Few days later, village leaders could be seen in the same venue they held during the Kage Summit.
The air in the hall was thick with tension as Hashirama and the Raikage, A, squared off at the negotiation table.
Kūga, Madara, Tobirama, and Izuna watched intently from a few paces away, each of them acutely aware of the stakes involved.
At the head of the table stood Okamura Tsunemori, the leader of the Land of Iron, serving as the mediator for the first-ever Kage Summit negotiations.
His eyes darted between Hashirama and the Raikage as he readied himself for what was sure to be a fierce debate.
Hashirama folded his hands calmly, his gaze steady. "Let's begin with the matter of war reparations. The damage inflicted upon Konoha by your forces was substantial, Raikage. Our terms, therefore, are as follows."
He slid a detailed breakdown across the table, outlining Konoha's demands:
Kumo War Reparations:
Economic Losses: 62,500,000 ryo
Aggressor Status: 10,000,000 ryo
Shinobi Equipment Damages: 10,000,000 ryo
Intent and Motivation: 10,000,000 ryo
Battlefield damages:
Land of Hot Springs: 10,000,000 ryo
Land of Frost: 25,000,000 ryo
Total Payment: 127,500,000 ryo
"And," Hashirama continued, "all civilians taken as hostages during this conflict are to be released immediately."
The Raikage's eyes narrowed as he read over the demands.
With a heavy hand, he placed the paper back down on the table, leaning forward slightly, his voice dripping with frustration. "127.5 million ryo? For damages that weren't even on Konoha soil? This is unreasonable! Kumogakure does not have that kind of wealth at its disposal. We have barely 20 million ryo in our reserves. What you're demanding would cripple our village!"
Tsunemori raised a hand, his voice calm but commanding. "Please, both of you. Let's remain civil and work toward a solution."
Hashirama inclined his head respectfully, his voice still calm. "Raikage, these demands are not meant to ruin Kumogakure. But we must acknowledge the scale of destruction, as well as the lives lost. If 127.5 million ryo is too high, we can discuss alternative arrangements. You could provide the equivalent in resources, minerals, or precious stones."
The Raikage gritted his teeth. "As I said... we can only manage 20 million in cash. Beyond that, Kumo can give you 50 million ryo worth of minerals and precious stones over the next twenty years. That's the best we can offer."
Hashirama frowned, shaking his head. "Twenty years is far too long for such an amount, Raikage. And frankly, it's still lacking, given the damages."
The Raikage's fist clenched, and his voice dropped dangerously low. "You're squeezing my village dry. What you're asking is impossible."
Kūga smirked from his spot on the sidelines, his tone light but unmistakably pointed. "Considering the unprovoked attack on Konoha, impossible sounds like a weak excuse, Raikage."
A glare snapped in Kūga's direction, but before the Raikage could retort, Tsunemori stepped in again, a placating hand extended. "Let's keep our focus here. Raikage, is there anything further Kumo can offer?"
A paused, his frustration visible in the tight lines of his face.
Finally, he exhaled a sharp breath. "There is… one artifact. It holds significant value to our village. The Kōkinjō (the Golden Canopy Rope). It's not just a weapon; it's a part of our heritage."
Hashirama raised an eyebrow, his voice curious. "I thought the Gold and Silver Brothers were in possession of that. How do you intend to acquire it from them?"
The Raikage's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint in them. "Leave that to me. If you accept the Kōkinjō, along with 20 million in ryo and the minerals over twenty years, we'll consider this matter closed."
Hashirama took a moment, weighing the offer.
Tobirama spoke up from behind him, his tone matter-of-fact. "That's still nowhere near the actual reparations needed. Kumo's actions have consequences, Raikage, and trying to buy your way out with a single artifact undermines the lives lost and the damage done."
From the far side, the Kazekage snorted. "For what it's worth, Konoha's demands are substantial, but they're not unreasonable, given the scale of damage."
The Mizukage, leaning back with a bemused expression, chuckled softly. "Can't say I disagree. That 127.5 million ryo seems almost light, considering the devastation your forces left behind."
