Naruto Bloodline Theory? Just Trash

37. Naturally, Negotiations Broke Down

The mindset of bloodline supremacy had taken root deep in people's hearts.

Nearly every ninja from the Three Great Shinobi Villages present believed that Mingren was most likely not the culprit.

Orochimaru, who had known Shennong for a long time,

believed even more strongly that an ordinary child without a bloodline was not worth noticing at all.

This was something

he had confirmed long ago.

The brat who had followed Shennong five years ago had merely grown a little taller.

Even if he had trained himself into a muscular physique, it did not change anything.

"Everyone, I think it would be unwise to rashly start a war."

Minato Namikaze stepped forward and addressed the crowd.

"I understand that everyone wants to resolve this trouble immediately. We Konoha came here with the same goal... But if we do not uncover the full chain of cause and effect, the same thing could easily happen again in the future..."

Minato Namikaze believed that

if they caught the wrong person and killed the wrong person,

then nobles and officials would still be murdered afterward.

They had to pull it out by the roots and thoroughly uncover the cause and effect of the matter.

Yet those words carried different meanings to each listener.

Pakura blinked and thought, So he means... wipe them out completely? Slaughter the entire Akatsuki Organization?

Killing only one or two would easily lead to a situation where the wildfire could not be extinguished and would sprout anew with the spring breeze.

Killing too few really would be troublesome.

Kitsuchi remained silent, no one knowing what he was thinking.

"How about this?"

Pakura nodded.

"We'll leave the Akatsuki Organization to Konoha and Iwagakure..."

Pakura turned to look at Asuka. Hanzo's Granddaughter was still here.

"And we..."

would naturally deal with Hanzo's Granddaughter!

The Third Shinobi World War had mired the Five Great Shinobi Villages for far too long!

Including Sunagakure, they now needed a breakthrough to resolve the conflict between the Three Great Shinobi Villages in the Land of Rain.

As long as they killed Hanzo's Granddaughter and crushed Hanzo's will,

Sunagakure's pressure in the Land of Rain would be greatly reduced.

Chiyo had fought the Demigod many times.

Little by little, she had already figured out the Demigod's weakness.

His weakness was Amegakure's shortage of manpower.

Childbearing, material resources... matters related to sustainable development.

Amegakure's weakness was that every one they killed meant one fewer enemy!

"No."

Minato Namikaze immediately shook his head.

Konoha and Amegakure were at a crucial stage in their negotiations.

They were merely waiting for Hanzo to agree to an alliance with Konoha.

If they touched his granddaughter now, unforeseen complications might arise...

Konoha... could no longer afford another defeat.

At the end of a Ninja World War fought over limited resources, a single mistake could ruin everything.

"Why not?"

Pakura asked instinctively.

The next second, she immediately understood something.

"Oh... so that's how it is..."

Pakura possessed the Scorching Release Bloodline Limit, was known as the Hero of the Sand, and had rendered countless meritorious services to Sunagakure.

Naturally, she was quite sharp-minded as well.

She immediately realized that

Konoha and Amegakure might have completed some shady deal in private.

Perhaps

they had even joined forces already!

Pakura was not the only one who realized that possibility.

Kitsuchi and the others exchanged looks, quickly recognizing the likelihood of it.

Minato Namikaze smiled bitterly.

Pakura and Kitsuchi's expressions could not exactly be called a misunderstanding.

Because that was indeed the truth.

"The Ninja World War has lasted far too long. Everyone, don't you think... it is time to end this war?"

Minato Namikaze composed himself and spoke with a solemn expression.

"You can follow Konoha's example, abandon the war in the Land of Rain, and coexist peacefully, just as we do with Kusagakure..."

Kusagakure.

Amegakure's neighbor.

It belonged to the Land of Grass.

Under the orders of the Five Great Nations, Kusagakure had built a fortress called Hozuki Castle to imprison criminals.

On the other hand, Kusagakure had also become an ally of the Five Great Nations and would no longer be invaded.

Minato Namikaze proposed

that they form a peaceful alliance with Amegakure, just as they had with Kusagakure.

They could turn Amegakure into neutral territory.

A buffer zone as well.

This would ease the relations among Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Konoha.

Tonight's meeting between the three sides might determine the future of the Ninja World.

"..."

Kitsuchi hesitated.

He had clearly been somewhat persuaded.

The village that had suffered the greatest losses in the Third Shinobi World War was Iwagakure.

Ten thousand Stone Ninja had nearly all perished in battle against the Third Raikage.

That was why, in the end, they could only send one thousand Stone Ninja to attack Kannabi Bridge.

"Sorry, but Sunagakure does not agree to this proposal."

Suddenly, Pakura's shout interrupted Kitsuchi's thoughts.

"You Konoha keep talking about peace and alliances, but it is nothing more than carving flesh with a dull knife. During peacetime, Konoha steals Sunagakure's mission commissions and undercuts us with lower prices. So-called alliances slowly devour our means of survival. Do you think Sunagakure will still fall for that?"

Heh!

Pakura gave a cold laugh.

They were all ninja. Who was he trying to fool?

How had the first two Ninja World Wars begun?

Why had Sunagakure stabbed Konoha in the back twice?

If you were unjust, then I would be unrighteous!

"..."

Minato Namikaze's expression froze for a second.

Everything Pakura said was true.

But...

"Once I become the Fourth Hokage, I will change these things."

"Fine. Once I become the Sage of Six Paths, I'll bring peace to the Ninja World."

Pakura sneered.

A heavy smell of gunpowder instantly spread among the various groups.

After Pakura's reminder,

Kitsuchi also understood that

the so-called alliance was merely a war without smoke.

There is no peace in the Ninja World. The strong devour the weak... Perhaps Father was right... Kitsuchi thought.

"Then fight! The victor is king!!"

Pakura shouted, gathering a ball of Scorch Release fire in her hand.

The bewitching orange-red glow illuminated her face, casting her in the posture of a goddess of flame from myth.

When negotiations broke down, the result was a full-blown fight.

"..."

Yahiko silently gestured to Nagato, Konan, and the others.

The Akatsuki Organization excelled most at guerrilla warfare, so once the battle began, they would...

"..."

Konan and the others nodded silently.

Nagato had also steadied himself and waited calmly for the battle to begin.

"Young Lady... we..."

Ryu and the others still did not know that Hanzo was nearby, observing Mingren.

Asuka, who knew this, steadied herself and prepared to persuade Amakawa Mingren to leave at the first opportunity.

They were not suited to becoming involved in this level of battle.

Whoosh!

The next second, Minato Namikaze threw a kunai.

Though he acted later, he struck first, showing no hesitation as he made his move.

The thrown kunai marked the beginning of the battle.

In the blink of an eye,

the six factions made different responses and choices!