Fire and Grass Alliance!

Three days passed in a blink. In the great hall of the Land of Grass's Capital...

The Land of Grass's Daimyo sat on his throne, his face bitter and fearful as he faced Jiraiya and Orochimaru.

The air in the hall was stifling.

The Daimyo sighed and leaned forward slightly, his voice full of helplessness.

"My lords, our land is poor and our people have little. We simply cannot afford substantial reparations. Our money, grain, and supplies are limited. Even if we scraped the entire country bare, we could not meet a demand for vast quantities of goods."

He raised his head and spoke solemnly.

"But the Land of Grass does not wish to be drawn back into a war between two great shinobi villages. So long as your terms do not drive us to the brink of ruin, we will accept them in full."

"Take your pick of whatever resources and mineral deposits you find worthwhile within our borders. All we ask is to preserve our country and spare our people the slaughter of war."

Several Land of Grass ministers stood nearby with their heads lowered, too afraid to speak. Helplessness was written across their faces.

Jiraiya scratched the back of his head and glanced sideways at Orochimaru.

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, lightly ran his tongue over the corner of his mouth, and listened calmly to the Daimyo's answer.

"In other words, the Land of Grass is willing to accept Konoha's arrangements in full?"

"Yes." The Daimyo nodded emphatically.

Jiraiya and Orochimaru exchanged a look. They now knew exactly how far the Land of Grass would yield.

Orochimaru took out a scroll prepared in advance: the formal treaty document drafted personally by Shimura Danzō.

Konoha–Land of Grass Provisional Garrison and Security Agreement

—Drafted by Shimura Danzō, commander of Konoha's Second Legion, with the tacit consent of the Daimyo and the Hokage. The Land of Grass shall comply in full, without objection.

"Article One: Border Garrison Provisions

At the Battle of Broken Cloud Gorge, Konoha repelled Iwagakure's invasion on behalf of the Land of Grass, preserving its territory and government.

Upon this alliance taking effect, Konoha shall hold the permanent right to station forces at all strategic locations throughout the Land of Grass.

Konoha may freely build garrisons, defensive barriers, and intelligence outposts in gorges, passes, border mountain trails, and strategic high ground.

The Land of Grass's court, local samurai, and Kusagakure shall not interfere with, inspect, or restrict any actions taken by Konoha's stationed shinobi.

Article Two: Restrictions on Outside Villages

The Land of Grass shall henceforth fall within Konoha's protected territory.

Forces from Iwagakure, Sunagakure, Kirigakure, Kumogakure, or any other outside village are strictly forbidden from entering and remaining in the country without permission, establishing bases, or conducting private negotiations.

Any shinobi from an outside village who enters the Land of Grass without Konoha's permission shall be regarded as a remaining enemy combatant. Konoha's garrison may eliminate or expel them directly. The Land of Grass must cooperate throughout, without obstruction or private settlement.

Article Three: Domestic Security Provisions

Should foreign enemies infiltrate, shinobi clans revolt, territorial disputes erupt, or spies cause unrest within the Land of Grass,

Konoha's stationed shinobi shall have first authority to quell the disturbance, handle the matter, and kill those responsible.

Local Grass Ninja and court samurai shall have no authority to interfere in military matters. All actions shall follow the orders of Konoha's garrison.

Article Four: Shinobi Village Oversight

Kusagakure shall henceforth be placed under Konoha's supervision.

Its reserves of ninjutsu, shinobi strength, personnel registers, and inherited secret techniques must be submitted quarterly for inspection by Konoha's inspectors. The Grass Ninja shall not expand their forces without permission, privately develop forbidden techniques, or secretly contact the other Five Great Shinobi Villages.

The appointment and succession of the Grass Ninja Leader shall take effect only with Konoha's tacit approval.

Article Five: Wartime Supply Provisions

Should war break out along the border, the entire Land of Grass shall automatically become Konoha's frontline buffer zone.

Konoha may requisition mountain trails, valleys, empty camps, and homes on site, deploy barrier traps, and construct defensive works.

Wartime losses, damage to the terrain, and supplies expended shall be considered the cost of defending the country and borne by the Land of Grass.

The Land of Grass must also provide Konoha's garrison with food, fodder, medicinal supplies, and travel provisions each month, fulfilling its duty as a protected vassal.

Article Six: Enforcement Provisions

This alliance shall remain in effect for generations, and the entire Land of Grass shall abide by it.

