Konan's Inner Conflict (Shallow Layer)
Details: He trusts me because of his ideals, but I cannot ignore the pull of reality. I am still his captive after all. To reverse this situation, as a woman, I can only use this indirect method to save the world.
First, I must find a way to make him completely fall at my feet.
Men conquer the world, women conquer men.
Almost at the same moment this prompt appeared, Sawara Kiri looked at the woman opposite him.
Unintentionally, a subtle change seemed to have appeared in her expression.
However, this psychological shift and behavioral reversal cannot be accomplished overnight.
Konan listened to Sawara Kiri's words, and a subtle ripple of emotion appeared on her consistently cool face, then receded. Her tone remained as usual, neither high nor low:
"Then you've really given me a good excuse to kill Konoha Ninja."
"I hope you won't regret it."
"Sawara Kiri."
It must be said that every woman is a master of acting.
Beautiful women are especially so.
If Sawara Kiri hadn't been able to directly see Konan's inner changes through other means, he probably would have felt a bit unsure himself at that moment.
In fact, at this moment, Konan's own heart was also suspended high.
Every action and every reaction she made at this moment was actually a gamble—and at the same time, it was a test of Sawara Kiri's psychological bottom line.
However, Sawara Kiri seemed completely unaffected by her words, maintaining his gentle smile, even as if he was inexplicably relieved:
"It's great that you can let go of our past grievances."
"So, a pleasant cooperation?"
He said, extending his hand towards Konan.
The tolerant broad-mindedness shown by his completely unmoved reaction to her words left no room for fault—at least, from Konan's perspective, if those series of events hadn't occurred before, even she herself would have to wonder if she would have already wholeheartedly submitted to this guy and dedicated herself to him.
Even if they had been enemies before.
This made Konan's self-doubt in her heart grow stronger.
At the same time, it made her desire to control this man even more urgent.
Her thoughts stirred, but on the surface, she calmly raised her hand and clasped it with Sawara Kiri's, her fingers closing, feeling the warmth from his palm.
However, just as she intended to release her grip immediately, she found her slender hand still held firmly in Sawara Kiri's palm.
Konan's heart skipped a beat, and she looked at the man in front of her with a strange gaze.
"What are you doing?"
Sawara Kiri's smile remained: "Did you forget?"
"Since I'm asking you to do things for me, it's only right to give you equivalent power."
Konan was stunned at his words.
Power, can it be given?
"Now, open your heart."
Sawara Kiri's voice softly sounded in her ear.
Almost subconsciously, Konan's whole body relaxed.
Immediately following, an invisible wind blew within the small office, and a continuous stream of Chakra, like a storm, surged rapidly into Konan's body, with the two of them's clasped hands as a link, making a roaring sound.
The violent fluctuations, surging like a tidal wave, caused Konan to subconsciously widen her eyes, like a believer who had witnessed a miracle, staring incredulously at those calm, azure eyes, like a mirror lake, and instinctively made a sound:
"This is…"
Unfortunately, before her voice could even fade.
The raging storm had already surged entirely into her body.
The rustling papers in the office gently fell, the overturned chair slid to the side, and flying strands of hair fell over her shoulders; everything seemed so unremarkable.
If it weren't for the clearly perceptible power within her body, Konan would even think that this was another illusion created by "Kyōka Suigetsu."
But what exactly is this…
Konan almost instinctively raised her hands.
Sawara Kiri, who had just held her tightly, naturally loosened his grip, letting her lower her head and stare blankly.
All the surrounding scent characteristics became so intense at this moment.
Konan could clearly perceive everything around her through her sense of smell and taste, even having the illusion that she could converse with tables, chairs, and benches.
Only the human figure reflected in her eyes was slightly blurry, making it difficult for her to remember clearly, as if it was obscured by the overly strong scent characteristics.
'Wait, this seems… not an illusion?'
Konan looked up at a small bird perched on the eaves outside the window.
Almost the instant her attention focused on it, a large amount of disorganized memories and impressions converged into her brain from the bird's body, most of them being scenes of Konoha Village from a high vantage point.
