Inside the command tent, Fumori Masaki, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Fumori Rimi, and Shimura Danzo stood before a large table, upon which rested the Bashōsen fan, one of the legendary treasures of the Sage of Six Paths. Tobirama Senju gazed at the fan intently. After a moment, he picked it up and channeled chakra into it, feeling a response as if the fan recognized his chakra.
"Monkey, you're sure you heard Golden Horn correctly? He said that only the descendants of the Sage of Six Paths can use this treasure?" Tobirama asked Sarutobi Hiruzen as he placed the fan back on the table.
"Yes, there's no doubt about it," Sarutobi Hiruzen replied firmly.
Tobirama pondered this information. As a perceptive ninja, he could sense subtle chakra fluctuations, and when he channeled his chakra into the Bashōsen fan, he had felt a strange resonance, almost as if the fan was an extension of his own body. If the claim that Golden Horn and Silver Horn were descendants of the Sage of Six Paths was true, then the Senju clan, who could also wield the fan, must share that lineage.
Although the Senju clan was a renowned and powerful ninja family, they had never considered themselves connected to the Sage of Six Paths. Some ancient scrolls within the clan contained fragmented information about the origins of ninjutsu and the Ninja Sect, but they had never paid much attention to it. Now, however, those incomplete records seemed more significant than they had realized.
Tobirama's thoughts drifted to the Uchiha clan. He recalled the Gunbai fan used by Uchiha Madara, a weapon capable of absorbing and reflecting any ninjutsu. The Bashōsen fan's abilities were strikingly similar. Could it be that the Uchiha clan, too, were descendants of the Sage of Six Paths?
The idea that the Sage of Six Paths, a figure long considered mythical, was real and that his bloodline persisted into the present day was astounding. Tobirama muttered to himself, "It's incredible... the myth is actually true."
Fumori Rimi, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Shimura Danzo were equally stunned. The revelation that the Senju clan descended from the Sage of Six Paths added a new layer of respect and awe in their eyes as they looked at Tobirama. The Sage of Six Paths was revered by all ninja clans, even if most didn't truly believe he had existed. But now, with this connection, the Senju clan's influence would undoubtedly grow even more powerful.
In Kumo Ninja Village, Golden Horn and Silver Horn had leveraged their alleged descent from the Sage of Six Paths to bolster their influence. Even the Raikage had to give them a degree of deference due to their mythical lineage. This power of heritage was not lost on those present in the tent.
Tobirama, sensing the weight of the situation, instructed, "Don't let this information spread. For now, it remains a secret known only to us. Understood?"
The others understood Tobirama's caution and agreed to keep the matter confidential. After reporting the details of their mission, they were dismissed to rest. The battle against Golden Horn and Silver Horn had been grueling, and they were all exhausted.
For Sarutobi Hiruzen, this had likely been the most challenging battle of his life, and the others felt similarly. After saying their goodbyes, Fumori Masaki and Rimi returned to their camp, where they immediately collapsed onto their beds with sighs of relief.
"Masaki, do you think the war will end soon?" Rimi asked, closing her eyes to rest.
"It's very likely," Masaki replied. "The second-generation Raikage seems to desire peace. If he capitalizes on the outcome of this battle, I believe we'll soon see peace negotiations."
"That would be wonderful," Rimi said with a smile, though her expression turned a bit sour. "But even if we make peace with the Land of Lightning, we still have to deal with the Land of Water and the Land of Wind."
"At least we'll have dealt with one of the threats first," Masaki reassured her. "With three enemies, we were under heavy pressure, but with only two left, we can manage. Besides, Iwagakure will keep Kirigakure busy, easing some of the burden on us."
"I heard that the second-generation Tsuchikage of Iwagakure and the second-generation Mizukage had an old grudge, which is why they're fighting so fiercely," Rimi noted.
"Exactly," Masaki agreed. "The second-generation Mizukage seems determined to settle the score, which works in our favor."
"The Iwagakure ninjas are good at dealing with Kirigakure," Masaki continued. "We don't have to worry too much about them. Our main concern now is Sunagakure. I wonder how Kagami's team is faring against them."
"There shouldn't be any problems, right?" Rimi said, though she sounded uncertain.
"One can never be sure in ninja battles," Masaki replied. Although Uchiha Kagami had died young in the original timeline, history had already begun to change, and Masaki wasn't sure if Kagami would live longer or perhaps even die sooner in this altered reality.
Despite his concerns, there was little Masaki could do. After securing peace with Kumo Ninja Village, the likely rebellion by Golden Horn and Silver Horn would require careful handling. Masaki knew he had a lot to plan for in the days ahead, and the thought of it all made his head ache.
However, there was an unexpected benefit from the recent battle: the discovery that the Senju clan was descended from the Sage of Six Paths. While Tobirama had ordered them to keep it a secret for now, Masaki knew that in the future, when it was time to implement his long-term plans, revealing this lineage could be advantageous.
The Sage of Six Paths was the spiritual origin of the entire ninja world, and his influence was deeply ingrained in every aspect of it. Masaki believed that borrowing the Sage's name could be a powerful tool in spreading his new ideas.
#
The second Raikage's request for peace came quickly. After the battle, he proposed peace at a council meeting. With the Golden Horn and Silver Horn's reputations in decline and the main battle faction losing influence, most of the council supported the Raikage's proposal.
Soon after, the Raikage sent envoys to Konoha to negotiate peace terms. The war's remaining issues, such as reparations, would be left to the daimyo to negotiate. For now, the focus was on withdrawing the ninja forces and returning the prisoners.
The Raikage agreed to these conditions, and preparations were made to retrieve the captured Kumo Ninja and finalize the peace agreement. Once the agreement was signed, the prisoners would be returned, and the war with the Land of Lightning would finally come to an end.