Do you have any objections?
When Gen'yō's casual words fell like a final verdict in the Divine Grace Hall, Elder Dodai's already battered heart was finally shattered.
Minerals, resources, talent, the future, and even the continuation of bloodlines.
This man used a seemingly "merciful" debt settlement plan to completely hollow out their Land of Lightning and their Kumogakure from the very roots!
This is a thousand times more cruel than simply killing them!
This is a complete annihilation at both the civilizational and racial levels!
"You devil... you're a devil..."
Dodai's eyes were vacant, and he muttered unconsciously to himself. His last remaining spirit and will completely collapsed at this moment.
He lay limp on the ground like a lump of mud, unable to move an inch.
Gen'yō looked down at the group of "former high-ranking officials of Kumogakure " who had been completely rendered useless, his face showing no emotion whatsoever.
This is exactly the result he wanted.
He wanted the whole world to see just how miserable the consequences would be for those who opposed him.
" Kakuzu."
"Your subordinate is here."
"The rest is up to you," Gen'yō said calmly. "I expect to see the first batch of 'goods' arrive in the Divine Kingdom within three days."
"Rest assured, my lord," Kakuzu said with an incredibly fervent smile on his stitched face, "I guarantee the mission will be completed! Not a single piece of 'goods' will be defective!"
After saying that, Kakuzu's holographic projection disappeared from the main hall.
Gen'yō slowly stood up, no longer glancing at the defeated warriors below who were like trash.
The "surrender ceremony" has ended.
He has perfectly achieved all his goals.
Next up are the "viewers" who are still trembling in front of their screens.
He slowly turned around and walked into the deep galaxy behind the throne, his figure gradually disappearing.
Only a cold yet authoritative sentence remained, echoing in the empty hall and throughout the entire Shinobi World.
"Proclaim my divine message."
"Three days later, the Moon Palace, the Divine Grace Hall."
"I'm waiting for their 'explanation'."
"Latecomer--"
You will bear the consequences.
When the live broadcast of that humiliating and bloody "surrender ceremony" slowly came to a close with Gen'yō's final ultimatum filled with endless killing intent, the entire Shinobi World fell into an unprecedented, suffocating silence.
Immediately following was a massive tremor, like a volcanic eruption, that swept through every corner!
" Uchiha Gen'yō!"
On this day, this name, with its unparalleled, godlike presence, completely replaced the " Sage of Six Paths," becoming a new legend, a new taboo, and a new embodiment of faith and fear throughout the entire Shinobi World!
Sunagakure, Kazekage's Office.
The Fourth Kazekage Rasa, locked himself in his office immediately after the live stream ended.
Nobody knows what he did in there.
All that is known is that when he reappeared the next day, his signature red hair was streaked with countless silver strands.
His first order to the entire village was to classify all files related to the " Uchiha " and " Divine Kingdom " as the highest-level "Sacred Files," which only he himself was authorized to access.
His second order to the Council of Elders was to use the entire village's resources to prepare a grand "meeting gift" that would impress even the gods. He would personally carry this gift to the unknown place of destiny, known as the " Moon Palace."
We have no other choice.
Faced with the elders' doubts, Rasa's voice was hoarse and filled with lingering fear.
"Be thankful, thankful that the first to jump out were those simple-minded idiots from Kumogakure."
"We've only lost our dignity."
"And they lost everything."
Kirigakure.
Fifth Mizukage Mei Terumi, who had just recovered from the internal strife in the " Bloody Mist Village," stayed up all night after watching the live stream.
Her beautiful face was now filled with solemnity and determination.
She knew very well that with Kirigakure in its current state of disarray, it had absolutely no right to challenge the Divine Kingdom.
"Pass down the order."
"Summon the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and all the Jonin of the village."
I will personally go to the Moon Palace in three days.
"If I don't come back--"
A resolute glint, characteristic of a shadow, flashed in Mei Terumi's eyes.
"Then Elder Genji will act as the Mizukage, and then—"
"I offer my loyalty to the Divine Kingdom of Kirigakure."
Iwagakure.
Having completely integrated into the Divine Kingdom system, Ōnoki felt a mix of emotions as he looked at the terrified expressions of his "old friends" on the screen.
He picked up a cup of hot tea and let out a long sigh.
"Alas, Sarutobi, if only you had half the decisiveness I Sarutobi back then, Konoha wouldn't have fallen to this state today."
He shook his head, but a hint of relief and self-satisfaction, which he himself did not realize, appeared on his face.
Sometimes, making the right choice is more important than working hard.
He made the right choice.
So now he can sit here leisurely drinking tea, watching others struggle with the fear and despair he once experienced.
And at the heart of all the storms.
The Land of Fire, Konoha.
The atmosphere in the Hokage's office was extremely tense.
The Hokage's desk, which once symbolized the highest authority of the Will of Fire Hokage, has been reduced to a pile of broken wood.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat there slumped amidst the ruins, like a stone sculpture that had lost all its color.
Standing before him were Jiraiya, Tsunade, and all the high-ranking officials of Konoha, including Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.
Every face was etched with struggle, pain, and confusion.
To go or not to go?
This simple question now feels like an insurmountable mountain, weighing heavily on everyone's hearts.
Going there means that Konoha, once the largest village in the Shinobi World, will have to completely bow its head, which has been proud for decades, before a young man in his twenties.
Not going means that Konoha will have to face the devastating rage of that god-like man who could wipe Kumogakure off the map in a single day.
"Teacher!"
Tsunade finally couldn't hold back any longer and broke the deathly silence by gritting her teeth and speaking.
"We cannot go! The glory of Konoha cannot be ruined in our hands! The village founded by the First and Second Hokage must never kneel before anyone!"
"Glory? Can glory withstand the ' Rod of God ' falling from the sky?!"
The usually tough elder, Mitokado Homura, spoke with a deep sense of powerlessness.
" Tsunade! Wake up! You have no idea what we're facing! Those aren't ninjas anymore! They're gods!"
"Enough!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi had been silent all along, suddenly let out a low, hoarse growl.
He slowly stood up from the ruins.
His posture was no longer as upright as before, and he appeared somewhat hunched over.
But at that moment, a faint yet incredibly determined light rekindled in his cloudy old eyes.
That was the last ray of light belonging to the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He looked around at everyone present, each and every one of his once trusted companions and disciples.
Finally, his gaze fell on Jiraiya.
Jiraiya.
He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, yet clearly reaching everyone's ears.
"Go to Mount Myōboku."
"Tell the Toad Sage that the Child of Prophecy has appeared."
"But--"
A complex emotion flashed in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes—regret, pain, but mostly a sense of relief after making his final decision.
" Konoha may not be able to wait until he grows up."
"So--"
Let's get ready.
Hiruzen Sarutobi turned around, looked out the window at the Hokage Rock, a symbol of the Will of Fire, and uttered the decision that made everyone's hearts tremble.
"In the name of the Third Hokage, I will pay tribute to the Uchiha Divine Kingdom— "
"Submit--"
"That surrender document we should have submitted long ago!"
Jiraiya's pupils constricted sharply, and he exclaimed in shock, "Master! Isn't there any other way?!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly shook his head, a bitter smile appearing on his face.
"Have."
"What method?" Tsunade asked anxiously.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze pierced through the window, as if he could see the distant, sacred palace standing on the moon, and the disciple he had once personally driven away, sitting on the throne.
His voice was filled with endless bitterness and self-mockery.
"The only way is to turn back time."
"Let's go back ten years, to before he left the village—"
"I, as his teacher, will personally kneel before him."
"Please... he come back."