"Ugh… ugh…"
Pakura was still reeling from the intense battle.
She couldn't control her body.
Her mind was lost, sent to some other world by Sarutobi Ryo.
Her eyes rolled back as she slowly began to lose consciousness from the overwhelming pain.
But she was strong, like a Kage, and it wouldn't be long before she recovered.
And so...
Maybe it was a second.
Or maybe a whole minute.
"!!"
Pakura woke up suddenly, her mind clear again.
The moment she was aware, she tried to get up.
But Sarutobi Ryo still had her pinned down.
"Honorable Kazekage... I think I won this fight..."
Sarutobi Ryo's breath brushed her ear as he spoke from behind.
Realizing what had happened, tears welled up in Pakura's eyes.
She had actually cried from the pain!
She had been so sure she could get revenge for her last defeat.
But now… she had actually been…
Damn it, damn it!
Pakura's mind was a storm of thoughts.
She felt anger, frustration, and sadness all at once.
Then she heard Sarutobi Ryo say, "If you want to beat me, try again next time..."
Poof.
Sarutobi Ryo put away his weapon and pushed Pakura away.
She tumbled onto the floor.
Sarutobi Ryo stood up, straightened his collar, and let her know she would have more chances to fight him.
Whether he came to Sunagakure or she went to Konoha... there would be other opportunities.
And next time, maybe it would be Pakura and her master, Maki, together.
With that, Sarutobi Ryo turned and left, leaving Pakura gasping for air on the messed-up training floor...
---
The next morning, everything seemed normal, and the peace talks continued.
No one knew what had happened the night before.
Even Baki didn't know who had won.
But he believed the Honorable Kazekage must have been victorious.
At the meeting.
Iwagakure signed the Ceasefire Agreement.
The Third Shinobi World War was officially over.
The world was entering a time known as "Post-War."
During this time, the different countries would only do secret things and have small fights, but they wouldn't start any big wars out in the open.
The fighting would still happen in secret, but it wouldn't be obvious to everyone.
Kirigakure was working hard to change and get better.
Kumogakure was staying closed off in their village.
Iwagakure had signed the ceasefire, ending the war...
All of this meant peace was coming.
When Kitsuchi took out Onoki's official seal and stamped it on the document, everyone in the room sighed with relief.
Then.
Sarutobi Ryo, Yahiko, and Pakura also signed the document, showing they agreed to it.
The Third Shinobi World War was finally ending...
And during this time, some important things would still happen.
In the original future , Pakura was supposed to be sent to her death by the Sunagakure leaders in Kirigakure, but now that she was Kazekage, Pakura had changed what was going to happen to her.
In the original future , Yahiko was going to be betrayed and die, leading to Nagato's war against Hanzo... that future had also been changed. It was likely that Nagato or Yahiko would become the new leader of Amegakure...
And in Konoha.
An Uchiha ninja named Uchiha Shisui was going to be surrounded by enemies on a mission after the war, and he would awaken the Mangekyo because of what happened... a young boy being sent to his death... would this cruel twist of fate happen again?
Sarutobi Ryo believed that that future... would no longer happen.
During the peace talks, Kitsuchi had also brought up the issue of the Five Tails Jinchuriki, Han.
Iwagakure wanted Konoha to give Han back.
But Sarutobi Ryo refused.
Each issue was separate.
The ceasefire was one thing, and the Jinchuriki was another, which would be discussed at a separate meeting between Konoha and Iwagakure.
After agreeing on a date with Kitsuchi, Iwagakure would send people to Konoha again.
Once everything was done, Sarutobi Ryo stood up and said goodbye, ready to take the good news back home.
During this time, Sarutobi Ryo treated Pakura with normal politeness, as if nothing had happened the night before.
Pakura gritted her teeth, forced to accept her defeat.
But the deep mental scar caused by Sarutobi Ryo's two humiliations would stay with her forever.
So... there would definitely be another time, like Sarutobi Ryo said, when Pakura would challenge him again...
---
A few days later, Sarutobi Ryo returned to Konoha with the news of the ceasefire.
When they heard the news, everyone in the village was overjoyed and relieved.
The Great War... was finally ending.
If things kept going this way, the Ninja World could soon be at peace again.
Trading and traveling would no longer have to be filled with fear.
As the one who represented the negotiations and did so well, Sarutobi Ryo was praised by the Konoha leaders. Because of his idea to include the Uchiha clan in the Anbu... which they had been against... their attitude had softened a little.
But Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, Danzo... and many people from the Senju family still didn't want the Uchiha clan in the Anbu.
However, it was already decided.
As Sarutobi Ryo's reputation grew again, it would be easier to get some things done...
For example.
The first thing Sarutobi Ryo did when he got back was choose ninjas from the Uchiha clan to join the Anbu.
After looking at everyone...
The talented young Uchiha ninja who had just been promoted, Uchiha Shisui... was chosen by Sarutobi Ryo.
"Shisui... congratulations!"
Uchiha Shisui faintly heard his friend congratulating him.
Uchiha Shisui, his face full of disbelief, hadn't realized it yet... this amazing opportunity had come to him.
He had only just finished the Ninja Academy. He hadn't done anything important yet. How could he become an Anbu ninja?
Oh, the Anbu was supposed to be a secret.
The names of the people in it weren't announced to the public.
But there was one exception... Anbu Squad Six, where Sarutobi Ryo was.
They were always out in the open.
Over time, everyone had gotten used to it.
Like Sarutobi Ryo often said: "A good person is always open and calm, while a bad person is always worried."
Did ninjas have to be invisible? Not always.
I will oppose what Senju Tobirama agrees with.
*
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[T/N:
Final Total Power Stone Collection : 285 PS
Goal : Reach +50 Total PS = +2 Bonus Chapters next day! 🚀
Want to support my work and get early access to chapters? Check out my Patreon! 👇
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]