Land of Fire – Konoha Central Square
When Uchiha Satoshi announced the first compensation payment before the gathered crowd, the entire square fell into a stunned silence.
Had they heard correctly?
Raikage had agreed to cede Yunjie Mountain, a strategic area near Kumogakure, as part of the compensation?
And according to the terms, it was voluntary?
Countless eyes turned toward the Raikage, seeking an explanation.
Yet, despite the weight of the revelation, the Raikage remained motionless, his expression unreadable.
Compared to the lives of Kumogakure's shinobi, what did a stretch of land matter?
And besides, the land was not being ceded to Konoha directly—it was being handed over to Uchiha Bai Ye personally.
Had he truly given it up willingly? Or had he been left with no choice?
The message was clear: Bai Ye had taken an interest in that land.
Although…
Whether it was Yunjie Mountain, the surrounding areas, or even the entirety of Kumogakure—none of it had been spared from Bai Ye's overwhelming power.
Even now, long after the battle, a deep scar—a massive path carved by his sword's energy—cut through the terrain, serving as a constant reminder of what had transpired.
Even Raikage himself couldn't help but wonder—was this all a calculated move?
That man had cut down a path not just through the land, but perhaps for the foundation of his future dominion.
If Bai Ye had truly intended to destroy Kumogakure, would anyone have been able to stop him?
The murmurs in the crowd grew louder.
Konoha's shinobi gasped in shock.
The villagers widened their eyes, filled with awe and admiration for Bai Ye.
Because…
Since the Warring States period, the five great nations had each established their own Hidden Villages.
Yet, never before had a defeated faction been forced to surrender territory as part of a compensation deal.
Whether between villages or entire nations, such a precedent had never been set.
This was a first.
A historical achievement.
A triumph that brought honor to Konoha!
From the villagers' perspective, they ignored the argument that Raikage was merely paying the Uchiha Guard.
Because to them, the Uchiha Guard belonged to Konoha in the first place.
They didn't care what Bai Ye planned to do with the land.
They only knew one thing—
The captain of the Uchiha Guard, Uchiha Bai Ye, had secured a victory unlike any before.
He had expanded Konoha's territory!
Even the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, had never accomplished such a feat.
At this moment, Bai Ye stood at the peak, his presence shining brilliantly.
Countless people began to compare him to Hashirama.
Looking at what the First Hokage had done… and then at what Bai Ye had just achieved.
The First Hokage had sheltered one side, established Konoha alongside the Uchiha, and maintained a fragile peace.
Yet, he had distributed the Tailed Beasts among the other villages, which, in the long run, had only fueled future wars and cost Konoha dearly.
But now…
Uchiha Bai Ye had taken back a Jinchūriki from Kumogakure!
And it wasn't over yet.
While Hashirama had sought stability and avoided further conflict, even rejecting Uchiha Madara's proposal to seize control of the other villages while they were still weak—
Bai Ye had done what Madara once envisioned.
The once-proud Raikage now stood before them, stripped of his arrogance, forced to offer up the land of the Land of Lightning as compensation.
What exactly had Bai Ye done to break him?
"How can this be…?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face went pale, his shock evident. He stared at the scene before him, desperately searching for answers in Raikage's expression.
A moment ago, he had been certain that even if Bai Ye's influence grew, there would still be a way to contain him.
But now?
What had just unfolded before his eyes?
Bai Ye had merely taken Raikage away for a short time.
And upon returning, he had been transformed into a man willing to make an unprecedented sacrifice—
A hero who had just cemented an irrefutable achievement for Konoha!
An accomplishment even the First Hokage had never managed.
What did this mean?
At this moment, Bai Ye was indisputably the most powerful figure in Konoha.
And that was no exaggeration.
The Third Shinobi War had ended.
The Nine-Tails attack had claimed the life of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato.
In the wake of that chaos, Kumogakure had taken advantage of the situation, stirring conflict along the borders of the Land of Fire.
At such a critical time—
Konoha needed a victory.
This public trial may have been focused on the crimes of Hiruzen's two sons, but in truth, it was also a political negotiation—an opportunity to dictate Raikage's fate.
"Lord Raikage!"
A furious voice shattered the silence, drawing all eyes away from Bai Ye.
It was Azui, the younger brother of Samui and a representative of Kumogakure's delegation.
Despite his injuries—despite having been struck down by the Uchiha Guard twice—he still forced himself forward, staggering toward Raikage.
"Lord Raikage! Why?"
"A mere Konoha shinobi… A mere Guard Captain… Are you afraid of him?!"
Azui's desperate plea echoed through the square as he searched Raikage's face for an answer, unwilling to believe this was truly the will of Kumogakure.
Unaware of what had truly happened to his village, he was enraged beyond measure by the terms of the agreement.
"Afraid?"
Raikage let out a bitter laugh.
He raised his hand slightly, as if about to place it on Azui's shoulder, but then let it fall with a sigh.
How could he—after what had happened—have the right to encourage the younger generation?
"No. You should be the one afraid."
Afraid…?
Azui's eyes widened in disbelief.
This was Raikage. The pillar of Kumogakure.
A village that had always valued strength above all.
The strong were recognized as leaders. The weak followed.
That was the way of Kumogakure.
So why—why had Raikage suddenly agreed to such absurd conditions?
Why had he… surrendered?
"I refuse to accept this!"
Azui roared, gritting his teeth, his gaze burning with fury.
"This is not Kumogakure's decision!"
In that moment, the villagers of Konoha came to a realization.
Yes.
Raikage had agreed to the terms…
But what about the rest of Kumogakure?
Would their shinobi accept this humiliation?
Would they truly abide by the agreement—or would they sabotage it from the shadows?
A wave of unease spread through the Konoha crowd.
But Raikage shook his head, his voice carrying a solemn finality.
"It doesn't matter if you accept it, Azui."
He turned to the crowd.
"I swear on my title as Raikage—this decision was made unanimously by all of Kumogakure's leadership. They have all agreed."
He exhaled heavily.
"And to prove our sincerity—Kumogakure will withdraw from the area surrounding Yunjie Mountain by a distance of several miles. There will be no sabotage. No hidden schemes."
Raikage's gaze darkened as he looked at Azui.
"The only one who opposes this… is you."
Azui staggered backward, his face drained of color.
Had his village truly… surrendered?
This was the truth of their so-called "compensation."
And there was nothing he could do to change it.
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