Son of the Sannin(Back)

The Wind Stops Blowing

Fifteen and a Half Years since the Nine Tails attacked

A year had passed since the Kirigakure Civil War came to an end, thanks to Mei Terumi recruiting Konoha ninja to her side. After she was inaugurated as the Fifth Mizukage, she and Jiraiya wasted no time in formalizing an alliance treaty. With both Suna and Kiri as its allies, the future seemed bright for Konoha.

Seemed being the key word.

Turns out Suna hated Kiri with a passion. During the previous war, they sent Pakura, one of Suna's strongest ninja, and a hero the village looked up, to formalize and alliance with them. However, the Kiri ninja betrayed Suna and ambushed Pakura and her squad, revealing that their intention was to kill one of Suna's greatest ninja. Suna never forgot such transgression.

So naturally, when the news of Konoha's alliance with Kiri reached Suna, the Kazekage wasted no time and expressed his thoughts in a rather...colorful letter to the Hokage. Jiraiya learned at least five swear words he wasn't even aware they existed after reading that letter.

It took almost a whole year to smooth things up, in which multiple negotiations and diplomatic visits had to be made. Jiraiya was really thankful for keeping his old sensei around as an advisor, as Sarutobi's diplomatic skills saved his skin multiple times. Even then, it took giving Rasa a few Chakra Golems –with Naruto and Karin's explicit permission– to satisfy him. The fact that Kirigakure was under new leadership helped to alleviate some of the tensions between Suna and Kiri.

Eventually, they did manage to convince the Kazekage to let go of the old hatred of Kiri, and form a three way alliance with them and Konoha. However, Kiri had to make quite a few concessions, some of them of the monetary kind, but in the end, everybody was happy.

Right now, the long, arduous process was finally coming to an end. The Kazekage had sent his own children to Konoha in order to deliver the final draft of the alliance treaty Jiraiya had to sign in order to make it effective. Rasa, however, had forced Mei to come to Suna to sign the treaty herself. Given the circumstances, she had no choice but to comply.

Right now, both parties were gathered at the Hokage's Tower Council Room. Jiraiya was surrounded by his four advisors, Sarutobi, Koharu, Homura and Danzo, with the document on the table in front of him. At the other side of the table were Gaara and Kankuro. Wordlessly, Jiraiya took out a pen, and signed the document.

"Alright then, this should be it," Jiraiya picked the document as he got up from his chair, walked towards Gaara, and handed him the piece of paper.

"That was...quicker than I expected," Gaara said, as he took the paper from Jiraiya's hands. "Don't you want to negotiate more?"

"I discussed this with my advisors, and we found your father's terms pretty reasonable. Even Danzo, and that should say something!" Jiraiya laughed as he looked at Danzo, who shot him a neutral stare with his one eye. "Besides, after this year, I'm pretty sick of negotiations."

"So send your father our regards, and tell him that Konoha will always be a friend of Suna," Sarutobi interjected.

"Don't worry, he already knows that, even if he doesn't really show it," Kankuro assured. "It's just...well, your alliance with Kiri really pissed him off. It's like if we decided to ally with Orochimaru without telling you first."

Jiraiya chuckled. "Honestly, I can't picture that. But yeah, I can empathize with him. Hopefully, we can put this mess behind us."

"Yes," Gaara agreed. "Well, as much as I'd like to stay more, Father wants us to deliver him the treaty as soon as it was signed. So we will pick Temari up and leave."