Surrender, But They Must Pay Compensation-Bullying Children

A week passed quietly, and the front lines were unusually peaceful.

Lord Chiyo stood outside the Medical Team's tent, raising his head to gaze at the azure sky for once.

A gentle breeze brushed past, bringing a rare moment of tranquility.

Since their last attack, the Sunagakure ninja had not invaded again.

Lord Chiyo felt that Sunagakure either intended to seek peace, or they were holding back some big move...

In the distance, a Konoha ninja hawk cut across the skyline and dove toward the camp.

It was a ninja hawk from the village.

"Looks like the village's orders have arrived."

Lord Chiyo murmured to himself.

Not long after.

"Lord Chiyo, Lady Tsunade."

A Chunin hurried over.

"Lord Sakumo is holding a meeting and has asked the two of you to come."

Lord Chiyo exchanged a glance with Tsunade, who was reading medical books some distance away, then followed the Chunin toward Hatake Sakumo's command tent.

Inside the tent, Konoha's elite Jonin had already gathered.

Hatake Sakumo stood in the center, with a rare trace of delight on his face.

His gaze swept over the crowd before he slowly spoke.

"Today, Sunagakure sent someone to deliver a Surrender Letter to Konoha."

As soon as he finished speaking, low murmurs rose throughout the tent, and excitement appeared on everyone's faces.

"They're seeking peace? No wonder there hasn't been any movement lately!"

"A Surrender Letter? Sunagakure has always been so aggressive, yet they actually took the initiative to seek peace. That's not easy!"

"Is the war finally going to end..."

"..."

Tsunade crossed her arms, a thoughtful glint flashing through her bright brown eyes.

"Sunagakure is seeking peace. What about Amegakure?"

Hatake Sakumo turned to Tsunade with a serious expression and unfurled the Scroll in his hand.

"Amegakure has also submitted a Surrender Letter, but..."

He paused, his brows knitting slightly.

"The conditions they proposed are somewhat harsh. They demand that Konoha compensate them for a portion of their war losses.

The higher-ups are divided on the matter and have not accepted it yet."

The expressions on everyone's faces varied at those words.

"Even Sunagakure, one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, didn't make such demands. What gives Amegakure the right?!"

"Is that really their attitude when seeking peace? If we compensate them, who will compensate Konoha for our losses? We absolutely can't agree to this!"

"Amegakure is shameless! They started the war, and now they're the ones seeking peace, yet they want Konoha to compensate their losses! That's truly something you don't see every day!"

"..."

Most of the ninja looked displeased. They had fought so hard to win this war, only to have to compensate someone else.

Wasn't that humiliating?

Watching their reactions, a strange look flickered through Lord Chiyo's eyes.

Lord Chiyo seemed to remember that in the original story, Hiruzen Sarutobi had really done something like this—winning a war, then later paying compensation to other villages.

Lord Chiyo raised his gaze toward Tsunade, who stood beside him with a slight frown.

Sensing his gaze, Tsunade turned to look at him.

Seeing the amusement in Lord Chiyo's eyes, Tsunade smiled knowingly and unconsciously moved a little closer.

Lord Chiyo took her hand naturally.

Once a Surrender Letter had been issued, a ceasefire was likely only a matter of time.

No matter what, both fronts were showing signs of seeking peace. The end of the war seemed close at hand.

Hatake Sakumo held the Scroll as he swept his gaze across the crowd, his expression firm.

"No matter what, our task now is to hold the front lines steady and wait for the village's final decision.

Until then, no one is to let their guard down."

Everyone answered in unison.

"Yes!"

After the meeting ended, Chiyo and Tsunade walked out of the tent side by side.

"It's finally about to end."

Tsunade let out a long breath, looking noticeably more relaxed.

Chiyo smiled faintly and gazed into the distance.

"Yeah, but before I leave, there's still one thing I need to take care of..."

"One thing?"

Tsunade turned to look at him, her eyes filled with confusion.

"The three little kids from Amegakure I told you about last time. I need to go check on them."

"Even though the war is about to end, their situation... may not improve."

Tsunade fell silent for a moment.

She recalled the three children who had appeared in the rain after she, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya fought Hanzō.

"Should I come with you?"

Chiyo gently squeezed her hand, then turned and headed out of the camp.

"No need!"

On the outskirts of Amegakure, the dilapidated wooden hut still stood amid the wind and rain.

Chiyo arrived there.

