Marvel: Trading with Worlds

The Cloud Shinobi and Konoha signed a peace agreement, finally calming one of the most fiercely contested battlefields in the ninja world. 

Before this resolution, the conflict had escalated dramatically, with Three Tailed Beast Jinchūriki, over five Kage-level ninjas, and six to seven thousand shinobi engaging in battle.

 Their clash devastated the Land of Hot Water and turned hundreds of miles around the battlefield in the Land of Fire into a wasteland.

 The aftermath of the battle was marked by massive craters left by Tailed Beast Bombs, one of which was deep enough to form a large lake after a single rainfall.

Cloud Shinobi's initial peace talks were overly aggressive, demanding excessive concessions. 

However, their second attempt appeared more sincere—at least from their perspective. They believed they had made significant compromises.

Despite this, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't finalize an agreement. The fate of Konoha rested heavily on Kain, as Kushina was their only Six Paths-level ninja. As a result, the second round of peace talks also failed.

From the perspective of the Third Raikage, Cloud Shinobi had shown genuine sincerity by focusing only on the return of the Six Paths Ninja Tools, control over the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Fields, and establishing a ninja garrison. 

Konoha's rejection of these terms seemed unreasonable, leaving Cloud Shinobi to conclude that Konoha lacked the will for peace.

This failure led to another full-scale war. However, this time, Konoha had the upper hand. 

The Third Raikage was ambushed by Tsunade, and Kushina opened the battle by blasting the Cloud Shinobi forces with a Tailed Beast Bomb. Konoha's forces then slowly surrounded and overpowered the enemy.

The Eight-Tails and Two-Tails Jinchūriki of Cloud Shinobi were no match for Kushina. If Kurama didn't absorb Kushina's chakra, she could freely utilize the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode. 

In her Tailed Beast Form, she fought both Jinchūriki simultaneously, ultimately defeating them and capturing the Two-Tails Jinchūriki before the Third Raikage's reinforcements could arrive.

Meanwhile, Nawaki's Wood Golem Jutsu terrified the Cloud Shinobi. The enormous wooden construct, nearly 100 meters tall and weighing over 80,000 tons, could shake the ground with a single punch or kick. 

Even when damaged, it quickly regenerated, overwhelming Cloud Shinobi forces.

The Third Raikage himself was held at bay by Tsunade, supported by Nara and Yamanaka clan ninjas.

The aftermath of this battle was devastating for Cloud Shinobi. Over 400 of their shinobi were killed, and more than 200 were captured during their retreat. 

Morale plummeted, and the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki left an indelible impression, her power surpassing even the fearsome reputation of the Third Raikage.

This crushing defeat forced Cloud Shinobi into a third round of peace talks. Their demands were significantly reduced. 

They abandoned claims over the Six Paths Ninja Tools and the Land of Hot Water, agreeing to pay a high ransom to reclaim the Two-Tails Jinchūriki and their 200 captured shinobi.

With the Third Raikage unable to initiate another war and Konoha's ranks teeming with exceptional talents, Cloud Shinobi had no choice but to capitulate. 

The Third Raikage had hoped a surprise attack could force Konoha into a corner, but the strategy backfired spectacularly.

As a result, Cloud Shinobi proposed paying the ransom in installments and accepted Konoha's terms on all other matters. 

The Six Paths Ninja Tools, once critical to Cloud Shinobi, became a secondary concern compared to the redemption of the Two-Tails Jinchūriki and their other losses.

There were very few ninjas in Cloud Shinobi capable of using the Six Paths tools, but they had developed methods for their Jinchūriki to better control the power of their Tailed Beasts. This left little room for the value of the Six Paths tools in their strategy.

After the peace agreement between Cloud Shinobi and Konoha was signed, both sides withdrew from the battlefield. 

The ravaged terrain along the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Hot Water stood as a stark reminder to the ninja world of the terrifying power of the Tailed Beasts, particularly the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.

Some time after the peace treaty was finalized, Tsunade, Kushina, and Nawaki returned to Konoha from the battlefield. Their homecoming was met with a warm and enthusiastic reception.

Kushina, in particular, was touched by the welcome. For the first time, she noticed that many villagers genuinely greeted her with smiles, and she could hear cheers of " Kushina-sama" echoing through the crowd. 

A small smile appeared on her face as she walked through the village.

However, as she approached the Hokage building, Kushina's eyes scanned the surroundings. She was looking for someone specific but didn't see him, which left her feeling a little disappointed. 

The idea of sitting through a meeting in the Hokage's office to listen to battle reports didn't excite her either—it felt irrelevant since she wasn't a commander or second-in-command. 

The reports had already been summarized beforehand, and she was eager to do something more fun.

Sensing Kushina's hesitation, Tsunade turned to her and asked, "Kushina, where are you going?"

Caught sneaking away, Kushina gave a sly smile and clasped her hands in apology. "Miss Tsunade, I don't really want to go to the Hokage's office. Could you please ask for a leave on my behalf?"

Tsunade raised an eyebrow and smirked. "At least leave a Shadow Clone. We still need you to report and summarize."

Reminded of this, Kushina quickly created a Shadow Clone to accompany the team and then darted off toward her favorite dessert shop.

It didn't take long for her to reach it from the Hokage building. She peeked inside and noticed Nanami pointing toward the house behind the shop. Kushina's face turned slightly red as she made her way to the house.

Once she arrived at the door, she slowed her pace, walking on tiptoes to surprise Kain. She recalled sneaking up on him a few years ago and seeing the startled look on his face. Smiling mischievously, she wanted to relive that moment.

Ninjas are skilled in stealth, and Kushina used her chakra to completely muffle her footsteps. She crept through the house step by step, heading for the living room, where Kain usually spent his time during the day.

Just as she approached the living room, a voice startled her from behind.

"What are you doing? Why didn't you take off your shoes when you came in?"

Kushina jumped in shock and instinctively shouted, "Who?"

When she spun around, she found Kain standing right behind her, holding a newspaper.

"Boss, why are you behind me?" Kushina asked, her face flushed with embarrassment. Realizing she had forgotten to take off her shoes, she sheepishly walked back to the door to remove them. 

She had intended to scare Kain, but the tables had turned, and she was the one who got frightened instead.

"I noticed you the moment you arrived," Kain replied with a teasing grin. "Then I used magic to appear behind you—Apparition."

As he spoke, Kain grabbed Kushina's hand and, with a flash of magic, Apparated them both into the living room. The movement was completely soundless.

Kain smiled as they reappeared. His mastery over magic had grown significantly, and he was eager to show off his refined skills.

Hot tea had been prepared in the living room, accompanied by an array of desserts and pastries. Kushina glanced at the table and noticed they were all her favorites. Her lips curled into a smile that grew a little wider.

However, the memory of Kain being away for two years with no news dampened her mood. She forced herself to stifle her smile, pressing her lips together as she sat at the round table, looking as if she were ready for an interrogation.

"Boss, sit here. I have something to ask you," she said, patting the table and trying to adopt a serious expression.

As Kain approached, Kushina suddenly noticed something about him. His features hadn't changed, but there was an air of magnetism about him—a striking presence that made it hard for her to look away. 

The more she stared, the more captivated she became.

….

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