The salty sea breeze swept across the deck, and Shun leaned against the stern railing, his fingers tapping restlessly on the wooden handrail.
His brow was furrowed, completely lacking the composure he showed on the battlefield.
"Hey, you're annoying me with that tapping."
Mei appeared beside him at some point, her reddish-brown hair flying in the wind. She stood with her arms crossed, her emerald eyes filled with impatience.
"Ah, sorry." Shun stopped, forcing a smile.
Mei went straight to the point, a mocking smile on her lips, as she eyed him suspiciously.
"Is it because you're about to see your girlfriend?"
Shun's shoulders slumped. "How did you know about Yukari?"
Mei rolled her eyes. "Your subordinates don't know how to keep their voices down when they're gossiping."
She mimicked the Konoha ninja's tone. "Shun-sama is going to have a headache when he gets back. His official girlfriend and his little fiancée are meeting."
Shun feigned annoyance. "Damn it, why are they so gossipy?"
Mei suddenly leaned closer, lowering her voice, "So, that Yukari, is she really your big wife?"
Shun's expression remained unchanged. "Don't use that word."
"So you admit it?" Mei took a step back, her expression unreadable.
Seagulls circled overhead, emitting harsh cries.
Shun took a deep breath, deciding to be frank. "After Uzushiogakure was destroyed, the Uzumaki clan had a very hard time. I rescued Yukari from Kusagakure and then we got together."
Mei sneered, "Heh heh, a big wife at seventeen, and you still want a little wife in the future. With your character, who knows how many women you'll have in the future. You're really something."
Shun was quite open about it. "In this feudal era, isn't it common for strong men to have many women?"
Mei turned and walked away. "Shut up, I'm going to find something to eat. It's better than listening to your excuses."
Shun watched her retreating back, sighing helplessly.
In the distance, the four islands of Uzushiogakure were faintly visible, standing like guardians on the sea.
He touched the ninja tool pouch at his waist, where the amulet Yukari had given him when they last parted was kept.
An Uchiha clansman approached, bowing respectfully. "Shun-sama, Fugaku-sama requests your presence at a meeting."
On the watchtower on the east side of Kirigakure, two Kiri ninjas were monitoring the departing Konoha fleet through binoculars.
"Confirmed, the last batch has left our territorial waters." The older ninja put down his binoculars, letting out a long breath.
The young ninja wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I didn't expect Fugaku to lead so many Konoha ninjas to invade. This is Konoha's first invasion of another country. If Fugaku becomes Hokage, then the future of the Ninja World is unimaginable."
Another young ninja said, "I heard that the Uchiha contacted several major clans, and it seems some ninja clans want to leave Kirigakure. I wonder if it's true?"
The older ninja leading the team sneered, "These matters are none of our concern. If you want to live long, you shouldn't discuss these things."
On the distant sea, the Konoha fleet had turned into several small black dots, gradually disappearing over the horizon.
In the meeting room of Konoha's main ship, Fugaku stood in front of the tactical map, his black hair meticulously tied back, his sharp gaze sweeping over every Jonin present.
His voice was deep and powerful, every word like a nail driven into everyone's hearts. "Sunagakure has withdrawn their troops and proactively proposed an alliance. Hiruzen and his people have already agreed. Once we return to Konoha, the war will be over."
In the corner, Shun rested his chin on one hand, his other hand unconsciously caressing the amulet under the table.
"Shun... Shun!"
It wasn't until Fugaku raised his voice and called his name a second time that Shun snapped back to attention, standing up reflexively.
"Here!"
A few chuckles sounded in the meeting room, but Fugaku's gaze swept over them like a knife, and the laughter immediately ceased.
Fugaku commanded, "Shun, analyze the current situation."
Shun took a deep breath, quickly organizing his thoughts. He walked to the tactical map, his finger pointing at the location of Kikyo Pass.
"Sunagakure attacked Konoha at great cost. They even pushed the front lines near Kikyo Pass, plundering five cities in the Land of Fire. According to previous intelligence, the total value of the food, medicinal materials, and precious metals they plundered is estimated to exceed eighty billion ryo."
Sounds of astonishment filled the meeting room. After a while, the noise gradually subsided.
Shun continued, "They've had their fill in this war. Now they're proactively withdrawing their troops and proposing an alliance for two reasons. First, they're afraid of our retaliation. Second, they want to avoid war reparations."
Hiashi frowned, interjecting, "Hiruzen has already accepted the alliance. What should we do next?"
Shun interrupted him, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes, "That's precisely the problem. Sixty percent of the Land of Wind's food relies on imports from our country, and most of the plundered materials are the property of nobles. After the war ends, the Land of Wind will inevitably face a fierce backlash from the Land of Fire's noble class. The Land of Wind's economy will certainly be greatly affected, so the Fourth Kazekage will not have an easy time after he returns."
Fugaku nodded imperceptibly, his tone firm. "Hiruzen was afraid we would achieve more military merits, so he rushed to accept Sunagakure's peace offer. But this move seems to be bad."
The meeting room instantly erupted, discussions rising and falling.
Shun looked around at everyone, raising his voice. "We got 30 billion ryo from Iwagakure and 40 billion ryo from Kirigakure. Compensation for casualties on the Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure battlefields will be paid out in a lump sum, but not on the Sunagakure battlefield. Think about it, what will those families who lost loved ones think? What will those severely injured and disabled comrades think?"
Hiashi clenched his fist and slammed it hard on the table. "Hiruzen's actions are practically treason. Bastard."
The reason he was so angry was that most of the Hyuga clan's ninjas were sent to the Sunagakure battlefield to support Orochimaru, and now it would be difficult to receive casualty compensation for the Sunagakure battlefield, which made him feel betrayed.
Shun sneered, "Even better, who was the supreme commander of the Sunagakure battlefield? It was Orochimaru, the Third Hokage's student. The supreme commander of the Kumogakure battlefield was his grand-student, Minato, and these two battlefields didn't achieve any good results."
He deliberately didn't finish, but everyone present understood his hint. The other battlefields were led by the Uchiha.
A hint of admiration flashed in Fugaku's eyes, but he quickly regained his authoritative demeanor.
"Enough, Shun. Your analysis is very insightful. All units will withdraw according to plan and must reach Uzushiogakure before dawn tomorrow. Dismissed now!"
The Jonin left the meeting room one after another, but Shun was asked to stay behind.
At this point, Fugaku's expression had softened considerably. "What you said just now was very good. It seems this Fourth Hokage position belongs to no one but me."