Konoha – In Front of the Village Gates
Sunagakure's envoy, Chiyo, finally arrived at the Hidden Leaf. After the necessary formalities, the group walked through the gates they had dreamed of entering for so long.
In their fantasies, they had stormed through these gates at the head of an invading army. In reality, they entered as diplomats, under the watchful eyes of Konoha escorts.
Chiyo observed the bustling streets of Konoha. Despite the constant clashes between villages, the Leaf remained prosperous. The crowds never thinned, and the laughter and chatter seemed louder and freer than anything back in Sunagakure.
This was exactly what she envied most. Konoha's location was simply too good. If only these lands belonged to Sand…
---
Meanwhile, on the balcony of the Hokage's Office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo stood side by side, watching the gates in the distance. Chiyo and her delegation were just entering the village.
"Hiruzen, Sand is definitely here for the prisoners," Danzo said. "Do not yield. Releasing those shinobi would only create future problems."
"Danzo," Hiruzen replied, ignoring the direct advice, "you've seen the latest reports from Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure, correct?"
Danzo fell silent. He had read the detailed intelligence. He understood exactly what Hiruzen was implying, even if he hated admitting it.
"Fine. At the very least, squeeze as much ransom out of them as possible," Danzo grumbled.
Hiruzen nodded slowly. "Notify the staff. We are too busy today to meet with Sand's envoy. The meeting time will be determined later."
"Yes, sir!" An ANBU operative melted out of the shadows and vanished.
Danzo glanced at the Hokage. "You're deliberately making them wait?"
"Correct," Hiruzen said. "Sand needs those prisoners more than we do—especially with Iwagakure breathing down their necks."
---
On the road to the Hokage Tower, Chiyo was stopped by an ANBU operative. She received a polite message from the Hokage's Office: the Hokage was currently swamped with urgent matters and could not meet with the envoy at this time. They were asked to wait.
Chiyo's lips curled into a mocking smile as she gazed toward the distant Hokage Tower, almost as if she could see Hiruzen and Danzo standing on the balcony.
She said nothing, maintaining perfect composure, and allowed the escorts to lead her group to a prepared guesthouse.
The news of her calm reaction was quickly reported back to the Hokage.
Hiruzen and Danzo exchanged glances. They both knew Chiyo was an old fox from the same generation as themselves. This negotiation was clearly going to be difficult.
---
A full week passed.
Chiyo and her delegation stayed at the guesthouse for seven straight days. She ate well, drank well, and even took leisurely strolls through Konoha's streets. She showed zero urgency, behaving less like an envoy and more like a tourist.
The other Sand shinobi tried to voice their concerns, but Chiyo was both a village elder and the fully authorized representative. She held absolute decision-making power. If she wasn't worried, no one else could force the issue.
In truth, Chiyo had no reason to rush.
From the moment she had been denied a meeting with the front-line commander, to the fresh intelligence she received en route, to the information she gathered during her week in Konoha, one thing had become clear: Konoha's leadership was not eager for continued war.
Unlike the other villages that actively sought expansion, Konoha—and the Land of Fire as a whole—had such an ideal location that they lacked any real drive for conquest.
During the First Great Ninja War, under the Second Hokage, Konoha had been aggressively expansionist, beating every other major village into submission. When the Third Hokage first took power, he had been bold and decisive in order to solidify his position.
But once his seat was secure, Hiruzen's style had grown increasingly cautious and conservative.
Sand had studied the Third Hokage thoroughly over the years.
The latest reports showed that Jiraiya on the front lines still burned with ambition, but the Konoha high command clearly preferred stability. They had no desire to push any village too far.
With that understanding, Chiyo was in no hurry. Those prisoners would only return to reinforce Konoha's lines. Since Konoha didn't want to escalate, whether the captives returned sooner or later made little difference to the overall situation.
Why should she rush and put herself at a disadvantage?
While Chiyo remained perfectly calm, Konoha's leadership was growing anxious. Every other village continued to reinforce their borders, placing immense pressure on the Leaf.
If they could use the prisoner negotiations to reach some form of cooperation with Sand, it would be a huge relief for Konoha's multi-front crisis.
Yet an entire week had passed since Chiyo's arrival, and she had shown zero initiative to begin talks. The Konoha elders could no longer tolerate the delay.
