Yechuan, Uchiha Kotone, and Hyuga Suzuka escorted the Three-Tails Jinchuriki, who was trapped in a Wood Style cage, back to Konoha.

Tsunade and Uzumaki Nami were already waiting at the village entrance, and both sighed in relief upon seeing the three return safely.

"Brother Yechuan! Are you all right?"

Tsunade immediately ran over, her gaze involuntarily sweeping over Kotone and Suzuka, carrying a hint of imperceptible jealousy.

"What could happen to me?"

Yechuan smiled and placed the large wooden cage containing the Three-Tails Jinchuriki on the ground.

Uzumaki Nami immediately stepped forward, formed hand signs, and used Adamantine Sealing Chains and Four Symbols Seal to reinforce the seal on the Three-Tails Jinchuriki. Then, together with other Uzumaki clansman, she escorted him into the special barrier where the One-Tails Jinchuriki, Bunpuku, was imprisoned.

After dealing with these matters, Yechuan finally had time to go to the Hokage's Office to see Senju Touka... "What did you say?! Kazekage Shamon voluntarily retreated his troops?!"

After hearing the latest news from Senju Touka, Yechuan was also surprised.

"That's right."

Senju Touka nodded, a hint of triumphant smile on her face.

"Just yesterday, after the news of our conquest of Hidden Mist Village reached the Land of Wind's border, that old man Shamon immediately ordered all Hidden Sand troops gathered at the border to withdraw back to the village overnight!"

"It seems he was completely scared witless by your strength."

"That's good news."

However, Yechuan's eyes gleamed with an even colder light.

"But just scaring him away isn't enough."

He walked to the map in the office, pointed to the location of the Land of Wind, and said in an undeniable tone:

"We should strike while the iron is hot and take the initiative! Completely annex Hidden Sand!"

"Annex Hidden Sand?!"

Senju Touka was also startled; this idea was even bolder than her previous ones!

"Exactly!"

Yechuan calmly analyzed:

"Now is Hidden Sand's weakest moment! Their high-end combat forces have suffered heavy losses, the One-Tails Jinchuriki is in our hands, and their morale is at an all-time low!"

"We only need to send out an elite unit, and it will be enough to completely defeat them! At that time, all the resources and territory of the entire Land of Wind will belong to our Konoha!"

Listening to Yechuan's ambitious plan, Senju Touka's breathing also became somewhat rapid!

Yes! If they could annex Hidden Sand... then their Senju Clan would truly revive the unrivaled glory of the Warring States Period period!

"Hahahahaha..."

She couldn't help but laugh, walked over to Yechuan, and reached out her hand, ruffling his hair affectionately like a true elder.

"Good! You truly are the prodigy of my Senju Clan! With your courage, how can our Senju Clan not become great again!"

She looked at her handsome nephew, who was already half a head taller than her, and then suddenly said in a teasing tone:

"But, Yechuan, to strengthen our Senju Clan, fighting alone isn't enough."

"You should also consider... starting a family for our Senju Clan."

"..."

Yechuan was speechless.

"Alright, let's talk business."

Senju Touka put away her smile, and the authority of the Fourth Hokage appeared on her face.

"I've decided to personally visit Hidden Sand! To have a good talk with that old man Shamon! You, come with me!"

"Okay."

Yechuan nodded.

However, just as they were about to formulate a detailed plan for the diplomatic mission—

"Hokage-sama, report!"

An Anbu Ninja suddenly appeared in the office, kneeling on one knee.

"At the village entrance... an envoy from Hidden Sand has come to request an audience!"

"Oh?"

Senju Touka and Yechuan exchanged glances, both seeing a hint of surprise in each other's eyes.

"Let him in."

A moment later, a short woman wearing a mask entered the Hokage's Office.

Yechuan immediately recognized her; it was the woman who, on the Hidden Sand battlefield, controlled puppets and protected the Third Kazekage—Granny Chiyo in her youth!

"Greetings, Fourth Hokage-sama of Konoha."

Chiyo bowed respectfully, then took out a personal letter sealed with the Kazekage's wax from her embrace and presented it.

"This is from our Second Kazekage-sama, who asked me to deliver it to you."

Senju Touka took the letter, opened it, and her face showed a surprised expression.

The tone of the letter was extremely humble.

In the letter, Shamon stated that Hidden Sand was willing to pay a huge war indemnity to Konoha for all previous provocative actions!

Furthermore, he promised to permanently withdraw all troops from the border between the two countries, sign a non-aggression peace treaty with Konoha, and remain neutral for generations!

"..."

Senju Touka finished reading the letter and fell silent.

Hidden Sand... they had completely backed down.

"We have received Kazekage-sama's sincerity."

She spoke slowly.

"Then..."

"I understand."

After Chiyo left, Yechuan sneered.

"What an old fox."

"Is he using a delaying tactic because he can't win?"

"Such verbal promises are completely unreliable."

"Exactly."

Senju Touka also nodded.

"To truly make Hidden Sand behave, there's only one way: replace Shamon! Support someone who will completely obey us to become the new Kazekage!"

Just as the two were discussing how to further control Hidden Sand—

"Hokage-sama, report!"

Another Ninja came to report, his expression somewhat strange.

"An envoy from the Land of Fire's Daimyo's estate has come to request an audience."

"Daimyo?"

Yechuan and Senju Touka exchanged glances again, both a little puzzled.

Yechuan knew very well that in the world of Naruto, although Ninja villages possessed powerful military strength, they were nominally subordinate to the armed forces of various countries.

And the Daimyo was the true feudal ruler of the country, and also the Ninja village's biggest financier.

"Could it be to commend us for defeating Hidden Sand?"

Senju Touka guessed... In the reception room, a court attendant, dressed in a luxurious kimono and looking pampered, was haughtily drinking tea.

When he saw Senju Touka and Yechuan enter, he didn't even stand up, merely glancing at them out of the corner of his eye and speaking in a sarcastic tone:

"You must be the newly appointed Fourth Hokage of Konoha, Lady Momoka, right? Truly young and promising."

"May I ask why the esteemed envoy has come?"

Senju Touka's tone also turned cold.

"Heh heh, it's nothing major."

The envoy put down his teacup, took out a scroll sealed with the Daimyo's stamp from his embrace, and slowly unrolled it.

"It's just that Daimyo-sama recently felt that the power of Konoha seems to be a bit too active."

"For the peace and stability of the Land of Fire, and to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings with other countries..."

He looked at Senju Touka and Yechuan, a fake smile on his face, and read the contents of the scroll:

"Daimyo-sama has decided—"

"Effective immediately, to temporarily reduce Konoha's annual military budget by fifty percent."

"At the same time, to temporarily freeze all foreign military actions of Konoha Ninja."

"Furthermore, it requires Konoha to immediately return the captured One-Tails Jinchuriki of Hidden Sand and the Two-Tails Jinchūriki of Hidden Mist Village to Hidden Sand and Hidden Mist for safekeeping."

"What did you say?!"

Upon hearing these words, a terrifying killing intent suddenly erupted from Senju Touka!