"We... are willing... to give everything!"
An aged, hoarse voice, filled with endless sorrow and pleading, echoed across the silent battlefield through Chakra amplification device, and clearly resonated throughout every corner of the Shinobi World.
The heavy iron gate, symbolizing the last glory of the Kumogakure, stood open, like a desperate mouth that could never close again.
Led by the one-armed elder Tsuchishiro, the high-ranking Dodai Kumogakure knelt on the ground in perfect unison, burying their once proud heads deep into the cold and humiliating dust.
Before them stood ten thousand war puppets, standing like demon gods.
Above them floated a solitary figure, draped in a black robe adorned with crimson clouds, hovering in mid-air like a god judging all things— Uchiha Itachi.
Behind the ubiquitous live-stream cameras, Uchiha Gen'yō, seated atop his Starry Throne, coldly surveyed the most humiliating surrender scene in Shinobi World history—a spectacle he himself had orchestrated—with his Kamui eyes, each burning with nine golden halos.
In the command center of the flagship " Amaterasu," you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone held their breath, awaiting their monarch's judgment.
To accept it? Or to wipe that utterly defenseless village off the map like an ant being crushed?
However, Gen'yō remained silent.
He just watched quietly, a playful smile on his lips, as if he were watching an amusing drama unfold.
One second.
Ten seconds.
One minute.
Time seemed to stretch on endlessly at that moment.
For Elder Dodai and the others kneeling on the ground, every second felt like a slow, agonizing torture. They could clearly hear their hearts pounding wildly with fear, and feel the cold sweat trickling down their foreheads, mingling with the dust on the ground—a sticky, icy sensation.
They dared not raise their heads, dared not make any movement, like a herd of livestock awaiting the butcher's final judgment.
For everyone around the world watching this live, the long silence was an even more terrifying and soul-crushing torment.
Konoha, Hokage's office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms, drawing blood, but he was completely oblivious. He could imagine how humiliating it would be if it were the elders of Konoha kneeling there right now, or if it were him, Hiruzen Sarutobi!
"What exactly does he want?" Tsunade's voice trembled slightly with tension. "Why isn't he saying anything? Does he really intend to—"
"No." Jiraiya's expression was incredibly solemn as he stared intently at the crystal ball. "He's enjoying it. He's enjoying this moment, enjoying the feeling of the entire world falling silent before him. He's using this silence to destroy the last psychological defense of Kumogakure, and to demonstrate his absolute, unquestionable authority to us all!"
Finally, just when everyone in Kumogakure was on the verge of mental collapse, that majestic yet indifferent voice, like that of a god, rang out once more.
The sound wasn't loud, but it seemed to resonate deep within everyone's soul.
"Give me everything?"
Gen'yō's voice was devoid of emotion, only displaying an indifference as if he were scrutinizing a trivial toy.
"What value do you have in all that you call 'everything'?"
These words struck like an invisible, massive hammer blow, slamming into the hearts of Dodai and all the high-ranking Kumogakure! They also struck into the hearts of all the powerful individuals in the world!
A priceless surrender is worthless in his eyes!
Dodai suddenly raised his head, his wrinkled and desperate old face filled with disbelief!
They gave up their dignity, their glory, and sacrificed the future of the entire village, only to receive such a dismissive and utterly contemptuous question in return?!
"You... you..." Dodai's lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a single word.
What could he say?
They say they have thousands of well-trained ninjas? That's a joke in the face of an iron legion capable of wiping out 30,000 troops in an instant.
They claim to possess the wealth accumulated by successive Raikage? In the face of the Divine Kingdom that has already seized control of the Land of Lightning's economic lifeline, that wealth is nothing but a pile of worthless paper.
Do they still have any pride in being one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages? The moment they knelt down, that pride was shattered by their own hands!
"Boring."
Gen'yō shook his head, a hint of disappointment on his face, as if he was dissatisfied with the lack of brilliance in the ending of the drama.
"I was originally curious to see how much of your so-called 'glory' would remain in the face of absolute death."
"I didn't expect him to kneel down so quickly."
"I'm so disappointed."
These words are even crueler than killing them outright!
"Puff--"
An elder of Kumogakure, whose psychological defenses were already fragile, could no longer withstand the successive humiliations and blows. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, his eyes rolled back, and he died instantly!
However, his death did not elicit any pity.
Gen'yō didn't even glance at the corpse.
He simply rose slowly from his throne, his domineering gaze sweeping over the faces below, faces filled with fear, despair, anger, and resentment, yet forced to kneel in humiliation.
"Fine."
He spoke casually, as if he had made an insignificant decision, in a tone that seemed almost ceremonial.
"Since you're so eager to atone for your sins, I'll give you a chance."
Upon hearing this, a look of wild joy at surviving a disaster instantly flashed in the eyes of Dodai and the others!
They still have a chance!
"Thank you for your mercy! Thank you for your forgiveness!" Dodai kowtowed frantically, his bald forehead soon becoming a bloody mess.
"Kindness?"
Gen'yō laughed, a laugh so cold it froze everyone's blood.
"No, you've got it wrong."
"I just think it would be such a waste to kill you all."
"Your flesh and blood, your Chakra, your souls, and everything you have accumulated over generations will become nourishment for the continued growth of my Divine Kingdom."
"This is not my mercy."
His voice suddenly turned icy, and a terrifying pressure that made heaven and earth pale in comparison descended with a deafening roar!
"This is the only qualification I bestow upon you, the only one you can use for 'atonement'!"
"Now--"
Gen'yō's gaze fell on Elder Dodai, who was at the head of the group.
"Bring me all the secret scrolls from your village, and that 'Daimyo Seal' that represents the highest authority in the Land of Lightning."
"No, not here."
A devilish smile curled at the corners of Gen'yō's lips.
"I will open a passage to the 'Moon Palace '."
"You yourselves, crawl over here like dogs."
Remember, my patience is limited.
If I don't see you within ten minutes--
Gen'yō's voice became soft, yet it was filled with endless chilling killing intent.
"Then I'll have to go and get it myself."
"By then, how many intact stones do you think will be left in your village?"