The two of them were in high spirits.
Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but try to ease the tension for Ōnoki. "Tsuchikage," he said, "since the other Kages don't agree, let's just leave it for now. Who knows? If things change in the future, maybe they'll come around." He even gave Ōnoki a few meaningful winks.
Ōnoki understood the hint and let the matter drop for the time being. The atmosphere in the meeting room gradually returned to a lighter tone.
After the Five Kage Summit concluded, each Kage led their team back to their respective villages.
On the way home to Konoha, Hiruzen walked alongside Sakumo, Shinku, and Orochimaru while Danzo had remained behind in the Land of Iron for a few days to handle some matters.
Orochimaru, walking in the middle of the group, seemed a bit uneasy. Originally, Naoto was supposed to join the delegation from Konoha.
But before their departure, several young ninjas had also begged to come along to the Land of Iron. The situation got so out of hand that Hiruzen had no choice but to decline their requests, after all this was a formal summit of the Five Kage. It wouldn't have looked good if their entourage turned into a parade.
As they walked, Hiruzen asked a question meant to test them. "What did you all think of the summit, since you heard everything from start to finish?"
Each of them began reflecting on the "quiz" given by their sensei. As a straightforward ninja, Sakumo wasn't very familiar with the intricacies of political discussions between Kage. He could only answer based on his instincts.
"I didn't really follow what the Kage were saying," Sakumo admitted honestly, "but I could tell that the five of them were at least trying to communicate."
Hiruzen smiled as he began to explain,
"You're speaking of the politics surrounding the summit? It's natural to feel uncertain. The Five Kage Summit is, above all, a battlefield of diplomacy. In such places, every word weighs heavily. Each leader tests the resolve of the others, seeking to understand their limits while carefully guarding their own. This too is a form of combat."
"Whether the words seem hollow or rehearsed remember, nothing is said without reason. As shinobi, and especially as leaders, our task is to listen beyond the surface… to grasp the speaker's tone, their intent, and the truths hidden between the carefully chosen lines. Even a cliché can be a weapon or perhaps a warning."
"At the same time, we must guard our own intentions and shall not let others see through us, our thoughts and our limits that might invites danger. Therefore, we must speak with care and shapes our words to show resolve while keeping our true thoughts hidden. This, too, is a skill… one honed not on the battlefield, but in the quiet war of words. In the world of diplomacy, it is not strength alone that prevails but also the clarity of mind. It is, in the end, a game of wits."
Sakumo scratched his head and gave a wry smile. "Sensei… that's way too complicated. I'd rather just be a simple ninja."
Hiruzen chuckled. "Sakumo, you'll need to adapt. It's not much different from the battle that you have experienced. The one who exposes way too much usually loses the battle. When you face an unfamiliar enemy, you start by testing their strength while gathering the information needed to find their weakness."
"To some, it may sound like a mere conversation but within those words lie invisible blades. On the battlefield, a single misstep may cost you your life. In diplomacy, a single misjudgment can endanger the entire village. The stakes are no less grave compared to the battlefield, only the weapons are different."
"When the time comes for you to shoulder greater responsibilities, remember this well: a negotiation can yield as much as a battle and sometimes more. In a fight, if you lose, the cost is yourself. But in diplomacy… if you lose, the cost may be everyone who stands behind you. That is the weight of leadership."
MShinku looked more and more puzzled. "But Sensei… I remember you once said that if we can't win it on the battlefield, we shouldn't expect to win it at the table. That seems kind of contradictory to what you're saying now."
Hiruzen nodded. "You're not wrong. Negotiation must still be backed by strength."
He paused, then added with conviction,
"There are many nations in the shinobi world. So why is it only the Five Great Nations that get a seat at the table? The answer is simple—power."
"Look at the leader of the Demon Country," Hiruzen said. "Can he truly sit at the negotiation table? No, because even if he manages to sit there by luck, he won't be treated as a participant. He'll be the meal on the table."
