The Five Kage Summit entered the substantive distribution stage.
Spread across the stone table were the prepared rough map of the Tailed Beasts' distribution and simple contract scrolls.
Hashirama had already captured all eight Tailed Beasts except Shukaku. At this moment, they were separately sealed within the sealed scrolls and special barriers prepared by Konoha, waiting only for the results of the summit to be finalized before being handed over.
"Two-Tails and Eight-Tails. Kumogakure wants them."
"We'll pay the full price in money and resources. Not a single one less."
Raikage A spoke first, unable to wait, and pointed heavily at the corresponding positions.
"Good."
Hashirama nodded without objection.
Tsuchikage Ishikawa immediately said, "Four-Tails and Five-Tails. Iwagakure will take them. Land in exchange is fine too, with priority given to mineral veins."
Mizukage Byakuren was silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Three-Tails and Six-Tails... Kirigakure will receive them."
When it was the Wind Shadow Reto's turn, the meeting room suddenly grew quieter.
Reto shook his head, his voice steady but carrying a hoarse helplessness. "Sunagakure doesn't want any Tailed Beasts."
Everyone was slightly stunned.
Reto continued, "Shukaku is already in our desert region. We'll continue to suppress it ourselves. There's no need to trouble Konoha."
Reto paused and looked at Hashirama.
"The land in Sunagakure is barren, and the wind and sand swallow our fields every year. Rather than raising another Tailed Beast, we'd rather buy a piece of land from the Land of Fire where we can grow food. The price is negotiable. As long as it lets our villagers eat their fill, that's enough.", Reto's tone became practical.
Hashirama was silent for two seconds before nodding.
"Fine. Some of the hills and river valleys near the Land of Wind along the border of the Land of Fire can be allocated to Sunagakure. The specific borders and price will be worked out in detail by the civil officials of both sides after the meeting."
Tobirama added coldly from the side, "The land exchanged for the Tailed Beast's share will be calculated into the overall account. Sunagakure isn't taking a Tailed Beast, so we'll proceed with a land transaction. And the specific details still need to be discussed with the daimyo."
Reto did not object and only replied in a low voice, "Understood."
The distribution seemed to have been settled here.
Yet Hashirama suddenly frowned.
He lowered his head and looked at the list in his hand, a trace of surprise in his voice.
"There is still one left."
"Seven-Tails."
The meeting room instantly fell silent.
A frowned. "How come nobody wants it?"
Although he really wanted Kumogakure to have one more, he was also afraid that Kumogakure wouldn't be able to suppress it. If that happened, they'd only bring trouble upon themselves. If the Tailed Beasts ran wild, Kumogakure would be finished.
Ishikawa shrugged. "Two are already enough for Iwagakure. Any more and I'm afraid we won't be able to suppress them."
Byakuren said flatly, "Same for Kirigakure."
Reto simply shook his head.
Hashirama and Tobirama exchanged a glance.
Tobirama leaned over slightly and said in a low voice, "Big brother, the Seven-Tails has a relatively mild temperament, and its size isn't the largest either. Konoha can keep it for now. If a village is willing to receive it later, we can hand it over then."
Hashirama thought for a moment and finally nodded.
"Let's do that. The Seven-Tails will be kept by Konoha for now. The Nine-Tails is already sealed by me, so we'll include the Seven-Tails under supervision as well."
"As for the other Tailed Beasts, according to the assignments we just agreed on, complete the transfers and sealing handovers as soon as possible."
Afterward, the five men formally signed and stamped the contract scroll.
Kumogakure bought the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails with a large sum of money and some special minerals from the Land of Lightning.
Iwagakure exchanged mining rights to mineral veins and some mountain resources for the Four-Tails and Five-Tails.
Kirigakure used the special port usage rights of the Land of Water and funds to receive the Three-Tails and Six-Tails.
Sunagakure gave up its share of the Tailed Beasts and instead purchased arable land from the Land of Fire.
The Seven-Tails would temporarily remain in Konoha.
The moment the treaty took effect, Hashirama let out a long breath.
