Fumori Masaki was busy drafting various plans for the establishment of an alliance and the reconstruction of allied nations at the camp.
The Konoha Ninja Village, contributing both financially and materially, naturally wouldn't do so without reward.
Aside from political influence, there was also economic gain.
The Land of Rain, the Land of Rivers, and the Land of Grass all possessed unique geographical conditions and resources, providing ample opportunities for merchants to thrive.
Of course, the largest share belonged to the Land of Wind.
Sunagakure Ninja Village had unique puppet techniques.
Although Konoha Ninja Village also conducted research in related fields, there were certainly aspects of their puppets that could be learned from.
If some of these techniques could be introduced, it would undoubtedly aid in the ongoing research of flying combat ninja tools.
After the Southern Alliance was established, communication between allied nations would naturally begin.
Fumori Masaki didn't mind some people from those ninja villages coming to his own village to study, just as Hanzo and others had sent exchange students to Konoha Ninja Village in the past.
Konoha could also send people to other ninja villages to study.
As long as it wasn't a highly classified secret, allowing people from other ninja villages to learn more about Konoha Ninja Village's system and ideological culture would help cultivate pro-Konoha forces within the allied nations.
As long as the nations didn't turn against each other, these people would be friends, trustworthy individuals.
And Fumori Masaki wouldn't be so foolish as to turn against the allied nations.
Konoha Ninja Village currently held such a strong advantage, and it needed to be fully utilized.
Aside from the time spent drafting, Fumori Masaki was also awaiting the armistice agreement between Kumogakure Ninja Village and Iwagakure Ninja Village.
As he expected, Kumogakure Ninja Village had no intention of letting the Yanyu CEO off so easily.
Although a ceasefire was inevitable, the Third Raikage intended to extract as many benefits as possible, which would greatly assist Kumogakure Ninja Village in unifying the northern forces in the future.
If the Third Raikage was truly a clever man, he should have considered the factors within the Ninja World Alliance that Fumori Masaki had previously spread.
If he didn't plan to establish a corresponding Northern Alliance, then Fumori Masaki believed the time for unifying the ninja world wouldn't be far off.
Northern forces that couldn't unite would be unable to defeat the Southern Alliance.
And frankly, Fumori Masaki believed the northern forces would certainly not be as united as his own—his side was centered around a powerful force, but what about the other side?
The Land of Earth wasn't that weak.
Even if an alliance was established, infighting would surely occur.
He didn't believe Onoki would willingly allow Kumogakure Ninja Village to lead the Northern Alliance.
After the Land of Wind battle completely concluded, the Anbu ninja within it also withdrew one after another.
Hyuga Kai and others returned to the Land of Grass to report their work to Fumori Masaki and continued to carry out their missions.
Hattori Hanzo, Tsunade, and Hatake Sakumo, these three fellow disciples, met again after many years, and there was much they wanted to say to each other.
Considering this, Fumori Masaki hadn't given Hattori Hanzo any overly demanding tasks these days, primarily entrusting him with liaison work with Kumogakure Ninja Village.
One day, Hattori Hanzo brought back news that the armistice agreement between Kumogakure Ninja Village and Iwagakure Ninja Village had been initially settled and was expected to be signed soon.
"Do you know the specific contents?" Fumori Masaki asked.
"Yes." Hattori Hanzo nodded and then stated Kumogakure Ninja Village's armistice conditions.
These were meant to be made public anyway, so the Kumogakure ninja he was in contact with had no intention of hiding anything and told him.
Of course, it might also be because the Kumogakure ninja in contact with Hattori Hanzo were those who participated in the joint Chunin Exams back then, and because of Fumori Masaki's good relationship with Sora, there might have been other reasons—such as it being public knowledge sooner or later—so they told him.
Fumori Masaki listened quietly.
Aside from necessary reparations and the ransom of prisoners, the Land of Earth had no choice but to cede some land to the Land of Lightning, supposedly to compensate some smaller nations.
Upon hearing this, Fumori Masaki couldn't help but sigh.
It seemed the Third Raikage had already begun to act; this was clearly an attempt to win over people's hearts.
"The Third Raikage is still quite clever." Fumori Masaki nodded slightly.
The other party knew that the Land of Lightning's reputation was not as good as Konoha's, so they had to offer more substantial benefits to win over people's hearts.
