Konoha, year 36 of the Third Great Ninja War, October.
Following Sand Village's surrender to Konoha, news from the Land of Rain shook the ninja world.
Hanzo of the Salamander, the "Demigod" who instigated the three-village war, issued a declaration on behalf of Amegakure:
In this war fought for their respective ideals, Hanzo of the Salamander, leader of Amegakure, was defeated on the front lines by the three disciples of Konoha's Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. Amegakure declares its surrender to Konoha.
Concurrently, Hanzo praised the strength of the three young ninjas who defeated him and, in the name of the Demigod, bestowed upon Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya the title "Sannin of Konoha."
Finally, Hanzo, representing Amegakure, announced:
Amegakure, as the defeated party, forms an alliance with Konohagakure as a subordinate force and, in the name of samurai, pledges eternal loyalty.
This declaration caused a stir throughout the ninja world.
No one had expected the Demigod, who had single-handedly sustained the Land of Rain amidst the Great Nations with his formidable power, to make such a statement that would tarnish his reputation.
The names of Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya, the young generation of ninjas who had collectively defeated the Demigod, spread across the ninja world with this declaration, making them incredibly famous.
For a time, the Four Great Ninja Villages, while either marveling at Hanzo's courage or mocking his decline to the point of being defeated by juniors, elevated their vigilance towards Konoha to an unprecedented level.
They closely observed Konoha's future movements and vigorously trained a new generation of outstanding ninjas, hoping to contend with Konoha's young generation in the future.
...
"The grandeur of the leading Great Ninja Village is indeed incomparable to Amegakure!"
Hanzo, who accompanied Orochimaru to Konoha to sign the alliance agreement, could not help but sigh with emotion as he gazed at the towering gate of Konoha and the Konoha villagers lining the path to welcome the returning troops.
Unlike the villagers of Amegakure who were perpetually worried about their livelihoods, every Konoha villager Hanzo saw wore an expression of genuine excitement and pride.
This was something unimaginable in Amegakure, or even the entire Land of Rain.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, standing at the forefront of the Konoha villagers, approached the returning troops with a gratified smile and nodded at Orochimaru and Tsunade.
Although he was puzzled as to why that brat Jiraiya was not present, it was clearly not the time to inquire.
"I did not expect Lord Demigod to personally grace Konoha with his presence. You have had a long journey!"
"Konoha is deeply honored to form an alliance with your Amegakure, Lord Demigod!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi, with a warm smile, extended his right hand towards Hanzo.
Hanzo stared into Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes and saw only magnanimity and understanding, with no hint of any negative emotions.
After a moment's hesitation, Hanzo slowly shook his head.
"Due to my salamander nature, it is inconvenient to shake hands with Lord Hokage. My apologies..."
With no weapon in hand, Hanzo bowed slightly and offered Hiruzen Sarutobi a simple samurai salute, his voice low as he said,
"Lord Hokage, you overstate the matter of the two villages forming an alliance!"
"Hanzo's actions are merely the choice of a defeated general struggling to survive!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi stroked his beard and shook his head, his eyes filled with emotion.
"Lord Demigod, you are too humble!"
"You have paid dearly for peace between our nations. Such a magnanimous spirit, Hiruzen Sarutobi admits his inferiority!"
"Please!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi returned a slight bow and, with a gesture of his hand, walked shoulder to shoulder with Hanzo into the gates of Konoha.
As the Hokage left, the Konoha villagers lining the road surged towards the victorious returning ninja team. Some searched for loved ones, others reconnected with old friends, creating a scene of bustling festivity.
Where there is joy, there is also sorrow.
While those who saw their loved ones safely returned rejoiced, villagers who could not find familiar faces could only withdraw from the lively crowd and silently nurse the pain of their losses.
War, after all, always involves casualties.
As Konoha ninjas, they were prepared for death from the moment they stepped onto the battlefield. To have their names etched on the memorial stone after death was the greatest recognition of the lives they sacrificed for Konoha.
As for the pain of their loved ones, only time could slowly heal it.
The older generation of ninjas sacrificed themselves to protect the village, and their lives bought a peaceful environment for the children to grow up without having to step onto the battlefield.
Was this not the best interpretation of Konoha's Will of Fire?
...
Nadeshiko Mao craned her neck amongst the crowd, searching in vain for Jiraiya. A pang of unease struck her, and she quickly pushed through the crowd to Orochimaru and Tsunade's side.
"Lord Orochimaru, where is Jiraiya-kun?"
"Why did he not return?"
Orochimaru looked at Nadeshiko Mao, whose eyes held a hint of panic, and chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"Don't worry, Jiraiya is perfectly fine!"
"That fellow is just delayed by some matters and has no intention of returning for the time being."
"If Mao misses him that much, once I explain the situation to Teacher Hiruzen, I'll find a way to let you go to him."
Nadeshiko Mao's face turned bright red at Orochimaru's words, and she playfully chided him before quickly and lightly running back.
...
