearing in front of a Konoha ninja and lifting him by the throat.
The Kazekage and the others immediately shifted into battle stance.
He too sensed something off:
What is Hanzō doing? They haven't even made a move yet—why would he attack first…?
No—something's wrong.
Chiyo and the others also reacted, glaring sharply toward Konoha.
"To think you'd dare spy on us… should I call you bold or just stupid?"
Hanzō held a Hyūga by the neck, staring coldly.
"Do you believe I won't rip your eyes out right here?"
Chiyo frowned:
"Konoha, do you even want peace talks? Allowing someone like this to join… I sensed no sincerity."
"Please calm yourselves, my lords! This must be a misunderstanding!"
The Nara clan head quickly responded:
"Your auras are far too overwhelming— even I feel pressured. This Hyūga has never faced such a scene before, so he reacted poorly.
I beg your forgiveness. Konoha will compensate for the offense."
"Hmph. That depends on what compensation you offer."
Hanzō tossed the Hyūga aside with a flick of his arm.
"Enough. Let's begin. Since you represent Konoha, that means the Hokage has entrusted negotiations entirely to you. For him to trust you so much, you must be capable."
"Your words honor me, my lord. Please, everyone take your seats."
The Shimura ninja subtly darted his eyes.
The Hyūga who had been thrown aside gave an almost imperceptible nod.
The Shimura ninja sat beside the Nara.
...
Hanzō quietly analyzed the setup:
Konoha brought sixteen people.
Two clan heads at the table.
Two standing behind them—likely their primary attackers or bodyguards.
The remaining twelve surrounding us—meant to stop me from escaping.
They must have jutsu prepared to restrict my speed.
The real threats are the four in front.
As for Sunagakure… they may support me publicly, but they won't help unless absolutely forced.
If I fall into disadvantage, they might even stab me in the back.
…As always, I can only rely on myself.
—
"Let us begin," the Nara clan head said.
"You've all reviewed the proposal we sent earlier. Are there any questions?"
Hanzō placed his hand on the table.
"I have one."
"Please, go ahead."
"Your listed compensation is generous…
But everything in that agreement is something we can seize ourselves.
In one month alone, we've already taken a tenth of that from your Land of Fire.
If we simply refuse to retreat and wage war for another year… Amegakure can extract every item on that agreement from you without negotiation.
Trade must be equal.
Right now, you're trying to get something for nothing."
The Nara clan head's mind raced.
Hanzō… is truly terrifying.
Getting Konoha out of this with minimal loss won't be easy.
He composed himself.
"Lord Hanzō, that's not accurate. Konoha is not without strength. Your early actions caught us off guard, yes—but it has been over a month. We have already implemented countermeasures.
If you continue your incursions, I assure you Amegakure will suffer heavy losses.
Surely you don't wish to see your own shinobi die meaninglessly?"
Hanzō shook his head.
"I know Konoha's situation.
Even though you forced your way into Iwagakure territory, that battle tied down a large portion of your forces. You can't move them.
And now both Kumogakure and Kirigakure have engaged you.
Your fight with the Cloud is said to be extremely unfavorable.
So tell me—
If I prolong Things here for half a year? A year?
How will that affect your other fronts?
What about the waves of refugees in the Land of Fire? How long before they cause political problems for your daimyo?
If their numbers multiply… what then?"
He smirked.
"Amegakure's sacrifices, compared to the resources we gain and the damage we inflict on your country? An enormous profit."
The Third Kazekage and Chiyo both recalled the day they formed an alliance with Hanzō—That suffocating sense of being dominated.
Once this man grabbed your weakness, he would never let go without tearing off a piece of flesh.
Now, looking at Konoha, the two felt both sympathy… and delight.
...
"Lord Hanzō, it seems you came prepared," the Nara clan head said.
"Then please state Amegakure's conditions."
"Territory.
Indemnity.
A demilitarized zone."
"I want the indemnity doubled.