The Northern Alliance couldn't be formed by just the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning; they also needed to bring in some smaller nations.
"Teacher, what is Kumogakure Ninja Village planning?" Hattori Hanzo wasn't particularly sensitive to political matters, but as Fumori Masaki's student, he still knew a few things and couldn't help but ask.
"In the future, it might be a battle between our alliance and the Third Raikage's alliance.
Alas, I hope we can maintain a relatively stable situation and decide the victor peacefully." Fumori Masaki sighed softly, though he didn't have much confidence in his heart.
At this time, there were no nuclear weapons, so it was impossible for either side to be completely annihilated.
"I believe that under your leadership, Teacher, the village will surely achieve ultimate victory." Hattori Hanzo said sincerely.
Since the First Hokage pacified the chaotic world and established the Five Great Nations, the balance among them had always been maintained.
However, during the Second Shinobi World War, under Fumori Masaki's leadership, Konoha Ninja Village successfully suppressed the Land of Wind, one of the Five Great Nations, transforming it into a de facto collaborator.
In the current situation, putting aside the superficial title of a great nation, the difference between it and a vassal of the Land of Fire was not particularly significant.
To suppress one of the Five Great Nations to this extent demonstrated Fumori Masaki's skill.
To some extent, this achievement surpassed that of the previous two Hokage, who had not managed to break the Five Great Nations'pattern.
Because of this war, Fumori Masaki's prestige was growing daily.
This was also why Fumori Masaki worried about whether he could retire properly.
Hiruzen Sarutobi at least had the reason of the Third Shinobi World War's defeat to step down, but what reason did he have?
Term limits?
This novel concept wouldn't be recognized by everyone.
Before it took root, lifetime tenure was the tradition.
Konoha ninja had no reason to let a Hokage with no major faults and immense achievements simply resign.
It wasn't just Hattori Hanzo who hoped to continue under Fumori Masaki's leadership; in fact, this was the sentiment of the vast majority of Konoha ninja.
Fumori Masaki shook his head, momentarily dismissing the matter, and said, "Alright, since Kumogakure Ninja Village and Iwagakure Ninja Village are about to sign the treaty, it's time for me to return.
The troops can also gradually withdraw."
Fumori Masaki had remained here because he was concerned about further unforeseen circumstances between Kumogakure Ninja Village and Iwagakure Ninja Village.
His presence allowed for timely intervention.
Now that the treaty was about to be signed, it was time for him to leave.
Certain matters needed to be discussed back in the village, such as the specific alliance terms and cooperation with merchants; these required initial discussions in the village.
"Send these drafts to the other ninja villages, make the appropriate number of copies, and let them conduct their internal discussions first." Fumori Masaki silently gazed at the drafts before him, then pushed them towards Hattori Hanzo.
Hattori Hanzo merely glanced at them, then bowed slightly, acknowledged, organized the drafts, and bid farewell to Fumori Masaki before leaving.
Fumori Masaki walked to the entrance of the tent, looking at the boundless blue sky, pure as a gem, which couldn't help but lift his spirits.
"After this war victory, how long will peace last?" he thought.
Soon, the news of the impending withdrawal spread to every camp of the Konoha ninja forces.
Although many Konoha ninja had already mentally prepared themselves for the situation, when they truly heard the news, many couldn't help but weep, both with joy and sadness.
They were happy that they could finally return to the village alive, but sad because many comrades they knew had died in this war.
Their emotions were ineffable.
According to the armistice agreement, after the mutual ransom of prisoners was completed, the main forces of each ninja village would leave foreign territory.
Konoha Ninja Village, due to its own reasons, could retain some personnel, primarily responsible for liaison with other national ninja villages and the progress of reconstruction work.
Because these things couldn't be finished overnight, Fumori Masaki still needed to discuss them with the people in the village.
After the prisoner ransom concluded, Fumori Masaki, seeing that Iwagakure Ninja Village and Kumogakure Ninja Village had successively withdrawn their troops, announced the withdrawal, leaving only the necessary personnel.
The Konoha ninja forces on the western front, filled with a mix of joy and sadness, left foreign lands and returned to the long-departed Land of Fire, and then to their hometown—Konoha Ninja Village.
During Fumori Masaki's absence from the village, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, who temporarily served as village leaders, came forward to welcome the victorious army.
They both understood that the end of the war did not mean their workload would decrease.
