Inside Iwagakure!
Beneath Fugaku's seemingly amiable expression, they quickly began negotiating with the civilians of Iwagakure.
Yet although Fugaku had already behaved kindly enough, fear was still plainly visible on the faces of those Iwagakure civilians.
Hiashi, standing behind Fugaku, could understand their reaction. Among the Five Great Shinobi Villages, civilians held a lower status than shinobi. Only in a place like Konoha was the situation somewhat better.
Within the Shinobi World, aside from those with special identities and wealthy merchants, civilians had always ranked below shinobi. After all, compared to civilians, shinobi wielded immensely powerful strength.
Thus, the civilians of Iwagakure were utterly terrified of Fugaku's group. Even though Fugaku appeared to have a good attitude, the civilians knew perfectly well that it was only a surface appearance.
Although they knew these people were Konoha shinobi who had captured Iwagakure, they did not dare harbor even the slightest thought of resistance, much less show any dissatisfaction on their faces.
For civilians like them, while they held deep feelings for Iwagakure, the village they depended on to survive, and naturally felt some resentment toward Konoha now that it had occupied the village—
There was one thing these civilians understood clearly: as civilians, they needed to have a sober understanding of their own place.
In other words, no matter who ruled Iwagakure in the future, it had nothing to do with civilians like them. All they wanted, and all they sought in their hearts, was to live peaceful, stable lives.
Of course, if possible, every civilian shared one wish: to pursue lasting peace.
Just as Fugaku began making contact with the civilians of Iwagakure, a fierce war broke out far away at the border of the Land of Water.
Border of the Land of Water!
At this moment, two massive