"I said close to Kage-level, half-step Kage-level, understand? It wasn't easy for a mere Chunin like me to defeat such a powerful enemy. I almost got killed by those puppets."
Looking at the exaggerated expression on Hayato Ren's face, Tsunade simply smiled and turned away.
Tsunade had been extremely worried about Hayato Ren's safety, but seeing him now with so much energy to talk nonsense put her mind at ease.
Two days later, Chiyo, the leader from the Sand Ninja side, suddenly proposed peace talks.
Although no one knew what Chiyo was really plotting, after discussion, the Leaf side agreed to the peace talks.
After all, besides the conflict with the Sand Ninja, the Leaf was also locked in a difficult battle with the Stone Ninja in the Rain Country. If they could quickly end the fight with the Sand Ninja, it would be quite beneficial.
Soon, both sides agreed on the location and time for the peace talks.
The Leaf side was represented primarily by Tsunade, Jiraiya, and White Fang for the negotiations with the Sand Ninja.
The Sand Ninja side was represented by Chiyo, Ebizo, and Bunpuku.
Soon, the day of the negotiations arrived, and both sides began their meeting in a temporarily built small wooden cabin.
Chiyo was the first to speak:
"Hand over my son and daughter-in-law, and in exchange, I can return your Leaf spies to you."
Hearing Chiyo's words, Tsunade and Jiraiya both turned to look at White Fang.
Neither of them had ever heard about capturing anyone from the Sand Ninja side.
If that was the case, only White Fang, who was mysterious and elusive, would know the details of the matter.
At that moment, White Fang suddenly recalled the mission he had carried out earlier with Hayato Ren and Namikaze Minato.
No wonder he had felt that the lead Puppet Master resembled someone—it turned out to be Chiyo.
However, Chiyo's son had long since turned to dust and scattered with the wind.
They couldn't hand over a living person, nor even a body.
So, White Fang responded righteously:
"We have never seen your son or daughter-in-law. I hope you won't bring up irrelevant matters."
Hearing this, Chiyo flew into a rage. She stood up abruptly, slammed the table hard, and said furiously:
"Stop lying! They were ambushed by you, White Fang. Hand them over now, or there's no need to continue these peace talks."
White Fang glanced at Chiyo, his eyes turning cold instantly.
"Since you already know I ambushed them, you should know I don't have the habit of taking prisoners, right? And don't threaten me—the Leaf doesn't look for trouble, but we're not afraid of it either."
Upon hearing this, Chiyo's body slumped back onto the stool. She had already prepared herself mentally for this outcome.
But the pain of a parent outliving their child still pierced her heart sharply.
She didn't even know how she would explain this to her grandson when she returned to the village.
Ebizo quickly moved behind Chiyo, patting her back while asking with concern:
"Sister, what's wrong? Sister, please don't scare me like this..."
This peace negotiation thus ended unhappily. Judging by the venomous looks in Chiyo and Ebizo's eyes as they departed, it appeared that the Leaf and Sand Ninjas would soon face a major battle.
"White Fang, you're as ruthless as ever. You actually killed that old woman Chiyo's son," Tsunade couldn't resist teasing.
White Fang glanced at Tsunade before responding: "It wasn't me who killed Chiyo's son - it was your precious student. And he's far more ruthless than me, not even leaving a body behind."
Upon hearing this, Tsunade's previously cheerful expression instantly darkened.
Returning to camp, Tsunade immediately sought out Hayato Ren. "Pack your belongings quickly - we're returning to the Leaf today."
Seeing Tsunade's urgent manner, Hayato Ren looked puzzled. "What's wrong, teacher? Did you accumulate debts and now your creditors are coming? Why such haste?"
With a loud "thump," Tsunade punched Hayato Ren on the head. "When have I ever owed anyone money? Stop joking around - you killed that old woman Chiyo's son. Once she finds out, she'll never let you go."
Hayato Ren responded indifferently: "She's just an old woman halfway into the grave. What's there to fear? If I slink back now, wouldn't that prove I'm afraid of her?"
Just then, panicked shouts came from outside the tent. "Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
Hayato Ren and Tsunade hurried outside to see a tanuki the size of a mountain approaching steadily.
"That old woman Chiyo has truly gone mad this time, even deploying a Tailed Beast," Tsunade exclaimed.
Indeed, the giant tanuki was the Sand Village's One-Tail.
This brings us to the Leaf's great First Hokage. After capturing all nine Tailed Beasts, this remarkable leader kept only the strongest Nine-Tails for the Leaf, gifting the other eight to other villages. One has to admit this was a genius idea - had the Leaf possessed all nine Jinchuriki, what village would dare provoke a Shinobi World War?
Suddenly, a giant toad appeared before One-Tail - Jiraiya's Summoning Beast, Gamabunta.
"Hmph, I'm not in the mood for toad today. Step aside," One-Tail said coldly.
"If Nine-Tails were here I might retreat, but you, the weakest One-Tail, dare boast like this?" Gamabunta's words immediately struck One-Tail's sore spot.
One-Tail hated nothing more than others judging Tailed Beasts' strength by their tail count, as this made it the "weakest." Though Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails were indeed the strongest two, One-Tail wasn't actually the weakest.
One-Tail opened its mouth wide, continuously absorbing surrounding Chakra.
Witnessing this, the previously imposing Gamabunta suddenly whispered:
"Jiraiya, we should run. The One-Tail seems to be preparing a Tailed Beast Bomb. I have no confidence in blocking this move."
"Don't be ridiculous. If we leave, what about the others? As a gallant hero, abandoning comrades is not an option."
Jiraiya responded with complete seriousness, his face devoid of its usual frivolous expression.