She even seemed to be able to control that bird, making it fly wherever she wanted.
In addition, her physical essence had also been greatly enhanced; her control over Chakra and her perception of external natural energy all became incredibly clear.
If animals can be controlled, then what about people? What about Tailed Beasts?
With just a few brief thoughts, Konan's mood couldn't help but become agitated.
At the same time, her apprehension towards Sawara Kiri's unfathomable methods and power grew even stronger.
Sawara Kiri, however, did not interrupt, merely watching her with a quiet smile.
At the same time, he was also somewhat surprised.
'So this is what it feels like?'
'The Auswählen.'
He could clearly feel a part of his own Chakra, as if connected by an invisible, thick black pipe, continuously pouring water into Konan's body, yet still under his own control, and he could even arbitrarily withdraw a larger amount from Konan's body after a certain period of time.
In addition, this power belonging to him seemed to have produced some wonderful chemical reaction within Konan's body, causing her to awaken a power that surpassed his own, a power that should not exist in this world.
It was somewhat similar to a Kekkei Genkai, yet it also seemed to transcend that scope, reaching a higher dimension.
'Monitoring and control type abilities?'
'If Konan explores further along this path, she should be able to produce even more brilliant fruits, right?'
'And this power is still proliferating with Konan's "awakening"?'
'Not bad.'
As Sawara Kiri thought this, the smile on his lips seemed a bit more sincere than the previous second, and his tone became earnest:
"Keep up the good work, Konan."
".Yes."
At this moment, Konan's response was undoubtedly from the heart.
Unconsciously, her gaze towards Sawara Kiri also grew more fervent.
How many more treasures does this man possess that have not yet been discovered by the world?
Konan wanted to know.
Unlike the vibrant, thriving war preparations in Konoha, the other end of the Ninja World was shrouded in gloom.
Ever since the projection appeared before Ōnoki, the four parties had maintained a silent attitude, with no one speaking the first word, just keeping this deathly silence.
Ōnoki felt immense pressure deep within his heart.
Although they had already understood that the constantly developing and reforming Konoha they now faced had led them into a dead end.
However, before the outcome was decided, they still held a tiny, unrealistic hope deep in their hearts.
Everyone knew they were gambling, but what if they won?
Unfortunately, the results are often incredibly cruel.
They lost.
Once again, they lost so thoroughly in front of Sawara Kiri.
Finally, it was the most hot-tempered Fourth Raikage who couldn't hold back his anger and grumbled in a low voice: "Are you all dead? Why aren't you saying what we should do now!"
"I know what to do? Why don't you tell me why the plan failed?!"
Karura in the projection opposite was even more furious, erupting like a volcano about to burst from pain on the last day of her period, her fingertips rapidly tapping on the table with a clicking sound, roaring like a mother leopard: "My people have risked their lives to complete the initial plan, and it was right in front of Sawara Kiri!"
"Where are your people?!"
She was naturally referring to Sasori's nuclear bomb puppet.
"My old man's people?!"
Ōnoki's anger was no less intense; a lion-like roar erupted from his small frame, his eyes bloodshot: "This generation's Five Tails Jinchuriki of Iwagakure sacrificed himself! His head was cut off by that bastard Sawara Kiri!"
"For at least half a year, the Five Tails won't be able to revive. You ask where my old man's people went?!"
"Not to mention the test site was set within Iwagakure, and half of the military base was scrapped. We can only rely on existing weapons for the war from now on…"
"That's basically fighting with the lives of Iwagakure Ninja!"
"What the hell are we fighting for?!" Ay's voice was a notch higher, his short hair standing on end from the lightning stimulation, "If it weren't for you, old geezer, saying you had a way to deal with Sawara Kiri, I wouldn't have been foolish enough to participate in your unreliable broken plan!"
"And now?!"
