After leaving the main encampment, Konoha's five-man negotiation team headed north, toward an oasis in the desert.
By the time they arrived, the surrounding area had already been cleared by the Sand shinobi; not a single citizen of the Land of Wind remained nearby.
Under the blistering sun, three large parasols stood open, shading the three parties of the meeting.
Beneath the front parasol sat the envoy of the Land of Wind's Daimyō, the official witness to this negotiation.
To the west, the representatives of Sunagakure had already taken their seats.
Yako looked over and saw the familiar faces: Ebizō, Rasa, Mache, two assistants, and a single ANBU operative.
Ebizō's gaze locked sharply onto Copper Fox as he sat down.
Within Sunagakure, White Fang was a name everyone feared. It was unclear why White Fang himself hadn't come.
But that name — like Copper Fox — would soon spread throughout the entire village, remembered by every Sand shinobi.
The muscles in Ebizō's face twitched. He forced down his anger.
Originally, his sister Chiyo had been meant to attend this meeting, but he had gone to great lengths to dissuade her.
He feared that if she encountered either White Fang or Copper Fox, the meeting would turn into a blood feud.
Her nephew was dead and that nephew's mastery of puppet jutsu had been second to none, so skilled that even Chiyo herself couldn't guarantee victory over him.
At the center of the table, the envoy of the Land of Wind — the Left Minister, Ashikaga Sadakaze — set down his fan and spoke to the Konoha delegation:
"Clan Head Shikakaku, thank you for coming all this way.
Please, as the commander representing Konoha, conduct these postwar talks in earnest with Sunagakure.
On behalf of the Daimyō, I'll state this clearly: His Excellency believes this war should now come to an end."
With that, Minister Ashikaga fell silent.
Judging by his veiled praise for Konoha's side, it was clear the Land of Wind's Daimyō was deeply dissatisfied with Sunagakure's performance in the war.
After all, raising puppet masters consumed far more resources than training ordinary shinobi.
The Land of Wind had sent Sunagakure both steel and precious golden ironwood, yet the puppet masters they produced had fallen miserably before Konoha's elite.
Their so-called genius puppeteer, had died in battle — an event that directly helped White Fang to lead reinforcements to the main front.
How could the Daimyō not be furious?
He had granted the village everything they asked for — what had they given in return?
The destruction of Sabaku Port? A humiliating defeat?
No wonder the Daimyō's patience had run out. In the world of shinobi, weakness was the only sin.
Nara Shikakaku finally spoke.
"Honorable Envoy Ashikaga Sadakaze, Advisor Ebizō.
I represent Konoha today in these postwar negotiations.
Our demands are as follows.
First — the war shall end, and all territories shall revert to their prewar boundaries.
The Land of Rivers remains under the protection of the Land of Fire. Any Sand shinobi wishing to take missions within the Land of Rivers must first obtain Konoha's authorization, complete all necessary procedures, and pay the corresponding fees."
Ebizō lowered his head slightly, staring at the table.
Over the course of half a year of conflict, nearly two thousand Sand shinobi had died — and they had gained nothing.
This first demand, he had no choice but to accept.
Shikakaku continued:
"Second — there shall be no interference with the Yoshimizu River.
It runs through the capital of the Land of Rivers.
Sunagakure is forbidden from diverting water from the caverns beneath to the northern deserts of the Land of Wind, or from damaging the section of the Yoshimizu River that flows through the Land of Rain.
A hydroelectric plant has now been built along that river — its preservation is of vital importance.
Any attempt by Sunagakure to alter the Yoshimizu River will be considered an act of war against both the Land of Fire and Konoha."
Ashikaga interjected smoothly, his tone diplomatic:
"Clan Head Shikakaku, there's no need to speak so absolutely.
The Daimyō has already dispatched an envoy to meet with the Daimyōs of both the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers.
The Yoshimizu River carries abundant water. A limited and controlled diversion beneath the Yoshigane Mountains would hardly affect the capital downstream.
The Land of Wind merely wishes to cultivate one more oasis in the north — if war cannot achieve it, then we are willing to pay the price in resources, to settle it through negotiation."
Rasa finally spoke.
"Minister Ashikaga, the total resources of the Land of Wind are finite.
We cannot afford to give away too much in diplomacy — how does His Excellency plan to make up for those losses?"
Ashikaga gave Rasa an assessing look — sharp mind for a jōnin.
"Rasa of the Sand," he said evenly, "I am but a plump noble. If you wished to kill me, it would take you less than three seconds.
But I ask that you also respect the Land of Wind's interests.
In the north, there is hope for a vast oasis beneath the Yoshigane range.
When this news reached the Daimyō and the court of nobles in the capital, they stayed awake all night discussing it, filled with excitement.
Once constructed, that oasis would bring an influx of food, people, and wealth — a foundation for the Land of Wind's revival.
And with that prosperity, Sunagakure too would thrive.
But before that day comes, I'm afraid the village must share our hardship for a time — tighten its belt alongside us."
Only then did Ebizō grasp the full picture.
To build the northern oasis, the Daimyō planned to cut Sunagakure's funding — diverting it to pay reparations to the Lands of Fire and Rivers instead.
Ashikaga, noticing Ebizō's grim look, pressed on gently:
"Advisor Ebizō, the Land of Wind has spared no effort in this war.
You asked for steel — the Daimyō increased supply by twenty percent.
You demanded golden ironwood — we delivered it all, even though the price has risen sixfold since the war began.
The excess costs? All borne by the Land of Wind's treasury.
We have done everything in our power to aid you.
Even after Sabaku Port was destroyed and twenty of His Excellency's ships were sunk, the Daimyō resolved to endure it in silence.
We are blameless in our duty — our support for Sunagakure has been absolute.
But the war is lost. We must now find new ways to restore the north.
Thus, I officially inform you:
All national budgets will be reduced.
Funding for the Daimyō's castle, capital's reconstruction, the paving of major roads, and yes — even Sunagakure's allocation — will be cut.
I shall soon visit Sunagakure personally to present this decision to the Kazekage.
Believe me, we take no pleasure in this — but necessity leaves us no choice.
Wouldn't you agree, Advisor Ebizō?"
Yako had met two great nobles since coming to this world — the Fire Country's Minister of Treasury, Idaha Haneda, and now Ashikaga Sadakaze before him.
Both were capable men.
Though Ashikaga was portly, his mind was clear and his reasoning tightly woven.
Even after thinking it through, Yako couldn't devise a single argument that would allow Sunagakure to justifiably refuse.
Sure, they could kill Ashikaga and the Daimyō both — but that would only plunge the Land of Wind into chaos.
Each nation and its hidden village existed in symbiosis — if one collapsed, the other would follow.
Ebizō closed his eyes, brow furrowing. After a long silence, he finally accepted the inevitable.
Rasa, too, could only remain silent.
He could easily kill Ashikaga; he had slain nobles who defied the village before.
But this time, the village had no ground to stand on.
They had lost the war.
Had they won, had they conquered the Land of Rivers, none of this would matter.
If the Daimyō of the Land of Rivers dared speak out, the Sand shinobi would've turned him into a puppet by dawn.
Killing nobles could solve some problems, but not all.
When the Daimyō's position was unshakable and his reasoning sound, even Sunagakure had to yield.
This funding cut wasn't an attack on the village, it was a shared austerity for the entire nation.
Ebizō let out a long sigh.
"I understand, Minister Ashikaga.
I'll report this to the Kazekage myself, and offer our apologies to His Excellency."
Ashikaga turned, smiling faintly.
"Clan Head Shikakaku, please — continue."