The Agreement Beneath the City Walls

Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage's heavy command to "surrender" fell like a final judge's gavel, sealing the outcome of this brutal battle. The killing intent and chakra fluctuations boiling across the battlefield seemed to be doused with ice water, abruptly plunging into a dead, eerie calm.

After a brief silence, a cold, hoarse voice carrying a hint of amusement rang out, clearly spreading across the battlefield as it took control of the situation:

"Heh heh... A wise choice, Lord Fourth Kazekage."

The speaker was none other than Orochimaru, standing atop Manda's head. His golden vertical pupils swept over the devastated Sunagakure forces below, their morale utterly shattered, while a cold curve touched his lips.

At his words, although Konoha's ninja still wore expressions of victorious elation and wary vigilance toward Sunagakure, they began carrying out their orders. They did not immediately step forward to confiscate weapons. Instead, they retreated in an orderly fashion and readjusted their positions, forming a larger, tighter, more intimidating encirclement that completely enclosed the remnants of Sunagakure's forces, who had lost the will to fight. Countless kunai, shuriken, and the gleam of ninjutsu remained trained on the Sunagakure ninja, preventing any possible desperate counterattack.

Minato Namikaze appeared as if teleporting onto a higher section of broken wall. He put away his specially made kunai, his expression calm and solemn as his azure eyes swept over the battlefield, overseeing the ceasefire. Torifu Akimichi likewise signaled his subordinates to stop advancing, though they maintained their oppressive stance.

On Sunagakure's side, Chiyo and Ebizo completely dismissed their puppets and ninjutsu, their aged faces filled with exhaustion and humiliation. Shaye silently put away "Mirage" and abandoned all combat stances, standing before the surviving puppet masters as he watched everything unfold with mixed emotions. Every surviving Sunagakure ninja seemed to have had