Naruto: The Senju Patriarch

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The following morning, Sakumo, Shikaro, Katsuro, Tsunade and 2 other Shinobi came to the meeting place with the armistice, representing Konoha, and the Kazekage, Rasa, Chiyo and Ebizo, and 4 other Shinobi came, representing Suna. Katsuro could detect that tensions were running high in both parties from their chakra, but particularly the Suna Shinobi. Expected really - they probably think we'll demand reparations.

Sakumo and the Kazekage both sat down at the table, but before the White Fang could speak, the Kazekage did.

"Sunagakure will not accept outrageous reparations or demands. We may have lost the last battle, but that doesn't mean we will abandon our people. If you force our hand and try to ruin our village economically, then I can assure you: we will not allow it. Every single Suna Shinobi will continue to fight this war."

Sakumo merely looked at the Kazekage with an expressionless face, staring him down for a while, before replying.

"Honourable words," he began. "But if you don't agree to our demands, then let me assure you if every single Shinobi of the sand continues to fight, then every single Shinobi will die."

"How dare you!" screamed Chiyo, who was only held back by the 2 Shinobi accompanying the party. Ebizo clenched his jaw, staring at Sakumo. Their killing intent is off the charts, Katsuro noted, as did the other Leaf Shinobi, who grew more tense.

"White Fang! I will have your head, I swear it! I will not let your-"

"Silence, Chiyo!" ordered the Kazekage, with barely suppressed rage.

"Is that a threat, White Fang? Because make no mistake - if it is, Konoha will regret it. We will fight to the bitter end, and even if we do not destroy the Leaf, we will cripple it for generations to come."

The tension at the meeting increased further, with neither side wanting to back down and seem weak.

Now, Katsuro spoke up.

"We have more strength in both quantity and quality, and the best medical ninja in the world. You, on the other hand, have lost both the One Tails Jinchuriki, and your arm, Kazekage. You and your army are crippled. If we so choose, we could end you and all your Shinobi here."

Rasa growled at his words, and got into a fighting stance, which was mirrored by the rest of the Shinobi, but unfazed, Katsuro continued.

"Make no mistake, you are only still alive so that the Sand can surrender more easily."

There was no reply. 

"Both you and I know that if the war continues, Suna will be crushed - Konoha may suffer, yes, but your village and its people would be decimated. So, I strongly advise you to read the document first - negotiations are always an option. And if you don't… well, I think the Commander outlined what would happen pretty well, don't you?"

Before any of the outraged Suna Shinobi could respond, Sakumo slid the armistice document over to the Suna leader, and the rest of their Shinobi looked for a reaction from him, ready to fight to the death if necessary. As he read it, his eyes widened.

"No reparations?" he asked, incredulous.

"No reparations." Sakumo echoed, a small smile on his face. "We're aiming for true peace, and bankrupting your village probably wouldn't help with that. That being said, we're not about to hand over the Jinchuriki for free - 600 million is a fair price."

Still speechless, the Kazekage handed the document over to Ebizo to read, and he too looked at the document in surprise. Katsuro could feel the tension lower from the Kazekage - not completely, but a considerable amount nonetheless. For the Sand village, with its devastating poverty such an amount would still cripple them, but there was a stipulation that it could be paid over a period of 15 years making it far more manageable. Even Chiyo, who was seething from Sakumo's presence, was less tense. In fact, all of the Shinobi present, Konoha and Suna, had become less on guard, releasing less chakra after the armistice was revealed.

"400 million," countered the Kazekage, after overcoming his shock. They would have asked for a lower number but already felt the deal was too good to be true. 

Sakumo feigned an annoyed reaction, and with a short back and forth they agreed on 520 million Ryo.

After the armistice was signed, he and the Third Kazekage shook hands, and the parties turned to leave back to their camps.

"Senju Katsuro," a voice called, causing the Patriarch and the rest of the Konoha shinboi to turn back, on guard. The Kazekage was the one who had spoken, and he looked at Katsuro with an unreadable expression, before he turned around and continued onwards to his camp, speaking for the last time.

"I will remember you." 

Katsuro looked at his retreating figure,wondering what the elder man had meant, but shook his head. 

"Don't worry, it's not a threat - it's a compliment," Shikaro told him.

"He's going to remember you, Stormbreaker," Sakumo said in a shaken voice and, with fake worry, widened his eyes. 

Katsuro grinned at his master, and wrapped his arm around Tsunade.

"He'll remember you even more, White Fang," he said, smiling.

"Get off me, fatty!" Tsunade threw Katsuro's arm off her - throwing him in the process too.

"OW! Tsunade!"

As he complained, the rest of the party laughed, and Shikaro thought to himself.

Katsuro, Tsunade, and Lord Sakumo here. Jiraiya and Orochimaru there. The future of Konoha is strong.

The party made their way back to the camp, and when they divulged the news that peace had been secured, the Shinobi celebrated as much as they could on a battlefield while still remembering it was not over yet.

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Meanwhile, news of an armistice being signed between Konoha and Suna spread across the world, a tale enriched in the overwhelming might of Konoha's White Fang, the Stormbreaker and the expertise of the world's greatest medical ninja. But it also carried the blood of the dead who gave their lives in the war, it was upon their bodies that this 'peace' could be made. It seemed almost meaningless, those that gave their lives in a futile war that only caused suffering, were their lives without purpose? Would they be glad the harvest of their souls was what could only be a temporary peace in the Shinobi world?

But the news was not good for many, one such person being the Tsuchikage, Onoki.

He had seen Katsuro leaving as an opportunity and took it with glee, but contrary to his thoughts, he faced another foe who held him up. The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, in his prime. The Hokage could not be underestimated, he was a master of the 5 nature transformations and was said to know every Jutsu in the Leaf, giving him his title as the Professor. His summon, the Monkey King, Enma, could turn into an almost indestructible staff that could elongate at will, providing him with the means to deal with Onoki effectively, even more so than Katsuro. But what made the Third frightening, without any special Kekkai Genkai or Jutsu, was his incredible battle IQ, forged under Tobirama Senju. 

Onoki was frustrated at the stalemate currently going on, and he knew if Hiruzen wasn't so focussed on trying to secure and negotiate a peace deal, Konoha would have dealt them devastating losses. Even with Konoha's relative passiveness, Iwa only managed to hold on from the added reinforcements of over 2000 Iwa Shinobi, which was pretty much all they had left. Hearing the death of Kato Dan, he hoped that the man hailed as the Strongest Kazekage could deal with that damn Stormbreaker, but Suna leader was left with half his arms, and Onoki's hopes were not fulfilled. The armistice meant that the Stone, alone, would have to bear the full brunt of the Leaf. Already a large portion of the army that faced Suna was making its way towards their front.

Damn it, Konoha is way too lucky with all these powerhouses. Even the Third's 3 disciples are shaping up to be formidable. I hate to admit it, but I am lucky that Hiruzen is way too naive for someone of his stature. Ha! Trying to secure peace after the Suna front as well, if I was them I would have launched an assault already. Onoki thought.

As he continued to think of his options as the Fence Sitter, he finally came up with something ingenious - something that would strike Konoha with lethality and make them suffer. 

Get ready, Konoha. You will not escape this war unharmed.

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