Kurotsuchi was the first to press the voting button. " Iwagakure agrees. It's better to leave such dangerous items to professionals for safekeeping."
" Kumogakure agrees," Mabui said expressionlessly.
Maki noticed the uneasy glances exchanged between the representatives of several small countries.
When their gazes swept over, the representative from the Land of Hot Water immediately lowered his head and pretended to organize files, while the old man from the Land of Birds closed his eyes and muttered something.
" Sunagakure agrees."
Aoki abruptly stood up. "This is blatant robbery! The Box of Ultimate Bliss is the most prized treasure of Kusagakure! Why should we entrust it to you for safekeeping!"
The roar echoed in the conference hall, and the withered fingers gripped the edge of the table tightly, the knuckles turning white from the force.
The downpour outside the window suddenly intensified, the raindrops pounding against the bulletproof glass with a series of loud thuds, as if echoing the violent heaving of his chest.
"Plunder?" Kabuto Yakushi repeated the word softly, a dangerous smile curving his lips.
"The purpose of the Shinobi Alliance is to maintain peace in the Shinobi World." Mitokado Homura's voice was like a dull knife cutting through leather. "If Kusagakure has a clear conscience, why does it refuse joint oversight?"
The old consultant's glasses reflected a cold light. "Or are you actually plotting something... nefarious?"
"I propose adding voting conditions." Kurotsuchi suddenly raised her hand, the girl's sweet voice creating an eerie contrast with the cruel content.
"If Kusagakure refuses to hand it over, the Shinobi Alliance has the right to freeze all of its overseas assets and impose comprehensive sanctions."
After a vote, the proposal was passed, and the Land of Grass must hand over the Box of Ultimate Bliss to the Shinobi Alliance for safekeeping.
Aoki staggered backward as if struck by lightning, knocking over the chair behind him, and an unprecedented despair appeared on his wrinkled face.
"Great! Excellent!"
His withered fingers suddenly pointed at Kabuto Yakushi, "Isn't the Impure World Reincarnation taboo in your Sound Ninja?" Then he turned to Maki, "Is the human modification in Sunagakure morally acceptable?"
The air in the conference room froze instantly.
"Watch your words, Representative Aoki." Mitokado Homura's voice suddenly crackled with Chakra pressure. " The Shinobi Alliance's decisions are not open to questioning."
Maki watched as the old man was forced to kneel on one knee by this oppressive force, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
Just as the conflict was about to escalate, Aoki suddenly ripped off his badge and smashed it on the ground, a hoarse sound rang out.
"Fine! I can't afford to offend you all, then Kusagakure will withdraw from the Shinobi Alliance, okay?"
Upon hearing this, Maki immediately pulled up a contingency plan and said, "According to Article 13 of the Shinobi Alliance Charter, unilateral withdrawal from the alliance is considered a declaration of war."
The moment the words were spoken, the room erupted in an uproar.
There was no time for anyone to react.
Maki stood up abruptly, placed his hands on the conference table, and his voice was clearly amplified throughout the entire venue.
"In light of the excessive words and actions of Kusagakure representative Aoki, and his unilateral withdrawal from the alliance, the Five Great Council of the Shinobi Alliance hereby issue the following declaration..."
"First, the Kusagakure regime has been secretly developing forbidden weapons for a long time, which seriously violates the Shinobi World Peace Treaty and poses a major threat to the safety of the entire Shinobi World."
"Secondly, the high-ranking officials of Kusagakure are suspected of conducting human experiments on civilians, committing crimes against humanity."
"Thirdly, as an organization dedicated to maintaining peace in the Shinobi World, the Shinobi Alliance has a responsibility to liberate the oppressed people of the Land of Grass."
Mitokado Homura then took over the conversation, saying, "Starting today, the Shinobi Alliance will launch ' Operation Dawn '."
" The Five Great Nations will dispatch a joint force to conduct precision strikes against military facilities in Kusagakure, while simultaneously protecting civilian safety."
Mabui drew up the battle plan. " Kumogakure will blockade the coastline, Konoha forces will advance from the east, Sunagakure puppet troops will control the western plains, Iwagakure Explosion Corps will clear the underground fortifications."
" The Otogakure will provide medical and intelligence support," Kabuto Yakushi added with a smile.
"You... this is blatant aggression..." Aoki looked at them in disbelief.
"This is humanitarian intervention. The Shinobi Alliance has only one goal..." Maki corrected.
"Disarm Kusagakure, place the Box of Ultimate Bliss under international supervision, and free the people of the Land of Grass from terror."
The automatic doors to the conference hall suddenly opened, and two Rain Ninja appeared in the doorway.
Maki gave Aoki one last look. "Representative Aoki, for security reasons, you will be temporarily detained, and your entourage is cooperating with the investigation."
Hahahaha!
As Aoki was being taken away, the old man suddenly let out a shrill laugh.
"You think you've won? The Box of Ultimate Bliss will devour all who covet it! Just wait, soon you will..."
The sound stopped abruptly as the door closed.
Maki turned to the other representatives, "The operation will begin in 24 hours. May this operation bring true peace to the Land of Grass."
"Halftime break. The meeting will resume in fifteen minutes!"
The artificial light source was suddenly brightened, the side door of the conference hall slid open, and a waiter silently pushed a food cart in.
Fifteen minutes later.
"Gentlemen, let's continue." Mitokado Homura tapped the gavel, and the holographic projection switched to a map showing the distribution of mineral resources in the Land of Iron.
"Based on the Shinobi Alliance's resource coordination plan," Mabui said, "We recommend a reassessment of the Land of Iron's neutral status."
Mifune frowned and said, "The neutral status of the Land of Iron has been jointly recognized by the Five Great Shinobi Villages!"
"But times have changed, haven't they?" Kurotsuchi toyed with the brand-new Shinobi Alliance badge.
"Even Takigakure is expanding its military facilities, while the Land of Iron, which possesses 35% of the Shinobi World's metal resources, only produces melee weapons. This is a waste of resources."
The Shinobi Alliance Five Great Nations for the mineral resources of the Land of Iron stems from an escalating arms race.
With the establishment of the Shinobi World Alliance, the apparent peace actually fueled the secret expansionist ambitions of the major ninja villages.
The situation in Sunagakure is the most dire.
Located in the desert environment of the Land of Wind, the area is already resource-scarce, and the demand for metal resources is increasing daily due to the cybernetic modification technology and expansion plans promoted by the Reform Society.
The scattered mineral veins in the desert are no longer sufficient to meet the demand, and the Sunagakure's warehouse inventory can only sustain normal consumption for six months.
The situation in Kumogakure is equally dire.
The research and development team not only had to build a second main gun, but also to miniaturize it and equip it to elite troops.
The project requires an astonishing amount of special alloys, and what's even more challenging is that mining the mountain veins in the Land of Lightning is extremely difficult and costly.
Even the seemingly carefree Konoha is facing hidden worries.
Although Wood Release Ninjutsu greatly reduced construction costs, the various projects secretly underway and the development of new weapons were secretly depleting strategic metal reserves.
As for Iwagakure, nobody knows what they're up to right now.
But what is generally accepted is...
If Iwagakure cannot produce strategic weapons in the next few years, then the next target for dividing up the Land of Earth's resources will be...
Against this backdrop.
The Land of Iron possesses the richest Chakra Metal deposits in the entire Shinobi World, yet it maintains a conservative mining strategy, naturally making it a target of envy and criticism.
The neutral status that was once a source of pride is nothing more than a thin veil that can be torn off at any time in the eyes of resource-starved great powers.