The smoke over the battlefield gradually dispersed.
"Senior Shikaku."
Tobirama stood beside the enormous footprint left by the giant Susanoo, casually brushing imaginary dust from his sleeve as he spoke.
Nara Shikaku was covered in blood, yet his eyes burned with excitement. Hearing the call, he instantly used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind Tobirama and dropped to one knee.
"Lord Tobirama, please issue your orders."
His posture was reverent—no, it went beyond respect for the Hokage. It was the reverence one showed a god.
"Relay my command," Tobirama said calmly.
"The Hokage has already approved it. From this moment on, I have full authority over all front-line affairs."
"Clean up the battlefield and gather all spoils of war."
Then he glanced toward the distant, trembling remnants of the Allied Forces.
"After that, bring their two leaders with you. Everyone returns to the Hidden Rain Village."
"Yes!"
Shikaku accepted the order without the slightest hesitation and vanished.
"Flying Thunder God Technique… Flying Thunder God."
Relying on his vast chakra reserves and the Flying Thunder God, Tobirama initiated large-scale space–time teleportation, directly transporting several thousand troops back to the Hidden Rain Village.
Once again, everyone was left stunned.
—
Hidden Rain Village.
Central High Tower, conference hall.
This had once been the place where Hanzō issued his commands. Now, it had become Konoha's victory hall—and the site of postwar negotiations.
At one end of the long table sat Tobirama, dignified and imposing. Tsunade, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and the heads of Konoha's major clans sat beside him, their presence oppressive and overwhelming.
At the opposite end were Dodai of the Hidden Cloud and Kitsuchi of Iwagakure.
As for the Land of Wind—
Chiyo was dead. Its high-ranking officials were gone. The country had collapsed into chaos, with no one left qualified to attend negotiations. Their seats were empty.
"Since everyone's here," Tobirama said flatly, "let's sign."
Without wasting words, he tossed two pre-drafted scrolls across the table.
"This is the postwar peace and compensation agreement."
Dodai opened the scroll with trembling hands.
After one glance, his eyes nearly bulged from their sockets. His breath caught, and he almost blacked out on the spot.
Kitsuchi's rage caused his wounds to split open, blood seeping through his bandages.
---
Article One: The Hidden Cloud and Iwagakure shall each pay Konoha war reparations totaling one trillion ryō.
Article Two: Both nations shall unconditionally hand over all Jinchūriki and Tailed Beasts to Konoha for safekeeping. From this day forward, neither nation may possess Tailed Beasts.
Article Three: Both nations must drastically reduce their shinobi forces. Standing armies may not exceed one thousand personnel.
Article Four: Both nations acknowledge Konoha as their suzerain state. Annually, they shall provide thirty percent of all natural and mineral resources, as well as ten percent of total national revenue.
Article Five: Konoha has the right to station troops and exploit resources within both nations. Neither country may interfere and must guarantee the safety of all Konoha personnel and interests. Areas under Konoha garrison or development are to be treated as Konoha territory and may not be entered without permission.
Article Six: Should Konoha initiate war, both nations are obligated to provide military assistance.
Article Seven: Konoha reserves the right to intervene at any time in the internal affairs of the Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth to "correct errors."
---
This wasn't a peace treaty.
It was a contract of enslavement.
A national death sentence.
"Bang!"
Kitsuchi slammed his fist onto the table, roaring hoarsely.
"Outrageous!"
"Uchiha Tobirama—you're dreaming!"
"Hand over the Tailed Beasts? Become vassals? Reduce our armies?"
"You might as well just kill us outright!"
Dodai clenched his teeth as well, his voice firm despite the fear.
"The Hidden Cloud will never sign such a humiliating treaty!"
"Even if the Raikage were still alive, he would never agree!"
Facing their outburst, even the Konoha shinobi present felt a chill.
Cruel.
Far too cruel.
This was pushing them straight into a corner.
But Tobirama smiled.
He leaned forward slightly. His Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan turned, and terrifying ocular pressure instantly froze the room.
Click.
He lit a cigarette, took a slow drag, and exhaled the smoke directly into their faces.
"Gentlemen, I think you've misunderstood something."
"This is a notification. Not a negotiation."
"Anything you failed to win on the battlefield—don't dream of getting it at the table."
