It's unclear who started it, but the entire crowd, like Mukai, pounded their chests with their fists and shouted:
Long live the Kazekage!
Long live the Kazekage!
The deafening shouts echoed outwards from the lush Sunagakure.
These heartfelt cries traveled through the green-shrouded sea of sand, swept across the rain -Land of Rain under a clear sky, and arrived in the Land of Rivers the nobles had been cleared out and the fields were being distributed.
With the conclusion of the Third Shinobi World War Shinobi World War, further negotiations are underway.
The circular conference hall in the central tower of Sunagakure
Unlike previous Five Kage Summit held in the Land of Iron, in this Third Shinobi World Third Shinobi World War, the Tsuchikage and Raikage, both powerful figures, were captured on the battlefield.
Even if they were unwilling, they had no choice but to attend this Five Kage Summit, which was almost a humiliating one.
Five Kage sat at different tables around a huge circular negotiating table.
On the Sunagakure side, the Fourth Kazekage, Mukai, dressed in a simple white Kazekage robe, sat at the head of the table as the person presiding over the meeting.
Opposite them were the lingering shadows of the old order of the Shinobi World.
The scabs on the Third Raikage A's body hadn't fallen off yet, and his movable right hand was propped up on the table, his bronze muscles bulging.
The humiliation of being knocked unconscious by a woman's fist left this man, who was known as the embodiment of Strongest Spear and the Strongest Shield, somewhat dejected.
Behind him, Killer B supported his son, who was also covered in wounds. With even high-level combatants captured, what else could they do?
Ōnoki sat beside the Raikage, his short frame sunken into the chair, his face ashen.
The Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags were stuck to his body, and the feeling of them locking onto space and his soul made him restless even when he slept.
The representative of the Land of Water was a pale-faced middle-aged Jonin. In the late stages of the Bloody Mist, Kirigakure no longer had Kage Level figure capable of taking on this role.
There was nothing behind him. The Isobu had been "subdued" by Kisame, the Six-Tails Jinchuriki was missing, and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had been wiped out.
The Kirigakure is now defunct in name only.
The Konoha delegation sat in a delicate position between Sunagakure and the defeated nation.
The Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi a somber expression, and his pipe had long since gone out.
Behind him, Shimura Danzō half his face buried under the stand-up collar of the Root Army uniform, with only his single eye showing as he sized up the young Mukai.
I should have killed this kid during the Chunin Ninja Exams!
Who would have thought he could grow to this level!
Tsunade stood with her arms crossed on the other side of Sarutobi, watching indifferently as Mukai negotiated with these old guys.
"Alright, let's begin."
Mukai's voice was calm, and although there was no amplification equipment, it clearly resonated throughout the venue.
" Sunagakure's stance is very clear."
"War has proven that the old system, which uses Tailed Beast as ultimate weapons and Jinchūriki as vessels, is one of the root causes of turmoil in the Shinobi World."
Therefore, Sunagakure will unilaterally terminate this system.
Ōnoki's breathing quickened for a moment.
"Termination?"
The Third Raikage's voice was like muffled thunder:
" Tailed Beast are immortal, how do you plan to destroy Tailed Beast?"
"On the contrary."
Mukai's voice was unusually stable:
" Tailed Beast are Chakra life forms with intelligence and emotions, not weapons."
Sunagakure has already formed Summoning Contract with the One-Tail Shukaku, the Two-Tails Matatabi, the Isobu, and the Four-Tails monkey.
They will exist as allies, enjoying autonomy and utilizing their unique abilities to develop people's livelihoods; they will not be required to fight.
The room was deathly silent.
Then came an barely suppressed commotion. The representative of the Land of Water abruptly stood up. " Isobu is from the Land of Water..."
" The Land of Water has lost control of the Three-Tails."
"No, Isobu is now under the control of the Land of Wind. This is a decision, not something to be discussed with you."
The representative from Kirigakure opened his mouth, then slumped down.
As for Jinchūriki.
Mukai at the tense-looking Killer B and continued:
"Our Sunagakure doesn't need Gyuki only knows how to kill, so Killer B Bee, you don't need to worry about that."
The Jinchūriki involved include Roshi, Kan, Yugito.
But don't worry, separating from the Tailed Beast doesn't mean death; this is a limitation of the old technology.
I have already extracted the Tailed Beast Chakra from you; they have retained 10% of it, so they can return to the village.
As he spoke, he clapped his hands, and the conference room door opened. Han, Roshi, Yugito filed in and stood behind their respective shadows.
Seeing this, the Raikage felt inexplicably relieved.
The fact that Sunagakure didn't touch Killer B surprised him.
"This..." The Third Raikage stared intently at Mukai: "What are your conditions?"
Despite having Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags stuck to his body, Ōnoki was still extremely agitated. He slammed his fist on the table and roared:
"Why should I? You extracted the Tailed Beast from two of our Iwagakure Jinchūriki, what's the point of pretending to leave 10%?"
Why did the Kumogakure only extract one Tailed Beast?
Mukai stretched out his finger and waved it:
" Ōnoki, please understand one thing: right now, you are the losers. I am informing you, not discussing this with you."
If you're not satisfied, I can keep the Jinchūriki as well; Sunagakure won't miss a few more people to feed.
Ōnoki was so angry that his bulbous nose turned red, but the situation was beyond his control, and he could only sit back down in his chair resentfully.
"Speak up, state your conditions!"
Mukai then continued:
" The Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure regions will fully open their domestic markets, and taxes and restrictions on Sunagakure products will be eliminated."
"Each year, the three kingdoms sent no fewer than one hundred ninja students to study at the Sand Village Ninja Academy."
Sunagakure reserves the right to know the whereabouts of its graduates and shall not force them to perform work against their will.
"The three countries pledged to reduce their standing armies to 50% of pre-war levels within five years, and anyone who initiates war without authorization will be severely punished!"
In exchange--
Mukai's voice softened slightly:
" Sunagakure will release all prisoners of war and return all spoils of war except for the Tailed Beast."
I'm not interested in your task assignments; you can talk to Konoha yourselves.
Ōnoki closed his eyes. He was weighing the pros and cons. The fact that Sunagakure had given up on assigning the mission was unexpected.
The Sunagakure didn't even ask them to hand over their mission quota?
What else could he weigh? No, he had no right to weigh anything at all.
Even his life was in the hands of the other side; the defeated nation had no leverage.
"Is the Sunagakure trying to create a Shinobi World with its fangs pulled out?" Ōnoki hissed.
"What I want is a truly peaceful Shinobi World."
You have witnessed the power of Sunagakure. We hope to use this power to maintain peace in the Shinobi World, not to kill.
Mukai corrected.
"What's Konoha's attitude?" The Third Raikage asked Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, slowly said:
" Konoha... in principle supports Sunagakure's proposal."
To demonstrate Konoha's sincerity, Konoha can waive its demands for reparations from the three countries of Earth, Lightning, and Mist, and it can even forgo mission assignments; Konoha only wants peace.
This is the last vestige of pride from the strongest ninja village of the past—a compromise without principles, a pride driven by an inability to save face.
Mukai nodded with a cold smile:
Since there are no objections, let's discuss the specific details within this framework!
Elder Ebizo will handle the subsequent discussions on my behalf. I hope you can remain rational and maintain the decorum befitting yourselves as Shadows.
Mukai snapped his fingers.
Suddenly, a hole the size of a fist appeared in the conference room!
There was no explosion, no impact; it was as if two holes had suddenly appeared in the wall!