News of the Fourth Mizukage's awakening quickly reached Uchiha Fugaku on the front lines. The Konoha High Command entered the tent and surrounded Karatachi Yagura.
"Uchiha clan head..."
Karatachi Yagura remembered being controlled, so he naturally knew the man before him possessed the power to fight a Tailed Beast in close combat.
But when he recalled that the one who had controlled him also wielded the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan, his expression grew complicated.
"Thank you."
Karatachi Yagura still offered his thanks. After all, Uchiha Fugaku had freed him from the torment of Genjutsu, and he owed him for that.
"Don't mention it, Fourth Mizukage."
Uchiha Fugaku smiled faintly, not at all bothered.
"I just want to end the war as soon as possible."
Karatachi Yagura's heart tightened at that. He knew Kirigakure was in for a rough time.
If Konoha wanted to end the war quickly, it had many options. It wouldn't have dragged things out on the battlefield with the Mist Ninja for so long, nearly crushing them.
"We should discuss the postwar arrangements now, shouldn't we?"
As an old hand among the Kage, Karatachi Yagura held no naive hope that Kirigakure and Konoha could simply return to peaceful coexistence.
Wars between ninja villages might begin because of one or two people's decisions, but ending them involved countless interests.
"Tell me what terms Konoha wants."
Karatachi Yagura was prepared for Kirigakure to pay dearly. The village had suffered a complete defeat and had no leverage to negotiate with Konoha.
"There's no need to rush, Mizukage."
Uchiha Fugaku said,
"The Hokage himself will discuss the terms with you."
"By my reckoning, Lord Hokage should be arriving soon."
Karatachi Yagura furrowed his brow. As far as he knew, the Third Hokage was directing the war remotely from Konoha.
How