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He pushed open the creaking wooden door, only to find the room empty.

"Not here?"

He frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping across the room.

He spotted a paper crane on the wooden table.

Chiyo put away the paper crane and quickly began searching the surrounding area.

At a river five li away, golden light shimmered across the water's surface.

Konan crouched in the shallows, her slender fingers lightly stirring the water. A thin sheet of paper floated above her palm as she carefully guided the school of fish toward the bank.

"Come a little closer..."

She murmured softly, her blue-purple short hair swaying gently in the breeze.

Yahiko stood beside her, gripping a crude wooden spear. His eyes were fixed on the fish in the water, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"Now!"

He thrust down fiercely. The spear cut through the water and sent up a spray, but only stabbed into the empty riverbed.

"Missed again!"

Yahiko scratched his head in frustration and turned toward Nagato.

"Nagato, how's it going over there?"

Nagato stood a little farther away, his red hair covering his eyes as he shook his head slightly.

"The fish... are too nimble."

Konan sighed, put away the paper, and picked up a bamboo basket.

"Looks like we won't be eating fish tonight either."

Just then, rustling came from the distant woods.

Nagato abruptly raised his head, alertness flashing through his Rinnegan.

"Someone's there!"

Yahiko and Konan immediately tensed, watching warily in the direction of the sound.

Five Iwagakure ninja emerged from the bushes. They wore earth-brown ninja uniforms and Iwagakure forehead protectors, their eyes filled with contempt and greed.

"Hey, brats, what are you doing?"

The lead Stone Ninja grinned, his gaze lingering on Konan for a moment—especially on the traces of Chakra still remaining on her palm.

"Chakra? You're ninja from Amegakure?"

Another Stone Ninja narrowed his eyes, his tone suddenly turning dangerous.

Yahiko instinctively stepped in front of Konan and Nagato, forcing himself to remain calm.

"We're just catching fish here. We're not ninja!"

"Heh, liar!"

The lead Stone Ninja sneered and suddenly raised his hands to form seals.

"Earth Release: Earthen Pillar Spear!"

Several sharp stone spikes suddenly erupted from the ground, shooting straight toward the three of them!

"Watch out!"

Nagato shoved Yahiko and Konan aside, but his own arm was grazed by a stone spike, blood immediately seeping from the wound.

"Nagato!"

Konan cried out. Just as she tried to rush forward, another Stone Ninja instantly closed in and seized her by the throat.

"Don't move!"

The Stone Ninja grinned viciously, pressing a sharp kunai beneath her throat.

"Move again, and I'll slit your throat!"

Yahiko roared and charged forward with his harpoon, only to be kicked to the ground by a Stone Ninja. A foot then stomped down hard on his chest.

"With skills like that, you dare resist?"

The Stone Ninja mocked, pressing down with his foot. Yahiko immediately curled up in pain.

Nagato struggled to rise, but a Water Release unleashed by one of the Stone Ninja sent him flying. He crashed heavily into a rock by the riverbank and coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Behind his red hair, the Rinnegan seemed to flicker with a faint, indistinct gleam.

"Hahaha! You little brats from Amegakure are pathetically weak! Now I ask, and you answer!"

"Where is the ninja stronghold near Amegakure? And where do you keep your food supplies?"

A flicker of fear passed through Konan's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by stubborn defiance.

"Let us go!"

"Still acting tough?"

The Stone Ninja sneered and lightly pressed the kunai in his hand, cutting a bloody line across her fair neck.

At that critical moment—

"Whoosh!"

A blurred black shadow flashed past. The lead Stone Ninja felt a chill at his wrist, followed immediately by searing pain.

"AAAAH—!" He screamed as he staggered back. Looking down, he saw that his wrist had been cleanly severed, blood spraying from the stump.

"Who?!"

The other Stone Ninja went pale with shock and whirled around.

Chiyo's figure slowly emerged, his scarlet Sharingan gleaming coldly beneath the setting sun.

A blood-dripping kunai hung loosely from his hand.

"Bullying children. You lot must be very proud of yourselves."

His voice was low.

The Stone Ninja's expressions changed drastically.

"Sharingan?! He's one of Konoha's Uchiha!"

"Run!"

One of them shouted and turned to flee.

Chiyo's figure vanished in an instant.

The next second, he appeared behind the Stone Ninja, his kunai piercing precisely into the man's back.

"Running? Too bad... you're too late."