"If neither side is willing to make any concessions, then this meeting will be fruitless no matter how long it drags on. It's just a waste of time... Since Konoha proposed this Five Kage Summit, and if you are truly sincere about peace, then you should be the first to show your hand. What price should the Land of Fire pay for peace?" The Third Tsuchikage immediately turned the focus of criticism towards Konoha.
It was unexpected that these two parties, with their history of killing each other's relatives, would collaborate in this setting.
Unfortunately, his words were nothing but fallacies, completely illogical... The old man was just looking to take advantage.
The meeting had only just begun, but it was already clear that the Five Great Ninja Villages could be roughly divided into two tiers. Konoha, Kumogakure, and Iwagakure were in one tier; Sunagakure and Kirigakure were in another. The first three were exceptionally vocal, while the latter two were particularly quiet... Even if the Third Hokage remained silent, he was still loud; even if Chiyo shouted herself hoarse, it wasn't certain anyone would hear her.
"Lord Tsuchikage, peace is the aspiration of the entire world. Ending the war and achieving peace requires the collective effort of all parties, not simply one side relinquishing their interests. Please be mindful of your wording," said the moderator, Atsumori.
The elder's speech was so biased that even this samurai felt compelled to offer a reminder.
Although the Land of Iron maintained a neutral stance, the samurai secretly harbored their own preferences. Atsumori undoubtedly admired Konoha more, firstly because Konoha hadn't started the war; secondly, because Konoha was the first to attempt to end the war through negotiation, demonstrating the responsibility of a great nation; and thirdly...
One could guess whether the establishment of the Land of Iron and its acquisition of permanent neutrality had anything to do with a certain ninja named Hashirama Senju.
"Then let's talk specifics. Since Konoha advocates for peace, when will you withdraw your forces from the Land of Rivers and the Land of Fields?" the Fourth Raikage immediately asked.
As long as they were discussing concrete matters and not just bickering, the Third Hokage was definitely willing to negotiate. He stated, "The issue of withdrawal from the Land of Rivers is a matter between Konoha and Sunagakure. We will negotiate the specifics between ourselves. This is of no concern to Kumogakure. As for the Land of Fields, if a five-party peace agreement can be signed, we can guarantee the withdrawal of our ninja stationed there within one month, but only on the condition that Kumogakure guarantees no further infiltration into the Land of Fields."
The Third Hokage's statement...was actually quite outrageous. Did the Land of Rivers have no living people? Why should Konoha and Sunagakure decide the Land of Rivers' affairs?
However, Atsumori felt that the Hokage's words were quite pragmatic. In the ninja world, aside from the "rebellious" Amegakure, weren't small countries simply playthings for the great nations?
"If this negotiation proves fruitful, Konoha will subsequently sign peace treaties and alliances with the surrounding small ninja villages one by one," the Third Hokage added.
This meant that aside from controlling the Land of Rivers, Konoha's forces would immediately withdraw from other countries once the war ended, while simultaneously guaranteeing the independence of those smaller countries.
Konoha didn't want anything, because Konoha lacked nothing... What, the Land of Rivers? What was the Land of Rivers worth, or rather, not worth? Orochimaru could argue that point with the others.
In fact, based on the experience of the First and Second Shinobi World Wars, the major ninja villages merely retreated to their own countries after the wars ended. Aside from wiping out the surrounding small ninja villages and clans over and over, the great nations often gained nothing.
But that didn't mean they were content. So many people had died, and to gain nothing? Who would be satisfied? Therefore, even though the Third Hokage's suggestion was the most pragmatic, the other parties still found it difficult to accept.
Next, the Five Great Ninja Villages began to bicker over various issues. After all, their conflicts were deeply rooted, and they could even be considered hereditary enemies. Aside from the Mizukage, who didn't speak much, everyone else was spitting fire... Anyway, the Land of Water was isolated overseas, and the Mizukage thought the Hokage's suggestion was quite good.
As they argued, their tempers flared. Everyone present was a village leader, weren't they?
Oh, Chiyo wasn't.
Anyway, after a certain muscle-bound man couldn't help but glare and slam the table, the scene suddenly fell into an eerie silence.
After a moment, the Third Tsuchikage leaned forward slightly, placing his hands under the table, and spoke in a lower, more gravelly voice:
"I never believed that negotiations like this five-party summit would yield any results. However, since the leaders of each village have gathered here, there is still hope for ending the war...but it needs to be ended in a more direct way. The last time the Five Kage met was when the one-village-one-nation system was established. Now that the Five Kage are all here, how many will be able to leave this place alive?"
With those words, two extremely exaggerated bursts of chakra erupted from behind the Third Tsuchikage. In this meeting hall, the ninja who could serve as guards were all elites from their respective villages, and their reaction speed was certainly not slow. Thus, almost simultaneously, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Killer Bee, also began to "power up."
These massive chakras were like three mountains suddenly rising in the meeting room, their aura making all the ninja present shudder.
And then...
