After sealing Black Zetsu inside Yahiko, Xuanhui formally invited the Akatsuki to attend the First Shinobi Conference in ten days.
Meanwhile, the Five Kage returned to the shinobi from their respective villages.
Across every battlefield, all the armies were withdrawing in an orderly fashion.
As the withdrawal became increasingly organized and all the arrangements were settled, Ōnoki, Fourth Raikage A, and Rasa approached Xuanhui.
"You three... is there something you wanted to say?"
Iwagakure had suffered devastating losses at Xuanhui's hands during the Third Shinobi World War, and A and Rasa had both personally taken a beating from him.
But the three shook their heads. They had not come to cause trouble.
As the eldest, Ōnoki spoke first.
"Xuanhui, perhaps before this war began, I only saw you as temporary allies...
But as we fought side by side, I truly began to feel differently.
Now, as a member of the Allied Shinobi Forces, as a shinobi, and as the Shinobi World's Third Tsuchikage, I want to formally thank you... for everything you've done for the Shinobi World!"
On a personal level, Xuanhui had saved Roshi and Han and stopped Deidara from continuing down a path of evil and losing his way.
Rasa cleared his throat and scratched his head awkwardly.
"Of the three of us, I'm the one who owes you the biggest apology..."
His momentary lapse in judgment had nearly killed Pakura, one of Sunagakure's finest shinobi.
Without Xuanhui, Pakura would have perished, Sasori of the Red Sands would have fallen into darkness, the Third Kazekage would have died a sudden, violent death, and Gaara would have endured a miserable childhood.
Of the three, though, A still seemed to harbor some resentment...
After all, Xuanhui had personally killed the Third Raikage, his father! (Though his heart had ended up