The Promise (Two-in-One Chapter)

On the third day after the Second Ninja World War ended, the eighteen warlords faced the ninja squads Konoha sent out now that it had a free hand. As expected, they were utterly defeated and fled in disarray. Most of the chief culprits were killed on the spot, while some were detained as prisoners.

Starting from there, the entire Land of Fire was initially suppressed and pacified by Konoha.

Next came the long process of postwar reconstruction.

Negotiations with the Ninja Allied Forces were still deadlocked, with no progress.

Besides reparations, Konoha's conditions also included ceding territory.

The Allied Forces said they could repay the money in installments. They could grit their teeth and accept that. As for the land, however, they said they would never sell out the Rain Country.

Nominally a strategic buffer zone, the Rain Country was actually the Allied Forces' bridgehead for attacking Konoha. They absolutely could not hand it over to Konoha. Doing so would be no different from lying down with their legs spread and letting Konoha walk right in.

The other territories, however, were open for discussion.

For example, they readily agreed to give up the vast deserts of the Wind Country and the wastelands of the Earth Country.

Konoha, however, was not particularly willing to compromise.

"We've already gained enough."

That afternoon, Tsunade said this as she walked down a rebuilt street with Mimi.

"We can't swallow any more."

"The Rain Country isn't especially important either," Tsunade said. "Wouldn't it be better to make a reasonable concession? We should prevent them from becoming desperate and continuing the war."

"The war is bound to continue. They just don't have the strength right now," Mimi said. "Essentially, these negotiations are just for show. We can't keep fighting either, so we need an excuse for