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Tsunade let out an irritated huff, her golden eyes narrowing as she fixed Kitsuchi with a sharp gaze.
"I thought you came here to discuss peace and negotiate your daughter's release," she said coldly. "But it seems I was mistaken. Are you here to talk—or to pick a fight?"
Inoiki, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, withdrew his aura without a word.
Kitsuchi clenched his jaw, then exhaled through his nose. "I apologize," he admitted, his voice tense but controlled. "I let my emotions get the better of me. After all, he killed so many of our ninjas… and captured my daughter."
Tsunade scoffed. "And he was absolutely right to do so."
Kitsuchi's eyes flickered with irritation, but Tsunade pressed on, her voice carrying the weight of authority.
"You were the ones who attacked our base first. We only responded in kind—to protect our own. Don't act as if you're the victim here."
A tense silence stretched between them before Kitsuchi finally nodded. "…That's why I'm here. To talk peace." His gaze darkened as he leaned forward. "What are your conditions for releasing my daughter?"
With that, the true negotiations began.
For the next hour, the room was filled with tense exchanges between the Konoha elders, Hokage Tsunade, Kitsuchi, and the Earth Country minister.
Inoiki, along with Inoichi, Shikaku, and Choza, remained silent, understanding their role in the meeting. This was a battle of words and diplomacy—one they had no place in.
And so, they watched.
Listened.
And waited.
After an hour of intense negotiations, the final terms were decided:
Iwagakure would pay a sum of 50 million ryo.
Iwagakure would withdraw all its remaining forces from the Konoha base at the Fire Country border.
To the relief of Inoichi, Shikaku, and Choza, their worst fears never materialized. No excessive demands were made—no call for Inoiki's life as retribution.
With the deal sealed, the meeting was adjourned, and Inoiki left alongside the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, their presence no longer needed.
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The next morning, Inoiki was deep in his usual physical training, his muscles burning with exertion as he pushed himself through his final set. As he exhaled, wiping the sweat from his forehead, his sharp senses picked up an all-too-familiar presence. Without turning, he spoke.
"Come out. You've been watching me for a while now."
A shadow shifted, and Kurotsuchi stepped forward from her hiding spot.
"So, you do physical training too," she remarked, crossing her arms. "That explains why you were strong enough to break through my rock fist."
Inoiki simply looked at her, his expression unreadable. "What do you want? You're leaving today, aren't you?"
Kurotsuchi walked closer, her gaze steady. "Yeah, I am," she admitted. "That's why I came to talk to you before I go."
Inoiki remained silent, waiting for her to continue.
Kurotsuchi hesitated for a moment before speaking again, her tone softer than before.
"I would've liked for us to be friends," she said. "But with us being from rival villages… I guess that's not possible." She let out a small sigh. "It would've been nice if there were no wars in this world."
Inoiki met Kurotsuchi's gaze, his expression calm but firm.
"I don't waste my time on unrealistic fantasies," he said. "As long as this world has conflicting interests, war will always exist. It's not about good or evil—it's just the way things are."
He glanced up at the sky, his voice steady as he continued.
"Other nations lack fertile land, so they covet the Fire Country's crops. The Fire Country, in turn, lacks ores, which Earth Country has in abundance. These are just small examples, but the reality is, after generations of bloodshed, grudges have been carved too deep to erase. I don't blame anyone for it. If someone killed my family, I wouldn't hesitate to take revenge either."
Kurotsuchi listened in silence before letting out a quiet sigh. Then, she reached into her pouch and handed him an envelope.
"This is for the ramen that day," she said.
Inoiki took the envelope without much thought, giving a simple nod. "Hmm."
Kurotsuchi returned the nod, then turned on her heel and walked away. Inoiki watched her retreating figure for a brief moment before slipping the envelope into his pocket. Without another word, he turned and headed home.
When Inoiki arrived home, his mother intercepted him at the entrance, a knowing smile on her face.
"That girl, Kurotsuchi, came looking for you," she said. "She seems like a good person. It's just a pity she's not from Konoha."
Inoiki didn't respond. He simply nodded and continued toward his room.
Once inside, he pulled out the envelope Kurotsuchi had given him and stared at it in silence. His fingers traced its edges before he muttered to himself, "It's not like peace will never exist in this world…"
Without even opening it to check the amount inside, he carefully placed the envelope in his drawer.
Meanwhile, Kurotsuchi had returned to where her father was waiting. The moment she arrived, Kitsuchi gave her a sharp look and smirked.
"You went to see that boy, Inoiki." His eyes narrowed playfully. "You're not falling for him, are you?"
Kurotsuchi's cheeks turned red at the accusation. Unbidden, images of Inoiki flashed through her mind—his blond hair, fair skin, and piercing sky-blue eyes. She also remembered the sensation of flying with him, soaring through the sky. Though she had been a captive at the time, she couldn't deny the thrill of the experience.
She quickly shook off the thought and crossed her arms. "Don't tease me, Dad. It's nothing like that."
Kitsuchi chuckled but said nothing more.
As Kitsuchi, Kurotsuchi, and the rest of the Iwagakure envoys made their way toward Konoha's gates, a voice suddenly echoed in Kurotsuchi's mind.
"Be careful on your way. There's a slight chance Danzo might try to kill you. After all, you are Iwagakure's last hope. But I definitely don't want you to die—if anything happens to you here, there's a high chance your grandfather might lose control and start a war. And I don't want a war."
Kurotsuchi's steps faltered for a brief moment. She immediately turned around, her gaze sweeping across the crowded village streets, searching for the source of the voice. But Inoiki was nowhere in sight.
Still, despite not seeing him, a soft smile found its way onto her lips. Without another word, she turned back and walked forward, leaving Konoha behind.
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