Uzumaki Mito remained calm and asked, "Then what else does the Uzushigakure want Konoha to pay?"
Chihiro said playfully, "I think Konoha's scroll of seals looks quite good."
"Impossible!"
Before Uzumaki Mito could speak, Homura Mitokado anxiously leaped forward.
The scroll of seals is Konoha's Foundation; once it gets out, the consequences would be unimaginable!
Every Forbidden Jutsu recorded in the scroll of seals possesses immense power!
The scroll of seals is indispensable to Konoha's development up to this point!
But if others obtain the scroll of seals and conduct targeted research, Konoha's secrets will quickly be exposed!
If a war breaks out and Konoha uses Forbidden Jutsu that could influence the battle, but the enemy manages to decipher them one by one, what's the point of fighting!
Chihiro didn't care about Konoha's fate.
When Konoha stole the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Technique, they didn't consider the survival of the Uzushigakure either.
He said blandly, "Gin."
Gin instantly understood Lord Soul King's meaning.
"Shoot to kill, Shinsō!"
*Buzz*—In the dark night, a white flash appeared.
Before anyone could react, Homura Mitokado's heart was directly pierced by Shinsō!
Homura Mitokado's eyes were bulging; he couldn't understand how they could kill him when negotiations had just begun.
Why did the Uzushigakure dare to kill him outright?!
"Homura!!"
Utatane Koharu's Face was filled with grief.
The others gulped, swallowing their saliva.
This Uzushigakure is truly unreasonable!
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes were splitting with rage; that was his dear comrade!
Chihiro said coldly, "Alright, the noisy insect has been crushed. We can continue talking now."
Uzumaki Mito took a deep breath and sighed, "Chihiro, must you be so ruthless? I held you when you were a child. Why not save me some Face..."
Chihiro sneered, "Calling you Lady Mito is already giving you enough Face, Senju Mito."
Senju... Mito... Uzumaki Mito's heart trembled, and her expression became distracted.
"What, after marrying Senju Hashirama, didn't you take his surname? Uzumaki is just something you can discard at any time, just like the Uzushigakure back then."
Uzumaki Mito stumbled slightly. Every word Chihiro spoke felt like a sharp blade plunging into her heart.
"The scroll of seals, are you handing it over or not?"
Chihiro's voice grew increasingly cold.
"I am not negotiating with you. Remember, it is Konoha that is begging the Uzushigakure to spare your lives!"
Every single word Chihiro spoke struck the Konoha villagers hard.
Some looked furious, some defeated, and some cowardly.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was silent for a moment, then said in a hoarse voice, "We will give it!"
"Hiruzen..." "Hokage-sama..." "Say no more."
Sarutobi Hiruzen had thought things through clearly.
Given Konoha's current situation, they were clearly completely cornered by the Uzushigakure.
Even if Lady Mito were to use the Nine-Tailed, the Uzushigakure also possessed Space-Time Ninjutsu.
They could come and go as they pleased.
Even if the Nine-Tailed had the power to overturn these Shinigami, it wouldn't be able to keep them here.
Perhaps Lady Mito had also realized this.
Furthermore, did the Nine-Tailed truly possess that level of power?
Sarutobi Hiruzen harbored doubts regarding this point.
Konoha had truly reached a moment of life and death.
Once the troops withdraw from the Amegakure, Sunagakure will seize the opportunity to penetrate deep into the Land of Fire.
But if they didn't withdraw the troops, the remaining personnel in Konoha wouldn't be enough to handle the Uzushigakure.
Besides, it was already too late to withdraw the troops now.
Konoha had to find a way to overcome this crisis on its own.
Otherwise, the army returning from the Amegakure might find that their home was gone.
As long as they survived this crisis, Konoha would still have a chance to start over.
For that, anything could be sacrificed.
Even the scroll of seals.
As long as Konoha remained, and the people of Konoha remained, they would have a chance to rise again.
