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The Land of Lightning daimyo silently took the verbal attacks from the other daimyo.
The rulers of the other great nations, whom he once saw as checks and balances against the Land of Fire daimyo, and allies against him, had now transformed into hungry tigers and wolves.
He looked around, seeing only indifference, greed, and clear hostility.
He knew that the Land of Fire daimyo's earlier move to flip the table had completely turned him against the other daimyo.
All his struggles and all his explanations were now meaningless.
The Land of Lightning daimyo looked up, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the Land of Fire daimyo.
This man was controlling everything.
"Heh heh... Heh heh heh..."
The Land of Lightning daimyo let out a dry laugh, full of despair and self-mockery. "Lord Shin."
"State your terms."
These words showed his complete surrender, his acceptance of the identity of a loser.
The voices of the three countries' daimyo suddenly stopped.
They exchanged glances, then returned to their seats, becoming mere watchers once more.
Silence fell upon the conference room again.
Everyone's attention returned to Shin.
"Good," Shin said, his expression showing no emotion, his tone flat.
"You show some responsibility." As he spoke, Shin raised a finger. "First, publicly apologize to my Land of Fire daimyo for this invasion."
"Second, pay my Land of Fire daimyo for all losses suffered in this war. The specific amount will be itemized by my Department of Foreign Affairs later."
The Land of Lightning daimyo's lips moved, but no sound came out.
Both of these terms were within his expectations.
If it could be solved with money, it wasn't a problem.
"Third..." Shin's voice paused. "Given that the space-time ninjutsu developed by Kumogakure has seriously disrupted the strategic balance of the shinobi world and poses a huge threat to world peace."
"I demand permanent military supervision of Kumogakure to ensure that such dangerous ninjutsu never reappears."
"What?"
The Land of Lightning daimyo suddenly looked up, his pupils trembling violently.
Stationing troops?
How was this any different from directly surrendering national control?
"No... impossible!" he shrieked, his voice becoming sharp with excitement. "I absolutely will not agree!"
"This is an open invasion of the Land of Lightning! This is an attempt to turn the Land of Lightning into your colony!"
He roared like a mad beast, his eyes turning crimson. "You are forcing me to fight to the death!!"
However, facing his roar, Shin didn't even blink, merely sitting quietly and drinking tea.
Disdain!
The Land of Lightning daimyo trembled all over. He knew there was no reasoning with this madman.
He suddenly turned to the other three daimyo, his face filled with hope as he sought help. "Land of Earth daimyo!"
"You Iwagakure and Kumogakure have fought for a lifetime. Do you really want to see the Land of Fire daimyo station troops in the Land of Lightning and become the only power?"
"Don't you understand the rule that when the lips are gone, the teeth are cold?"
The Land of Earth daimyo, whose name had been called, forced a difficult smile on his plump face.
He sighed and said in a heartfelt tone. "Land of Lightning daimyo, you misunderstand."
"This isn't just the Land of Fire daimyo stationing troops. It's joint supervision by our four countries."
"We are not doing this for invasion, but for world peace."
"That ninjutsu from Kumogakure is simply too dangerous, and we are doing this for everyone's good."
These high-sounding words struck the Land of Lightning daimyo like a thunderbolt, freezing him in place.
He... what was he saying?
The Land of Lightning daimyo couldn't believe his ears and turned to the Land of Wind daimyo.
"Land of Wind daimyo! Our two nations, Wind and Lightning, have always been on good terms! You..."
"Alas." Before he could finish, the Land of Wind daimyo, fanning himself, interrupted him with a pained expression. "Friendship is friendship, justice is justice."
"Lord Shin is right. Those who break the rules must be punished."
"Otherwise, the shinobi world will never know peace."
"For the greater good, we can only trouble you."
His last bit of hope was cruelly put out.
The Land of Lightning daimyo stumbled back a step, his gaze blank as he looked at the last one, the Land of Water daimyo.
The Land of Water daimyo didn't even bother to find an excuse.
He just looked at the Land of Lightning daimyo coldly, his eyes as if he were looking at a dead man.
"Don't you understand by now?"
"This isn't a negotiation."
"This is a notification."
Boom!
In the mind of the Land of Lightning daimyo, it was as if thunder had exploded.
He looked at these three faces, once familiar, now completely alien.
He saw the clear greed and hypocrisy in their eyes.
He finally understood.
What peace.
What justice.
What greater good.
It was all nonsense!
These damned bastards had long worked together with the Land of Fire daimyo.
"You... you..."
He pointed at everyone present, his lips trembling, too furious to say a single word.
Endless anger and despair instantly overwhelmed him.
"Pfft!"
A mouthful of fresh blood suddenly spurted from his mouth.
The crimson blood was blindingly bright.
The Land of Lightning daimyo swayed and fell straight backward.
But a hand steadily supported him.
It was Shin.
He had approached the Land of Lightning daimyo at some point, a mocking expression on his face. "Land of Lightning daimyo, why be so worked up?"
He took out a scroll signed with the names of the four countries' daimyo and placed it before the Land of Lightning daimyo. "Sign it."
"You will still be the Land of Lightning daimyo."
"If you don't sign..."
Shin leaned into his ear and continued in a voice only the two of them could hear. "Do you believe that within three days, the Land of Lightning will break out into civil unrest?"
"At that time, a more obedient person will take your place and sign this treaty with a smile."
"For example... my younger brother, who carries the bloodline of the Land of Fire daimyo?"
In an instant, the Land of Lightning daimyo felt a chill throughout his body.
Chiyoko.
The woman he had banished to the cold palace for eight years!
That bastard child who carried half the bloodline of the Land of Fire daimyo!
These two names fiercely pierced the heart of the Land of Lightning daimyo.
He suddenly looked up, staring hard at Shin's lightly smiling face.
Those deep eyes were completely cold.
The Land of Lightning daimyo understood instantly.
This was the real killing blow!
The so-called four countries alliance, the so-called military supervision, were all just open schemes.
And his imprisoned woman, and his unimportant son, were the true sharp swords that the Land of Fire daimyo had prepared for him, hanging over his head!
If he signed the treaty, he would still be the daimyo, just a puppet who had lost control.
If he didn't sign... he had no doubt that this young man in front of him would immediately support his aunt and that younger brother to take power.
At that time, he would not only lose his position as daimyo.
He would also lose his life, and even his entire family would be wiped out!
A chill shot straight to his head.
All his anger, all his unwillingness, at this moment, were crushed by huge fear.
He lost.
He lost completely.
From the moment he agreed to the Raikage's attack on Konoha, he had already lost.