The setting sun was like blood, the frozen blood color intertwined with the yellow sand on the dilapidated battlefield, like a picture of the end of the world.
In the air, gunpowder smoke mixed with the smell of blood, the pungent smell made people want to vomit.
The ninjas of Konoha and Sunagakure confronted each other distinctively.
In the middle was a devastated open space, a testament to the fighting between the two sides.
The battle was over.
But the tense atmosphere was like a tightly drawn bowstring, ready to be triggered.
Although the Konoha ninjas had won the battle, there was no joy on their faces.
Weariness, solemnity, and confusion about the future.
They silently cleaned the battlefield, Carrying the wounded, collected the bodies of their comrades, each movement seemed heavy and slow.
The Suna side was even more silent as death.
The shadow of defeat enveloped the hearts of every Suna ninja, and morale was at an all-time low.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood in the center of the battlefield, his eyes sweeping across the scorched earth.
The once flat land was now pitted and scarred with scorched marks.
Broken weapons, broken flags, scattered corpses…
Silently telling the cruelty of war.
His heart was filled with mixed feelings.
There was the comfort of victory, the disgust for war, and the compassion for the lost lives.
Chiyo leaned on her crutches and walked slowly towards Hiruzen Sarutobi step by step.
Her face was covered with the marks of time, and deep wrinkles were like knife carvings.
Her cloudy eyes revealed weariness and vicissitudes, as if she had aged decades in an instant.
She raised her head, looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, and her voice was as hoarse as sandpaper rubbing: "Lord Hokage, we... we surrender."
"Konoha, won."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at this legendary elder of Sunagakure, and a trace of respect welled up in his heart.
On the battlefield, she was an enemy.
But at this moment, she was just a respectable elder who had to bow her head in order to protect the village.
He nodded slightly, his tone calm: "Elder Chiyo, I accept your surrender."
"Konoha has no intention of killing them all, we are willing to stop the war."
Chiyo felt as if she had unloaded a thousand pounds of burden, and her body swayed slightly.
Ebizo hurried forward to support her.
The look in his eyes towards Hiruzen Sarutobi was complicated and incomprehensible.
There was unwillingness, humiliation, but more of it was helplessness.
Reason told him that his sister's decision was the only way out for Sunagakure.
If the fight continued, Sunagakure would only pay a heavier price, and may even be destroyed!
Hiruzen Sarutobi noticed the unwillingness in Ebizo's eyes.
But he didn't say anything.
A moment of passion is certainly valuable, but in the face of real war, it is fragile and vulnerable.
"Lord Hokage, now that the war is over, what's next?"
Chiyo's voice sounded again, breaking the silence on the battlefield.
Her tone was tentative and cautious.
Obviously, she still had concerns about Konoha's intentions.
Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered for a moment and slowly said: "Elder Chiyo, the cause of this war was Sunagakure unilaterally tearing up the alliance and invading the Land of Fire."
"Konoha was forced to fight back in order to protect the interests and dignity of the village."
"We are not bloodthirsty people, and we don't want the flames of war to continue to spread."
"So, Konoha's conditions are...?" Chiyo asked directly.
She knew that the victor of the war had the right to make any demands.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Chiyo with deep eyes and said in a firm tone: "Konoha's conditions are very simple, only three."
"First, Sunagakure must admit defeat and publicly apologize to Konoha, admitting the mistake of invading the Land of Fire."
Chiyo frowned slightly.
This condition, although harsh, was also within her expectations.
It is customary for the defeated country to apologize to the victorious country.
She nodded to show her acceptance.
"Second, Sunagakure must compensate for the losses caused to the Land of Fire during the war."
Chiyo and Ebizo's faces became a little ugly.
War reparations would undoubtedly bring a heavy blow to Sunagakure Village's already barren economy.
I'm afraid the finances of Suna ninjas will be even worse in the future.
"We will assess the amount of compensation based on the actual losses, and we will not overcharge, but we will never underestimate it either," Hiruzen Sarutobi added, as if he had seen their concerns.
Chiyo was silent.
She knew that war reparations were unavoidable.
Now, we can only try to strive for a relatively reasonable amount to reduce the burden on the village.
"Third..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice suddenly became serious, his eyes as sharp as knives, staring at Chiyo.
"It's also the most important point."
"In order to prevent similar wars from happening again, Sunagakure must re-sign a peace alliance with Konoha!"
"The content of the alliance needs to be jointly negotiated by both parties."
"But it must be ensured that the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind is peaceful and stable for a long time!"
Chiyo took a deep breath.
This is Konoha's real purpose!
Re-signing a peace alliance means that Sunagakure will be greatly restricted by Konoha in future diplomacy and military affairs.
This is undoubtedly a huge blow to Sunagakure, which has always been proud of its independence and autonomy.
"Third Hokage, your conditions are... too harsh, aren't they?!" Ebizo couldn't help but speak, his tone full of dissatisfaction and protest.
Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at him, his eyes calm but with an unquestionable majesty: "You have already experienced the cruelty of war."
"Konoha doesn't want to see war again, and doesn't want innocent people to suffer from the ravages of war again."
"The conditions we put forward are to maintain peace, not to oppress and enslave Sunagakure."
"Or do you want to start another dispute!"
The last sentence suddenly raised his voice, with a chilling murderous aura.
"Ebizo!" Chiyo stopped him sternly.
She knew that now was not the time to act on impulse.
Faced with the powerful Konoha, Sunagakure... has no room for bargaining.
She turned her head, looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, and said in a heavy tone: "Lord Hokage, we, Sunagakure, accept the conditions you put forward."
"We will apologize, we will compensate, and we will re-sign a peace alliance with Konoha."
"But we also have a request that we hope Konoha can fulfill, and return our Third Kazekage."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slightly, a trace of relief appeared on his face: "Elder Chiyo, please rest assured."
"Konoha's reputation can be guaranteed."
"We hope to establish a long-term peaceful and friendly relationship with Sunagakure and jointly maintain the stability of the ninja world."
The negotiation came to a temporary end.
More detailed terms next need to be handed over to the professional personnel of the two villages for slow negotiation.
Both sides need time to digest and prepare.
The cleanup work on the battlefield continued.
The setting sun gradually sank into the horizon, and night slowly descended.
Covering this war-torn land with a black veil, it also concealed countless sorrows and pains.
Hatake Sakumo led his team back from the flank of the battlefield.
Their mission was completed very well.
Successfully divided the formation of Sunagakure and laid a solid foundation for the victory of the frontal battlefield.
"Captain Sakumo, well done! Those Suna ninjas were beaten to pieces by us, it's really enjoyable!" a team member said excitedly, his face full of joy of victory.
Hatake Sakumo smiled faintly and didn't say anything.
He looked at the battlefield in the distance, his eyes deep.
For him, war is just a means.
The purpose is to protect the village and the loved ones.
Victory is certainly worth celebrating, but the pain and sacrifice brought by the war make him unable to truly feel happy.
"Captain, what tasks do we have next?" another team member asked.
Hatake Sakumo shook his head: "The war is over."
"Next, it should be negotiation and rest."
"We have no tasks for the time being, let's go back and rest first."
The team members cheered and expressed their agreement.
After days of fierce fighting, they all felt physically and mentally exhausted and urgently needed rest and relaxation.
Hatuko Sakumo walked at the front of the team.
His figure looked a little lonely in the afterglow of the setting sun.
The smoke of war gradually dissipated.
But the scars left by the war were deeply engraved in everyone's hearts and could never be erased.
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