Land of Iron Capital City Outside the heavy city gate, the cold wind howled past with thin snow.
In front of the door, two completely different figures attracted everyone's attention almost immediately.
"Ōnoki, are you really ready?"
Fourth Raikage crossed his arms, his muscles bulged like mountains, and his eyes were as sharp as knives.
His eyes fell on the gray-robed old man in mid-air - Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki.
I saw Ōnoki suspended in mid-air, with his beard and hair blowing slightly in the wind. There was no escort behind him, only the little girl with orange hair on his head - Kurotsuchi.
Raikage's deep voice contained a hint of sarcasm:
"Bringing such a brat here and not even asking for a guard? Are you planning to bow down to Yemu directly?"
In fact, Yemu gave them two choices as early as a week ago--
Surrender, or perish.
These seven days were not only for the so-called "go back to discuss the management plan", but also gave them the final time to think.
Do you want to become a footnote in history and be talked about as a joke by future generations?
Or will you leave a trace of incense and let your country survive?
Ōnoki lowered his eyelids and spoke in a slow but thorny tone:
"Fourth Raikage, what's wrong? Are you still dreaming? Or are you still not aware of the reality in front of you?"
He glanced sideways, a coolness flashed across his eyes, and his voice was unhurried and slow, as if he was talking about a trivial matter:
"If you really plan to resist... I wouldn't mind telling Mr. Yemu your true feelings in person."
As soon as these words came out, Fourth Raikage's eyelids twitched suddenly, and his face instantly darkened.
He could feel Ōnoki's unabashed "following the crowd", like an old fox hugging Great Tree tightly in the storm--
But he didn't expect that the old man would change so quickly.
"I haven't seen you for a week. What did you, old boy, eat? Your bones are so soft?"
Raikage's voice was filled with fire Yakumi, as if he was about to rush forward and punch Ōnoki in the next second.
However, Ōnoki was not aroused to anger.
Instead, there was an almost contemptuous smile on his lips.
"Fourth Raikage... You are young and full of energy. This is a good thing."
"But in front of Master Yemu, your temper, your muscles, your Lightning Release... are all useless."
"I just want the ninjas of Land of Earth to be safe and sound. The rest? Hehe, I'll leave it to you to be a hero."
Such words are like a dull knife, slowly gouging out Fourth Raikage's self-esteem.
Raikage clicked his tongue, turned away fiercely, and stopped looking at him.
At this moment, a burst of elegant footsteps came.
The fragrance of a woman comes with the wind - that's Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi.
Her steps slowed down, followed by two Kirigakure elite guards.
Wearing a tight-fitting long skirt-style ninja outfit, she outlined her exquisite curves, and her long chestnut hair swayed gently in the cold wind.
Fourth Raikage narrowed his eyes, and his voice was a little tentative:
"Fifth Mizukage, have you come to any conclusion after this week's consideration?"
Mei Terumi heard this, raised his hand to cover his lips, and smiled lightly, but with an edge:
"Conclusion?"
Her eyes crossed Raikage's shoulders and landed on the heavy city gate in the distance.
"What do you think... Master Yemu hasn't 'cleaned up' you enough yet, has he?"
This understatement made Raikage's face darken immediately.
He snorted coldly, said no more, turned around and strode towards the venue with his guards.
At this moment, the dark clouds on the horizon are slowly pressing down.
Land of Iron's sky seems to be ushering in a storm that cannot be refused--
The center of the storm is the man named Yemu.
Land of Iron--
It was originally a Shinobi World neutral land with four distinct seasons and surrounded by snow-capped mountains. It is known for its Samurai way.
But now, its appearance has been completely rewritten.
Since Yemu announced that it would be the core of the empire, the entire Land of Iron has been caught in a day and night construction frenzy.
Under the mountains surrounding Capital City, tall buildings rise from the ground with numerous scaffoldings. Craftsmen, ninjas, and Samurai are mixed in the streets, and the sounds of shouting and transporting stone and steel can be heard one after another.
The heavy snow was shoveled away, and flat bluestones and rails were paved. Transport trucks transported a steady stream of supplies along the rails.
Yemu's idea is to build an unprecedented giant city here - not only the largest city of Shinobi World, but also the heart of an empire that can radiate the world and suppress all rebellious hearts.
Deep in this heart, something destined to be written into history is destined to happen today.
