Advisory Elders Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado emerged from an unknown corner.
They seemed to have cleverly avoided the center of the battle just now.
Their faces still showed a hint of complex emotions regarding the fate of their old friend, Danzo.
But more than that, there was a sense of surprise and fear.
Utatane Koharu pointed a trembling finger at Di Yan, her voice sharp as she questioned:
"His Majesty the Emperor! What... what exactly is going on?"
"Why are members of the Uchiha Clan here?"
"And... and still alive?"
Homura Mitokado also chimed in, his face ashen:
"Exactly! The Uchiha Clan was annihilated years ago on the night of the clan's destruction..."
"Who are these people? How are they accompanying Your Majesty?"
They desperately needed an answer.
An answer that would put their minds at ease.
However, with Danzo's death,
the dirty dealings and agreements between him and Di Yan were destined to remain unproven.
Di Yan merely chuckled in response to the questioning.
His smile was full of mockery and profound meaning.
He deliberately drew out his words: "Guess?"
This flippant reply made the two Advisory Elders' faces turn pale with anger.
Yet, they dared not truly lash out at the Emperor of a country.
Tsunade took a deep breath.
She suppressed the surging of her blood and qi caused by the Strength of a Hundred Sealings Technique and the battle.
She stepped forward with heavy steps, her gaze complex as she looked at Uchiha Mikoto.
Tsunade recognized this Uchiha Clan head's wife, who was once known for her virtuousness in Konoha.
"Mikoto... is that you?"
"You... you're still alive? What exactly is this..."
Tsunade's voice carried confusion and a hint of imperceptible apology.
However, Uchiha Mikoto merely glanced at her indifferently.
Her eyes were cold and distant,
even carrying a deeply hidden trace of hatred.
She did not answer any of Tsunade's questions.
She just silently turned around.
Like the most loyal guard, she returned to stand behind Di Yan.
Uchiha Tekka and Izumi also silently returned to their positions.
Their actions demonstrated their stance.
They only pledged loyalty to Di Yan alone.
Tsunade watched this scene, biting her silver teeth.
Her fists clenched again.
Indeed!
The source of everything, the manipulator of everything,
was this seemingly gentle but unfathomably deep Emperor of the Land of Fire.
He was the one who took in the Uchiha survivors.
He was the one who orchestrated everything today!
Just then,
Nara Shikaku, Kakashi, and others also gathered around Tsunade.
Shikaku lowered his voice, analyzing quickly and calmly:
"Hokage-sama, the top priority is to immediately stabilize the Village's situation, clear out Danzo's remaining forces, and appease the people and various clans' emotions."
"Danzo is dead, and the biggest internal threat has been removed."
His implication was clear.
Although the appearance of the Uchiha and Di Yan's intentions were extremely suspicious,
after experiencing internal strife,
Konoha needed rest and stability.
It was not advisable to immediately engage in direct conflict with the unfathomably powerful Emperor and the Uchiha forces under his command.
These issues could be slowly resolved later.
Many Konoha Ninja shared the same thought.
They felt that the biggest problem, Danzo, had been resolved.
The remaining Emperor and Uchiha, while a hidden danger,
could be dealt with through diplomacy and subsequent negotiations.
However... looking at Di Yan's half-smile, as if everything was under his control,
and the silent but dangerously radiating Uchiha behind him,
a strong sense of unease surged in Tsunade's heart.
She vaguely felt that
Danzo's death might not be the end of the incident.
But rather... the beginning of an even greater storm.
Di Yan went to such lengths to push Konoha to this point?
Was it just to help the Uchiha get revenge and kill a Danzo?
It could not possibly be that simple.
Tsunade suppressed her anger and apprehension towards Di Yan, trying to keep her voice steady, attempting to end this turmoil as quickly as possible:
"His Majesty the Emperor, Danzo's coup d'état has now concluded."
"Konoha's internal affairs will be handled properly."
"If Your Majesty has no other urgent matters, please return to the capital to rest as soon as possible."
Her meaning was very clear.
Go wherever it's cool, Konoha doesn't welcome you... Saying this, Tsunade paused, her gaze sweeping over Asuma, Shikamaru, and others who were still imprisoned or controlled:
"Also, please, Your Majesty, release Asuma, Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba..."
"Konoha can consider today's events as never having happened and will not pursue them further."
She tried to use "not pursuing further" to give both sides a way out.
To quickly send away Di Yan, this plague god.
However, Advisory Elder Homura Mitokado clearly did not want to let it go.
He stepped forward, pointing at Uchiha Mikoto and others behind Di Yan, and said sharply:
"Hold on! Your Majesty can leave, but these Uchiha remnants must stay!"
"Especially that little girl, she actually possesses the Mangekyo Sharingan."
"Such a dangerous existence must not be left at large!"
Utatane Koharu immediately added, her gaze fixed on the Mangekyo that belonged to Shisui in Uchiha Izumi's hand:
"And Danzo's Mangekyo Sharingan!"
"That is Konoha's spoils of war and must be returned to Konoha!"
Having experienced Danzo's rebellion,
the Konoha Higher-Ups were filled with vigilance and greed for these powerful, uncontrolled forces.
Especially on their home turf, surrounded by Konoha Ninja.
They subconsciously believed they had control of the situation.
Di Yan had no choice but to yield.
This "confidence" brought about by sheer numbers permeated the hearts of many Konoha Ninja.
They felt that even if the Emperor had a few Uchiha guards by his side,
they were still no match for the might of the entire Konoha.
Facing Konoha's almost commanding demands,
Di Yan not only did not get angry,
but rather, it was as if he had heard an extremely amusing joke.
He chuckled softly.
"Heh heh... Hahahaha..."
His laughter rose from low to high, carrying undisguised mockery, "Leave my people? Hand over the Sharingan?"
"You... are you that confident, that you've got me cornered?"
His gaze swept over Tsunade, the two Advisors,
and the surrounding Konoha Ninja who were eyeing him menacingly.
His eyes were full of playfulness and a hint of... pity?
Nara Shikaku's brows were tightly furrowed.
He felt that things were not that simple.
But he still tried to persuade Di Yan with rational analysis:
"Your Majesty, please calm down."
"We are not trying to be your enemy. But this is Konoha, after all, with thousands of elite Ninja."
"Even if your guards are powerful, once a conflict breaks out, swords have no eyes, and Your Majesty's precious body may inevitably be harmed."
He paused, his tone becoming more serious, tinged with a veiled threat:
"Moreover, tens of thousands of Ninja Army are stationed at the borders and various strongholds of the Land of Fire."
"If Your Majesty has an irreversible conflict with Konoha here, and the news spreads, it will surely shake the entire Land of Fire."
"It could even lead to civil war. At that time, the national strength will be damaged, and lives will be ruined."
"This is by no means a wise move. Please, Your Majesty... think twice before acting."
These words were firm beneath a soft exterior.