Raikage shot him a venomous look. "Easy for you to say, Mizukage. Kirigakure didn't face any repercussions because you hid behind your borders."
Biyakuren smirked, clearly unbothered. "And yet, here we are, watching you struggle with the price of aggression."
Tsunemori cleared his throat again, sensing the tension about to boil over. "Please, let's keep the focus on reparations. Raikage, does Kumogakure have anything further to offer?"
A leaned forward, his expression hard as stone. "We're at our limit. What you're asking, Hokage, will take years of resources—resources we'll struggle to replenish."
Hashirama stayed firm, though his expression softened slightly. "Kumogakure chose this conflict, Raikage. Konoha has already made sacrifices for peace. If you cannot meet our terms as outlined, then this alternative plan must come close enough to be fair."
The Raikage gave a begrudging nod, though the tension in his jaw remained.
Tsunemori stepped forward, glad to see some resolution. "Then, it's agreed. Now, I believe we should address the matter of Iwagakure's reparations."
The Tsuchikage shifted, folding his arms. "Iwagakure has agreed to provide both Suna and Konoha with 50 million ryo upfront and resources for the next thirty years. Our terms are fair and reasonable."
After what felt like hours of intense, heated negotiations, Hashirama, Raikage, and Tsuchikage finally came to terms. With the foundational agreements in place, Tsunemori took a deep breath, raising his voice.
"I hereby declare these reparations settled. May this be the first step toward peace between our nations."
.
As they stepped out of the meeting hall, Hashirama let out a long, tired sigh, stretching his arms over his head as he looked around. "Anyone hungry?"
Kūga was the first to perk up. "Starving. All that talk got me thinking about food way too early."
Madara and Izuna both nodded in agreement, while Tobirama gave a silent shrug.
They followed Hashirama's lead through the streets of the village under the mountain, finding themselves in front of a modest food stall. The owner that was an old man... well atleast older than all of them greeted them with a gentle smile and gave a quick bow as he saw the Hokage approach.
"Hokage-sama, welcome!" he said, a bit flustered. "I'm afraid I don't serve luxury food here, just reindeer soup with vegetables. Not fit for… well, esteemed guests like yourselves."
Hashirama grinned and shook his head. "This is exactly what we're looking for. Five bowls, please."
The owner blinked, visibly surprised, before nodding with a grateful smile. He scurried around, preparing five steaming bowls of soup, each one filled with tender reindeer meat, hearty vegetables, and a savory broth that had excellent aroma.
As they dug into their bowls, Hashirama took his first sip and closed his eyes, smiling. "This is amazing! Just what we needed, thank you!"
Kūga was practically inhaling his soup, eating with an enthusiasm that made the others chuckle.
Tobirama and Izuna ate quietly, occasionally glancing over as Hashirama and Madara exchanged looks.
Finally, Madara set his bowl down, his eyes serious as he looked over at Hashirama. "You were too lenient back there... Kumo and Iwa both walked away with lighter penalties than they deserved. You could have secured more reparations for the damage they inflicted."
Hashirama stared into his bowl for a few seconds, his expression thoughtful. "Perhaps. But we're here to establish peace, Madara. We've secured compensation and ensured that Konoha's safety isn't at risk. That's what matters most."
Izuna glanced up, listening intently, while Tobirama raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Kūga continued happily slurping his soup, unbothered by the heavy topic.
Madara, still unsatisfied, looked down at his bowl, clearly searching for the right words. But before he could continue, Kūga chuckled, drawing all their attention. "Come on, people, we're here to eat. Let's leave the politics back at the meeting hall."
Kūga grinned mischievously and added, "Besides, you're scaring our chef here."
Everyone turned to look at the stall owner, who had been standing like a brick, listening nervously to the tense discussion. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead. Noticing them, he awkward laugh, bowing slightly.
Hashirama let out a hearty laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Apologies! Didn't mean to turn your stall into a debate room."
Madara cleared his throat, a faint hint of a embarrassment breaking through his serious expression. He resumed eating, his focus returning to his bowl.