Amegakure will claim one thousand square kilometers along the border with the Land of Fire.
Then a buffer zone of two hundred kilometers where neither side may station troops."
Everyone from Konoha—and even the Kazekage—felt their minds go numb.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Don't even think about it!"
The Shimura ninja snapped.
"No great nation has ever agreed to territorial cession. You're delusional!"
SMACK—!
A loud crack echoed.
The Shimura ninja was sent flying by Hanzō's backhand.
Two Konoha shinobi immediately stepped forward with kunai.
"Stand down."
The Nara clan head barked sharply.
"Return."
They hesitated, confused.
"Did my words lose their authority?"
Reluctantly, they withdrew.
Hanzō chuckled.
"You were granted the sole authority to negotiate.
And he—who is he? The Hokage?
Daring to interrupt like that?"
The Shimura ninja trembled with humiliation.
Inside, he screamed:
'The Hokage—!
This authority came from the Hokage!
Danzō… I know you will win great merit in the Land of Earth.
The Third is ready to retire.
I will kill Hanzō myself to earn glory for the Shimura clan.
You must become Hokage!'
Even with the shame, he forced himself up.
"My apologies, my lords… It was my overstep."
The Nara clan head exhaled in relief.
The last thing he needed was a premature explosion.
"Forgive us," he continued.
"But the Shimura is correct in one thing—no great nation has ever accepted such an excessive demand.
We can accept increased indemnity and the demilitarized zone, but territorial cession is impossible."
"This is not something Konoha alone can decide.
Even a Hokage cannot agree to such terms without approval from the daimyo."
"Lord Hokage should be arriving soon.
Please discuss that matter with him directly.
Sunagakure—do you have anything else to add?"
"No. We will also wait for the Hokage."
"Good."
The Nara clan head finally relaxed.
The less he had to deal with this madness, the better.
This was the Hokage's job.
—
At that moment, the Shimura ninja gave a tiny signal.
Soon after, a hawk descended, landing on Nara's shoulder.
"A message from Konoha."
"Pardon the interruption."
He removed the scroll container from the hawk's leg.
Inside was a jutsu formula—
Concentric rings of sealing script spiraling around the kanji for "Exit."
As he opened it, the ink suddenly swelled, spraying over his body.
At the same instant, a purple-red barrier shot up from the ground, trapping everyone inside.
The Nara clan head was yanked violently toward the barrier, the ink dragging him like a hook.
Behind Nara and Shimura, the two Konoha shinobi suddenly convulsed—black curse marks burst from their veins, threading into the barrier like a spiderweb.
Before anyone could react, the Nara clan head was ejected from the barrier—the ink flinging him outward as soon as it touched the surface.
"Die here, Third Kazekage!
Die here, Hanzō of the Salamander!"
The Shimura clan head announced:
"This barrier was prepared half a month ago. You will not escape.
No matter how fast you are, it's useless, Hanzō.
You wouldn't dare use your high-powered jutsus inside this cage, would you?"
Chiyo's expression darkened:
"Konoha—you intend to continue the war?!"
"Oh? And if we kill you high-level leaders—
will your villages be able to handle the chaos that follows?"
"Did you fools really think a negotiation site is safe?
The Second Hokage died for exactly this reason."
"Remember who kills you today—
the head of the Shimura clan."
Hanzō cracked his neck.
"That's it? You think this can kill me?
Let's see how long this flimsy barrier lasts."
The Shimura clan head grinned.
"Everyone, activate!"
At his command, all the Konoha shinobi inside tore open their shirts—revealing searing black seals burned into their skin.
Hanzō's eyes widened.
"That's—the Reverse Tetragram Sealing Jutsu…?"
"Not good!"
Thick black ink began pouring from the Konoha shinobi—forming dozens of spherical masses that expanded like collapsing stars and devouring everything within the barrier.
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Almost there to the 1000 P.S milestones! You guys can do it haha.
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Just stacked advanced chapters on today's day off. Happy Reading!