As Tsunade relayed the news from the front lines to the rear and Minato Namikaze personally issued the order, all ninja abandoned resistance. Even those who refused to believe the truth had no choice but to accept this tragic reality: mighty Konoha had been utterly defeated in the Fourth Shinobi World War.
Of course, the scars of war could not be erased by a simple declaration of surrender. Both sides looked at one another with anger and killing intent in their eyes. If the higher-ups had not reached a balance, those ninja who had lost family and friends to the war would likely have attacked the enemies before them without regard for the consequences!
Under Uchiha Yuu's orders, all the ninja entered Konoha and kept strict watch over everything there. Under everyone's gaze, he made his way step by step onto the platform, from which he could look down upon the ninja below.
Their gazes held suppressed anger, complicated emotions, and even fanaticism. Different expressions converged as they looked toward Uchiha Yuu on the platform.
"I'm pleased to stand on Konoha's stage once more. After all, I left Konoha many years ago."
A simple opening remark tugged at everyone's hearts, especially those of Konoha's ninja. Their hearts were filled with sorrow, because Uchiha Yuu before them could decide their lives and deaths with a single sentence. He stood high above them, plundering those at the bottom. All they could do now was hope that he would not destroy Konoha.
"I know the war has taken away your family, your friends, and perhaps even everything you possessed, all buried in the flames of war. But I can promise you one thing: Konoha will enter a period of rapid development from now on."
"Likewise, I will take control of everything in Konoha.