"Why are you so surprised? I'm not a devil, and I don't enjoy watching rivers of blood."
Hearing Kenya's words, especially those from Konoha's side—Kakashi and the others—everyone was left speechless.
Don't like it?
Then who killed so many people in Cloud Village?
"Lord Kenya, if we let the Rock Shinobi recover, they'll only cause war again in the future. Why not use this opportunity to annihilate them in one strike?"
Jinnaruo stood up and spoke.
"You could do that with the Sand if you want to please me, Jinnaruo. But I wasn't finished speaking. Sit back down, understood?"
Kenya replied with a smile.
Jinnaruo stiffened, but quickly returned to his seat, obediently.
"I'm pleased that Gaara made the judgment to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. But that isn't the only reason behind my decision."
Kenya addressed the room:
"Konoha's Anbu just informed me—the Four-Tails, Five-Tails, and Six-Tails have been captured by an organization calling itself Akatsuki."
Everyone looked stunned. Almost unconsciously, someone whispered:
"Akatsuki…?"
"I remember during the Third Ninja War—Onoki hired them briefly as a mercenary group. Their execution power was remarkable, and they earned some fame back then. But after the war, they disappeared completely."
Pakura recalled.
"The Jinchūriki of the Four-Tails, Five-Tails, and Six-Tails had already defected from their villages and were wandering outside. Even if they were captured, it's understandable that news spread slowly.
In other words… their next targets will be the tailed beasts within the hidden villages."
Terumi Mei speculated.
"That's right. Even if we don't yet know why they're collecting the tailed beasts, there's no doubt that their power could change the entire balance of the ninja world.
Perhaps, in the future, Rock Shinobi's strength will be needed in the fight against Akatsuki. That is why I will not wipe them out."
Kenya explained.
Of course, the real reason was far different—he simply didn't care about Iwagakure's fate.
The Hōgyoku had already evolved to a new stage. Aside from Kage-level opponents, Kenya's own training in the system's space far surpassed any "experience" gained by clashing with others.
And unlike Cloud Shinobi, who once had Sarutobi Hiruzen's Konoha backing them, Rock Shinobi only relied on Onoki—an old Kage at the end of his strength. Both Onoki and Hiruzen were already half a step into their coffins, sitting at the lowest tier of Kage-level.
Kenya had long since stopped caring about them.
More importantly, on the way here, Orochimaru had secretly sent him a message—
Uchiha Sasuke was growing faster than expected!
Orochimaru had originally planned to groom Sasuke as his future vessel, taking his body within two to three years.
But even the Living Corpse Reincarnation technique had flaws. If the user's current body had not fully deteriorated, the transfer couldn't be completed safely. Forcing it would severely damage the soul.
Yet at Sasuke's current rate of growth, he might rebel against Orochimaru before that time arrived—perhaps even kill him.
Uneasy, Orochimaru had sent this confidential report to Kenya.
This Sasuke… was far more important than Iwagakure.
Without hesitation, Kenya gave up any further thought of destroying them.
He hadn't expected the Hōgyoku's ability to push potential to the limit to be this extreme. Sasuke was growing even faster than in the original timeline.
It seemed the plan would need some adjustments.
"Lord Kenya, Akatsuki is nothing but a group of rogue mercenaries. Do they truly dare to attack the great villages?"
Kinnaruo asked in disbelief.
This was exactly why, in the early days, none of the great villages took Akatsuki seriously. They had assumed it was nothing more than a band of rebels, far too weak to challenge the great powers.
But learning that Akatsuki had already captured most of the tailed beasts… shocked everyone awake.
"I know it's hard to believe, but this is my instinct. Kinnaruo… don't you trust me?"
Kenya asked with a smile.
"I wouldn't dare doubt you!"
Jinnaruo quickly dropped to one knee, bowing in apology.
"In that case… Gaara, prepare to negotiate a truce with Iwagakure."
Kenya turned his gaze toward Gaara.
"Yes, teacher."