The next instant, something seemed to arrive after the fact, instantly submerging the so-called mountains in a raging sea... Kushina Uzumaki was already completely enveloped in golden chakra.
Among all the Tailed Beasts that had been split from the Ten-Tails, only the Nine-Tails was unique. Even though the Nine-Tails had been split in two at this point, this half of the Nine-Tails could still regard the other Tailed Beasts as rotten potatoes and stinky birds!
On Konoha's side, the Hokage remained unmoving, but behind him, brilliant chakra butterfly wings suddenly spread open, a heavy shadow began to spread in all directions, the buzzing of insects rose and fell, thick wooden tables began to sprout new buds, the Hyuga activated a special defensive net, and several enemies were even subdued by the Mind Body Disturbance Technique...
More importantly, two figures carrying lightning bolts darted out like thunder.
Kakashi's figure instantly appeared on the table in front of the Fourth Raikage, his arm, flashing with lightning, piercing through an exceptionally viscous wall.
But he was ultimately blocked by the wall.
On the other side, an Earth Release wall also rose in front of the Third Tsuchikage, but it blocked nothing... Kakashi's Chidori required at least three hand seals, but some people didn't need to form hand seals at all.
Habara's mercury sword rested against the Third Tsuchikage's chest, while more blades were pointed at Habara's head.
The ninja from Sunagakure and Kirigakure simply protected their respective leaders. This should have been a scene of mutual attack between Konoha, Kumogakure, and Iwagakure. However, due to Konoha's excessively fast attack speed, the ninja from Kumogakure and Iwagakure who were supposed to participate in the intimidation were forcibly held in place... Regardless, the safety of their own Kage was paramount.
Everyone knew that such attacks were just probes, but the Iwagakure ninja still broke out in a cold sweat... As a seal-less ninja, Habara's speed was a bit too fast.
To kill a ninja, one didn't need an attack as powerful as Dust Release; a kunai or a sword was enough.
Including Kakashi, Konoha's actions were like a swift wind and lightning, a flash of light.
Now, it seemed that everyone present could understand how the Fourth Kazekage had died.
The subordinates were on the verge of clashing, while the Kage remained composed and unmoving. If the Kage couldn't restrain themselves and had to intervene in this level of conflict, they would lose face.
Habara merely pointed his sword at the Tsuchikage, but he knew that even the Tsuchikage, who had just made threats, didn't actually intend to do anything in the Land of Iron. Threatening to continue the war, even threatening to disrupt the Five Kage Summit, were actually all to facilitate the negotiations...to ensure that his own side would gain more from the negotiations.
But the Third Tsuchikage knew that after this round of probing, his only hope was also dashed.
Before Atsumori could even say anything else, in this stalemate, the Third Hokage sat upright in his seat and spoke calmly, "Let's put the specific details aside for now. We need to set a fundamental tone for this meeting... Everyone, those who agree to end this Shinobi World War, please raise your left hand."
Having said that, he was the first to raise his hand.
This was truly tiring. It was surprisingly difficult to reach even this basic consensus.
Next, Chiyo and Yagura followed suit and raised their hands. These two parties had come specifically to end the war, and they hadn't intended to engage in any fancy tricks.
Then the remaining two remained motionless.
After a short while, the Third Tsuchikage finally turned his head to look directly at Habara. Habara understood, and he slowly withdrew his mercury sword, taking one step back at a time until he returned behind the Hokage.
Similarly, Kakashi extinguished the lightning in his hand and moved away from the Raikage.
Of course, the two Kage would only express their stance after Habara and Kakashi retreated. Otherwise, wouldn't it seem like they were being coerced by Konoha? The esteemed Tsuchikage and Raikage, captured by Konoha at the Five Kage Summit? How would that look?
Subsequently, the Third Tsuchikage raised his left hand first. The old man was a pragmatist; he knew that the Land of Earth would gain nothing.
Finally, the Fourth Raikage also raised his hand.
The proposal to end the Shinobi World War received unanimous approval.
In this round of probing, Konoha had won a small victory. Since the strongest of the Five Great Ninja Villages was willing to withdraw from the war and promised to maintain the status quo of the world map, what reason did these slightly weaker villages have to not accept?
The Third Tsuchikage's gaze swept over the Konoha contingent. The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki of the Uzumaki clan, Wood Release, the Hyuga's Byakugan, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, the Aburame clan, Magnet Release, Lightning Release... Although Iwagakure's strength was also considerable, look at the people the Third Hokage had brought with him; they were all young ninja.
This was Konoha's foundation, and also Konoha's war potential... If the war continued, Iwagakure truly had no future.
Looking at these extremely powerful young ninja, the Third Tsuchikage felt a tightness in his chest. Honestly, at this moment, he would have preferred it if the Third Hokage had brought Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade to the meeting.
If only Konoha could be as lacking in successors as Sunagakure... That would be wonderful. Honestly, ever since he had seen Madara Uchiha, Onoki had been hoping for this.
But now, it seemed he would have to continue hoping.