Looking at Hokage Rock in the distance, Keiko could not help but sigh. Twenty years of dreaming of becoming Hokage, and he had finally arrived at the place where the dream began! However, only two faces had been completed on the mountain. The third was clearly still under construction.
Quite a few people were already lined up at Konoha's gates. The leader wore a red conical hat. Damn, Keiko quickly put on his own green hat and hurried forward. The other side's leader had personally come out to welcome him—what an honor! He had to return the courtesy.
"Lord Kazekage, you have traveled such a long way despite the hardship. Welcome, welcome."
"You are too kind, Lord Hokage. For the peace and friendship between our two villages, this distance is nothing."
Keiko warmly shook Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand. He could feel the strength in it. It bore many scars but no calluses; they had clearly been polished and maintained so as not to affect the sensation and feel of using shuriken. He was definitely an old hand who had worked his way up from the bottom!
"Come, come. Let me introduce you. This is Konoha's senior advisor, Mitokado Homura."
"A pleasure, a pleasure." Keiko hurriedly shook his hand politely.
"This is Wataru Uchiha of the Uchiha Clan, also the head of Konoha's Security Department."
"The Uchiha Clan is a renowned family of the Shinobi World. A pleasure."
"This is Yojitsu Hyuga of the Hyuga Clan."
"The Byakugan and Gentle Fist are famed throughout the Shinobi World. A pleasure."
"This is..."
The Aburame Clan, the Inuzuka Clan, the Akimichi Clan, the Yamanaka Clan... Keiko shook hands with them one by one, and his expression grew colder with each introduction. The Sunagakure group behind him also gradually looked displeased. What did this mean? It was only a welcome ceremony—did Hiruzen really need to show off like this? He had practically paraded every notable clan in Konoha before him. What, showing off how many brothers Konoha had, trying to scare him? Damn it, who among them had not crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood? By the time Keiko had shaken hands with the last person, he had made up his mind.
"Pakura, give me the sword."
"Yes." Pakura immediately understood and handed White Fang to Keiko.
This sword had been seized from Hatake Sakumo during the Battle of Lishi. Keiko usually fought with Iron Sand and had never had the habit of carrying a blade. Seeing how incomparably sharp it was, and that it was a short sword suitable for a female ninja to wear, he had given it to Pakura. She liked it as well and had kept it on her ever since.
"Konoha and Sunagakure had a few minor frictions and small conflicts some time ago. It was quite unpleasant."
The expressions of the Konoha group immediately turned less pleasant. Keiko ignored that and continued.
"Konoha and Sunagakure are neighbors, practically brother nations. I believe armed conflicts like these are not something the people of either side wish to see. Peace should be the main theme of our exchanges. This sword was the personal weapon of Konoha's commander. Today, I return it to Konoha to show Sunagakure's sincerity in seeking an alliance and peace. I hope Sunagakure and Konoha will remain allied forever and never go to war again! After weathering all hardships, brothers remain; when they meet with a smile, old grudges fade away." With that, Keiko held the sheathed sword in both hands and respectfully presented it to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
So what if you had a lot of brothers? Didn't I still take them out? Don't try that numbers-game nonsense with me! I wasn't buying it!
The faces of the Konoha group had already turned ugly, and the muscles on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face twitched repeatedly. Only after quite a while did he return to normal. He accepted the short sword, drew it from its sheath with a clang, inspected the blade, then gave a sharp huh! and snapped the treasured sword in two with his bare hands before tossing the pieces to the ground.
"Weapons are instruments of misfortune. Konoha and Sunagakure should never have fought this war in the first place. Lord Kazekage spoke well: after weathering all hardships, brothers remain; when they meet with a smile, old grudges fade away." Hiruzen Sarutobi extended his hand toward Keiko once more.
Keiko quickly clasped Hiruzen's hand, inwardly clicking his tongue. He knew perfectly well what White Fang's short sword was made of. It was unquestionably a peerless treasure, a blade that could cut iron like mud. Yet Hiruzen Sarutobi had broken it with nothing but the strength of his fingers. His power was truly unfathomable.