He pointed out the window, his voice as cold as splintered ice.
"I currently command thirty thousand Konoha shinobi—including the newly integrated Rain forces—with morale at its peak."
"I have Susanoo. I have Wood Release. I have the Flying Thunder God."
"If you refuse to sign…"
"I'll kill you both on the spot, then personally lead the army to the Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth."
"At that point, money won't be enough."
"I'll erase Iwagakure and the Hidden Cloud Village from the map."
"I defeated your Allied Forces once. I can do it again. And again. And as many times as it takes."
"How many people do your nations have? Even if all of you came at me together, I could slaughter you with ease."
"When your countries are gone, tell me—who will you talk to about dignity then?"
"You—"
Dodai and Kitsuchi froze, as though plunged into an icy abyss.
They looked into Tobirama's eyes.
There was no hint of bluff.
He meant every word.
"This… this decision is too big for us alone…" Dodai's voice cracked, tears welling up.
"We need instructions from the Raikage… and the Tsuchikage…"
"Instructions?" Tobirama sneered.
"Ōnoki is now my loyal subordinate. As for the Third Raikage—he's still lying in the medical unit."
"You want to see them? That's fine."
"But that comes at an additional cost."
"Signing this agreement saves your country."
"If you want to redeem your Kage, you'll pay even more."
Brazen.
Shameless.
Blatant extortion.
"I'll give you five minutes."
Tobirama slammed a pocket watch onto the table.
"Five minutes from now, if there are no signatures…"
"I'll hang the Third Raikage's head on a flagpole as a blood offering—then immediately march the troops."
"The countdown begins."
"Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock."
In the deathly silent conference hall, the sound was like a funeral bell.
Each second shredded their nerves.
Dodai was drenched in sweat, his clothes soaked through.
Kitsuchi's hand trembled violently around the pen, knuckles white.
Sign—and become a sinner for eternity.
Refuse—and doom the nation and its people.
What choice was left?
"One minute remaining."
Tobirama twirled a Flying Thunder God kunai, his eyes playful.
"Thirty seconds."
"Ten seconds."
"Seems you have quite a backbone."
He stood, killing intent erupting.
"Then go die—"
"I'll sign!"
Dodai collapsed, shouting in despair.
He seized the pen and slammed his name onto the treaty. The moment he finished, his body went limp, collapsing into the chair as he covered his face and wept.
Once the first fell, the second followed.
Kitsuchi trembled as he signed, tears of blood streaming down his face.
From this moment on, Iwagakure and the Hidden Cloud were reduced to Konoha's vassals.
"Good."
Tobirama collected the scrolls, tapping them lightly in satisfaction.
"Those who understand the times are wise."
"You have one month to gather the money."
"Now get lost."
Granted a hollow reprieve, the two fled the hall, their backs hunched like stray dogs.
—
"We won!!"
"Long live Lord Tobirama!"
The conference room erupted into thunderous cheers.
This was an unprecedented expansion of power.
From this day forward, Konoha stood alone at the pinnacle of the shinobi world.
And it was all because of the young man before them.
"Enough noise."
Tobirama waved his hand and tossed the scrolls to Tsunade.
"Tsunade, arrange tonight's victory banquet. Let everyone eat their fill—put it on my account."
"Shikaku, handle the garrison arrangements. Don't let those bastards try anything funny."
"Yes!"
Everyone accepted their tasks and departed, faces alight with joy.
Soon, the vast conference hall fell silent.
Only—
The Uchiha clan remained.
Forty to fifty elites, all veterans of the front line, stained with blood.
At their head stood the former clan leader, Uchiha Tomiyama.
He kept his head lowered, his expression conflicted… and uneasy.
The atmosphere shifted instantly—from celebration to suffocating tension.
"Senior Tomiyama."
Tobirama sat at the head of the table, not rising, idly twirling a Flying Thunder God kunai.
His voice was soft—yet it made Uchiha Fugaku's heart skip.
"Everyone else has gone to celebrate."
"Do you know why I kept you here?"
Tobirama raised his gaze.
His eyes were calm, like stagnant water—yet unfathomably deep.
"The Uchiha Clan has too many voices now."
"And I…"
"I prefer quiet."
He tilted his head slightly.
"What do you think?"