Land of Iron In the conference room, the thick wooden door slowly closed, blocking out the cold wind and noise from the outside world.
On the wide circular conference table, Five Kage sat down one after another, with place cards symbolizing their status placed in front of them.
On the main seat, Yemu had his back to the window. The sky outside the window was as gloomy as ink, as if even the light was trying to avoid this man.
He didn't make any pleasantries, no tests, no foreshadowing.
A cold voice cuts through the dead silence like a sharp sword--
"Starting today, Yemu Empire is established. What do you think?"
Just over ten words echoed in the conference room, as if every syllable carried weight, making people's chest feel tight.
Five Kage all looked at him with different expressions.
They had already expected this day to come, and they also knew that this man's strength and methods were enough to make the entire Shinobi World surrender.
But when the ending was announced in such a direct and unabashed way, there was still a shock that could not be ignored in my heart -
How many years?
Shinobi World has been ups and downs in war, conspiracy, betrayal, and revenge for how many years?
Just like that, with one sentence, it came to a complete end.
After a moment of silence, Ōnoki slowly raised his head, with both helplessness and deep calculation in his eyes.
"Sir Yemu," his voice was hoarse but without hesitation, "I have no objection. Land of Earth, from now on I will only follow the lead of the Yemu Empire."
As soon as he said these words, it was like the first stone that broke the silence.
The corners of Mei Terumi's lips were slightly raised, and there was a hint of charm in the smile and a hint of judgment, "Kirigakure... is also willing to join the empire."
Raikage had a cold face, but finally said in a deep voice, "Kumogakure, will comply with the empire's arrangements."
Kazekage Gaara lowered his head and said calmly, "Sunagakure, I have no objections either."
Tsunade sighed slightly, "Konoha... the same is true."
Five Kage's statement is like the final word.
Shinobi World's old order completely collapsed at this moment.
Yemu had no surprise in his eyes, he seemed to have taken all this for granted.
He raised his hand gently, and the second command came down mercilessly:
"Construct state-owned banks and abolish Daimyo."
As soon as he said this, Five Kage looked calm, with almost no surprise.
Everyone present understood that if we want to truly unify Shinobi World, we must uproot those deep-rooted old powers.
Daimyo, this class who has never actually held a sword in battle, but holds countless wealth and military power, must be the first to be eliminated.
Yemu's voice is calm and firm:
"You guys, please send someone to carry out this matter as soon as possible after you return. Any delay will be regarded as disobedience."
But the next sentence was like thunder, suddenly hitting everyone's ears.
"The last regulation - abolish the ninja system and establish Imperial Guard."
The air solidified instantly.
Everyone's pupils shrank slightly, even Ōnoki, the deepest in the city, frowned at this moment.
Abolition of the ninja system - this is not a simple system reform, it is destroying the foundation on which they exist.
Since the establishment of Ninja Village, ninjas have been the central military and political force of various countries, and now, Yemu will replace everything with "Imperial Guard".
This means that their power will be further weakened or even cease to exist.
Raikage growled, "Yemu, this step... isn't it too-"
"Raikage." Yemu's eyes just glanced over, and Raikage's words stopped abruptly, as if his throat was pinched by iron pliers.
Silence, silence, silence again.
Until Yemu spoke again, his voice was so calm that he seemed to be announcing a long-destined fact:
"Shinobi World, there is no need to split. What is needed is a sharp sword that can cut down at any time - and this sword can only be held in my hand."
"Do you have any opinion?"
Yemu slowly raised his golden eyes, making Fourth Raikage lower his head, not daring to say a word for a long time.
Surrender or destroy.
The two choices given have been made clear. Fourth Raikage chose to participate in the meeting because he naturally did not want to destroy it.
The heavy conference room door slowly closed, and the sound of wooden friction extended in the empty corridor, as if an unshakable seal had been stamped on this meeting.
In the air, there is still the cold and solemn atmosphere after the power confrontation just now.
Ōnoki's figure looks smaller and smaller under the light, but his back is still straight.
He shook his head slowly, with a hint of crispness in his hoarse voice. "No objection."
He paused, seeming to have swallowed the last bit of struggle back into his throat, "I am willing to contribute my share to the construction of the empire."
This sentence fell, like the last chess piece symbolizing dignity, which he personally pushed into the opponent's palm.