Weren't you the ones who wanted your prisoners back?
We only made you wait one day—why are you acting like this?
---
"Hiruzen, perhaps we should meet with Chiyo," Utatane Koharu suggested, offering the Hokage an easy way out. "We can't keep stalling her forever."
"Yes," Mitokado Homura added. "We've made them wait long enough. It's time to discuss the prisoners."
Danzo watched silently from the side, quietly enjoying the scene. He had been present when Hiruzen first decided to snub the envoy. The more triumphant Hiruzen had been then, the more awkward he looked now.
After a long silence, Hiruzen finally spoke. "Very well. Inform Chiyo that negotiations will begin this afternoon. Koharu, Homura—you two will handle the talks. I will not attend."
Koharu and Homura exchanged a helpless glance. They had not expected the unpleasant task to fall on them. But when the Hokage gave an order, there was no refusing it.
---
That afternoon, a tense negotiation began: Konoha's two senior advisors versus Sunagakure's Chiyo.
The large meeting room featured two rows of facing tables.
On the left sat Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and two assistants.
On the right sat Chiyo and her three Sand companions.
"Elder Chiyo," Homura cleared his throat, getting straight to business, "regarding your captured shinobi—including front-line commander Shamon and over one hundred others—Konoha's conditions are as follows."
He had an assistant slide a document across the table.
"First: Sunagakure must pay a total of 200 million ryo in war reparations and prisoner ransom.
Second: For the next three years, Sunagakure will have no involvement in any missions or contracts within the Land of Rivers.
Third: Sunagakure must sign a mutual non-aggression treaty with Konoha and publicly announce it to the entire ninja world.
If these conditions are met, Konoha will immediately release all Sand prisoners."
The terms were brutally harsh—essentially treating Sunagakure as a defeated foe to be bled dry. Even Chiyo, who had come with her own plans, felt her eyebrow twitch. The three Sand shinobi beside her turned red with rage, veins bulging. If this weren't Konoha, they would have attacked on the spot.
Homura wasn't finished. "These are reasonable demands considering Sunagakure's large-scale invasion and the heavy sacrifices Konoha has endured."
Chiyo remained perfectly calm. She glanced at the document without really reading it, her expression unchanged, as if reviewing a grocery list.
After a moment, she looked up, her voice as cold as winter wind.
"Konoha's appetite… is quite large."
Homura blinked. "What does Elder Chiyo mean by that?"
"I mean—" Chiyo's voice turned icy, "every single condition you listed—reparations, ransom, mission rights—I reject them all. Not one will be accepted."
"What?!" The cry came not only from Homura, but from Koharu and both assistants.
"Elder Chiyo, you must take responsibility for your words!" Homura snapped. "You are the one who requested the return of your prisoners. This attitude disrespects Konoha. Are you trying to restart the war?"
Chiyo's lips curved into a faint, mocking smile. She leaned forward, palms planted on the table, and stared straight at Homura.
"Does Konoha truly wish to start another war? Kumogakure is already moving more troops south. Iwagakure is flooding both the Land of Grass and the Land of Rain with soldiers. Kirigakure is strengthening its naval patrols.
What you need most right now is a stable southern front—not to continue bleeding shinobi in the Land of Rivers after already losing hundreds."
The two Konoha elders were struck speechless. They wanted to argue, but they had no rebuttal. Chiyo had struck directly at their greatest fear. If they hadn't been desperate for stability on the southern front, they would never have rushed to open negotiations.
Chiyo had found Konoha's weakness and was using it to apply pressure.
"We could simply execute the prisoners," Homura threatened. "It would save us the food."
"If Konoha kills those Sand shinobi, Sunagakure will declare war immediately," Chiyo countered coolly. "Then we'll see which other villages decide to join in attacking you."
The two sides traded verbal blows, each jabbing at the other's sore spots, neither willing to yield.
Finally, Koharu placed a hand on Homura's arm and signaled for Chiyo to stop.
"Elder Chiyo, this kind of back-and-forth will lead nowhere. Since both sides clearly wish to exchange prisoners, why don't we each make a concession?"
Chiyo sat back down, her aggressive demeanor vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.
After a long silence, she laid out her own terms.