"You little dark ghost, you were clearly with us at the base, how dare you—"
"If you, old geezer, hadn't bragged in front of me, saying you had a way, why would I have gone to see it?!" Ay glared angrily in the projection opposite, "And that damn 'Shibai'! I knew that mysterious little dwarf—"
"Enough!!"
With a low roar, the mutual accusations in the projection all ceased.
Everyone actually knew that their current behavior of shifting responsibility was meaningless, but facing the pressure from Sawara Kiri and Konoha, everyone present felt only despair, and as Kage of their respective villages, they had nowhere to vent it.
Now, hearing that roar, their minds suddenly cleared a bit, and they all turned to look at the projection that had made the sound.
Ōtsutsuki Urashiki's expression beneath his mask was also gloomy and uncertain.
The others didn't know what his so-called 'artificial human' was, but how could he himself not know?
They were able to jump from the original world-line to this one precisely by borrowing the power of Lord Shibai.
Otherwise, seven years ago, on another world-line, they would have already died at the hands of the future Sawara Kiri.
But now it's…
'No.'
'That's not right!'
'The reason for this is not because Lord Shibai is not strong enough, but because this vessel is simply not enough to unleash even one ten-thousandth of that person's power.'
'If, if there were a more suitable vessel—'
Ōtsutsuki Urashiki gritted his teeth in secret, his fists clenched so tightly that his fingertips almost dug into his flesh.
Besides that, he couldn't abandon these inferior beings.
At least, they were all currently within Sawara Kiri's 'hostile forces' range.
He quickly pondered this, his voice soon calming: "We haven't reached the last step yet. Although there were some minor errors in the middle of the plan, which resulted in everyone failing to keep Sawara Kiri in a fixed location, I believe everyone should have already learned what happened in Konoha through various channels."
"…"
The surrounding Kage all looked at him in silence, saying nothing.
Indeed.
Although their intelligence network within Konoha had been largely eradicated, the profession of a Ninja inherently has no fixed rules, and their methods are numerous, needless to say.
While the internal conflicts of Konoha had been suppressed by Sawara Kiri, that didn't mean they didn't exist.
The actual number of 'friends' willing to reveal some information to them was not small, it was just that under Sawara Kiri's world-shaking pressure, they all dared not show their faces.
They naturally also knew about that guy who, in the very center of Konoha, exchanged dozens of blows with Sawara Kiri without a clear victor, ultimately forcing Sawara Kiri to personally request a change of location.
An artificial human?
They weren't entirely convinced by that answer.
However, for those at the bottom of despair, what other choice is there?
"What do you mean?"
Finally, Ōnoki spoke in a deep voice.
This statement, which symbolized giving up the initiative, made the other two feel a sense of relief, but also inexplicably tense.
No one likes 'the unknown.'
Ōtsutsuki Urashiki's voice was calm, even cold: "I have already informed everyone in advance."
"That form is merely the 'first stage' that we have cultivated."
"Although the current power is still no match for Sawara Kiri, the current result is not bad."
"As long as you all can hold on for a while longer and cooperate with my plan to allow 'Yamishibai' to ascend to its complete form."
"At that time, why would we worry about not being able to conquer Konoha?"
Yes.
However, at that time, what we would have to face would be the second 'Sawara Kiri' we indulged, wouldn't it?
Everyone present was well aware of this.
But, with the immediate and distant worries presented as two choices, it often means there is no choice at all.
"Is there still enough time?"
After a long silence, Karura suddenly spoke.
"No."
Ōtsutsuki Urashiki's reply was very calm: "Therefore, we can only use more aggressive methods."
As he spoke, he took out a box from his sleeve, revealing white, sunflower seed-like plant seeds inside.
"These are the split seeds of the God Tree."
"Next, please distribute them to every Ninja in each village who needs to go to the battlefield."
Just hearing his words, Ōnoki immediately reacted, his beard bristling and his eyes wide:
"You want to desecrate corpses?!"
Ōtsutsuki Urashiki turned to look at him and asked:
"Tsuchikage-sama."
"Do we have a choice?"
Just that one sentence silenced the entire room.
Yes.
They had no choice.