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On the vast ocean, two ships representing the opposing sides maintained a distance that was neither too close nor too far, just as they had every day for the past month. However, the atmosphere in the air was distinctly different from the monotonous and tense standoff of previous days.
On the representative ship of Sunagakure, Baki looked at the encrypted scroll, freshly delivered by a ninja hawk from the Village, which recorded the astonishing battle results from Bijiao Island. Even though he already knew the outcome, his chest still rose and fell slightly as he reviewed it again, and an indescribable sense of excitement and pride welled up within him. He carefully put away the scroll, casting his gaze toward the Kirigakure ship across the water. His eyes no longer held the anxiety and helplessness from before, replaced instead by a calm composure born from confidence in absolute strength.
Sure enough, not long after, the Kirigakure ship once again raised the signal flag requesting a meeting. This time, Baki could even detect a subtle hint of panic and submission in the flag bearer's slightly stiff movements.
The meeting was held again on the temporary platform between the two ships. The sea breeze was still salty and damp, but the balance of power had completely shifted.
The arrogance and sarcasm on the face of the Kirigakure Elder representative had vanished without a trace, replaced by a stiff expression that, despite his best efforts to hide it, still revealed awkwardness and pallor. He even skipped the opening remarks, cleared his throat, and immediately cut to the chase. His voice was no longer that condescending tone from before, but instead carried a hint of urgency:
"Baki Jonin, after careful and sincere re-consultation by our Village's high command... we believe that the misunderstandings and tensions previously caused by poor communication between our two sides have indeed... uh... negatively affected the relationship between our nations."
He struggled with his words, each one seemingly burning his tongue: "Especially recently, in the eastern coastal area of the Land of Wind, due to some... unnecessary friction and escalating misunderstandings, it has indeed... uh... caused certain troubles and... losses for your Village."
Baki watched him expressionlessly, sneering inwardly. What a "misunderstanding," what "friction," what "troubles"! He was trying to gloss over a premeditated invasion and a devastating counter-attack pushed onto their homeland with such understatement.
The Kirigakure representative observed Baki's expression. Seeing no reaction, he grew even more nervous and had to grit his teeth and continue, speeding up his speech slightly: "To demonstrate the sincerity of our Hidden Mist Village's desire for peace, and to compensate your Village for the losses incurred during this... unfortunate incident, our Village is willing... willing to provide Sunagakure with a one-time resource compensation to... comfort the casualties and rebuild... hmm... the affected facilities."
He deliberately avoided all sensitive vocabulary such as "indemnity," "war," and "apology," attempting to redefine the nature of the conflict using terms like "compensation," "friction," and "incident."
Normally, Baki would have been helpless against the shameless denial of the Kirigakure, left only with anger. As the user said, whether facing Konoha or other major nations, the Kirigakure, relying on the natural barrier of the sea and an environment difficult to attack, had always been masters of evasion. Even if others won a battle, it was difficult to truly cross the sea to punish them, and conflicts often ended without resolution.
But this time, it was completely different!
Baki felt completely confident. He lightly tapped the table, his voice calm yet carrying undeniable authority: "Esteemed Elder, I believe you have gotten a few points wrong."
"First, it was not 'friction,' but your Village's premeditated military attack on Sunagakure's eastern coastal defenses."
"Second, it was not 'escalating misunderstandings,' but your Village's Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist leading an invasion, which was bravely repelled by Sunagakure."
"Third, it was not an 'unfortunate incident,' but your Village's crucial military base, Bijiao Island, which received a deserved... counter-attack due to continuous provocation."
Every word was like a slap across the Kirigakure representative's face. Especially the last two terms, "Bijiao Island" and "counter-attack," which he emphasized heavily.
The Kirigakure representative's face instantly turned pale, his lips trembling, yet he couldn't utter a single word of rebuttal. The other side held ironclad evidence and battle results; any denial was powerless in the face of facts. More importantly, the opposing side now possessed the terrifying capability to cross the sea at any moment and strike vital targets! This was the most crucial factor!
Sunagakure was no longer the landlocked nation they could manipulate at will, or one they couldn't effectively retaliate against even after a victory. That giant puppet named "Gundam" had completely changed the rules of the game.
Baki watched his shifting expression, knowing the time was right. He slowly took out the scroll containing the pre-drafted terms and pushed it across: "These are the terms based on the facts. Please review them. If there are no questions, you may sign. If there are still 'misunderstandings'..." He paused, his tone flat yet containing a massive threat, "our Sunagakure 'Gundam' wouldn't mind sailing out again to 'clarify' them."
The Kirigakure representative took the scroll with trembling hands. Upon unfolding it, he saw that the terms were far more specific and stringent than those previously proposed by Sunagakure, and the amount and types of resources for compensation (though the text likely still used the word "compensation") had increased significantly. Yet, he knew this was the result of the other side being considerate enough to "settle the matter quickly" and not demand even more excessive terms.
He felt as if he could see the cold gaze of the silver-blue giant behind the scroll, along with the helpless and weary instructions from the Mizukage and Elder Genshi.
Struggle, humiliation, resentment... all these emotions finally culminated in a powerless sigh. What more could he say? What dared he say?
"...Fine..." He squeezed the word out through gritted teeth, as if expending all his strength. "The terms... we... accept."
He picked up the pen, his hand still trembling, and signed his name on the treaty, which was destined to bring great loss and humiliation to the Kirigakure. He then affixed the exclusive seal of the Kirigakure Negotiating Representative.
The moment the seal was affixed, a huge weight finally lifted from Baki's heart. He knew that this long, tumultuous negotiation had finally concluded with Sunagakure's complete victory!
The Kirigakure, the ninja Village notorious for its evasiveness and stubbornness, had finally, for the first time, truly and completely conceded in the face of Sunagakure's absolute military power—a power capable of threatening their homeland! They had no choice but to hold their noses and swallow the bitter fruit they themselves had sown.
When the news returned to Hidden Sand Village, it would surely spark massive celebrations. This was not just a diplomatic victory, but a strategic one, marking the formal acquisition by Hidden Sand Village of a strategic deterrent force capable of intimidating surrounding major nations!
The sea breeze blew. Baki put away the weighty treaty, gazing at the Kirigakure ship across the water, which seemed to have instantly lost all its morale. His eyes were sharp and distant.
Peace has always been fought for. And Sunagakure had finally, in its own way, fought for a precious and genuine peace.
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