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The next day, at Konoha's main base;
Hiruzen, along with Shikaku and Naruto, returned to the camp hours ago. As soon as they returned, a Jonin meeting was held in which Hiruzen declared the war over, and a treaty was now in effect. When the news was given to the rest of the shinobi, a celebratory atmosphere fell on the base.
It is, by all means, a victory for Konoha. Even though it wasn't achieved on the battlefield, enough was done to force Kumo to the negotiating table, which was enough to be counted as a victory.
Hiruzen had also given the order for the base to be dismantled and for everyone to prepare to return to the village. A couple of regiments had already been sent back to Konoha, with the others following them soon enough. A couple of shinobi were also dispatched to inform the shinobi stationed at the other borders of what had transpired.
Naruto is now making his way over to where Yugito is being held. Hiruzen has told him to go and retrieve her, as they are going to give her back to Kumo's forces before returning to Konoha.
His trip back from the land of Iron was uneventful except when he went to meet Masamune, his sword's legendary blacksmith. Mifune had told Naruto that Masamune had been spending his retirement not in the capital but in his home village located between the capital and the border of the land of rice. Seeing that it is on their route back, Naruto asked Hiruzen for a quick stop to meet Masamune, which Hiruzen agreed to, as he was also quite intrigued by the blacksmith who got such immense praise from the leader of the land of iron.
Masamune and his family were surprised when they received guests. Especially, Masamune himself, an old man at least a decade older than Hiruzen, as he has retired for some time now, and he rarely gets visitors from the capital, let alone from outside the land of iron. Imagine his surprise when his son, a grown man with grown-up children of his own, came to him with a visibly trembling form, telling him that he had three visitors who were Shinobi, one of whom was the Hokage.
The family never had foreign guests of this caliber. Sure, Mifune had visited a few times, but they had never had a Kage come to their home to visit.
Masamune welcomed them but was confused why a Shinobi of Hiruzen's caliber was visiting him. That confusion evaporated the minute he saw the hilt of the sword on Naruto's back.
Masamune's attitude towards Naruto turned warm, grandfatherly even. Especially when he found out who Naruto is to Tsunade, he was the only one who found out, and how well kept and maintained Yamato was.
The visit didn't last long, though, just over an hour, but Masamune greatly appreciated it. Many swordsmiths never get a thank you for their work. So, for a shinobi to visit and thank a swordsmith for his fine work is something.
Now, returning to the task at hand. Naruto reached the tent where Yugito was held. The Chunin guards outside straightened up a little, seeing Naruto coming, to which Naruto nodded before entering the tent.
Inside the tent was dark, with the only light coming inside was from the slightly open tent entrance. In the middle of the tent, there was a table with two chairs opposite each other. One was empty, while the other was occupied by Yugito, who had been held and interrogated here since her capture. Her chakra and movement were still sealed, which means she has been like this since she was brought here.
"Hello, Yugito," Naruto said as Yugito's eyes locked on him.
"Naruto," Yugito replied with a blank tone. It was the first time she had seen him since he captured her.
A part of her resented him, but the other part told her, 'What did she expect?'. They are enemies, and it's not like she was tortured, starved, or worse. By all means, she was treated on a whole different level compared to other prisoners.
"I have some good news for you," Naruto said as he sat on the other chair.
"You will be returning to Kumo," Naruto said, shocking Yugito.
"What?" Yugito asked in a low voice filled with shock and disbelief
"A ceasefire started between us and Kumo about five days ago, and yesterday we reached a peace treaty to stop the war. And one of its conditions is to set you free." Naruto said
Yugito stayed quiet for a bit, processing what she just heard.
"Did... did we lose?" Yugito said with slight dread, she knew that with her still being here, that meant that there was no way Kumo had pushed Konoha back to their base. Did Kumo surrender?
"It was more of a stalemate. And with the Hokage and Raikage appearing on the battlefield, it would have been a massacre. But since you were in our hands, the Raikage had to go to the negotiating table if he wanted to resolve this." Naruto said, making Yugito go quiet again.
"You can ask your former sensei and team about details when you return," Naruto said.
"They were there?" Yugito asked, looking at Naruto.
"Yeah, they were. Bee-san was also at the negotiations table with the Raikage." Naruto said
"So, what happens now?" Yugito asked
"Now, I will be escorting you until the border of the land of frost, where you will be given back to Kumo," Naruto said, to which Yugito nodded
"I will unseal your ability to move so you can move on your own. But I warn you, don't try anything funny until you return to Kumo's forces." Naruto said with a serious tone.
"Don't worry, I won't," Yugito said. They are at peace, and it isn't like she could do anything. She will be able to move, but her access to Chakra and Matatabi is still cut off.
"That is good, or I will have to put a bad kitten back in the prisoner scroll," Naruto said with a teasing smile. The first time he smiled at Yugito since the war started.
"Hey, don't call me that," Yugito said with irritation and embarrassment. But a part of her was relieved to see Naruto this way, the same way as back when they entered the Chunin exams and became friends, not the deadly and cold Naruto she met on the battlefield.
Naruto didn't reply, just kept the teasing smile on his face as he made a half-ram sign.
An invisible seal on Yugito's forehead reappeared before half of it dimmed, then the seal turned invisible again.
Yugito blinked for a moment before moving her arms and clenching her fists, and releasing them multiple times.
She released a sigh of relief as she felt her control of her body returning before standing up and stretching her aching body.
"Ahhhh, this is much better. I have been in that sitting position for almost a week." Yugito said, relief in her tone as her body let out audible popping and cracking sounds as she stretched.
"Are you done?" Naruto asked as Yugito stopped stretching.
"Yeah. All I need now is a good warm shower, a change of clothes, a good meal, and a good sleep." Yugito said with a sigh.
"That will have to wait until you return home," Naruto said as he stood up and opened the tent's entrance.
"Shall we?" Naruto asked,
Yugito nodded before exiting the tent with Naruto right behind her.
To be continued.
Guys and gals, show me those powerstones.
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I hope you all enjoyed the chapter.
Additional chapters are currently paused due to me having very heavy university demands for the next few weeks. I hope you understand, and thank you for the support.
I would appreciate feedback, reviews, comments, and power stones from you guys. I would like to read all of your comments. I would like to know if I am doing well and if you enjoy what I write.
Thank you all for your support.
1433 words
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