What appeared before Chiyo's eyes was the Hokage.
Senju Tobirama, clad in deep blue Sengoku-era armor, seemed entirely out of place in this era. His oversized forehead protector, distinct from that of any other ninja, only added to his peculiar image. If not for the lifeless eyes and the cracks running along his cheeks, he could easily be mistaken for an ordinary shinobi.
However, the oppressive chakra radiating from him told a different story. It was so overwhelming that it felt nearly tangible.
Chiyo, already wearing a bitter expression, felt her features twist even further into a grimace as she sensed Tobirama's cold hostility.
"Hokage, we of Sunagakure admit defeat. Your tactical genius is unlike anything I've ever encountered," she said, her voice low and strained.
"Tell me, what price does Konoha demand for peace? Surely the Land of Fire wouldn't want to conquer the Land of Wind entirely. After all, the Land of Fire already boasts the most fertile lands in the ninja world—more than enough to sustain your people.
"In contrast, the Land of Wind is nothing but barren desert, starved of resources. Conquering us would only mean diverting your strength to govern and defend this desolate land, providing opportunities for other villages to take advantage of your stretched resources.
"Instead, why not accept our surrender? Let us remain the guardians of the Land of Wind while Konoha takes what it desires as spoils of war."
Chiyo spoke slowly, listing the benefits of accepting Sunagakure's surrender.
Their defeat was absolute. If they couldn't convince Konoha to accept their terms, then their village—might face annihilation.
Never had Chiyo imagined that she would find herself so utterly crushed before Senju Tobirama.
Tobirama fell into thought.
Chiyo's words weren't without merit. The cost of conquering the Land of Wind would far outweigh the benefits. Accepting Sunagakure's surrender could indeed serve Konoha's interests better.
What Tobirama wanted most from this victory was Shukaku's Jinchūriki. Gaara was already in Konoha's custody—thanks to Sunagakure's refusal to cooperate.
Currently, he had only two Tailed Beasts in his possession, including the Nine-Tails. Collecting all the Tailed Beasts was a long-term goal.
Moreover, although Konoha's shinobi losses in the war had been minimal, the financial burden had been immense. Tobirama couldn't let this victory pass without securing reparations in resources and funding to replenish Konoha's war chest.
With his decision made, Tobirama looked up, his gaze icy as he addressed Chiyo.
"If Sunagakure wants Konoha to accept its surrender, fine. But Sunagakure must fully compensate us for the losses we incurred during the war. All the reparations—death benefits for our fallen, compensation for their families—everything will come out of Sunagakure's coffers. That amounts to no less than 20 billion ryō.
"Additionally, Konoha will require the right to station troops along the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Rivers."
Twenty billion ryō!
And border control rights between the Lands of Wind and Rivers!
Chiyo's heart nearly stopped. These demands were outrageous. Tobirama wasn't just asking for reparations—he was effectively trying to strip Sunagakure of its status as one of the Five Great Villages. With Konoha controlling their borders, Sunagakure would be reduced to nothing more than a vassal.
Such a steep price. Agreeing to this would mean Sunagakure's subjugation for generations to come—unless a leader as powerful as the God of Shinobi emerged to turn the tide.
"And one more thing," Tobirama added, his cold voice cutting through the air, making Chiyo flinch.
There's more? What else could he possibly want?
"I want Shukaku's Jinchūriki. The One-Tail stays in Konoha permanently."
"What?" Chiyo's disbelief was evident. "You want Shukaku's Jinchūriki? With your strength, do you really need a Tailed Beast?"
It wasn't an unreasonable question. Even weaker Kage, such as the Fourth Kazekage, could suppress Shukaku with ease. For someone of Tobirama's level, a Tailed Beast held little tactical significance.
What Chiyo didn't know, however, was that the Tailed Beasts were crucial to Tobirama's larger plans. If she realized this, she'd probably beg Gaara to praise Konoha herself.
"That's none of your concern. Those are my terms. Accept them, and we'll withdraw. Refuse, and the war continues," Tobirama said, his tone sharp and dismissive.
Yes, the Land of Wind was too poor to be worth conquering. Taking it would only be a symbolic victory, adding land with little practical value. Yet leaving it untouched felt wasteful.
A bittersweet situation.
Chiyo remained silent, deep in thought. Exchanging Gaara for peace was a sacrifice she was willing to make. At this stage, Gaara was little more than the orphaned son of a former Kazekage—a mere Jinchūriki in her eyes.
What truly weighed on her were the other two demands.
After several agonizing minutes of deliberation, Chiyo stood up. The act seemed to age her by a decade. Supported by two Counsellors, she looked at Tobirama with weary resignation and nodded.
"Very well. Sunagakure accepts all your terms."