Sarada took a slow step forward, her gaze piercing through the Main Hall's doors and windows toward Konohagakure, thousands of miles away. Her voice was grave as she began dissecting the broader situation.
"You know perfectly well that once Naruto secured his position as Seventh Hokage, Konoha became the sole dominant power."
"With himself and Sasuke as the two strongest fighters, he forcibly suppressed the Four Great Shinobi Villages: Sunagakure, Iwagakure, Kirigakure, and Kumogakure."
"Over the years, openly and behind the scenes, he's gradually weakened the Hidden Villages' military authority, finances, and mineral resources, keeping all four firmly in his grip."
"Backed by Konoha's oppressive power, the Land of Fire's nobles and Great Merchants run rampant throughout the shinobi world. They monopolize grain, minerals, and nearly every other scarce resource across borders, squeezing smaller countries out of any room to survive."
Sarada's voice grew colder. "To put it bluntly, Konoha calls all the shots in today's shinobi world. Konoha stands alone at the top, and Naruto controls the entire board."
"When it comes to top-tier strength, no one can beat Naruto and Sasuke."
"When it comes to the economic lifelines, Konoha has them all locked into its monopoly."
"When it comes to controlling public opinion and the narrative, it's all in Konoha's hands."
"No shinobi village, no faction, has the power to openly resist Konoha or Naruto Uzumaki."
Kisame silently dipped his head, then gave a firm nod.
"You're right."
"Naruto Uzumaki isn't just unbeatable in combat. His political schemes are meticulous and ruthless. Using both the carrot and the stick, he keeps the entire shinobi world firmly in his grip. He truly is terrifying."
"That's the root of the deadlock we're trapped in." Sarada spread her hands, her tone carrying both helplessness and resolve.
"The reborn Akatsuki I've reorganized,