Konoha's betrayal.
The death of the Third Mizukage.
And the desperate disadvantage Kirigakure's forces now faced on the battlefield.
Yagura simply could not think of any way left to turn things around.
They could not even escape.
And so surrender became the only option remaining.
A Kirigakure squad stepped forward.
Each of them held a pole with white cloth tied to it.
"Kirigakure surrenders!"
"We surrender!"
"Kirigakure surrenders to Sunagakure!"
"Please cease your attack!"
"All Kirigakure shinobi—drop your ninja tools, stop forming hand seals, and raise your hands!"
Under Yagura's command, the Kirigakure shinobi were the first to stop.
A series of metallic clatters rang out as ninja tools hit the ground.
Some Kirigakure shinobi wore unwilling expressions.
"Damn it…"
"How did Kirigakure lose?"
"Is it really alright to surrender just like this?"
"Shouldn't we try one more time?"
Others let out long breaths of relief.
"It's finally over."
"We don't have to keep fighting anymore."
"To be honest, I'm already sick of it. This war has gone on for too long, and it's been suffocating the whole time."
For the Kirigakure shinobi to feel stifled was only natural.
What Kirigakure had experienced during this recent stretch—what had happened inside the village—had all been too terrible.
When people were losing, it was hard for them to be broad-minded.
Only when they were winning could they afford to be generous and composed.
And opposite them—
Sunagakure's shinobi could no longer suppress the joy on their faces.
Long ago, when Sunagakure had still been at a disadvantage, its shinobi could only dream of such a scene.
Later, as the village slowly gained the upper hand, they began looking forward to it.
And now—
they had finally seen it become reality.
"We won!"
"Sunagakure won!"
"Kirigakure lost!"
"Under Kazekage-sama's leadership, Sunagakure has won this war!"
"This is wonderful!"
The Sunagakure shinobi were ecstatic beyond words.
Even Rasa revealed a smile.
He had already known that Sunagakure would win.
But when this day truly arrived, he still could not help feeling stirred.
"So we've won."
"Now I can finally focus on constructing the Solar Disk in peace."
"Between Sunagakure's own resources and the resources obtained from Konoha, there is already more than enough for one."
"I wonder how much compensation I can extract from Kirigakure."
Naturally, the more the better.
But this also depended on the extent of what Kirigakure could bear.
If his demands exceeded their limit too much, then Kirigakure might choose mutual destruction instead.
And that would not be good for Sunagakure either.
The fruits of victory would only end up stolen by the other villages.
"I, Rasa, Kazekage of Sunagakure, accept Kirigakure's surrender."
"But Kirigakure launched an unprovoked attack upon Sunagakure, causing enormous losses and casualties."
"You must pay compensation."
"Send out someone who can negotiate."
Yagura had just prepared to step forward—
when another urgent message arrived from Kirigakure.
Yagura opened the secret letter.
Then his eyes widened abruptly.
"What?"
"The Third-sama heard the report from the front and was literally angered to death?"
"The village's upper echelon has met and decided that I am to become the Fourth Mizukage?"
Yagura's mood turned complicated.
On one hand, he had long yearned for the Mizukage's seat, and now it had finally fallen into his hands.
But on the other hand, it was under his command that Kirigakure had just surrendered to Sunagakure.
Yagura put away the letter and stepped forward.
"I, Karatachi Yagura, Fourth Mizukage of Kirigakure, greet the Kazekage."
He looked at Rasa, neither servile nor arrogant.
Rasa raised a brow.
"Where is that old Third?"
"The Third-sama passed away not long ago."
"What a pity."
Rasa shook his head.
"In that case, let's talk."
"What compensation can Kirigakure offer?"
"If there isn't enough sincerity, Sunagakure cannot accept it."
"I'll first state a few mandatory conditions."
"First—the Hozuki Clan's summoning scroll for the Ninja Swords."
"Second—you will hand over Munashi Jinpachi and Elder Genji."
Originally, Rasa had intended to demand Munashi Jinpachi and Karatachi Yagura, in order to repay Kirigakure for once demanding that Sunagakure hand over Pakura.
But now that Yagura had become Mizukage, Rasa changed the condition to Jinpachi and Genji.
Jinpachi had slaughtered far too many Sunagakure shinobi.
And Genji was extremely important to Kirigakure.
Ao and Mei Terumi had both been personally cultivated by him.
His talent for administration was also exceptionally strong.
Without Genji, Kirigakure's chances of rising again in the future would drop dramatically.
After saying that, Rasa still felt it was not enough.
After thinking briefly, he added another name.
"And Kisame Hoshigaki."
Ao and Mei were names Kirigakure would never agree to hand over.
But Kisame, at this stage, did not stand out especially within Kirigakure, so Yagura would not care much.
Rasa, however, knew very well that Kisame's potential ceiling was extremely high.
And since Kisame had once become loyal to Obito after losing faith in Kirigakure due to Fuguki Suikazan's betrayal, then if Kirigakure abandoned him now, there was a real possibility Kisame might instead become loyal to Rasa.
Each word Rasa added made Yagura's face darker.
"Third—everything on this list."
Rasa took out the material list for the Solar Disk.
Aside from a few items that Sunagakure already possessed in abundance—
Yagura's expression changed immediately.
"Kazekage, this is too much!"
"Too much? Not at all."
Rasa smiled faintly.
During his last negotiation with Danzo, the amount of resources involved had been too small, so he had not been willing to use the One-Day Mind Hearing Card.
But this time, the amount of resources involved was enormous.
He had deliberately saved the card for this day.
Before the negotiation had even begun, Rasa had already used it.
So whatever Yagura was thinking now, Rasa knew it clearly.
"Setting resources aside for the moment, Kazekage, demanding that I hand over Jinpachi and Elder Genji is excessive. They are living people, and both are extremely important to Kirigakure."
"I'm only following your own example. Back then, it was Kirigakure that demanded Sunagakure hand over Pakura."
Yagura forced out an awkward smile.
"But that demand was never carried out."
"That was only because I refused."
"Then forgive me, but I also cannot accept your current terms."
"In that case, Sunagakure will continue the war."
"Just as Kirigakure once intended."
Yagura: "…"
The negotiation quickly turned into a fierce exchange.
Yagura had originally hoped to reduce Kirigakure's compensation as much as possible through bargaining.
But he had not expected Rasa to act as though he could see directly into his thoughts.
Again and again, Rasa pressed precisely against Yagura's true bottom line.
As a result, Yagura fell into a complete disadvantage throughout the negotiation.
The more they negotiated, the more unpleasant Yagura felt.
At last, one thought rose in his heart.
"Can this Rasa really see through my mind?"
"No…"
"Impossible."
"The more likely explanation is…"
"There's a traitor inside Kirigakure!"