"Oh, it is already mealtime. Why not have Lord Kazekage and everyone join us in the village for a meal?"
Keiko saw no point in continuing to stir things up. After all, he had come to negotiate this time, not to fight. Arm in arm with Hiruzen Sarutobi, he entered the village.
After the meal, the two sides held intense discussions in the Hokage Building's conference room over matters such as a ceasefire, division of spheres of influence, and an alliance. In Keiko's view, there was not much to discuss. He and Danzo had already settled the overall direction; the people below could work out the details. After a while, Rasa signaled that the talks were nearly finished, and Keiko rose to his feet.
"Konoha was the first ninja village established in the world. Its founding held epoch-making significance for Ninshu. When our Lord Reto, the First Kazekage, founded Sunagakure, he also drew heavily from Konoha's model. In a sense, Konoha is Sunagakure's elder brother."
As soon as he said that, the Konoha group nodded one after another. Good, he had finally said something conciliatory. That was more like it. Once he put himself in the proper position, everything else would be easier to discuss!
"Sunagakure hopes to achieve deep cooperation with Konoha through this alliance. We will send a group of ninja to Konoha's Ninja Academy, Administrative Department, Medical Department, and other divisions for exchange and study. We also hope Konoha can send a group of outstanding ninja to Sunagakure to provide guidance..."
In the end, the two sides reached the following alliance agreement.
First, Konoha and Sunagakure would form an alliance, end their state of war, and recognize the current division of their respective spheres of influence.
Second, the two sides would keep their future diplomatic statements consistent.
Third, the two sides would release prisoners captured during the conflict.
Fourth, Konoha would provide Sunagakure with an interest-free loan of two hundred million ryō, to be repaid over ten years.
Fifth, the two sides would grant each other most-favored-nation trade status and reduce tariffs on goods between the two villages.
Sixth, Sunagakure would regularly send ninja to Konoha for exchange and study, while Konoha would regularly send ninja to Sunagakure to provide guidance.
After the alliance agreement was reached, the Hokage and Kazekage solemnly signed it, exchanged copies, and warmly shook hands once more to celebrate its conclusion. After the meeting, Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi invited Kazekage Keiko to dinner at his home in a private capacity. Keiko said that attending Lord Sarutobi's family dinner was even more worth boasting about than attending an official banquet. The meeting ended in an atmosphere of harmony.
"You're my big brother!"
"Mhm, I'm your big brother."
"I'm your little brother."
"Mhm, I'm your little brother."
"No, no, I'm your little brother."
"Mhm, you're my little brother."
"Big brother!"
"Little brother!"
The two Kage, impeccably dressed that morning, now had their arms slung around each other's shoulders with enthusiasm, their faces as red as monkey butts from drinking. Their clothes had long since become rumpled, and the dining table was a complete mess.
"Big brother, that... Shimura Danzō... isn't honest. You need to watch out for him."
"Mhm, I... know."
"Big brother, that... Ōnoki... is pretty formidable. If he makes a move, you'll have to go yourself."
"Mhm, I also... know. Let Danzo... deal with him first."
"His... Dust Release is powerful. Hard to... deal with."
"Mhm, I... know. I'll... stay out of... his way. If he can't... hit me, what can... he do?"
"Brother, don't worry. As long as I'm Kazekage for even one day... Konoha's western... border won't need... a single soldier."
"Won't need... a single... soldier?"
"Don't worry, not... one soldier."
"Really?"
"Truer than gold."
"Good brother, I have to toast you."
"Come, to peace between our villages."
"Come!"
"Brother, can your little brother ask you... something?"
"Go ahead."
"Teach me... the Eight Gates, will you?"
"Why are you learning... that thing? It hurts your body."
"Just... teach me, will you?"
"Then... listen carefully... I can't."
"Hm?"
"I... really can't, but... someone can."
Before you continue