"I have the final say."
"Do you have any objections, Lord Tsuchikage?"
Uchiha Gen'yō's voice was soft and calm, as though he were discussing something utterly trivial.
But to Ōnoki, it was like a tremendous thunderclap, leaving his mind roaring!
This was a blatant seizure of power!
He wanted more than the abolition of the Council of Elders. He wanted to hold all of Iwagakure's highest decision-making authority firmly in his own hands!
From this day forward, Iwagakure's Tsuchikage would no longer be Ōnoki of Both Scales.
He would be Uchiha Gen'yō's puppet!
Ōnoki stood frozen, his aged heart pounding wildly.
A trace of struggle and unwillingness flashed through his clouded old eyes.
He was the Kage of a village, a powerhouse who had stood at the pinnacle of the shinobi world for decades!
How could he...
But when his gaze once again fell upon the godlike Susanoo Buddha outside the window, which had yet to dissipate, the last shred of pride and unwillingness in his heart was instantly crushed.
Resist?
With what?
The Dust Release he was so proud of?
What a joke.
He was certain that if he dared utter a single "no," those thousand sky-obscuring arms would smash the entire Tsuchikage Building, along with him, into a pulp the very next second.
Before absolute, overwhelming power, all schemes and dignity seemed so laughable and helpless.
"I... have no objections."
After a long silence, Ōnoki forced those words from his throat.
The moment he spoke, all his strength seemed to drain away, and he looked decades older.
He knew that, from this moment on, Iwagakure's era was over.
In its place would come a brand-new era ruled by the Uchiha.
"Good."
Uchiha Gen'yō nodded in satisfaction.
He knew Ōnoki was a smart man.
Talking to smart people saved effort.
"Since Lord Tsuchikage has no objections, then it's settled."
His gaze turned to the utterly despairing elders on the floor.
"Elder Ishikawa, was it?"
"Here! Here! Lord Gen'yō, your humble servant is here!"
Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Head Elder Ishikawa jolted and scrambled over to kneel before Gen'yō.
"In recognition of your enthusiasm in facilitating cooperation between our two sides, I've decided to reward you."
"Starting today, you will serve as the sole elder of Iwagakure's new Council of Elders."
"What?!"
Ishikawa abruptly raised his head, his face filled with incredulous delight!
He had thought he was doomed!
Who would have thought his misfortune would turn into a blessing?!
"Of course, you will have only one task."
Uchiha Gen'yō looked down at him, a devilish smile on his face.
"To convey every word I say to Lord Tsuchikage, without changing a thing."
"Can you do that?"
"Yes! I guarantee it!"
Ishikawa understood instantly.
Gen'yō didn't want an elder. He wanted an obedient dog.
A dog he could use to monitor and keep the Tsuchikage in check!
Without hesitation, he cast aside all his dignity and integrity and frantically kowtowed to Gen'yō.
"Thank you, Lord Gen'yō! Thank you for giving me a new lease on life! From this day forward, I am your most loyal dog!"
Watching this absurd yet all-too-real scene, Ōnoki and his son Kitsuchi both wore complicated, bitter expressions.
They knew that Uchiha Gen'yō had used the simplest, most brutal method to drive a wedge of his own into the great tree that was Iwagakure.
"All right, the internal issues are resolved."
Uchiha Gen'yō clapped his hands, as though he had merely done something insignificant.
"Now, let's discuss the second issue."
"Lord Tsuchikage, what is the biggest problem facing Iwagakure-or rather, the entire Land of Earth?"
"Problem?"
Caught off guard by the sudden question, Ōnoki instinctively answered, "It's... the barren land and scarcity of resources. Wind and sand erode our land year-round, and crop yields are extremely low. That's also why we have no choice but to keep waging wars abroad."
This pain was etched into the bones of every Iwagakure ninja.
"Exactly."
Uchiha Gen'yō snapped his fingers.
"War can only bring temporary plunder. It cannot solve the problem at its root."
"But I can give you a chance to solve it at its root."
As he spoke, he slowly closed his eyes under everyone's puzzled gazes.
His consciousness sank into the system shop.
[Ding! Host has successfully intimidated Iwagakure's leadership and gained preliminary control of Iwagakure! Main quest "Forge an Alliance" completed beyond requirements!] [Quest rating: SSS+! A perfect transfer of power!] [Calculating rewards...] [Congratulations! Host has gained 50,000 Clan Prosperity points!] [Current Clan Prosperity balance: 90,000 points!]
Looking at this enormous sum, Gen'yō smiled in satisfaction.
Without hesitation, he entered "land improvement" into the shop's search bar.
Instantly, a row of products shimmering with golden light popped up.
[Basic Soil Improvement Solution: Can improve a small patch of barren land into ordinary farmland. Price: 100 points.] [Intermediate Spring of Life: Can improve an area's soil into fertile black earth and continuously improve the surrounding environment. Price: 10,000 points.] [Advanced World Tree Seed (Fragment): Once planted, it can form a small forest. Its roots can completely alter a country's ley lines and climate, fundamentally transforming desert into oasis! Price: 80,000 points!]
"This one."
Without a second thought, Gen'yō selected the most expensive option.
To him, force was merely the first step in conquest.
To make a village, a country, utterly devoted to him, he had to grant them a blessing they could not refuse, one great enough to change their destiny!
These eighty thousand points were well spent!
[Ding! Redemption successful! Advanced World Tree Seed (Fragment) has been delivered to the system inventory!]
The next second.
In the real world.
Uchiha Gen'yō slowly opened his eyes.
He extended his right hand. Above his palm, a seed quietly hovered, emitting a soft green glow and brimming with life energy of staggering magnitude.
Merely catching a trace of the aura emanating from the seed, Ōnoki and Kitsuchi felt as though even the hidden injuries left by years of fighting were being healed!
"Wh-what is that?!"
Ōnoki's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets!
He was certain that the life energy contained within this seed was even purer and more vast than that of the legendary First Hokage, Hashirama Senju!
"I call it hope."
Uchiha Gen'yō spoke calmly.
"Lord Tsuchikage, choose a place."
"Choose the most barren, desolate place in your Land of Earth."
"Today, I'll let you witness for yourselves..."
"How a miracle is born."
Ōnoki looked at the seed, then at Uchiha Gen'yō's confident face.
He swallowed. At that moment, the thought of submitting in his heart transformed completely into fervor and worship from the depths of his soul!
Follow him!
At any cost!
This man really can change the world!
Yet just as Ōnoki was about to take Gen'yō to witness the miracle...
An Anbu ninja suddenly rushed in, looking panicked, carrying a battle report that had just arrived from the border!
Without even stopping to salute, he handed the scroll to Ōnoki.
"Lord Tsuchikage! Terrible news!"
"Kumogakure... Kumogakure's Fourth Raikage has personally led three thousand Kumogakure troops across the border!"
"And... and he has sent us a declaration of war!"
"He said... he'll make the murderer of his envoy pay with the blood of the entire Uchiha Clan and the land of Iwagakure!"