Kūga turned to the owner, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Sorry about these two. Sometimes they don't understand the basic concept of privacy."
The stall owner chuckled nervously but offered a genuine smile as he watched these people enjoy his humble meal. "Please, I don't mind," he said. "It's an honor to serve you all."
Hashirama gave him an appreciative nod, and they all continued eating.
.
As they strolled out of the village together, the sun was setting, casting long shadows.
Tobirama turned to the others. "I can teleport us all back to Konoha. No sense in wasting time," he offered, his gaze especially fixed on Hashirama.
All but Hashirama quickly nodded in agreement, but Hashirama simply grinned, shaking his head comically. "Come on, let's travel together on foot! It'll be good for us," he insisted.
Tobirama let out a frustrated sigh, crossing his arms. "We have a meeting to attend, especially you, Anija. And your paperwork? The stack's grown exponentially since you've been off playing warrior in the war." Tobirama's tone had a hint of exasperation.
Hashirama only shrugged, completely unbothered. "The council can wait a bit longer. And the paperwork… well, that's why I joined the war in the first place." He chuckled at his own joke, earning soft laughter from the others.
The group shared a knowing smile as Tobirama reluctantly relented. "Fine, but don't blame me if the council's breathing down your neck when we get back," he muttered, though a faint smile betrayed his amusement at Hashirama's antics.
As they walked along the forest path, each step crunching softly against leaves and earth, Izuna broke the casual silence, glancing over at Kūga with a curious expression.
"Kūga-san… I think we're all wondering something," he began, his voice steady but with a glint of genuine curiosity. "What exactly is your power?"
At this, everyone's attention subtly sharpened, though they kept walking as though only half-interested in Izuna's question. Kūga turned his gaze to Izuna, then looked up at the sky, humming thoughtfully as if deciding how best to answer.
"Well, now that I think about it, this is actually the first time any of you have specifically asked me about that," he mused, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Izuna chuckled, nodding. "I'd always assumed you used chakra… but whenever I use my Sharingan, I don't see any in you."
Kūga raised an eyebrow, intrigued. 'So even the Sharingan can't sense Aether, huh…'
He took a moment before replying, "It's a bit difficult to explain," he admitted, his tone thoughtful.
"Chakra, as you know, is a powerful energy source, a combination of spiritual and physical energy. It's at the core of every shinobi, a vital part of who you all are." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "But there's another energy—one that exists beyond the realm of chakra. I call it Aether. It's like a subtle cosmic force that can be harnessed and shaped."
He glanced at each of them, noting their looks of fascination. "Imagine it like this: while chakra is powerful, Aether is something… greater. It's like comparing a flashlight to the sun; both create light, but the sun's strength is on a whole other level."
Hashirama's mouth fell slightly open, the weight of Kūga's words sinking in.
Madara's eyes narrowed, though he couldn't hide the curiosity in his expression.
After a beat, he broke the silence. "So, you're saying… because we have chakra, and you have this 'Aether,' we'll never catch up to you?" His tone was a mix of awe and challenge, typical of his competitive spirit.
Kūga chuckled, shaking his head. "Not exactly. Haven't you heard about the Rikudou Sennin? That guy's strong as fuck."
Tobirama frowned slightly. "The Sage of Six Paths? That's just a myth," he muttered skeptically.
Kūga only gave a small laugh. "There's a lot in this world that you guys don't know," he replied, his eyes holding a knowing glint.
Madara looked at him, brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
But before Kūga could answer, he glanced forward and gestured towards a lone figure in the distance, standing perfectly still, as if waiting for them. "I'll tell you when we greet our little guest."
The group looked ahead, squinting against the setting sun.
A lone shinobi in a hooded cowl and a slashed Takigakure headband was waiting for them, his dull green eyes glowing faintly under the shadow of his hood. The sight of the scar through his headband and the steady, unflinching stare he held sent a prickle of unease through the group.
Hashirama's playful demeanor faded as he straightened.
"Hmm... rogue shinobi?"