NOVEL WEB Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Two Choices
"Hokage-sama, Kirigakure is willing to become Konoha's most steadfast ally!"
Chōjūrō bowed deeply to Tobirama Senju, his head staying low as if awaiting a decisive response.
Kirigakure relinquishing its Jinchūriki, refraining from hostility, and instead forming an alliance with Konoha—what could be better?
Among the Five Great Shinobi Nations, Iwagakure had been annihilated, and Sunagakure was crippled. If Kirigakure joined hands with Konoha and Kumogakure was next to fall, the entire shinobi world would be at Konoha's mercy.
Konoha would feast, and Kirigakure could at least drink from the broth.
Of course, this all depended on whether the Hokage agreed.
Behind Tobirama, the Konoha delegation exchanged looks of excitement. If they could pull Kirigakure into their fold without lifting a finger, the combined strength of their villages could crush Kumogakure with ease and bring about a unified shinobi world.
Darui, on the other hand, was visibly tense, his palms and the backs of his hands covered in sweat. He wanted to speak but hesitated, unwilling to interrupt the Hokage's deliberation. The other Kumo-nin glanced anxiously at Darui, hoping their strategist would devise a way out of this predicament.
Just as everyone thought the Hokage wouldn't refuse, Tobirama's cold voice shattered the silence.
"Kirigakure—what qualifications do you have to be Konoha's ally?"
The room froze.
Chōjūrō's bowed frame trembled slightly. He slowly lifted his head, disbelief etched on his face.
"Hokage-sama, um… this…"
Chōjūrō opened his mouth to argue, wanting to outline the great benefits of an alliance between their villages. But as he considered it, realization struck.
Kirigakure truly lacked the qualifications to be Konoha's ally.
The "Bloody Mist" policies had severely weakened their forces, leaving their overall strength barely above that of the crippled Sunagakure.
Their high-level combat power? Practically nonexistent. Only the Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumī, remained as their sole pillar of strength.
The legendary Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?
Zabuza Momochi had failed to assassinate the Fourth Mizukage and defected. Kisame Hoshigaki, wielding Samehada, killed Fuguki Suikazan before deserting. Ameyuri Ringo, master of the Lightning Blades, had succumbed to illness.
The rest were either dead or missing. Even the famed swords lacked worthy successors.
The village's clans with kekkei genkai? Nearly exterminated under the same policies.
In contrast, Konoha had:
A Hokage powerful enough to rival an entire nation.Two of the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya and Tsunade, both with strength comparable to a Kage. Kakashi Hatake, the elite jōnin known as the "Copy Ninja." The previously unheralded Might Guy, whose devastating taijutsu had defeated Sunagakure's strongest puppet master, Chiyo.
Not to mention Konoha's array of formidable clans—Hyūga, Akimichi, Nara, Yamanaka, and more.
Did Konoha really need an ally to unify the shinobi world?
What could Kirigakure possibly offer?
"And your proposal is?" Chōjūrō asked cautiously, trying to read the Hokage's emotionless gaze.
"Konoha doesn't need allies. Kirigakure has only two options," Tobirama declared coldly.
"First: Submit to Konoha, allow our forces to station in your village, and bow before us.
"Second: Oppose us and face total annihilation."
"Choose."
The room was deathly silent.
"Hiss—!" A collective gasp escaped the gathered shinobi. Even the Kumo-nin and Konoha delegation flinched at the sheer ruthlessness of Tobirama's ultimatum.
"H-Hokage-sama… this, this…"
Chōjūrō stammered, his already timid nature pushing him to the brink of tears. Turning to the Kirigakure shinobi behind him, he wore a face of utter despair.
After a brief, hushed exchange, Chōjūrō forced a strained smile and bowed again.
"Hokage-sama, this decision is far too significant for us to make alone.
"Please allow us to return to Kirigakure to report this to Mizukage-sama. I promise you—Konoha will receive a satisfactory answer!"
The Kirigakure shinobi waited nervously for Tobirama's response.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
"…Fine."
At his words, the tension in their bodies visibly eased, as if prisoners had been granted reprieve from the gallows.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama! We will report back to Mizukage-sama immediately!"
After bowing to the Hokage and the Konoha shinobi present, the Kirigakure group left the meeting room as cautiously as they could.
"We promise to provide you with an answer as quickly as possible," Chōjūrō said, closing the door quietly behind him.
Once outside, they exchanged uneasy glances while bidding farewell to the Konoha ANBU at the gate.
"What do we do now?" one of them asked nervously.
"There's no point worrying about it. This is a decision for Mizukage-sama and the elders to handle," another replied with a sigh.
Before long, they were on their way back to Kirigakure.
Inside the meeting room, Tobirama shook his head, amused at their timid behavior.
Kirigakure wasn't worth attacking, after all. Their Jinchūriki had already been quietly taken by Konoha.
If Mei Terumī made the right choice, he would allow Kirigakure to exist a little longer.
Yes, a little longer.
The Five Great Shinobi Nations—or rather, the Five Great Countries—would all inevitably fall under Konoha's control. It was only a matter of time.
For now, his priorities lay elsewhere: gathering the remaining tailed beasts and destroying the Akatsuki. Only then would he turn his attention to the rest of the shinobi world.
"Hokage-sama, about our—"
"Silence!" Tobirama snapped, cutting Darui off. His tone was far harsher than the one he used with Kirigakure.
Darui, startled, felt a chill run down his spine.
"You're Darui, correct?" Tobirama asked icily.
"Yes, sir!" Darui nodded quickly, unsure of what he'd done wrong.
"Go back and tell Ay: if he takes his own life and delivers the Jinchūriki of the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails to Konoha, I will spare Kumogakure."
"W-What?!"
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