"I couldn't care less about your lives or your value. The only people I care about are those useful to me."
Uchiha Yuu did not force Uzumaki Xiangyi to make a choice, nor did he kill those who had targeted her. He merely stated a trivial matter in an even tone.
"You are the first village to seek refuge with us, so I will give you an opportunity. Everyone will be broken up and assigned to different shinobi units, then sent to the front lines to carry out missions alongside our village's shinobi. Younger Genin may join Dawn Hidden Village's academy. From then on, they will be part of our village."
"The other choice is for everyone to head to the borderlands. Whether you survive will depend on your luck."
His words decided the fate of everyone present. Kusagakure's submission represented annexation. From this day onward, Kusagakure officially became history.
The village chief chose the first option without hesitation. At the very least, this way, he would not have failed the people of his village. As for the village becoming history amid the transformations sweeping the entire Shinobi World, that was inevitable. If they could join Dawn Hidden Village and provide the next generation with a better environment, then even if they became people of another village, they could accept that reality.
It was far better than everyone being sent to war as cannon fodder, as they had initially expected.
"I will send someone to arrange your next assignments. You may leave the conference hall now."
His order to leave did not mean Uzumaki Xiangyi could leave. From this moment onward, her fate was entirely different from theirs. Only a few people remained standing in the empty hall. Seeing her evasive, timid gaze, he did not force her to become