Different people can say the exact same thing and get completely different results.
If some random, passing would-be conqueror declared "I'm going to conquer the world," the Kage would pile on them and blast them into dust on the spot.
But when Uchiha Yorin said it, no matter how unhappy they felt inside, they had to sit down first, listen to what he was about to say, and then decide whether they'd gamble their lives fighting him—or submit.
"I want to build a new, better world—one without war."
"I've heard that line enough. Say something else."
Even Uchiha Yorin got hit with the Raikage's blunt, irritated critique.
Under normal circumstances, the Fourth Raikage A would never dare interrupt him like that. Cutting Yorin off like this exposed how shaken he really was.
Because Uchiha Yorin had actually said it—he'd actually said he wanted to conquer the world.
Yorin: "That's what I'm about to get to."
He continued.
"What I'm going to explain next is how, in concrete terms, I plan to build that world."
Raikage A: "Don't tell me you think conquering the world—conquering every village and country—automatically creates that kind of world."
Yorin: "If you insist on understanding it that way… then sure, you can."
"—You bastard!"
The three Kage were so furious they nearly stood up.
They had enough rationality left to know that if they "fired" on Yorin, they'd get beaten so hard their mothers wouldn't recognize them—otherwise they would've already gone waaagh! and charged him.
"Everyone calm down!" Mei Terumī shouted again, loud enough to cut through the tension.
"Let Yorin finish! I believe he won't disappoint us!"
Her "favoritism" was so blatant it just made the other three Kage even more annoyed.
So you really are in on it, aren't you?!
Even at this point you're still talking him up—are you planning to sell Mist down to the last scrap? Your Fourth Mizukage would rise from the grave just to yell at you!
Yorin: "Of course, using force to conquer the world is only one option.
I'll do everything I can to leave this world with enough strength intact during the process. If I can kill fewer people, I will.
And don't worry about what comes after. In the new era I'm opening, shinobi will carry responsibilities far more important than before. Our status and power will be higher than they are now.
Everyone will live better, happier lives."
Even with those assurances, the three Kage still hesitated, unconvinced.
They could see—guess—understand a lot of his plan and what he'd been doing.
They respected his ability and his scope.
But respect didn't fill your stomach. Respect didn't guarantee your village survived. They were the kind of leaders who still had a real cow at home—they couldn't sell off a village that had been passed down for fifty years just because they admired Yorin.
(And if you really think about it, fifty years—three or four generations—wasn't even that long.)
Yorin: "If you're willing to join my new era, I'll welcome you with open arms. Your village's status, your interests, every guarantee—everything can be negotiated.
And if you refuse my plan, I won't strike you here. You can leave.
But if we meet again… we'll be enemies."
Naturally, none of the Kage stood up and walked out.
Just as nobody wanted Yorin to conquer the world, nobody wanted to provoke him into annihilating their village either.
They knew about his "revive Ninshū" idea. But the Ninshū they'd pictured was something like the UN: a coordination framework between villages.
Not a real state.
…
"So everyone—besides creating a happy world—there are other reasons behind my actions.
First: to develop productive forces, and to eliminate the exploitation of the daimyō and nobles."
Uchiha Yorin spoke calmly.
"Those people swallow huge amounts of wealth and create nothing. Killing them benefits ninety-nine percent of the world.
That's also how I raise the shinobi's standing.
In the future, we won't be 'shinobi of a village.' We'll be citizens of a Shinobi Empire.
We won't be 'the Kage of a village.' We'll be imperial officials and commanders.
We won't be the dogs of daimyō and nobles—because we'll replace them and become the ruling class.
Kage, think about it: compared to being king of your own village, isn't ruling the world the better choice?"
Even Rasa—the least ambitious of them—couldn't help it. After hearing the glorious future Yorin promised, his eyes lit up.
Yes, they loved their villages. But if they could truly get what Yorin described… maybe it wasn't impossible?
Or maybe the village wouldn't "disband" at all—maybe it would simply continue under a new name.
Instead of "___ Hidden Village," it would be "Ninshū Branch ___."
And "Ninshū" was the orthodox root of all shinobi. Submitting to Ninshū didn't sound like betraying your ancestors… not exactly.
…And yet, even thinking that, the question still hung there:
Is this really possible?
Can it really work?
Isn't it… unreliable?
Seeing the three Kage's "ten-percent moved, ninety-percent refusing" faces, Yorin sighed inwardly.
The timing still wasn't right.
Of course he wasn't planning to hide the truth from the Kage and their top brass forever.
But in Yorin's view, the moment still wasn't mature.
If his "radical," his Ninshū, and even the Akatsuki network were more developed inside the other villages—if the organization's influence was stronger, if Konoha's economy was even bigger, if the Akatsuki had removed more nobles and daimyō—then today's scene would probably look very different.
The Kage wouldn't be "refusing." They'd be swearing loyalty already.
Shinobi were very good at reading the wind. The ones who couldn't adapt died eight hundred years ago in the Warring States era.
But right now…
"I can give you time," Uchiha Yorin said, softening his tone.
Like fishing: pull, release, pull again—if you want the hook to set, you have to control the tension.
…
"You don't have to decide today.
My plan will continue.
You can keep thinking.
But there's a condition."
"We understand."
The three Kage exchanged looks.
They understood perfectly what he meant.
Yorin wouldn't force them to declare allegiance on the spot—but if they sabotaged him, or casually leaked his plans, then they'd be "not understanding their place."
"We'll keep this secret."
For shinobi, acquiring and safeguarding information was the most basic duty. For Kage, it was second nature—an art.
Yorin believed they could keep the secret.
Assuming they wanted to keep it.
Meaning: unless they leaked it themselves, nobody would "extract" Uchiha Yorin's ultimate secret from their heads.
And in that case, if the secret ever got out… even if it wasn't them who spoke, if Yorin decided to kill them on the grounds of "you leaked it," they'd have no argument.
…
The final showdown hadn't happened—but at least he'd won half.
From here, they would watch him more closely, think more seriously, and weigh their options harder.
And once they saw how correct, how unstoppable his work was—sometimes without even needing full proof, just the direction of the current—then they would kneel before him without hesitation and become his subordinates.
…
And so, the Five Kage alliance was formed.
Under the banner of "justice," the shinobi coalition formally declared war on Kusagakure—the village that ate people, hid weapons of mass destruction, and defied the world order.
Yes: Yorin's original reason for calling the summit had succeeded.
He thought they'd argue for ages, haggle interests, grind through concessions until nobody could concede anything else.
In reality, they had been heading that way—until the "revive Ninshū / conquer the world" topic detonated in the room.
After that, Grass didn't matter nearly as much anymore.
If Grass wanted to die, then let it die. Compared to conquering the world, Kusagakure was nothing.
…
And Kusagakure, naturally, had their minds blown.
What the hell?
Why am I getting a global encirclement?
Wasn't the encirclement supposed to be aimed at Konoha?!
What did I do to deserve five villages teaming up to beat my ass?
What do you take me for—Akatsuki?!
What is even happening?!
~~~
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