Although the negotiations between the Sand Shinobi and the Stone Ninja had yielded no results, the Land of Earth's territory occupied by Sunagakure was never going to be returned. So in the long run, the Sand Shinobi had gained quite a bit from this war.
On top of that, the Puppet Army Sunagakure had deployed during the war greatly intimidated the Shinobi World, spreading Sunagakure's renowned name across the world.
A ninja village's reputation was itself a form of profit. Famous ninja villages received more missions and higher rewards, and earned the trust of more clients.
Thus, although ninja was a profession of the shadows, powerful ninjas in the Shinobi World still pursued fame to a certain extent.
Just after Sunagakure had won its battle against the Stone Ninja, another piece of terrible news arrived: the Third Kazekage had fallen in battle!
The fighting between the Mist Ninja and the Sand Shinobi had remained lukewarm. The Mist Ninja had continually relied on guerrilla tactics at sea to plunder Sunagakure's coastal resources. Whenever they discovered Sand Shinobi forces, they would usually withdraw after a brief clash.
Relying on his Magnet Release and ability to fly, the Third Kazekage would often pursue them into the near seas. Many Mist Ninja warships had been sunk by him, and since the two great ninja villages had gone to war, half of the Mist Ninja's casualties had come at the hands of the Third Kazekage.
Over time, the Mist Ninja's habit of fleeing whenever they encountered the Third Kazekage had become routine, and even the Third Kazekage himself had grown complacent because of it.
No one had expected that, just as Kirigakure was nearly ready to withdraw, the boldly pursuing Third Kazekage would encounter the Fourth Mizukage at sea—the Perfect Jinchuriki of the Three-Tails!
After