Hashirama…?
Ruri was the first to react, watching in disbelief as the God of Shinobi kept his head bowed against the table.
"Indeed, we've had many conflicts in the past, driven by the need to protect our clans and compatriots. At times, we were forced into harsh actions, beyond our control..."
"Even if the six nations sign this agreement today, no one knows how long it will last. How long we can truly uphold it... But I've always dreamed..."
Hashirama's voice grew softer, yet carried the weight of his hope.
"I dreamed of a future... where ninjas could transcend borders, helping each other, united as one. That is my dream for the future."
Even the aggressive Raikage and the cynical Byakuren sat in silence, their expressions heavy.
This was no ordinary man—this was Hashirama Senju, the God of Shinobi, who had crushed armies on the battlefield. Though the title of "Kage" put them on equal footing, Hashirama still stood as an insurmountable mountain. And now, that same man was laying bare his innermost ideals before them.
Whether this was a calculated act or genuine emotion, it didn't matter. What did matter was that Hashirama, the strongest among them, had lowered his head—shedding his pride for the sake of peace.
"Please, let today mark the first step toward peace. I sincerely... sincerely... sincerely... sincerely... ask for your cooperation."
Hashirama repeated the word "sincerely" four times, his hands trembling as they pressed against the table, his head still bowed.
After a long moment, it was Ruri who first broke the silence.
"Amamiya Ruri, the First Taki Kage, hereby signs the agreement on behalf of the Land of Taki."
The neutrality pact would bring nothing but benefits to the Land of Taki, a smaller nation with much to gain. Showing support for Hashirama at this moment would also earn Konoha's goodwill. Since the agreement was bound to succeed in the end, it was better to be the first to align with Hashirama.
"Thank you..." Hashirama muttered, his head still lowered.
Retto, the Kazekage, was next. "Retto, the First Kazekage, signs on behalf of the Land of Wind. We'll reduce our earlier demand to two-tenths of the total funds."
As the weakest of the five great nations, Suna needed time to recover and develop. Retto's compromise was pragmatic—two-tenths of the payment was an acceptable result.
The Raikage, A, followed without hesitation. "A, the First Raikage, signs on behalf of the Land of Lightning."
Ishikawa, the Tsuchikage, added, "Ishikawa, the First Tsuchikage, signs on behalf of the Land of Earth."
Finally, with a reluctant sigh, Byakuren, the Mizukage, spoke. "Byakuren, the First Mizukage, signs on behalf of the Land of Water."
He had no choice. Though Suna's share of the funds would surpass his own, he could only console himself with the thought that with the Land of Taki involved, Kirigakure would no longer be the weakest village.
"Thank you all!" Hashirama said again, his voice filled with genuine gratitude.
With the peace agreement signed, the next matter was the allocation of the Tailed Beasts. Each village would receive a beast to balance their power, ensuring no nation had too much advantage over the others.
"We will take the Eight-Tails," the Raikage announced immediately, leaving no room for debate.
The other Kage offered no objections. Kumogakure was second only to Konoha in strength, and the Land of Lightning was among the wealthiest nations—challenging them wasn't worth the trouble.
With the Nine-Tails reserved for Konoha and the One-Tail already sealed in Suna, that left seven Tailed Beasts to distribute. Even if the Land of Taki purchased one, the remaining three nations could still claim two beasts each.
After the Raikage claimed the Eight-Tails, the weakest beast—the Two-Tails—was naturally left to Kumogakure as well, maintaining a semblance of balance.
At that moment, Hashirama turned toward Ruri.
"The Seven-Tails... does the Land of Taki have the funds to purchase it? If not, Konoha is willing to offer a loan for one-third of the price."
Hashirama's offer was genuine. He had witnessed the rapid growth of the Land of Taki and knew that, even without Ruri present, he would have made the same decision. Small nations needed a representative Tailed Beast to ensure stability and prevent the five great nations from becoming too dominant.
The other Kage quickly understood Hashirama's intention. Having a Tailed Beast in the hands of a smaller village would ease tensions among the lesser nations, offering them a sense of security.
Tobirama frowned but remained silent. He instinctively disliked the idea of strengthening another nation—especially one that could grow into a future rival. But since this wasn't a free gift, it was a concession he could accept.
"Thank you for the offer, Hokage-dono, but the Land of Taki will purchase the Seven-Tails in full."
Ruri smiled as he declined the loan. Securing the Seven-Tails and being recognized by the other Kage were his primary goals for attending the summit. With these accomplishments, no one in Takigakure would dare oppose him.
"Ha ha ha! The Land of Taki's development has been truly impressive!" Hashirama laughed, visibly relieved.
If Konoha didn't have to provide a loan, it was even better—after all, the loan would come from Konoha's reserves, not the Land of Fire's coffers.
"We will take the Six-Tails and the Three-Tails," Byakuren said. Kirigakure's location on a remote island made it difficult to compete with the mainland nations. The Six-Tails was the strongest remaining beast, and the Three-Tails' water affinity suited Kirigakure perfectly.
Ishikawa, the Tsuchikage, had little choice but to take the Four-Tails and Five-Tails. Though the Two-Tails was technically weaker, he saw no point in contesting it. The Land of Earth was well-fortified, and the Tailed Beasts were little more than strategic assets.
With the final Tailed Beasts allocated, the Nine-Tails naturally remained with Konoha, solidifying their position as the strongest village.
Just as the Kage were about to move on to discuss future cooperation, Tobirama glanced at Ruri, his sharp gaze filled with suspicion.
"Aren't we going to inspect the beasts?" he asked quietly, breaking the brief moment of calm.
The room fell silent.