The Sand initially refused point-blank to accept the fifth clause—the mission embargo—but Konoha remained unyielding. This was a substantive measure; while the specific details were open to negotiation, the Sand's agreement to the principle was a prerequisite for peace.
Pressure eventually forced the Sand's hand. They managed one small victory: Konoha's original demand for a fifteen-year embargo was whittled down to ten.
As for the reparations, they were a given. A defeated nation must have such a realization. The exact amount was left to the Daimyos of the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind to haggle over; such fiscal matters fell outside the direct jurisdiction of a hidden village and its Kage. The Daimyo of the Land of Fire was undoubtedly eager to kick the Sand while it was down. Of course, since Konoha provided the primary military muscle, at least half of whatever reparations were squeezed out would flow directly into the village's coffers.
The "One Country, One Village" system of the shinobi world is essentially a dualist structure. Although a Hokage might technically be seen as a "village-level official," their command over Konoha's military might gives them status effectively equal to the Daimyo. In matters of war and peace, the Hokage's word is final; the Daimyo rarely has a seat at the tactical table.
Regarding the actual enforcement of this treaty, both sides would likely play by the rules until the Third Great Ninja War concluded. Once the global conflict ended, however, all bets were off. It would be nearly impossible for Konoha to monitor every single contract the Sand might take in the shadows.
With the terms finalized, the next step was the face-to-face meeting between the Hokage and the Kazekage. Until they put brush to parchment, the treaty was just a scrap of paper.
But a new problem surfaced: The Location.
Should the Hokage go to the Hidden Sand? Impossible. First, as the victor, the Hokage had no reason to lower himself by traveling to the enemy's doorstep. Second, the Sand was not safe; even if Hiruzen was willing to risk his life, the rest of the Leaf leadership would never allow it.
Should the Kazekage come to Konoha's camp? Logically, as the loser, he should. But he refused. He feared Konoha had either a long-standing scheme or a sudden impulse to assassinate him the moment he stepped inside their perimeter.
Ten days ago, these men were trying to tear each other's throats out. Today, they both desired peace, but between them, there wasn't a single shred of trust.
For Hiruzen, the example of the Second Hokage loomed large. A young Sarutobi Hiruzen had been there when it happened. At the end of the First Great Ninja War, Tobirama Senju had traveled to the Land of Lightning to sign an alliance with the Second Raikage. They were ambushed by the Gold and Silver Brothers in a coup. To allow his subordinates to escape, the Second Hokage acted as a decoy against overwhelming odds and died a hero's death.
It was in that desperate moment that Hiruzen was named the Third Hokage. If the fastest man in shinobi history could be taken down in such a setting, Hiruzen had to be on his guard.
The deadlock over the location held firm. Neither side would compromise on their leader's safety. The disappearance of the Third Kazekage was the very spark that ignited this war; the Sand would not dream of putting the newly-ascended Fourth Kazekage in such jeopardy.
They couldn't let the peace fail over a mere map coordinate. Finally, a clumsy but effective compromise was reached.
The meeting would take place at the exact midpoint between the Hidden Sand Village and the Konoha Camp. This meant the distance for each side's core reinforcements was identical. If a trap was sprung, neither side would have the advantage. This peculiar symmetry finally satisfied the paranoia of both parties.
The security arrangements were even more complex:
- The Forbidden Zone: A 50-kilometer radius around the meeting point was declared a no-go zone.
- The Perimeter: Outside this zone, Konoha and the Sand each took responsibility for half the circle. Each side could station 500 shinobi as sentries on their respective sides. These ninjas were strictly forbidden from entering the 50km zone; doing so would be viewed as an act of war, and the negotiations would instantly collapse.
- The Intent: This ring was designed to face outward, not inward. Both nations agreed to the troop counts primarily to prevent a third party—like the Hidden Stone—from swooping in and assassinating both Kages at once.
Within the "Forbidden Zone," the Kages would not be alone. Each was permitted 32 guards—the minimum required for a Kage's protection.
The plan was thorough. If an emergency occurred, the 32 guards would fight to the death to escort the Hokage back to the 50km perimeter. Once there, the 500 sentries would provide the muscle to get him back to the main camp—a fortress currently impregnable to any force in the Land of Wind. The Kazekage had the same safety net leading back to the Sand.
Due to his exceptional performance in the war, Ui was the only Chunin selected for this 32-man detail. Every other guard was an Elite Jonin.
His selection was largely due to his aerial summon.
The 32 guards were split into two groups. On the eve of the meeting, ninjas from both sides would sweep the zone. On the day itself, sixteen guards would stay by the Hokage's side, while the other sixteen (including Ui) would enter the zone ahead of time for a final, comprehensive sweep to ensure no traps had been laid. Even during the meeting, these sixteen ninjas had the right to move freely within the zone for monitoring purposes.
The Sand made identical arrangements. It was a tedious process, but when the lives of the Kages were on the line, there was no such thing as too much caution.
This was where Ui's "Great Crow" would finally prove its worth as a strategic eye in the sky.