There is no doubt that Ōnoki has completely surrendered to the power of Yemu.
Yemu has no unnecessary emotions, as if he is announcing a trivial thing:
"Do you still have any questions? If not, we can adjourn the meeting."
At this time, Tsunade, who had been silent all this time, raised his eyes and spoke as if he had already planned it, "Um, Mr. Yemu, after reunification, who should own the minerals, energy, agriculture, water conservancy and other ownership rights of each village?"
Her voice was not sharp, but like a hook, it accurately caught the nerves of everyone present.
The hearts of the four shadows tightened at the same time.
This is not an ordinary resource issue - it is the lifeblood of every country, the foundation that can feed tens of millions of people and also collapse the entire regime.
Yemu's expression remained calm, but his plain answer fell to the ground like a hammer, "Do you even need to ask? Of course it belongs to the empire."
In the silent conference room, Raikage opened his mouth slightly, but found that his breath seemed to be frozen in his throat, and he could not make any rebuttal sound.
He could only lower his head, clenched his fists, and let this order weigh on his heart like a stone tablet.
Soon, the meeting came to an end.
Five Kage left the table one after another, and the wooden door opened again. The cold wind from outside the corridor took the opportunity to pour in, taking away the remaining warmth in the room, but it could not dispel the extremely oppressive heaviness in the air.
Just when Yemu was about to leave, Ōnoki quietly stopped him.
"Master Yemu, there is something I want to say alone."
The light and shadow in the corridor cast a long silhouette between the two people.
Yemu looked back, his eyes were as deep as the abyss, without a trace of emotion. "Why didn't you say it at the meeting?"
If he wanted to use this to regain some power, Yemu's eyes had already written the answer in advance - impossible.
Ōnoki reached out and rubbed his sparse gray hair, as if to relieve tension, or as if he was preparing a bold decision.
He pulled Kurotsuchi beside him who was looking at a loss and said, "Um, Master Yemu, it should be time for you to talk about marriage now, right? Since you want to establish an empire, you must need a concubine, right?"
He narrowed his eyes, with a hint of an old fox's smile in his probing look, "I don't know... how about my granddaughter?"
"Old man!" Kurotsuchi's voice suddenly rose in pitch, and his whole figure looked like a cat whose fur had been violently ruffled, with a look of shame and annoyance on his face.
She suddenly raised her head and looked at Yemu, looking at the new lord of the empire up close for the first time -
Her short silver hair glowed coldly under the light, and her nearly perfect face seemed to have been carved by heaven, with every edge Kakuzu carrying a sense of oppression.
Kurotsuchi felt a sudden heat at the base of his ears, and his heart beat uncontrollably faster. He looked away in panic. "Old man! Why didn't you tell me in advance?!"
Yemu's eyes were indifferent and he glanced at her slightly--
That kind of gaze is more like looking at Future's subordinates, rather than the way a man looks at a woman.
He shook his head slowly. "Speaking of this matter, let me tell you in advance - I will hold a wedding in about one month."
Ōnoki's smile froze, and a trace of loss and unwillingness flashed through his narrowed eyes:
"Is that the black-haired girl?"
He quickly remembered that it was the black-haired girl from the Uchiha Clan, who had appeared on the battlefield with Yemu.
Yemu was silent and did not deny it.
The air became solemn at this moment, Ōnoki seemed to still want to fight for a chance. "Kurotsuchi... is there still a chance?"
As he finished speaking, Kurotsuchi subconsciously pinched the corner of his clothes, his fingertips turned slightly white, and he didn't dare to raise his eyes.
"No."
Yemu only spit out one word, like a frozen verdict with no room for change.
The next moment, his figure disappeared at the end of the corridor, leaving Ōnoki and Kurotsuchi with only a gust of cold wind and a silent sigh.
At the same time, Fourth Raikage endured the frustration and walked out Land of Iron Capital City.
He looked at Ōnoki beside him with a look of confusion, "Third Tsuchikage, is this really okay for us to do?"
"What's the difference between this and the subjugation of the country?"
"The military power is gone, and now even the resources are gone?"
Listen to Fourth Raikage's question.
Ōnoki spread his hands helplessly, "At least, we have not truly subjugated our country."
"Fourth Raikage, don't think too much about it. The strong are respected. Yemu didn't kill him, he was already merciful."