Everyone exchanged uncertain glances until someone finally blurted out, "Isn't that right? After all, Aizen is just one person!"
"Besides, we ordinary shinobi would only become burdens to him. It'd be better without us, right?"
It must be said that while Aizen brought them terror, he also crushed the morale of many people, leaving them utterly discouraged.
If even a Kage could be instantly controlled, what was the point of their struggling?
Seiki spoke solemnly, "In this shinobi world, from what I know, there are two organizations no weaker than Akatsuki—actually even stronger than Akatsuki!"
As his voice faded, the conference hall erupted in another wave of murmurs.
"How could that be? There are actually two organizations as powerful as Akatsuki?"
"You're kidding, right? Where would the shinobi world find so many experts?"
Seiki raised his right hand, signaling for quiet. "This is naturally true. Many of you might know that seven years ago, Jonin Minato and I left Konoha under the pretext of a top-secret mission."
"We originally intended to investigate the organization that manipulated the Nine-Tails disaster. Judging by today's perspective, the organization we were looking for should've been Akatsuki. However, by coincidence, we actually discovered two other organizations—the Xu organization and the Kara!"
"Xu? Kara?" Everyone was puzzled, never having heard of them before!
Even A wore a confused expression. He had heard Seiki mention the Xu organization before, but where did that come from?
Seiki continued, "The members of the Kara organization are incredibly powerful, wielding Ninja-Ware as their weapons. Even Jonin Minato was repeatedly injured!"
"More accurately, they repeatedly forced Minato into desperate situations!" Minato felt somewhat embarrassed—it was actually an exaggeration Seiki had advised him to say after analyzing the pros and cons.
After speaking, he also took out and demonstrated the two pieces of Ninja-Ware he had brought back.
The crowd had originally been skeptical, but upon seeing the Ninja-Ware, their doubts vanished completely.
This was a level of technology current science couldn't possibly reach!
For a moment, everyone felt a heavy weight on their hearts.
They all knew how strong Minato was. If even someone of his caliber had been pushed to the brink of death by just a few ordinary members of that organization, then they definitely stood no chance at all.
But it wasn't over yet. Seiki continued frightening them, "As for the Xu organization... Well, probably members of Xu ambushed me four years ago..."
"That time could be considered the closest I've ever come to death—half of my bones were broken, and even my spine was fractured..."
Everyone listened in disbelief, eyes wide open.
A couldn't help interrupting with a question, "Are you sure you didn't mix up the story? You're saying you were the one whose bones were broken all over the body?"
"Of course it was me!" Seiki recalled, "Back then, not long after I left Hoshigakure, I was ambushed by enemies... Oh right, that huge canyon outside Hoshigakure was the result of that battle!"
Everyone immediately thought of that massive canyon stretching for more than ten kilometers, its depth unfathomable. One after another, they were left speechless with shock.
"I originally thought it was caused by an earthquake!"
"That was actually caused by battle? How terrifying!"
After the shock subsided, Mei couldn't help but ask, "Since these two organizations are so powerful, why didn't they appear when we were fighting Akatsuki?"
Seiki pondered before replying, "As for the Gaka organization, I'm not sure, but regarding the Xu organization... most likely because their leader was recovering from injuries."
"Injuries?"
"Of course," Seiki smiled. "Did you really think pulling off an ambush on me would come without a price?"
Everyone was deeply impressed.
Judging from the destruction caused by that battle, the Xu leader's strength may have even surpassed Madara in his prime, and that was with an ambush. Yet he still got defeated by Seiki!
It could only mean one thing—Seiki was simply too powerful!
Seeing the assembled leaders still reeling from the weight of those two organizations' power, Seiki spoke solemnly, "Now you all understand, right? With enemies this strong, we can't afford even a moment's slack. We must strive to grow stronger!"
Everyone responded loudly, "Yes!"
Following that, Seiki discussed various aspects of the Alliance's future.
Two hours later, the summit finally arrived at its final agenda item.
Seiki scanned the crowd, "Does anyone have suggestions regarding the handling of those three?"
Instinctively, Onoki glanced toward the Mist direction, only to meet Mei Terumi's encouraging gaze.
The two immediately understood each other's thoughts and awkwardly turned their heads away.
Others, without such concerns, freely expressed their opinions.
"Obviously, we should kill them! What's the point of keeping such vicious criminals alive—just so they can ring in the New Year with us?"
"Some escaped Akatsuki members might even possess the Impure World Reincarnation technique. Killing them wouldn't be wise."
"What about using them as bait? That Aizen guy wanted to rescue someone, right?"
"He said he wanted to save them, but honestly, he doesn't seem to care that much!"
"By the way, what did that guy mean by 'Key to Another World'?"
"Could the Rinnegan have other functions?"
"Another world? Could it mean the Pure Land [Pure Land: a divine realm beyond death]?"
Seeing the discussion veer off-topic, Seiki coughed twice, "Let me make a suggestion then—imprison them for two hundred years!"
"Two hundred years?" Everyone was stunned. "They'll be long dead by then!"
Seiki shook his head slightly, "Even in death, I will bind their souls to atone forever!"
A chill ran through everyone. Two hundred years of solitude—far more terrifying than capital punishment!
In fact, even death wouldn't grant them peace!
All of a sudden, much of their resentment faded.
Many silently warned themselves—never to commit crimes ever again.
Hadn't they noticed how even Lord Seiki showed no leniency toward his own friends?
Rin, who had slipped into the hall unnoticed, couldn't help but start rising from her seat, but Kakashi held her down.
"Kakashi, you..."
"The senior won't change his mind, and besides, this is also Obito's wish."
"Obito..."
"In a man who has already accepted his fate, any sympathy or pity is nothing but an insult," Kakashi said, then shifted tone slightly, "That said, it's not like there's absolutely no chance of saving them either."
"Rin urged, 'Come on, tell me already!'
Kakashi said, 'Didn't Senpai already tell us? There might be two more crises coming in the shinobi no sekai. If Obito redeems himself, he might be able to apply for a reduced sentence, right?'
Rin nodded rapidly, 'You're right. I need to work hard to keep up with both of you, and then help Obito redeem himself as his teammate!'
Kakashi said in surprise, 'So you're not angry with him anymore?'
Rin pursed her lips, 'I still hate what Obito did to all of us, but if even we abandon him, wouldn't Obito be too pitiful?'"
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