He stood up and once again bowed slightly to the other four Kage, his voice sincere and heavy.
"Thank you, everyone. I hope that from today onward, the Tailed Beasts will no longer become an excuse for war, but instead become a bargaining chip for the nations to check one another and maintain peace."
A snorted coldly but did not object.
Ishikawa nodded.
Byakuren only nodded in silence.
Reto looked at the newly drawn map of the land borders, and a rare trace of relief flashed through his eyes.
The Five Kage Summit had come to an end.
After the Five Kage Summit officially ended, the meeting room gradually emptied.
The Kage of each nation and their accompanying personnel left one after another, leaving only Konoha's follow-up matters.
Hashirama was quietly discussing the details of the Tailed Beast transfers with Tobirama.
Suddenly, an Anbu hurried forward.
"Lord Hashirama, an envoy from Takigakure is requesting an audience. He says they have an important matter and would like to speak with you privately about the Seven-Tails' ownership."
The Anbu knelt on one knee and reported.
Hashirama was slightly startled.
Tobirama immediately frowned. "Takigakure? That kind of small village is joining in too?"
Hashirama raised a hand to signal him to remain calm, then turned to the Anbu and said, "Let him in."
A moment later, a middle-aged man dressed in simple shinobi clothes was brought into the temporary meeting room.
When he saw Hashirama, he immediately bowed respectfully.
"First Hokage, I am an envoy from Takigakure. I heard that the Seven-Tails is currently being kept by Konoha. After discussing it in the village, we've decided to pay to purchase the sealing rights to the Seven-Tails."
"As long as Konoha is willing to transfer them, we'll do our best to raise the funds. We would never dare to shortchange you."
The envoy's tone was humble but carried obvious urgency.
Hashirama looked at him and remained silent for several seconds.
He knew very well that Konoha already possessed the Nine-Tails. Although keeping the Seven-Tails would give them another source of power, it would also bring another risk of being viewed with suspicion.
The Tailed Beasts had originally been created for balance. If they were all concentrated in Konoha, it would instead easily provoke suspicion and hostility from the other nations again.
"Takigakure... wants the Seven-Tails?" Hashirama asked.
The envoy nodded firmly. "Yes. Although our village isn't large, we're confident that we can suppress it and arrange for it properly. We only ask for the strength to protect ourselves a little better."
Hashirama exchanged a glance with Tobirama.
Tobirama said in a low voice, "Big brother, although the Seven-Tails isn't the strongest, it's not harmless either. If we hand it to a small village and something happens, Konoha will probably still have to clean up the mess."
Hashirama gently shook his head, his voice mild but firm. "Konoha already has one Nine-Tails. That's enough. Keeping another one would instead make the other villages feel that we're taking more than we promised. Since Takigakure is willing to pay for it and is also willing to receive it... then let's give them a chance."
Senju Hashirama turned to the envoy and nodded.
"Fine. The sealing rights to the Seven-Tails will be transferred to Takigakure. The price will be calculated according to the standard from the previous summit."
"Let the civil officials negotiate the specific amount. During the transfer, Konoha will send people to assist with the initial sealing to ensure nothing goes wrong."
The envoy was overjoyed and bowed repeatedly. "Thank you, First Hokage! Takigakure is deeply grateful!"
Hashirama waved his hand, signaling that the other party could leave and prepare for the follow-up matters.
After the envoy left, Tobirama still looked disapproving.
"Big brother, you're always too easygoing. What if Takigakure can't suppress the Seven-Tails? If something happens then, the entire shinobi world will still suffer."
"If a small village like that is able to suppress it and its ambitions grow, Konoha will suffer too."
Senju Tobirama couldn't help saying.
"Give them a chance first. If even small villages aren't allowed to possess power, then the so-called balance... is only the balance of the great villages."
Hashirama only smiled, his voice carrying a trace of tired calm.
"It'll get better in the future... As long as the shinobi world doesn't use the Tailed Beasts to start wars, I'll be at ease..."
He raised his head and looked toward the sky outside the meeting room, which was gradually clearing.