The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and the Third Kazekage held tense border negotiations at the boundary between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers. To avoid further conflict, both sides decided to discuss Sunagakure's invasion of the Land of Rivers and the issue of border security.
During the talks, the Third Kazekage insisted that Sunagakure's invasion was not a provocation, but a justified action to "reclaim lost territory."
The Land of Rivers had been assigned to Sunagakure as territory during the First Five Kage Summit, and this operation was merely the recovery of that land.
In response to the Land of Fire's concerns, the Third Kazekage proposed establishing a military buffer zone along the border between the Land of Rivers and the Land of Fire to prevent direct contact between the two nations' shinobi forces.
"Sunagakure has no intention of escalating this conflict," the Third Kazekage said calmly. "We can establish a buffer zone in the part of the Land of Rivers near the Land of Fire. Neither side will send troops beyond it, preserving border security."
Sarutobi Hiruzen made his position clear, believing that Sunagakure's rapid invasion had already threatened the security of the Land of Fire.
Sarutobi Hiruzen pointed out, "Under the current peaceful circumstances, Sunagakure's actions have clearly gone too far. Your shinobi forces are already far too close to the Land of Fire's border. To restore trust, you must withdraw your forces from the border and establish a buffer zone across at least half of the Land of Rivers to prevent future conflicts."
Sarutobi Hiruzen hoped to preserve the Land of Fire's security by making Sunagakure retreat and designating most of the Land of Rivers as a buffer zone.
However, the Third Kazekage strongly opposed Sarutobi Hiruzen's demands.
The Third Kazekage stated that Sunagakure