Nara Shikaku enjoyed the performance.
The Daimyo of Wind seemed so dissatisfied with the Hidden Sand that he was no longer willing to discuss matters in private, choosing instead to open fire in front of outsiders. The Land of Wind was already impoverished; the sinking of over twenty ships at Shapo Port and the unconditional support for a war that yielded nothing had left the Daimyo utterly disillusioned.
Shikaku continued outlining the ceasefire conditions:
"Third, the Hidden Sand shall pay 200 million Ryo in reparations to the Hidden Leaf, and the Land of Wind shall pay 180 million Ryo to the Land of Rivers. My village has sacrificed much in this war; as the defeated party, the Sand must provide reparations to be used as death benefits for our ninja. Furthermore, the western region of the Land of Rivers has been nearly devastated by the war and must be compensated."
Ebizo naturally refused such astronomical figures, and the two sides engaged in a fierce argument over the compensation. Shikaku remained remarkably calm, refusing to budge an inch. After a stalemate lasting over twenty minutes, Shikaku made a small concession: 190 million Ryo for the Leaf and 170 million Ryo for the Land of Rivers. The parties reached an agreement.
Ebizo said:
"Your conditions are finished. Now, we have our own demands. You must return the bodies of Camel Thorn and the other Sand ninja immediately so they may be sent back to the Hidden Sand for burial."
Shikaku replied, "That is only natural. The body of the Jonin Camel Thorn, along with the puppet fragments, can all be returned to you."
Ebizo choked on his words, once again infuriated by Shikaku. By mentioning the puppet fragments, Shikaku was subtly implying that the Sand's puppetry was trash and that the Leaf had no need to keep even a scrap. Ebizo had intended to fight for the puppets, as Camel Thorn's creations were valuable even as wreckage. He hadn't expected Shikaku to guess his intent and essentially tell them to take their garbage back as quickly as possible.
Subsequently, the two sides discussed procedures for transnational missions, taxes, and other matters. The meeting concluded. Adjutants finalized the peace treaty, and it was officially signed by the Land of Wind, the Hidden Leaf, and the Hidden Sand.
Ebizo stared at the five Leaf representatives, lingering on each for several seconds before finally speaking:
"The Leaf truly overflows with talent. This war has birthed heroes like the White Fang, Akimichi Yamashiro, and Copper Fox. Nara Shikaku, your command remains as cunning as ever. My Hidden Sand admits defeat. However, the Hidden Mist has declared war on you; now, I can only hope they strike your village with a heavy blow."
Ebizo looked toward Copper Fox, the man who had killed his nephew's wife. What was most frustrating was that even if he struck now, he couldn't kill him. Copper Fox's defensive capabilities had been proven on the battlefield; the intelligence gathered suggested that ordinary means simply couldn't break his guard.
"The Mist striking us?" Shikaku said. "The war in the Land of Whirlpools is being led by Advisor Danzo and Uchiha Clan Head Murakumo. Your hopes may be in vain."
"Oh?" Ebizo actually smiled—the first time he had done so. "If Danzo and Uchiha Murakumo are the commanders, then the Mist will surely strike you hard. The whole ninja world knows Danzo loathes the Uchiha."
Shikaku paused, feeling that having Advisor Danzo as Commander-in-Chief with an Uchiha as Vice Commander was indeed somewhat problematic. Danzo's greatest grievance was the Uchiha's control over the Leaf Police Force, which meant the Uchiha had the final say in many grassroots village affairs.
Shikaku led his people away from the oasis. The Land of Rivers war, which had lasted over half a year, was officially declared over.
Yagami selected a mission to leave the main force, carrying a copy of the peace treaty to the capital of the Land of Rivers. Standing by the Jishui River outside the capital, listening to the rushing water, he felt a tinge of sorrow. After returning to the village this time, he might rarely visit the capital, and thus rarely see Koi Chisa.
Entering the Castle of the Land of Rivers, Yagami met with the Daimyo. In the great hall, the Daimyo sat in the primary seat, formally receiving the Anbu and carefully reviewing the treaty. The Finance Minister, Oi Chisa, sat to one side, her eyes fixed on the Fox across from her. Delivering the treaty copy was secondary; Fox had come to say goodbye.
Yagami said:
"Lord Daimyo, the war is officially over. For the time being, the Land of Wind and the Hidden Sand are unable to launch another campaign; please rest easy. There is one matter Commander Shikaku specifically wished to remind you of. The Land of Wind intends to send a mission to the capitals of Fire and Rivers. They wish to negotiate the diversion of water from the underground caves of the Jigo Mountains. They plan to create a small tributary on the Jishui within the Land of Rain to create an oasis for themselves while minimizing the impact on the flow here. Unless both Daimyo commission a state-level mission from the village, our Leaf will not interfere. The three nations may resolve this through diplomatic means."
Yagami observed that Shikaku meant the Leaf was unwilling to cross the Land of Rivers to maintain such a long stretch of the Jishui in the Land of Rain. The cost was high and the protection poor. It was better left to the three Daimyo to discuss.
The Daimyo of Rivers nodded. "I understand. I will send an envoy to the Land of Fire to reach a unified opinion as soon as possible."
Yagami added:
"Lord Daimyo, I suggest you establish a flow monitoring system on the Jishui. If the water level drops, you can detect it early and take action. There is already a hydroelectric plant on the river; it cannot be compromised."
The Daimyo turned to his sister. "Finance Minister, follow the suggestion of the Leaf's Copper Fox and establish a water level monitoring system."
The name "Copper Fox" had already reached the ears of the Daimyo. This was the prestige of a ninja; the more Copper Fox appeared in the world, the louder his name would ring.
Chisa said with anticipation in her eyes:
"I hope Mr. Copper Fox can stay in the capital for a few days to help us set up this system. I will immediately commission a designated task at the Leaf's local mission office."
The Leaf maintained mission offices in all major towns to receive requests and relay them to the village.
"I thank the Finance Minister for her trust."
In the office of the Finance Ministry, Yagami wrote a monitoring plan and handed it to Chisa. She passed the scroll to a maid to deliver to the designated officials.
"Until this system is established, Fox, stay here."
She walked to Yagami, took his hand, and led him into her private chambers in the residential wing.
The full moon was like a silver plate. Yagami waited for the moon from Chisa's bed. For seven consecutive days, he admired her intellectual face, her rimless glasses, and the contrast between her shyness and her passion. Who could refuse a "gap-moe" girl in glasses?
Chisa tried to remove the Fox mask, and he did not refuse. She finally saw his handsome face once more.
"Fox, will it be a long time before I see you again?"
"I will try my best to take missions in the Land of Rivers to see you."
Yagami stood at the door of her chamber. Behind him on the large bed, Chisa pulled up the red quilt to cover herself, just as Yagami put his mask back on. The Fox vanished in a Body Flicker, leaving Koi Chisa with a hollow feeling in her heart.
***
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