In the long-unopened meeting room of the Land of Fire.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at one end of the long table, with advisors Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane seated on either side. Hanzo sat opposite Hiruzen Sarutobi, while Orochimaru and Tsunade, who was merely there to fill a seat, were positioned below Hanzo.
Hanzo was quite satisfied with Hiruzen Sarutobi's arrangement.
It demonstrated the importance Konoha placed on the alliance between the two villages and also avoided the embarrassment of Hanzo of the Salamander being under scrutiny.
Holding the signing ceremony for the alliance agreement only in the presence of key high-ranking officials from both sides was the best possible scenario for Amegakure as the defeated party.
"Since Lord Demigod has agreed to the alliance terms proposed by Orochimaru, I, as Konoha's Third Hokage, naturally must show Konoha's sincerity."
"Upon receiving Lord Demigod's wishes, I have tentatively drafted some terms for the alliance agreement."
"Lord Demigod, please listen carefully. If there are any unreasonable points or differing opinions, please do not hesitate to raise them."
"Konoha will make adjustments as appropriate until both parties are satisfied!"
"What do you say?"
After everyone was seated, Hiruzen Sarutobi cut to the chase without delay.
Hanzo nodded gently.
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled slightly and signaled to Homura Mitokado beside him.
Homura Mitokado nodded in understanding, adjusted his glasses, cast an unnoticeable glance at Orochimaru, and then, with a serious expression, began to read the alliance agreement to Hanzo.
"The terms of the alliance agreement between Konoha and Amegakure are as follows:"
"Konoha waives all war reparations from Amegakure as the defeated party and promises not to demand any assets from Amegakure for any reason, including but not limited to money, ninjutsu, and supplies."
Hanzo nodded. This was one of the initial conditions Orochimaru had agreed to.
"From the date of signing the alliance agreement, Amegakure becomes a subordinate force of Konoha. Within the premise of not affecting each village's internal politics, Amegakure shall accept military restrictions and mobilization from Konoha."
"In exchange, Konoha shall provide support to Amegakure in areas such as intelligence, missions, medical care, education, commerce, economy, and military deployment."
Hanzo frowned, slightly disagreeing with the military restriction clause. However, upon hearing the subsequent conditions, Hanzo sighed inwardly and nodded in assent.
As Orochimaru had said, Hanzo indeed would not object to these conditions proposed by Konoha.
"Destroying a ninja village does not necessarily require force!"
"Restricting military power is only a secondary objective. Although Hanzo may have some reservations, faced with the subsequent temptations that will develop Amegakure, he will inevitably agree to Konoha's military control."
"However, my true goal is merely to have Hanzo accept Konoha's educational and economic assistance."
"The means to assimilate a force are often found in the most easily overlooked areas of education and economic aid."
"From the date of signing the agreement, ninjas from both sides must lay down their hatred and must not provoke conflict between the two villages for any reason."
"As long as Hanzo focuses his attention on the most obvious aspect of military matters and agrees to these conditions, Amegakure will be in Konoha's grasp."
These were the exact words Orochimaru had written in his letter to Hiruzen Sarutobi. Such a method of undermining the very foundation of a ninja village was unlike anything a young ninja should possess.
Homura Mitokado could only sigh, remarking that Hiruzen Sarutobi's methods of educating his disciples were indeed beyond his own comprehension.
Seeing that Hanzo did not object, Homura Mitokado pushed up his glasses, a hint of pity flashing in his eyes, and continued reading.
"From the date of signing the alliance agreement between the two parties, ninjas from both sides must lay down their hatred and must not provoke contradictions between the ninjas of the two villages for any reason. If any ninja violates this agreement, the leaders of both Konoha and Amegakure must jointly deliberate and issue the final ruling."
"Above!"
Homura Mitokado put down the document and looked at Hanzo with a serious expression.
"Lord Demigod, are there any points you wish to add?"
Hanzo pondered for a moment and then gently shook his head.
"Lord Hokage's considerations are quite comprehensive. Amegakure has no objections to these terms."
"However..."
"I would like to know, what exactly is the nature of the military power control mentioned in the treaty?"
"Is it to limit the number of Amegakure ninjas, or..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled, stroking his short beard, and shook his head.
"Lord Demigod, you have misunderstood this point!"
"The so-called military control is merely a personal indulgence of mine as a teacher."
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, his expression one of helplessness.
"My unworthy disciple sent a message back through Orochimaru, saying that he has taken in three disciples in your country and wishes to remain there to teach them diligently."
"I had no choice but to find an excuse to send his future wife to your country."
"Lord Demigod, please rest assured, the number of personnel will not be too large. And most of them are elite ninjas skilled in taijutsu and kenjutsu."
"On one hand, it will alleviate my disciple's longing, and on the other hand, they can spar with your village's sword masters, and both sides can progress together."
"What does Lord Demigod think?"
Upon hearing this, Hanzo was immediately relieved.
"In that case, I have no further concerns!"