"Sunagakure is willing to sign a three-year non-aggression pact with Konoha along the Fire-Wind border. In addition, we are prepared to form a mutual defense alliance against Iwagakure.
If Iwagakure attacks Konoha, Sunagakure will provide necessary support and distraction. The same applies in reverse—if Sunagakure is attacked by Rock, Konoha must offer equivalent aid."
Koharu and Homura's expressions turned stunned. They had hoped for some form of cooperation, but Chiyo had gone straight for a full defensive alliance.
For Konoha's current situation—facing enemies on multiple fronts—this was an incredibly attractive offer.
Before they could celebrate, Chiyo delivered the catch.
"However, since we would be allies… would it not be reasonable to release all the prisoners?"
Koharu and Homura exchanged a hesitant glance. This had gone far beyond what they were authorized to decide.
"Elder Chiyo, are you certain you have the authority to make such a decision?" Koharu asked carefully.
"Of course," Chiyo replied without hesitation. "I am the fully authorized representative. I can make this decision."
"This matter is too important for us to answer immediately," Koharu said, already gathering her documents. "We will report to the Hokage at once and await his decision. In the meantime, please return to the guesthouse and wait for further notice."
"As expected," Chiyo replied politely, showing none of her earlier hostility.
As the two Konoha elders hurried away, one of the accompanying Sand jonin finally voiced his confusion.
"Elder… are we really going to ally with Konoha?"
Chiyo glanced at him and answered calmly, "Of course we will form an alliance. But whether or not we honor it… that is another matter entirely."
---
Three days earlier – Southern Camp
After nearly a week of nonstop work in the medical tents, Taiichi finally finished his duties.
With Sunagakure forces largely pulled back, Konoha patrols rarely encountered them anymore. Skirmishes had dropped sharply, and the medical camp was no longer overwhelmed.
For the first time in days, Taiichi had free time.
A few days earlier, Tsunade's reply had finally arrived. As one of Konoha's greatest medical and combat shinobi, she understood Taiichi's chakra shortage problem perfectly.
Unlike Taiichi, she had never awakened a kekkei genkai, but as the granddaughter of Hashirama Senju, her natural chakra reserves were far beyond normal. Even so, she had often run into the same issue.
When she learned of his need, she immediately sent him the complete Yin Seal technique and all her personal notes.
After all, Taiichi was one of the few ties she still had to Konoha. She intended to pass on everything she knew.
In the days since, between his busy schedule, he had only managed to study the theory and do some preliminary practice with shadow clones. After all, this was a sealing technique that had to be applied to the user's real body—clones were useless for the final step.
Now, with both time and sufficient theoretical understanding, Taiichi could finally begin the real process.
The Yin Seal was an S-rank fuinjutsu. It required a solid foundation in sealing techniques and extremely precise chakra control.
For most people, that would be incredibly difficult.
For Taiichi, it was almost effortless.
With Chakra Control at Lv11 and Sealing Technique at Lv11, his foundation already surpassed what even Tsunade or her grandmother, Uzumaki Mito, had possessed at the time they learned it.
As a result, he didn't just learn the Yin Seal—he improved it to better suit his own style.
Even though it was an S-rank technique, his first successful activation felt completely natural and smooth.
Hand seals flowed one after another. Chakra gathered in a specific pattern and rushed toward his forehead. As more and more chakra accumulated, a faint diamond-shaped mark began to form.
When Taiichi had poured out over 40,000 of his 50,000+ chakra points, the diamond mark finally stabilized.
A brand-new storage space for chakra had been created inside his body.
Taiichi could clearly feel a steady trickle of chakra being drawn into the seal on his forehead as his reserves naturally recovered.
This was only its passive function.
With a thought, he actively poured a large amount of chakra into the seal. In moments, a shallow layer of liquid-like chakra had already begun to pool at the bottom of the space.
At this rate, completely filling the seal would require at least ten times his current maximum chakra—roughly 500,000 points. And this was only the initial version.
Once his sealing skill and chakra control improved further, Taiichi was confident the storage capacity would grow even larger. One day, it might even surpass the "infinite chakra" of the Nine-Tails.
When the process was complete, Taiichi lowered his hands and gently touched his forehead. The slight raised mark told him everything he needed to know.
A massive chakra vault now rested there, quietly waiting for his command.