After the onset of the Kumo Civil War, the Second Raikage, following the lead of Fumori Masaki, decided to release Konoha's captives. Due to the trust built during this conflict and the shared disdain for the Golden Horn and Silver Horn factions, many Konoha captives willingly joined the civil war effort, helping Kumo to quell the internal strife more swiftly.
When the two nations were enemies, there was intense hatred between them. However, after fighting together twice against Golden Horn, Silver Horn, and during the Kumo Civil War, the animosity between them noticeably diminished. This newfound camaraderie between former enemies surprised many, as bonds forged in battle often transcend mere alliances.
Perhaps the existence of a common enemy forced them to unite, but once their hostilities turned to friendship, the emotional ties deepened, creating a sense of camaraderie akin to comrades. For those Kumo and Konoha ninjas who fought alongside each other, this bond was undeniable.
Sora felt the same way. Despite the difficulties she endured because of Fumori Masaki, she now found herself grateful to him. Without his careful and decisive actions, Golden Horn and Silver Horn might have succeeded in their nefarious plans.
Sora was confident that while Golden Horn and Silver Horn wouldn't have succeeded in completely subverting Kumo, they would have certainly caused the village to pay a heavier price than it did. Thankfully, that threat had now been erased.
Fumori Masaki was undeniably a formidable man, Sora thought to herself. She couldn't help but wish he had been born in Kumo instead of Konoha. Perhaps if someone like him had been in Kumo, their village wouldn't have faced such hardship and eventual defeat—though officially framed as peace talks, it was clear that Hidden Cloud had lost the war and only managed to end it honorably.
Reflecting on the failure of the Land of Lightning, Sora thought about the possible reasons. Perhaps it was due to the village's insufficient war preparations and failure to secure third-party nations as allies. Instead, they pushed them toward Konoha's side. In contrast, Konoha's approach of promoting just war and diplomatic techniques allowed them to gain support from other nations, turning the tides in their favor.
During her time in the prisoner-of-war camp, Sora learned that the concept of a just war originated from Fumori Masaki, and it pained her to admit that such an exceptional man was a part of Konoha.
When Sora led her troops to deliver Konoha's prisoners to the Land of Hot Water, she wasn't entirely surprised to see that it was Fumori Masaki who had come to receive them. Still, her heart skipped a beat. Why is it him again?
Fumori Masaki gave her a slight nod and greeted her politely. Sora responded in kind, and the two sides began the handover process. On the way, Masaki asked, "How is your village now? Since you're able to return the captives safely, I assume things have stabilized?"
"Yes, the betrayers have been completely suppressed. A few managed to escape, but it's only a matter of time before we catch them," Sora replied. After a brief pause, she added, "I have to thank you. If not for the Second Hokage and your summoning beast, we wouldn't have received the distress signal in time."
"I was just concerned about Golden Horn and Silver Horn. While I knew they were unstable, I never imagined they'd go so far," Masaki said with a half-smile.
"Neither did I," Sora admitted.
"You deserve credit as well for thwarting their conspiracy. Had it been left solely to us, it would have taken more effort," Masaki said before teasingly adding, "Speaking of which, didn't you once say you'd never fight side by side with me?"
Sora's face flushed red instantly, a stark contrast to her pale skin. Her mind raced as she recalled her past stubborn declaration. This sudden self-awareness made her want to disappear into a hole, her embarrassment further compounded by Masaki's casual reminder.
Annoyed, she glared at him and snapped, "Are you trying to make me look like a fool on purpose?"
"No," Masaki replied, feigning innocence.
"Liar!"
"Believe what you want," Masaki shrugged. In truth, he had wanted to tease her. The war had kept everyone's nerves strained, and now that it was over—at least temporarily—he figured a little humor wouldn't hurt.
Seeing Masaki's smug, innocent expression made Sora fume internally. He's so irritating, she thought.
"After this, I hope your village has learned a valuable lesson," Masaki said, turning the conversation back to more serious matters. "The root of the rebellion led by Golden Horn and Silver Horn lies in their insatiable desire for conquest, doesn't it?"
Sora's irritated expression faded, replaced by a more somber look. She glanced at the men handing over the captives, and after a pause, replied, "Yes, our village has always pursued strength above all, but maybe it's time to rethink that."
"Desire can be a good thing," Masaki said, "but only within reasonable limits. Once it spirals out of control, the consequences can be catastrophic."
Sora considered his words carefully. Kumo's tradition of martial might had indeed led them down a path of power, but it had also created the imbalance that allowed Golden Horn and Silver Horn to rebel, refusing to accept the idea of peace and launching their coup.
"You're not an ordinary person, Fumori Masaki," Sora murmured. She realized that Masaki often spoke in ways that made her rethink her beliefs.
"I'm just a regular person," Masaki replied, though deep down, he knew his knowledge and experience from another world gave him insights beyond the average ninja.
"If you're ordinary, what does that make everyone else?" Sora asked, feeling a twinge of frustration.
"Even those weaker than me might excel in other ways. Power isn't the only measure of strength," Masaki explained. He viewed himself as no more than a fighter who had been fortunate enough to gain knowledge from another world. In time, others might contribute far more to the world than he ever could.
Sora was perplexed by his answer, but Masaki simply smiled and said, "You'll understand someday."
With the handover complete, and the count of captives matching Konoha's records, Masaki prepared to leave. Before departing, he told Sora, "I hope that in the future, our two villages can maintain a harmonious relationship, so the next generation can live under the dawn of peace."
"Why not aim for eternal peace?" Sora asked.
"Eternal peace is an illusion," Masaki responded. "My hope is that in my lifetime, I can preserve the fruits and ideals of peace. Even if war breaks out again, future generations should inherit this peace and fight to protect it. As long as each generation remembers their responsibilities, even if conflict arises, it will be short-lived, and peace will return swiftly. That, I believe, is the closest we'll get to true, lasting peace."
"Do you really think it'll work out that way?" Sora asked.
"I don't know. It's not something I can achieve alone. It will require others who are willing to uphold these ideals. Sora, I hope you'll be one of them. After experiencing the pain of war, you must understand its toll."
Sora turned her head, hiding her expression from Masaki, but he heard her soft response, "I understand."
With the captives handed over, the Second Raikage and Hokage reconvened to formally sign a peace agreement. The Land of Fire, the first to enter the war, also became the first to withdraw. However, while Konoha had secured peace with the Land of Lightning, battles continued elsewhere in the world.