Choosing the Negotiators

As always, Kazan trained his fists.

He used neither Chakra nor Haki, pounding the mountain with nothing but his bare hands.

Kakashi and the others had long since grown used to Kazan's training methods. They continued their own training nearby.

Kurenai Yuhi, Rin Nohara, and the others chatted and played together.

They enjoyed this brief stretch of peace.

And in truth,

it was brief indeed.

Before long, a Konoha Ninja came looking for them.

"Lord Kazan, Lord Jiraiya wants to see you."

His manner was respectful, and he looked at Kazan as though he were a god.

"All right."

Kazan agreed. After telling Kurenai and the others, "I'll be back," he left.

It was the same Main Camp as before.

Jiraiya, Minato Namikaze, Shikaku Nara, and the other senior officers had been waiting for some time.

"Word from the Cloud Shinobi?"

Kazan had already guessed why he'd been summoned.

"That's right. They want to sit down and talk. The meeting will be in the Land of Iron."

"Careful, aren't they?"

"We were killing each other on the battlefield not long ago. Neither side trusts the other."

Jiraiya understood the Cloud Shinobi's position.

If they couldn't persuade Konoha to come to the Land of Lightning and didn't want to negotiate on Konoha's turf, the Land of Iron was the best option.

"I want you to go."

"Shikaku will go with you. The two of you can discuss anything that comes up."

Word had already arrived from the village.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took these negotiations very seriously.

If he hadn't been so far away in Konoha, he might have gone himself.

Kazan took the scroll and read it. Everything centered on securing a ceasefire, with room to make concessions if necessary.

"That old man's brain is rusting along with the rest of him.