"You've accounted for every aspect of human nature and the situation." Kisame let out a long sigh, looking at the young girl before him with mixed feelings.
"Put plainly, you're betting on all the factions' fear of death and their calculations of costs and benefits. You're using terror as a deterrent to keep the Land of Rain out of the conflict."
"Exactly." Sarada nodded openly. "I never wanted to destroy the Shinobi World. I'm just using this inevitable power struggle to carve out a way forward for the Land of Rain."
"As long as the two sides keep each other in check, Naruto won't have time to bother with me, and the Celestial Dragons won't touch a neutral Land of Rain with no nobles. Then we'll be completely free."
The Main Hall fell silent for a long while. Kisame lowered his eyes, running through the worst possible outcome and every risk in his mind.
After a long silence, he raised his head and looked intently at the resolute young girl before him. His voice was low and resigned as he asked for confirmation. "Sarada, have you truly made up your mind? Is there no room at all to reconsider?"
Without the slightest wavering in her eyes, Sarada gave a firm, earnest nod, her tone blunt and indifferent.
"I've made up my mind."
"Like I said, what the fuck do I care if the rest of the Shinobi World falls into chaos?"
"From beginning to end, all I've cared about is our little patch of land here in the Land of Rain."
"Yahiko, you, and Nagato just thought too much."
"You worried about peace throughout the Shinobi World, worried about everyone's hatred, and in the end, you couldn't protect anything."
"What do other people's lives or the balance of power in