Ōnoki's concerns were not entirely misplaced, but there was one thing he failed to accurately predict: the Konoha forces stationed in the Land of Wind would not be reinforcing other battlefields for the time being.
During the battle at Mount Kikyo, Konoha suffered heavy losses. At least two thousand five hundred shinobi were confirmed killed in action, with many more sustaining injuries of varying severity.
Without Tsunade's Katsuyu support, that number would likely have been even higher.
It was not without reason that Konoha stood at the top of the Five Great Nations and maintained repeated victories across successive Shinobi World Wars.
Beyond its vast resources, the strength of its shinobi forces was undeniable. Each generation produced individuals capable of standing at the pinnacle of power in their era.
What was even more alarming was the fact that while Tsunade's generation was still in its prime, the next generation had already begun to establish itself on the battlefield.
After the battle of Mount Kikyo concluded, the Konoha forces did not remain in Kikyō Castle. Instead, they pulled back slightly to avoid provoking unnecessary tension with Sunagakure.
After all, any village would feel uneasy with a large hostile force stationed too close to its borders.
Since Konoha had no intention of continuing the war with Sunagakure, a tactical withdrawal was the most reasonable course of action.
On the third day, the Third Kazekage dispatched an envoy.
The purpose was clear without being stated: peace negotiations.
Sunagakure had formally requested peace, and as other villages in the shinobi world had already anticipated, the conflict in this region had effectively come to an end.
After receiving Sunagakure's peace proposal, Konoha withdrew once more, pulling its forces all the way back into the Land of Rivers.
This withdrawal was not demanded by Sunagakure, but instead initiated by Konoha itself.
Even though the army had remained in the Land of Wind for over two years, it was far from an ideal environment for sustaining military operations. Supply transportation alone placed enormous pressure on logistics, making it a serious burden even for Konoha.
With the Third Great Ninja War still ongoing, conserving strength and resources was the most rational decision.
However, most of Sunagakure's fortifications along the front line had already been destroyed. It was clear that even with full effort, reconstruction would take several years.
In other words, if Sunagakure attempted to break the agreement, Konoha would be able to advance again at any time.
What followed was a series of preliminary negotiations between both sides.
Naturally, neither the Hokage nor the Third Kazekage appeared at this stage. Only after the basic terms were finalized would the leaders formally meet.
Konoha Year 38, October.
Konoha and Sunagakure's negotiation teams held seven meetings in quick succession before the peace agreement was finally concluded.
Unlike the agreement with Kirigakure, Konoha had suffered far greater losses at Mount Kikyo. Even the Third Hokage had been deeply angered by the casualties.
As a result, the terms imposed on Sunagakure were significantly harsher than those given to Kirigakure, though still far more lenient than the post Second Great Ninja War treaties.
This outcome allowed Sunagakure to breathe slightly easier.
Overall, the contents of the agreement were largely expected.
Sunagakure was required to submit an official letter of surrender, sign an alliance treaty with Konoha, and complete prisoner exchanges. The remaining clauses focused on war reparations.
Most of these conditions were anticipated by Sunagakure, except for one point that caused prolonged dispute between both sides.
That point was the fate of Shukaku.
Tailed Beasts were self-evidently crucial assets, and for Sunagakure, Shukaku was their ultimate military deterrent. Their primary objective in the negotiations was to ensure its return.
Unfortunately for Sunagakure, their situation had always been unfavorable. In the Second Great Ninja War, they had already been forced to pay a heavy price to recover the Third Kazekage, and now they were once again compelled to negotiate for their Tailed Beast.
However, Konoha had no intention of returning Shukaku so easily.
Just as Ōnoki feared Sunagakure might rebel again, Konoha also viewed them as highly unreliable. Among the Five Great Nations, Sunagakure had a history of initiating conflicts and dragging others into war.
Keeping Shukaku under Konoha's control served as a form of restraint.
Of course, this was only the official justification.
The true reason was simpler. Konoha also required the power of a Tailed Beast.
With both Kumogakure and Iwagakure already deploying two Tailed Beasts each on the battlefield, Konoha needed to balance the situation. However, using Kushina was not an option under any circumstances.
Shukaku, on the other hand, was ideal.
Since it was not Konoha's own asset, there was no hesitation in using it as a disposable weapon.
The Third Hokage also harbored the intention of not allowing Shukaku to return to Sunagakure intact.
In his view, releasing it easily would be letting Sunagakure off too lightly.
The plan was simple: deploy Shukaku to the battlefield and exhaust it through combat. Even if it were destroyed, a Tailed Beast would eventually reform, most likely in the deserts of the Land of Wind.
From Konoha's perspective, this would still satisfy the agreement.
What happened afterward, including how Sunagakure attempted to recapture it or how many losses they would suffer, was not Konoha's concern.
Naturally, Sunagakure strongly opposed this condition. However, Konoha remained firm, refusing to compromise on this point.
It became the central issue of the negotiations. Other terms could be adjusted, but this condition had to be accepted.
After prolonged debate, Sunagakure eventually yielded. They had no real choice given the situation, though they managed to secure one concession.
The Third Hokage guaranteed that Shukaku would be returned to the Land of Wind in an intact state.
Once the main terms were finalized, the final step was a direct meeting between the Hokage and the Kazekage. Only their signatures would give the agreement full legitimacy.
Shortly afterward, both leaders signed the treaty in the Land of Rivers.
With that, the war in the Land of Wind officially came to an end.
By the end of October, Konoha's forces in the Land of Rivers began withdrawing in organized batches.
From commanders like Orochimaru and Tsunade down to ordinary genin, all would receive a short period of rest before being reassigned to other battlefronts.
The surrender of Sunagakure marked a major turning point in the Third Great Ninja War.
With one front resolved, Konoha shifted its overall strategy. Instead of launching immediate large scale offensives against Kumogakure or Iwagakure, it chose a different approach.
The situation had changed. Konoha was now effectively fighting against two major villages simultaneously, yet the balance had become more manageable than in the early phase of the war.
At this stage, a prolonged war of attrition favored the Land of Fire. Konoha prioritized stability while maintaining its shinobi centered military doctrine.
As long as the current balance held, victory in the long term remained achievable.
Rather than pressing its advantage, Konoha began consolidating defensive lines and maintaining equilibrium across all fronts.
The war then entered a relatively stable stalemate phase.