Kakashi and the others were completely stunned.
Wasn't this supposed to be a negotiation for a truce between Konoha and the Sand?
How had it suddenly turned into a discussion about choosing the Fifth Kazekage?
They hadn't expected that once "Aizen's" true identity was revealed, the Sand Shinobi would unanimously request him to become their next Kazekage.
In the hearts of the Sand ninja, the name "Aizen" carried weight akin to that of a god.
Kenya raised his hand to quiet them, his faint smile carrying calm authority.
"Enough. My identity has already been exposed. Whether I can even remain in Sunagakure is uncertain. From the very beginning, I never intended to become Kazekage."
"But, Lord Kenya—!"
Kinnaruo tried to protest, but Kenya cut him off again.
"Now, let's focus on the aftermath of this war."
Turning his gaze toward Nara Shikaku and the Konoha representatives, Kenya continued.
"This war was instigated by the Sand, so naturally, the responsibility lies with us. However… Konoha is now left in a state of severe weakness, in desperate need of allies, isn't that so?"
He smiled faintly.
"As Minister of Shinobi, I still hold the authority to command. I will mobilize the Sand's army and request our allies from the Mist to send forces. They'll assist Konoha's restoration and deter Iwagakure and Kumogakure from making reckless moves."
Nara Shikaku's expression hardened.
"You killed countless people in Konoha. The Sarutobi and Shimura clans have been nearly wiped out. Do you expect everything to be written off just because you're offering assistance in reconstruction?"
Kenya's voice turned cold.
"When Konoha's elders dealt with the Uchiha, did they offer generous treatment to the surviving few? Yet now you speak as if the whole world owes Konoha?"
He narrowed his eyes.
"Or would you prefer that I ally with the Mist and turn my blade against Konoha instead?"
The color drained from the Konoha shinobi's faces.
If Kenya truly did that, Konoha in its current condition would be helpless.
"…We'll need to consult the Daimyo and the advisory council," Shikaku said heavily, realizing he could not decide this alone.
"There is one more condition," Kenya added.
"That's too much!" an Anbu captain snapped. "It's already outrageous enough that you demand no reparations, only aid in rebuilding. And now there are more conditions?!"
Kenya chuckled.
"Don't worry. This one will be easy for Konoha. Revoke my status as a traitor. I'm not Itachi. I won't carry a burden that doesn't belong to me for life."
The room was thrown into shock once again.
On the surface, it sounded simple—just a matter of lifting a name from a wanted list. But in truth, it wasn't so easy.
A man thought dead for four years, branded a rogue, suddenly returned alive, and his wanted status rescinded—what would that do to Konoha's face? What would it mean for the authority of the Hokage?
"Teacher… are you leaving Sunagakure?" Temari asked, her voice trembling, eyes brimming with tears.
Kenya gently tapped her nose, offering a small smile.
"My identity is exposed. Staying in the Sand is no longer suitable for me."
"Lord Kenya, you've sacrificed so much for the Sand over the years—you can't just walk away!"
"That's right! With the Fourth Kazekage gone, if you leave, who will guide us through these times?!"
"Lord Kenya, please don't go!"
Sand Jōnin raised their voices one after another, but Kenya silenced them all with a single gesture.
Shikaku, after deep thought, finally said, "Only the new Hokage can decide this matter."
"Your new Hokage… only two candidates, correct? Either Jiraiya of the Sannin, or Senju Tsunade."
Kenya's smile deepened.
"As long as they agree, that's enough, right?"
Shikaku gritted his teeth, then finally nodded. "…Yes."
Kenya's expression lit with satisfaction.
What they didn't know was that he had already dealt with Tsunade beforehand.
The meeting concluded.
The Sand's conditions still needed to be reported to Konoha's elders—Koharu, Homura, and the Fire Daimyo himself.
Kenya and the senior Sand ninja remained in Konoha to await the response.
The next day, a light rain fell over the village.
Konoha's shinobi, dressed in black, gathered at the public cemetery to lay flowers for the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
As for Kenya's revelations about the Uchiha massacre, Konoha's leadership decided—for now—to bury the truth.
Kenya, no longer hiding behind the mask of "Aizen," gathered with the Sand's upper ranks: Pakura, Kinnaruo, and the Kazekage's three siblings.
"This is the letter I've written. Deliver it to the Wind Daimyo on my behalf."
Everyone looked on in shock as Kenya handed over the document.
"In it, I formally resign from my post as Minister of Shinobi Affairs, and recommend Gaara as the Fifth Kazekage. I also nominate Pakura as the next Minister of Shinobi. Once Konoha's situation is resolved, our paths will part."
"Teacher… don't go!"
Temari's tears spilled freely as she clung to him, sobbing.
"Lord Kenya, don't say such things! No one else has the strength to lead the Sand!" Kinnaruo cried out, his voice thick with grief.
Pakura dropped to one knee, her tone resolute.
"Your contributions to the Sand are immeasurable, Lord Kenya. No one else is worthy of the title of Kazekage."
Even Gaara, usually silent, finally spoke.
The name "Aizen" had already carved itself into the very soul of Sunagakure.
Kenya looked at them all for a long time, then sighed.
"From the day I began teaching Gaara, I knew no one was more suited for Kazekage than him. Don't waste your words trying to dissuade me. If you wish to honor me, then do as I ask."
A hush fell.
Only the sound of quiet sobbing filled the room.
And in that silence, Kenya's will was decided.
This was the result he had sought from the very beginning.