Most importantly, he didn't want Konoha to be completely destroyed while he was serving as Hokage!
Therefore... they could give it, they could give everything!
Chihiro chuckled, "As expected of the Konoha Ninja Bear, you certainly know how to endure."
Sarutobi Hiruzen clenched his fist tightly, but quickly released it, then silently went back to retrieve the scroll of seals.
Once the scroll of seals was in hand, everyone in Konoha nervously stared at the Shinigami of the Uzushigakure.
Terrified that the Uzushigakure would go back on its word.
Chihiro chuckled, "The Uzushigakure operates with great principle, unlike Konoha, which enjoys acting like treacherous villains."
The Konoha Ninja lowered their heads, their eyes bloodshot.
Humiliation! Naked humiliation!
"Heh heh." Chihiro sneered, then announced, "Starting today, the alliance between the Uzushigakure and Konoha is completely nullified!"
"Alright, let's go home."
Following Chihiro's command, the Shinigami walked orderly into the senkaimon.
"Oh, and make absolutely sure I don't find anything wrong with the scroll of seals. Otherwise, next time Konoha will bear the Uzumaki name."
"Also, Lady Mito, next time you might want to show up a little sooner. Don't wait until after the Hyūga Clan Head and the Uchiha Clan Head have died to finally appear."
Upon hearing this, the hearts of the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan immediately sank, and they looked at Uzumaki Mito with hesitant eyes.
In this battle, Konoha not only gained nothing but was left in utter devastation.
But upon closer inspection, aside from Homura Mitokado, who was suddenly killed...
...the others belonging to the Hokage faction suffered almost no losses. Instead, it was their Hyuga Clan and Uchiha Clan that lost their Clan Chiefs, who were their highest fighting forces.
This statement was like a seed, deeply planted in the hearts of the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression also changed, understanding the sinister intent behind Chihiro's final words.
But he was powerless to stop it.
Just as the senkaimon was about to close, a figure who had been lurking nearby quickly slipped inside.
The Konoha Ninja who had been watching the movements of the Uzushigakure were all stunned.
"Is that... Lady Tsunade?!"
"That's great! Lady Tsunade is still alive!"
"But... how did Lady Tsunade get into the Uzushigakure?"
"Lady Tsunade... defected?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face darkened; he hadn't anticipated Tsunade suddenly pulling such a move.
Now look what happened. Not only was Konoha destroyed, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki wasn't saved, and the scroll of seals was taken by the Uzushigakure. Now they have to deal with Tsunade as well.
Alas!
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed heavily and said, "Alright, everyone go and rest. We'll rebuild Konoha tomorrow."
After speaking, Sarutobi Hiruzen walked toward the Hokage Rock. The moment he turned, he looked as if he had aged several years.
The Konoha Ninja looked at each other, glancing at Konoha, which was practically indistinguishable from ruins.
Rest? Where are we supposed to rest?
Uzumaki Mito also returned to the Senju Compound with a mournful expression.
Gazing at the empty house, a sense of desolation inexplicably filled her heart.
The Senju Clan had vanished under her watch, and the Uzumaki Clan had nearly been lost due to her silence.
Although things were better now, she felt unworthy to call herself a member of the Uzumaki Clan anymore.
Had she truly made a mistake?
The Uzushigakure, Soul Society Court.
Near the senkaimon.
Tsunade looked at the Shinigami surrounding her and awkwardly said, "H-hello, hahaha!"
"Big Sister Tsunade? Why did you follow us here too?"
Uzumaki Kushina's confused voice rang out.
Tsunade, however, looked as if she had seen a relative—er, she had seen a relative.
"Quick, Kushina, tell them that I, your older sister, am not a bad person!"
Uzumaki Kushina: "..."
We just finished fighting Konoha, and Big Sister Tsunade, you're wearing a Konoha forehead protector. You want me to tell them you're a good person?
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