Although the war had ended, the post-war matters remained crucial. Both sides spent much time exchanging their fallen shinobi's bodies before Hanzo led his survivors back into the city to rest, while Konoha established a camp right on the spot.
Tsunade took charge of tallying casualties and medical care. Though Kyuushin had summoned Katsuyu to treat superficial wounds, severe injuries still fell under Tsunade's care.
Orochimaru's mission was pivotal. Defeating Amegakure didn't mean its collapse; the Land of Rain's poor economy meant reparations were off the table. Konoha's leadership aimed to sign a peace treaty ensuring Hanzo would no longer be an enemy. Konoha might even provide material support to Rain to secure lasting peace.
Orochimaru's deft diplomacy was key. Jiraiya and Tsunade lacked the temperament for negotiation, so Orochimaru took the lead.
Hanzo, bruised and defeated, would likely avoid direct conflict with Konoha in the future, evaluating his strength cautiously. Konoha would tolerate Rain once, but no second chances.
The sides anticipated drawn-out discussions over treaty details. Tonight, they conducted preliminary talks, with formal negotiations to follow later.
Night settled; bonfires dotted the camp, and since Konoha's victory, the rain had ceased—a rare reprieve.
Kyuushin sat near a fire, greeted warmly by ninja with minor wounds already healed, who admired his decisive role. His solo efforts turned the tide of war, and healing comrades first earned their deepest respect.
Despite physical health, his mind bore the strain of continuous battle. As many severely injured still relied on Katsuyu, Kyuushin's Chakra expenditure remained steady.
"Hey, Kyuushin, you really stole the show out there!" Nawaki's cheerful clap jolted Kyuushin from reflection.
Rubbing his temples, Kyuushin noticed Nawaki's battle-worn armor. While not seriously injured, the dents marked the trials faced. His cheerful spirit confirmed minor harm.
"You did great too," Kyuushin smiled, "I saw you and Minato take down many opponents."
Pride brightened Nawaki's face. Kyuushin glanced around, puzzled by Minato's absence.
"Here he comes," Nawaki pointed as Minato approached with three steaming meals.
With the war concluded and dry weather favoring them, team cooks prepared food over the bonfires.
Minato appeared cleaner than Nawaki, reflecting their battlefield roles—Nawaki was traffic, drawing fire, while Minato struck fiercely with fewer grazes.
"The war's over now, right?" Minato asked as he sat beside Kyuushin.
"Starting to feel like it," Kyuushin replied with a wry note. "Hardly any warrior likes war, though."
Minato nodded, mindful of rumors that the Land of Wind was also stirring unrest during their campaign.
Kyuushin grew silent, recalling the original story predicting Konoha's future conflict with Wind but unsure how events had changed in this altered world.
He felt uneasy; Hanzo seemed too deliberate to have attacked lightly, and resource motives seemed unclear since Rain had already secured supplies from Iron Land.
All subordinates acted under Hanzo's strict control, making rogue incidents unlikely. Possibly other great powers interfered in Rain's clash with Konoha.
His reflections stemmed from lacking full intelligence—a gap since Tsunade hadn't shared third Hokage's confidential reports.
Yet his guesses aligned well, and his involvement smoothed Konoha's originally grim outcome into a decisive victory.
If the Earth Land—the potential instigator—heard of Konoha's total triumph, it might reject defeat, escalating tensions.
"Oh, by the way, I heard Hanzo called you 'Little Hashirama,' right?" Nawaki's playful tease broke the mood, though the nickname carried serious weight.
Since Senju Hashirama was Nawaki's grandfather, the joke felt strange, quickly dismissed with laughter and a warning about Mito's reaction.
Kyuushin felt a cold sweat; Mito's usually gentle mien could shift sharply if ruffled.
Minato changed the subject smoothly. "Kyuushin, I heard about your Ice Release earlier?"
Kyuushin nodded cautiously, then admitted, "Yes, I awakened it recently, right after my Water Dragon Exploding Bite."
Confiding the truth to Minato and Nawaki seemed safe since their trust was strong, though Kyuushin maintained caution.
Nawaki sighed wistfully, hoping to awaken Wood Release like his grandfather.
Though doubting his chances, Kyuushin encouraged patience, recalling Hashirama also attained his Kekkei Genkai in adulthood.
Nawaki's eyes sparkled with reverence, emphasizing Hashirama's impact.
To lift his friend's spirits, Kyuushin then suggested Minato try practicing the Second Hokage's renowned Space-Time Ninjutsu, noting Mito's belief in his rare talent.
Minato modestly doubted his worth but accepted the encouragement.
Kyuushin reassured him, sharing Mito's wisdom that such gifts were one in ten thousand, precious yet wasted if untrained.
He believed even the Second Hokage would entrust Minato if he realized the talent.
Nawaki agreed wholeheartedly, asserting that jutsu were meant to be passed down, not locked away by prideful elders.
Minato still hesitated, and Kyuushin offered gentle patience, expressing his own curiosity about the space-time technique.
Their conversation paused as a messenger hawk burst from Orochimaru's tent, soaring eastward across mountains and rivers to the central village.
It alighted at a circular building emblazoned with the "Fire" kanji, tapping its talons against the window.
A hand caught the hawk, untying the dispatch. A voice announced inside, "Hokage-sama, the war report from the Land of Rain has arrived."