Should the Land of Grass secretly collude with outside enemies, pretend to comply, conceal intelligence, obstruct the garrison, or otherwise violate this agreement,

Konoha shall immediately revoke all border protection, regard the Land of Grass as hostile, and resume military operations against it."

By the time the last provision had been read, the great hall had fallen utterly silent.

Every article was an unequal, heavy-handed demand from beginning to end.

The Land of Grass had lost all control over its diplomacy, military, and border defense. It had become Konoha's vassal in all but name.

The Daimyo went cold all over. Sweat soaked his back, and his lips trembled, but he could not utter a single word of refusal.

He understood now. How was this a pact of protection?

It was a surrender agreement, a shackle fastening the Land of Grass firmly to Konoha.

Nearby, the Grass Ninja Leader clenched his fists. His dignity was gone, and his eyes brimmed with humiliation and hatred, yet he did not even dare look up to meet their gaze.

At that moment, he knew with absolute clarity: the fate of the Land of Grass no longer belonged to the Land of Grass.

Orochimaru slowly rolled up the scroll, his gaze indifferent. "Your Excellency, sign and seal it, then proclaim it throughout the country. The agreement will take effect immediately."

Jiraiya sighed and muttered under his breath,

"Lord Danzō... this is too harsh. It's exactly what an overlord would demand."

Orochimaru smiled faintly. "The winners of a war have always had the right to make the rules."

"Iwagakure lost, and the Land of Grass sat on the fence. Now it's time to pay the price."

The gentle afternoon sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Hokage Building and spread across the polished wooden floor.

The office was quiet, save for the faint rustle of wind through the leaves outside.

Kagami Uchiha stood by the window with one hand behind his back and silently finished reading the full text of the Land of Grass garrison agreement sent back to Konoha.

Every word on the page was forceful. Every clause tightened Konoha's grip on the small nation. It was Danzō's usual ruthless style, leaving no room to maneuver.

That man really does live up to his future reputation as the Shinobi of Darkness...

His expression remained calm, neither surprised nor pleased, his eyes steady as still water.

Beside him, Shikata Nara said quietly, "Lord Kagami, Danzō's move... effectively makes the Land of Grass a vassal of Konoha. The other four great shinobi villages are bound to be wary."

"Of course they will be." Kagami Uchiha slowly closed the scroll, his voice cool and clear.

"But Danzō merely took every benefit we earned by winning the war."

"The victor rules; the loser bites the dust!"

He looked up at the vast, clear sky over Konoha.

"Ōnoki is in his prime and as proud as ever. He took a heavy loss this time. He'll hold back and rebuild his strength rather than rush into another war, but he'll never forget it."

"Sunagakure, Kirigakure, and Kumogakure will also reassess Konoha's current strength."

Shikata Nara frowned. "Then should we show some restraint? Avoid turning all four villages against Konoha?"

Kagami Uchiha shook his head lightly, his gaze sharp.

"Restraint won't help."

"In the Shinobi World, weakness is a sin."

"This battle wasn't a provocation. It set the rules."

"From now on, this is what happens to any shinobi village that dares provoke Konoha!"

"Tell Danzō to keep the agreement and secure the garrison, but not to squeeze them any further or start trouble."

"I want a stable border while we build strength and train our forces, not an immediate Shinobi World war."

"Oh, and send this to the northwest. Put it in his hands yourself." Kagami Uchiha pointed to a piece of calligraphy on the desk.

Shikata Nara paused, his brows rising slightly. He stepped forward and looked down at the paper. Four bold, sweeping characters leapt out at him—

Fire's Joy!

A strange sense of absurdity welled up inside him.

He raised his head to look at Kagami Uchiha's calm face, hesitation creeping into his voice.

"Lord Hokage... this inscription is for Danzō?"

Kagami Uchiha nodded slightly, the faintest smile crossing his lips.

"He fought well at Broken Cloud Gorge. The agreement is settled, and the western front is stable for now."

"He's spent days fighting with his nerves stretched taut. It's time to cheer him up."

He tapped a corner of the calligraphy with a fingertip.

"Have someone pack it carefully and send it to the Second Legion's camp on the northwestern front. Make sure it reaches Danzō personally. No need for a letter. Just give him those four characters."

Shikata Nara reached out and rolled up the calligraphy, his fingers hesitant. He imagined the look on the perpetually stern Danzō's face when he opened the gift box and saw those four characters.

He bowed.

"Understood."

Holding the rolled-up calligraphy, Shikata Nara slowly left the Hokage Office.