It highlighted Konoha's absolute advantage.
And brought up the greater good of the country, trying to force Di Yan to compromise.
Upon hearing this, Di Yan's smile slightly receded.
His fingers tapped lightly on the back of the chair.
He seemed to be genuinely considering Nara Shikaku's words.
A hint of hesitation and deliberation appeared on his face.
Just as Di Yan seemed to be "persuaded" and the atmosphere had eased slightly.
In the crowd, Might Guy, standing beside Kakashi, suddenly let out a suppressed grunt.
He instinctively clutched his forehead, his body swaying.
"Might Guy? What's wrong with you?"
Kakashi, keenly aware of his partner's abnormality, asked in a low voice.
Might Guy shook his head, his thick brows furrowed.
His face showed an expression of confusion and pain intertwined.
He blinked hard, looked again at Di Yan who seemed to be "thinking," and said in a low voice:
"Nothing... Nothing... My head just suddenly hurts a lot..."
"It's like... it's like the Di Yan in front of me, and... and the figure of that man in my dream... are about to overlap..."
His voice was very soft.
Carrying uncertainty and an indescribable tremor.
That dream about a man so powerful it was despair-inducing, which had haunted him for so long.
At this moment, it was strangely resonating with Di Yan?
Kakashi frowned slightly upon hearing this.
He felt something was amiss, but couldn't quite pinpoint it.
However, just at this moment.
Di Yan, who had seemingly been "weighing the pros and cons," suddenly raised his head.
The hesitation and thoughtfulness on his face vanished instantly without a trace.
Replaced by a deep, indifferent, and majestic control over everything.
His gaze bypassed Nara Shikaku and fell directly on Tsunade.
His voice was calm but carried an undeniable power:
"Think twice?"
"I have thought enough."
"It seems, the people of Konoha have not yet fully recognized the current situation."
"Very well..."
Di Yan slowly stood up, and an invisible yet immense pressure began to emanate from him.
"Let me... help you recognize it."
...68 Please, Your Majesty, abdicate; behead them for public display.
"Asuma attempted to assassinate me; his crime is punishable by death!"
"Bring them forth, to set an example!"
Di Yan's words were like cold knives, piercing deeply into the hearts of all Konoha Ninja.
Not only did he refuse to release the hostages.
Instead, he intended to solidify the charge of "assassination" and publicly execute Asuma and the others!
This was no longer negotiation.
But naked provocation and humiliation!
Especially the Ninja of the Sarutobi Clan and the Ino–Shika–Chō trio.
Watching their heirs, their elite Jonin, being forcibly pressed to their knees like lambs to the slaughter.
Each of them was furious.
Their Chakra surged uncontrollably.
Roars and curses rose one after another.
"Bastard! Let go of Asuma!"
"You dare touch Shikamaru!"
"Is being an Emperor so great? Let's fight them!"
The crowd was enraged, and the scene was once again on the verge of spiraling out of control!
Tsunade and Nara Shikaku's faces instantly turned extremely grim.
Had their worst fears come true?
Di Yan had not come to reason or compromise at all.
He simply wanted to push things to the extreme, to force Konoha to act!
Nara Shikaku suppressed the shock and anger in his heart and shouted at the top of his voice.
Attempting a final salvage.
His voice even overpowered the commotion on site:
"Your Majesty! Please calm down! Think about the consequences!"
"Konoha's tens of thousands of Ninja Army are no exaggeration! Once war breaks out, the Land of Fire will surely fall into civil strife.
"Is this truly what you wish to see? It's still not too late to stop now!"
He once again emphasized Konoha's military strength and the risk of civil war.
Hoping Di Yan would weigh the pros and cons.
However, Di Yan seemed to have heard a joke.
He looked down at Nara Shikaku, a sneering arc playing on his lips:
"Tens of thousands of Ninja Army? Heh heh..."
"Nara Shikaku, are you reminding me that your Konoha has the ability to rebel?"
He paused, his tone becoming extremely flippant and dangerous, as if stating an irrelevant fact:
"What a pity... The daimyo lineage of the Land of Fire, now only I remain."
"I am the country, and my will is the will of the Land of Fire."
"Even if you have a million Ninja Army, what can you do to me? Do you dare commit regicide?"
His words were extremely overbearing.
Almost blocking all avenues of retreat.
As if he was certain that Konoha would not dare to bear the immense crime and consequences of "regicide."
However, Nara Shikaku was known as Konoha's "brain."
His quick wit and decisive judgment were far from ordinary.
When pushed to a dead end.
His eyes instantly became cold and sharp.
He took a deep breath, no longer looking at Di Yan, but turned to Tsunade beside him.
He said in a clear, deep voice, as if stating an established fact:
"Hokage-sama, it seems His Majesty has been deluded by treacherous individuals, his mind is unstable, and he is no longer fit to handle state affairs."
"For the sake of the people of the Land of Fire, I propose... that His Majesty 'abdicate for quiet recuperation.'"
He looked intently at Tsunade and continued:
"According to reliable intelligence, a pure bloodline of the former daimyo still exists among the common people, virtuous and capable of inheriting the throne."
"If His Majesty insists on being an enemy of Konoha, and of the Land of Fire..."
"Then we will have no choice but to invite that prince to take charge of the situation."
The meaning of these words was already clear!
The so-called "bloodline among the common people" was completely fabricated.
This was just Nara Shikaku's most ruthless counterattack, conceived in a flash of lightning!
This was clearly telling Di Yan.
Don't think we wouldn't dare touch you.
If pushed too far, Konoha would dare to kill you.
Then simply find a puppet to enthrone as the new daimyo.
At that time, who would know that he wasn't the "bloodline of the former daimyo"?
History is written by the victors!
This was almost the ultimate threat, tearing off all pretense.
It laid the possibility of "regicide" bare on the table!
After hearing Nara Shikaku's "treasonous" words, Di Yan did not fly into a rage.
Instead, a flicker of genuine appreciation crossed his eyes.
He even clapped.
"Clap, clap, clap..."
"Splendid! Truly splendid!"
Di Yan praised with a smile, "As expected of Konoha's strategist, Nara Shikaku."
"Indeed, it's simpler to talk to smart people."
He, of course, knew that any "bloodline among the common people" was fake.
But the resolute attitude behind these words?
It allowed him to see the ruthlessness and decisiveness that Konoha could unleash when pushed to its limits.
This, on the contrary... was even more interesting.
Di Yan's smile gradually became deeper and more dangerous.
He slowly raised his hand.
"However..." His voice drawled, carrying a playful, cat-and-mouse quality, "Did you forget... the bargaining chips are still in my hands?"
His gaze fell on Asuma, Shikamaru, and Choji, who were kneeling on the ground, held down tightly by the black-clad Ninja.
A cold killing intent once again permeated the air!
"Enough!"
Tsunade suddenly roared, "Your Majesty, must you antagonize Konoha? This matter ends here!"
However... Tsunade's words, attempting to salvage the situation and carrying a last shred of hope.