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Her wheat-colored skin glowed with a healthy luster.
Her features were bright and striking, and her neat short hair added a touch of heroism.
This was Inuzuka Hana, daughter of the Inuzuka Clan's patriarch.
At this moment, she stood with her arms crossed, her brows tightly furrowed.
Her fiery temper was almost impossible to suppress.
"That idiotic younger brother! He only ever causes me trouble!"
Inuzuka Hana cursed under her breath.
But the worry for her brother, Inuzuka Kiba, was undeniable in her eyes.
She slammed her hand on the table, "Once I get him out, I'll break his dog legs!"
Her gray Ninja dog, Graymaru, seemed to sense its owner's anger and whimpered softly.
"Hana, calm down."
A Jonin from the Aburame Clan pushed up his sunglasses, his voice steady, "Our goal is to exert pressure and rescue them, try to avoid conflict."
"After all, he is still nominally His Majesty the Emperor of the Land of Fire."
Although he said this, his tone conveyed little respect for "His Majesty the Emperor."
It was more like a procedural reminder.
In their opinion.
With such a force dispatched from their side.
If the other party wasn't foolish, he should know to bow down and release the people.
"The Aburame Senior is right."
Another person interjected, "Our two clans coming together has already given him immense face."
"If he is sensible, releases them obediently, and promises not to harass our two clans and Konoha again, then this matter will be dropped."
"If he is not sensible…"
The person did not finish his sentence.
But the cold glint in his eyes already explained everything.
They all believed that Di Yan's previous actions were nothing more than the arrogance of a petty person who had unexpectedly gained power.
In the face of absolute strength, it was not worth mentioning at all.
They might not dare to openly assassinate His Majesty the Emperor of the Land of Fire.
But teaching him a lesson and humiliating him was always possible.
Thump, thump, thump… Just then, there was a soft knock on the hotel room door.
All the Ninja instantly became alert, their hands unconsciously reaching for their Ninja tool pouches.
"Who is it?"
A cold, emotionless voice came from outside the door:
"His Majesty has a decree, summoning representatives of the Inuzuka and Aburame Clans to the Imperial Palace Training Grounds for an audience."
The door opened, and outside stood a young man in black combat attire, with a stern face and eyes as sharp as blades.
Most strikingly.
In his eyes, the three-tomoe Sharingan slowly rotated!
"Uchiha?"
Inuzuka Hana and the Aburame Jonin exclaimed simultaneously, their expressions changing drastically.
Hadn't the Uchiha Clan been annihilated long ago?
How could they appear here?
And serve that Emperor?
Uchiha Tekka ignored everyone's shock, merely repeating:
"His Majesty is waiting at the Training Grounds. Please follow me."
His tone was completely unruffled.
As if he was just relaying a perfectly ordinary command.
The Ninja of the two clans exchanged glances.
An ominous premonition arose in their hearts.
The appearance of the Uchiha survivors completely disrupted their expectations.
Things seemed… not so simple.
"Beware of a trap."
The Aburame Jonin whispered to Inuzuka Hana, "We'll leave five people here as backup, and the rest of us will go together. We'll act according to the situation."
Inuzuka Hana suppressed the surprise and doubt in her heart and nodded.
She wanted to see.
What exactly this so-called Emperor was up to.
She waved her hand, designating five Chunin to stay behind.
The remaining twenty-one Ninja (including five Jonin) followed Uchiha Tekka.
With vigilance and suspicion, everyone walked towards the Training Grounds deep within the Imperial Palace.
The streets gradually became deserted.
The closer they got to the Imperial Palace, the more murderous the atmosphere became.
When they passed through a heavy palace gate and stepped into the so-called "Training Grounds."
Everyone's breath involuntarily hitched!
Before them was not an ordinary training ground at all.
But an enormous, enclosed space, like an arena.
Tall walls surrounded it, covered with watchtowers and hidden bunkers.
The air was thick with a strong smell of blood and a murderous aura!
And on the central platform of the Training Grounds.
A figure sat lazily on a large dragon throne.
He wore a dark mystic dragon-patterned robe, so handsome he seemed unworldly.
A playful smile played on the corner of his lips.
He was looking down at them from above.
As if watching a group of prey that had fallen into his trap.
It was His Majesty the Emperor, Di Yan… 30. Inuzuka Hana's wildness; keep them alive.
The atmosphere in the Training Grounds was as heavy as the stillness before a storm.
Inuzuka Hana led twenty-one elites from the two clans.
Maintaining a highly vigilant defensive formation, they slowly approached the central platform.
Each step was taken with extreme caution.
Chakra secretly flowed within their bodies, and the Ninja dogs beside them let out low, threatening whimpers.
From the sleeves of the Aburame Clan Ninja, faint insect chirps could also be heard.
They used cold silence and a condensed killing aura.
Attempting to exert pressure on the overly young figure on the high platform.
Inuzuka Hana's sharp gaze swept over Di Yan.
She had to admit.
Putting aside his infuriating identity and actions.
Purely in terms of appearance, this "Emperor" was indeed almost demonically handsome.
His skin was as fair as jade, and his features were as delicate as if carved.
Especially those deep eyes.
As if they could draw one's soul in.
But this thought was only a fleeting one.
It was immediately replaced by her worry for her brother and her anger at this man's arrogance.
On the high platform, Di Yan remained seated lazily.
As if the more than twenty formidable elite Ninja below were merely subjects who had come to pay homage.
Only Uchiha Izumi and Uchiha Tekka stood behind him like guardian gods, one on each side.
Two pairs of Sharingan slowly rotated in the shadows.
Emitting an ominous aura.
"My proposal, how have you all considered it?"
Di Yan was the first to break the silence.
His voice carried a hint of lazy amusement.
As if he was just asking about the weather today.
"Will you choose to pledge allegiance to me, and become the cornerstone of the new Land of Fire?"
"Or… continue to be Konoha's guard dogs?"
Responding to him was an even colder silence and an almost solidified hostility.
The Ninja of the two clans looked at him with eyes that saw him as a mere clown, and no one answered.
Inuzuka Hana stepped forward, suppressing her anger, her voice cold and hard:
"Your Majesty! Where are my brother Kiba and Shino Aburame? How are they?"
"Don't worry."
Di Yan's smile remained unchanged, his tone relaxed, "The two young brothers are safe and sound."
"I am treating them with the courtesy of honored guests, with good food and drink every day."
"Perhaps… they've even gained a few pounds…"
He was, of course, referring to the "dog meat hotpot" and the "treatment" outside of the finger-severing punishment.
With a facade of courtesy, a Jonin from the Aburame Clan spoke in a stiff tone devoid of any respect:
"His Majesty the Emperor, since the people are fine, please release them immediately."
"We can consider today's matter as never having happened, and Konoha will not pursue it. Otherwise…"
He paused, the threat in his words self-evident: