Chapter 249: Alliance
After the tremors had subsided, the spectators slowly emerged from their hiding places. They cautiously peered over the edge of the cliff and saw that the canyon had been completely transformed. It was unrecognizable.
"A ninjutsu of this scale... is it even possible for a human to wield such power?" a Sand shinobi, one of the sealing team members, muttered in terror.
"This... this is the power of a god. And to think the Sand Village was once enemies with such a man..." another said, equally stunned.
It wasn't just the Sand shinobi. Shisui, Anko, and Yamato were also speechless, their mouths agape. They had never imagined such a level of power was possible. In their young, inexperienced minds, a "strong" shinobi was someone who could take on two or three opponents at once. But their sensei had just shown them a world far beyond their comprehension.
But beneath their shock, there was also a flicker of excitement. If our teacher is this strong, and if we can learn everything he knows, then we can become that strong too!
The thought filled them with a renewed sense of determination. They couldn't wait to get back to the village and start training, to one day be able to wield such incredible power themselves.
Clap, clap, clap...
A slow, deliberate applause broke the silence. Kyosuke emerged from the shadows, a faint smile on his face. Seeing the looks of awe and determination on his students' faces, he thought, It seems my efforts were not in vain.
He had brought them here for this very reason: to let them witness, firsthand, what it meant to be truly powerful. He knew that this experience would not only deepen their desire to grow stronger, but also raise the ceiling of what they believed they could achieve.
He gave a nod to the Sand sealing team, then turned to his students and began to debrief them on the battle. It was a habit he had developed during his years on the battlefield, and one he hoped to instill in them. To his satisfaction, all three of them, even the usually mischievous Anko, listened intently, hanging on his every word.
The sealing of Shukaku was soon complete, and the group began their journey back to the village.
In the Kazekage's office in the Sand Village, Rasa, Chiyo, and the other high-ranking officials had officially signed an alliance treaty with Konoha, represented by Koharu and Homura.
The treaty contained many clauses, but the two most important were: First, that the two villages would never again go to war with each other, and would instead share information and provide mutual support. Second, that if either village were to face a crisis, the other would be obligated to provide aid without hesitation.
In reality, the treaty was a concession made by Konoha to appease the Sand. If a crisis were to arise that even Konoha couldn't handle, what good would the Sand be? The original story was a testament to this. Every time the Sand faced a problem they couldn't solve, their first instinct was to ask Konoha for help, including when their Kazekage, Gaara, was kidnapped by the Akatsuki. It was a clear indication of not only the Sand's decline in power, but also the deep reliance they had on Konoha. If not for Orochimaru's manipulation, it was doubtful the Sand would have ever attacked them in the first place.
It was, in Kyosuke's opinion, one of Hiruzen Sarutobi's greatest political achievements.
"Elders, I am pleased that we have reached a consensus on the matter of peace in the shinobi world. I hope that our two villages can put the past behind us and work together from now on," Rasa said with a smile.
"You are too kind, Kazekage-dono. Peace has always been Konoha's greatest wish. We are also pleased to form this alliance with the Sand," Koharu replied with a graceful smile.
With the alliance finalized, the only remaining issue was the sealing of the Tailed Beast.
We still haven't heard from that boy Kyosuke. I hope everything is going well. He'd better not embarrass Konoha, Koharu thought, her mind drifting as she continued to exchange pleasantries with Rasa.
Just then, a knock came at the door. Everyone in the room stiffened, a look of anticipation on their faces.
"Enter," Rasa said, his voice steady.
A shinobi entered and, after a respectful bow, reported that the Tailed Beast had been successfully sealed.
A collective sigh of relief filled the room. Chiyo suggested that they go and greet the returning heroes. The others quickly agreed, and the group of dignitaries made their way to the entrance of the Kazekage's office.
A short time later, Kyosuke and his team arrived, covered in dust and sand. The harsh environment of the Land of Wind had taken its toll. But their weary appearance only served to emphasize the difficulty of their mission, and the Sand elders were filled with a sense of gratitude for their new allies.
After another round of meaningless pleasantries, the sealing team departed, and Kyosuke and his students were led back to the Kazekage's office.
Rasa, Chiyo, and the others looked at Kyosuke, a myriad of emotions swirling within them. They had all fought against him at one point or another. To think that the nameless brat from back then had now become a powerhouse that even they had to look up to...
Rasa, in particular, had clashed with him during the "Daimyo's son kidnapping" incident, though at the time, Kyosuke had been in Root, and Rasa hadn't recognized him. If he had, his feelings would have been even more complex.
"Ahem," Kyosuke cleared his throat, breaking the awkward silence. "Kazekage-dono, now that Shukaku has been sealed, about what we discussed earlier..."
"Earlier... oh, you mean the reimbursement. Of course, of course," Rasa said, relieved that he wasn't about to make some outrageous demand. He waved his hand magnanimously.
But in his excitement, he failed to notice the fleeting, mischievous glint in Kyosuke's eyes.
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