Gaara watched her defeated expression and slowly spoke, offering the most practical advice he could.
"I agreed to join your Anti-Fire Alliance because I refuse to accept this fate. I don't want Sunagakure to become Konoha's vassal, but I can't stop it on my own."
"But I have to warn you."
"The other three great hidden villages won't necessarily take your side."
"They've accepted Konoha's favors and enjoyed the wealth and luxury from bleeding those beneath them dry. They won't rise up against Konoha with you."
After hearing that harsh reality, Sarada was so furious she laughed.
She drew a deep breath and stared coldly at Gaara. "So the Shinobi World's future order has already been decided?"
"Konoha sits at the very top, bleeding everyone dry, while the leaders of your villages sit on the second tier, squeezing the common people of your own countries. A closed loop of exploitation from top to bottom that no one can break?"
Gaara fell silent, neither disputing nor acknowledging her words.
His silence conceded that cruel truth.
The entire room fell deathly quiet.
Outside the Sky Screen, the entire Shinobi World fell silent after watching their exchange. The lively discussions stopped dead.
Every low-ranking ninja and civilian felt a chill run down their spine.
At last, they understood!
It wasn't simply that Naruto was vicious. The leaders of the entire world had joined forces to sell out those at the bottom!
Those at the top colluded to divide the spoils, while ordinary people remained in the dark, silently enduring exploitation.
The many ninja who had been clamoring to join the Anti-Fire Alliance instantly fell quiet, their confidence shaken.
Their hardest enemy to overcome wasn't the Seventh Hokage after all. It was human greed.
In the dim Kazekage's Office, the atmosphere was oppressive and