Post-war political propaganda, compensation for the fallen, assignment of positions to the meritorious, awarding of honors, and so on—each of these required careful consideration.
Fumori Masaki, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado first went to the Hokage's Office for an initial discussion to decide on the upcoming tasks.
Then, Fumori Masaki stayed in the office to review the work reports of the two during his absence from the village, working late into the night before finally returning home.
When he returned home, Fumori Masaki expected his family to be asleep, but to his surprise, shortly after he entered, he saw Satomi emerge from behind the door, leaning slightly against the wall, staring at him.
"You just got back and you're already working so late.
That's too much.
You must have had a hard time on the front lines, why don't you rest first?" Satomi complained slightly.
"I can't help it, you know, my stamina isn't bad." Fumori Masaki shrugged slightly.
Fumori Masaki's Sage Mode was a constant state, unlike others who needed to enter Sage Mode.
On Fumori Masaki's body, it seemed there was no normal chakra; as soon as he gathered chakra, it would inevitably be Senjutsu Chakra, and the benefits brought by Senjutsu Chakra were always present.
"Well, that's true, I've experienced it firsthand." Satomi pouted slightly, looking towards the dining room.
"I was hoping you'd come back earlier for dinner, but everything's cold now.
By the way, you haven't eaten yet, have you?"
"Ah, I really haven't." Fumori Masaki indeed hadn't eaten.
Because of his Sage Mode, he wasn't particularly hungry, but upon hearing Satomi's words, he felt a slight pang of hunger.
"How about it, should I warm it up for you?" Satomi walked a few steps, then turned back to look at Fumori Masaki.
"That would be wonderful." Fumori Masaki smiled and stood up.
Satomi also smiled, then suddenly turned back after just turning around, and said to Fumori Masaki, "Welcome back, Fumori Masaki, you've worked hard."
"Yes, I'm back." Fumori Masaki said.
#
Soon after Fumori Masaki returned to the village, Uchiha Kagami also returned with his troops.
Since they weren't on the same route, they didn't meet, and Uchiha Kagami's journey even took a few days longer.
However, he had finally returned to the village.
Seeing the familiar appearance of the village from his memories, a smile appeared on Uchiha Kagami's face.
Entering the village, he first went to his clan to meet his wife.
As the clan matriarch, Uchiha Maki had been responsible for dealing with Uchiha Setsuna and other members of the rogue group during this time.
She wasn't a particularly ruthless person, but she wouldn't show mercy to those who harmed her husband and potentially endangered her family.
Now, the Kagami faction had gained an absolute advantage within the clan.
The hawkish members, who had been difficult to deal with for various reasons, had almost all been eliminated.
The reason for saying "almost" was simply because it was impossible to determine if there were any stragglers; in reality, there were certainly no stragglers.
Even if there were, after witnessing such an internal purge, they would likely never harbor any dissenting thoughts again.
Uchiha Maki had been waiting for her husband's return for a long time.
The moment she saw Uchiha Kagami, she immediately threw herself into his arms.
After a brief moment of joy, an indescribable feeling arose in her heart as she felt his empty sleeve.
As a kunoichi, she naturally understood what losing an arm meant.
Although there was a method of single-handed hand seals, and with Uchiha Kagami's talent, he should be able to do it, the impact of losing an arm was still very real and could not be easily ignored.
"It's alright, Fumori Masaki has already said that the Medical Department now has a method for regenerating arms.
If treated properly, the arm should be able to regrow." Uchiha Kagami gently stroked Maki's hair, saying softly.
"Really?"
"Since Fumori Masaki said so, it must be true.
Don't you believe what he says?"
"Of course I believe him.
Ever since we met, Fumori Masaki has never lied to us." Uchiha Maki said.
Just as Fumori Masaki had promised, the Uchiha clan had indeed embarked on a different path from the past, and they were becoming increasingly integrated into the village's atmosphere.
Besides Uchiha Kagami, Fumori Masaki had also offered many suggestions in this regard.
"Isn't that right?
Alright, I need to go report my work to Fumori Masaki and ask when the arm regeneration can be put on the agenda." Uchiha Kagami said.
"Okay, go quickly.
I'll prepare hot dishes for you when you get back." Uchiha Maki nodded.
Uchiha Kagami smiled and patted Maki's shoulder, then went into the room to see his young son, and then, amidst the respectful farewells of the other members, headed to the Hokage's Office.