"I could force the Demon Country into joining the Five Kage Federation. But that wouldn't benefit them. Would their leader even dare to reject a proposal from the other Kage? If he says no, there'll be shinobi stationed at his borders by the next day."
Shinku's expression clouded with concern. "But why does it have to be like that, Sensei? Isn't the Five Kage Federation supposed to exist for the sake of peace in the shinobi world? Why don't you help them?"
Hiruzen let out a long, weary sigh.
"Keeping them from the table is the way I protect them because if you sit without strength, you're not a guest but the meal itself."
He turned to Shinku, his gaze steady but tired. "I'm no god. I can't change the world overnight but I still want peace in the shinobi world, so I forced the Five Great Villages to the table. In the past, they struck from the shadows, ambushes, assassins and wars without warning. Now, all of it plays out under the light. If they wish to start a war today, they'll need to do it with flags raised and drums sounding… while the eyes of the five great villages watch each of their move."
He paused. "That scrutiny and pressure is the leash I've wrapped around them. It may not look like much, but … this is how I keep them in check."
"Take the armistice talks between the Land of Earth and the Land of Water, for example. Neither side dares to push too far. They know that if they refuse to compromise, the remaining nations might see their prolonged conflict as an opportunity… and strike while they're still entangled in war. Tell me, can any of them truly afford that risk?"
He paused, then continued, "That fear is what makes them cautious. It's why they reached an agreement, even though Kirigakure and Iwagakure still harbor deep-seated hatred at their Kage's death. Normally, they'd never let that go so easily."
Hiruzen's gaze turned more serious.
"Once the Five Kage Federation is running smoothly, and the major villages have gotten what they wanted, then it'll be time for the smaller nations to step into the picture."
"Maybe they'll get a taste of the benefits or maybe they'll just end up as a prey. No one can say for sure."
After listening to his sensei's strategic thinking, Orochimaru's tone carried a hint of disappointment.
"Your intention in creating the Five Kage Federation was to promote peace," he said, "But when I look at the other Kage, I don't see any real desire for peace. All I see are political games, hidden motives, and the usual power struggles between great nations."
"Peace is never perfect," Hiruzen said quietly. "There is no such thing as absolute peace. The best we can hope for is relative peace which is a fleeting balance between opposing wills. As long as people exist, so will conflict. That's the truth we cannot escape."
"My power is not infinite. I cannot save everything. So I must choose where to stand firm. First, I will protect Konoha. Then, if possible, the Land of Fire and only if I still have strength left… only then will I try to calm the larger storm that is the shinobi world."
He looked at his students, especially Orochimaru, and continued,
"Don't expect everyone to truly believe in peace. Honestly, it's enough that they're cautious. Their fear and cowardice is the thing that keeps them from starting wars just to seize what they want. That, in itself, is a blessing for the world."
"Peace doesn't arrive simply because we desire it. It's built slowly and painfully across each of the generations. It takes countless hands working in the same direction, even when the path is long… and the end is nowhere in sight."
Hiruzen's words were gentle, but his gaze was firm as he turned toward Orochimaru. Out of all of his students, it was Orochimaru who worried him the most. If their beliefs diverged too far, the consequences could be disastrous. He feared that Orochimaru might one day fall into the darkness; treating life as meaningless, desecrating the dead, repeating the mistakes of a life that hadn't yet happened in this world.
Now that Hiruzen had another chance… he would do everything he could to guide him back to the right path.
He smiled and offered his students encouragement. "Now that I've managed to bring all five great ninja villages to the negotiation table, we've secured a measure of peace. But remember, this kind of plan isn't something that succeeds overnight. It may take years before we see the real results."
"In ten years, the future of the village will be handed over to your generation. If you have ideas for how it should be shaped, then step forward. Show the world what you're capable of."
Orochimaru looked at him with quiet confusion. "Sensei… can't you keep leading Konoha forward like always?"