The Last Wood Release Creation Falls, Senju Nawaki Appears

Only Tsunade stood there, utterly dazed. The negotiations were about to succeed.

Everyone else was already preparing to sign the absurd treaty before them.

Mitokado Homura of Konohagakure.

A of Kumogakure.

Ebizo of Sunagakure.

Banda Yiming of the Land of Fields.

The four of them stepped closer and formed a circle, carefully reading the treaty that had been prepared in advance.

Everyone else kept their eyes on Mitokado Homura, their gazes full of confusion.

What was Konoha doing?

Was it really so desperate that it would sell out its allies?

Their eyes fell on Tsunade standing nearby, and they understood. It was to deal with the Senju Clan.

They recalled the intelligence about Sarutobi Hiruzen that had circulated earlier. So willing to stoop to anything and sell out his allies' interests—he really lived up to his reputation.

His leadership was a tragedy for those under him, but a blessing for his own village.

"Please!"

Pricked by their gazes, Mitokado Homura forced himself to speak.

He had to admire Sarutobi Hiruzen's political instincts. He had managed to anticipate everyone's bottom line.

"Ha..."

A couldn't help laughing. He hadn't expected Konohagakure to accept such harsh terms either.

Kumogakure and Konohagakure had agreed. Sunagakure and the Land of Fields were merely witnesses on the side. If necessary, they could even exclude those two countries.

To avoid any mishaps.

He picked up his pen, ready to sign.

Rumble...

A deafening crash shook the ground, and the buildings began to crack.

A's hand jerked, and a black ink blot landed on the treaty, tearing it in two.

Sensing something hurtling down at him from above, he activated Lightning Release Chakra Mode, blue-white light shimmering across his body.

Crack...

He shattered the shadow with a single blow.

He identified what had attacked him.

It was a dead tree trunk, more than ten meters long.

The giant tree that had once sheltered the Daimyo Mansion of the Land of Fields had fallen.

Its verdant canopy had withered, and its branches came crashing down like countless swords, stabbing into the buildings of the Daimyo Mansion.

It was the very thing that had just attacked him.

A shook the dust from his body.

His gaze swept across the surroundings.

The Daimyo Mansion had become a ruin. A fissure split the ground, with the roots of the giant tree at its center. Large swathes of buildings had been destroyed.

The meeting room where they had gathered was unrecognizable, buried beneath broken stones and dead branches.

Fortunately, they were all powerful shinobi and had escaped without a scratch.

Only the Daimyo of the Land of Fields was weak. Mitokado Homura was supporting him, and a large bump had risen on his forehead where a piece of rubble had struck him.

He was still dazed, staring blankly at the scene before him.

"My Daimyo Mansion? My enormous Protection Tree?"

Sakata Ichimei wrenched himself free of Mitokado Homura's supporting hands and collapsed to his knees. His eyes widened as snot and tears streamed down his face. It was impossible to tell whether he was terrified or heartbroken.

The Daimyo Mansion represented his status, his wealth, and his control over the country. Now it had been destroyed in an instant.

That Protection Tree had been the guardian deity of the Land of Fields. When his father passed the title on to him, he had told him to take good care of the tree—or else a great calamity would befall the country.

The others looked at Sakata Ichimei's display with disdain.

It was just a mansion and a tree.

Were they really worth crying over like this?

When he sold out the interests of the Land of Fields, he hadn't shown the slightest remorse.

Did the interests of an entire country mean less than a mansion and a tree?

Swish...

Swish...

A series of scraping sounds put them on their guard. They paid no more attention to Sakata Ichibyo, who was still kneeling and weeping.

They looked toward the source of the sound: a mass of vines.

Wherever they passed, the vibrant earth turned barren. Weeds withered, the ground dried and cracked, and the energy in the surrounding area was drained away.

The vines were pulling free from the tree trunk.

"The giant tree's life force... has been devoured?"

"What kind of evil technique is this?"

"..."

Various thoughts flashed through the minds of those present.

They sensed the flow of energy. The vines were the work of the mastermind behind all this.

They followed the vines with their eyes.

Senju Nawaki emerged from behind the thick trunk of the dead tree.

"Hisashiburi da na! [Long time no see!]"

The deep greeting snapped them out of their daze.

"Senju Nawaki!" Ebizo looked up, astonishment filling his eyes as thoughts of retreat crossed his mind.

Just as Second Kazekage Shamon had said, some bargains weren't worth taking.

The Senju Clan was now Sunagakure's ally.

The interests of the Land of Fields were nothing more than bait. It was several villages away from Sunagakure, and there was no way to guarantee their interests.

He stepped back a few paces, having already made his choice.

"What the hell is going on?" A stared in confusion and demanded angrily.

Nawaki's appearance made him realize that the benefits Kumogakure had already secured wouldn't be so easy to claim.

He had been dazzled by the benefits Konoha had offered.

"Senju Nawaki, you actually dare to show your face?" Mitokado Homura shouted.

Nawaki had appeared at a time like this, with no improvement at all. He was still just as reckless. What was he trying to do?

Wasn't he afraid they would join forces and keep him here?

When Mitokado Homura saw Ebizo's actions, he cursed inwardly. Was the man a coward, or simply too greedy?

"Nawaki!"

Tears filled Tsunade's eyes as she ran toward him, wanting to embrace him.

Swish...

A wall of vines rose up, blocking Tsunade's path.

"Tsunade, you made the wrong choice."

Senju Tojian appeared and rebuked her coldly.

She was such a foolish clanswoman. Konoha had used her, and she still hadn't realized it. He couldn't let her influence Nawaki.

"Elder sister, you shouldn't have come. And you certainly shouldn't have interfered in the affairs of the Senju Clan. Your heart has never belonged to the Senju Clan.

"As clan head, I hereby declare that none of the Senju Clan's affairs have anything to do with you. This will be announced throughout the Ninja World afterward."

Senju Nawaki stopped Senju Tojian from taking another step, then shook his head.

The shinobi way he had been taught by the three Hokage—Senju Hashirama, Senju Tobirama, and Sarutobi Hiruzen—had become very difficult to correct.