After a day of rest, the two sides began negotiations the next morning.
A tent was set up outside Sunagakure. Fugaku did not want to take part in the talks, but Homura and Kakaku still hoped he would sit in.
He carried considerable weight in the Land of Wind. With him present, the Land of Fire would have an advantage at the negotiating table.
At ten that morning, the tent was ready, and the representatives of both sides entered.
Several officials from the Land of Wind's capital, two Sunagakure elders, and Chiyo took part in the negotiations.
The Wind Shadow did not appear. As Sunagakure's leader, he had brought the Land of Wind to this point. Making him attend would only have added insult to injury.
Besides, Sunagakure was outmatched. Whether the Wind Shadow attended would have little effect on the outcome. His presence might even reignite the conflict, which neither side wanted.
Nara Shikaku took out a document and spoke first. "I'll read out the Land of Fire's terms, then we can discuss them one by one."
The representatives from the Land of Wind looked grim. They had little appetite for such lopsided talks, especially Chiyo, whose face stayed cold as she occasionally fixed Fugaku with an icy stare.
"First, Sunagakure and Konoha will form a Defensive Alliance. Sunagakure may have no more than four thousand ninja."
Nara Shikaku had barely finished reading the first term when Chiyo slammed a hand on the table and stood. "Impossible! Sunagakure is one of the Five Great Ninja Villages. With so much territory to cover, four thousand ninja won't be nearly enough."
Fugaku rose as well. His Sharingan spun, and a wave of killing intent pressed down on the Land of Wind's representatives across from him.
"Let Senior Kakaku finish reading the