The moment those words were spoken, everyone was left dumbstruck by the earth-shattering declaration.
The scene fell into brief silence once more.
"Unify the shinobi world?!"
"Make Kirigakure cease to exist?!"
Cries of alarm and questioning rose one after another, instantly shattering the brief silence.
The Kirigakure shinobi wore expressions of utter disbelief and fierce resistance.
For the vast majority of them, escaping the shadow of the Bloody Mist Village and restoring the village's glory was the wish they most wanted to fulfill.
But that absolutely did not mean they would accept having their village completely erased and absorbed into some unknown unified nation!
"Momochi Zabuza! You really are a traitor!"
"So this so-called saving Kirigakure of yours means destroying it?!"
"Wishful thinking! We will never let Kirigakure disappear!"
The Kirigakure shinobi were outraged, releasing powerful killing intent to express their dissatisfaction.
A great battle was on the verge of breaking out.
Even those shinobi who had previously doubted Yagura and leaned toward reform found it difficult to accept Zabuza's village-destroying, nation-destroying proposal.
Mei's expression became exceptionally grave, her sharp gaze fixed tightly on Zabuza.
Clearly, she was pondering this sudden, shocking revelation, completely unable to understand why such a change had occurred.
Yagura had only just broken free from the Genjutsu's control. His mind had yet to fully clear, and even his body was still unaccustomed to fighting.
Hearing such terrifying words now, he froze on the spot, his eyes filled with confusion.
He then instinctively looked toward Kushina Uzumaki, the helper Zabuza had brought in.
Yet he found that Kushina's gaze was not resting on Kirigakure's side or on Zabuza. Instead, she was looking expectantly at the blond man beside her.
Wait?
He...
Where had he come from?
Yet he seemed familiar somehow.
Yagura's confused expression returned as