"It's... it's absolutely true, Lord Raikage!"
The ninja's face was red from being choked as he struggled to force out the words.
"The one responsible... the one who did it... was Konoha's Uchiha Kai!"
Uchiha Kai!
The name struck the minds of the three Kage like a bolt of lightning.
"Him again?!" Ōnoki's old back let out a loud crack, nearly giving out on the spot. Ignoring the pain, he shot to his feet in shock.
Even Rasa's gloomy eyes revealed genuine astonishment for the first time.
One man had overthrown the government of an entire Great Shinobi Village?!
This was no longer something that could be described as mere genius or even a monster!
"The report also says... Uchiha Kai established something called a 'Joint Committee' in Kirigakure. He appointed himself as Chairman, while Mei Terumi, the former Mizukage candidate, became his... Secretary-General."
"Akatsuki members Kisame Hoshigaki and Sasori of the Red Sand also appeared at the scene. But it seems... they were taking orders from Uchiha Kai."
One earth-shattering revelation after another left the three Kage reeling.
A brat from Konoha had somehow brought rogue Akatsuki members under his command and casually absorbed Kirigakure into his sphere of influence?
This wasn't merely a political upheaval.
The heavens themselves had collapsed.
At the same time, inside the Hokage's Office.
Holding an identical intelligence report, Hiruzen Sarutobi was so shocked that the pipe hanging from his mouth slipped free and clattered onto the floor.
Across from him sat Uchiha Fugaku, Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, Akimichi Chōza, and numerous other senior Konoha officials.
Yet the atmosphere here was completely different from the one surrounding the Raikage.
"Hahahaha! Excellent! Wonderful! That's my son!"
Fugaku threw his head back and laughed loudly, completely abandoning his usual stern demeanor.
Pride and satisfaction practically overflowed from his face.
With this move alone, Kai had elevated the prestige of the Uchiha Clan to unprecedented heights. Let's see who would dare speak ill of the Uchiha now!
"This really is... too reckless..."
Shikaku rubbed his throbbing temples.
As always, he muttered that everything was troublesome, but the slight upward curve of his lips betrayed his true feelings.
One man's power had subdued an entire Great Shinobi Village without requiring Konoha to shed a single drop of blood—or at least, that was how he viewed it.
What did that mean?
It meant Konoha now possessed strategic depth and resources on a scale never seen before.
The balance of power throughout the shinobi world had been completely rewritten!
"Lord Hokage, I believe we should immediately recognize the legitimacy of Kirigakure's new government and publicly announce the highest level of strategic alliance with them!"
Inoichi spoke excitedly.
"Exactly!"
"This is Konoha's greatest opportunity to unify the shinobi world!"
The senior officials were practically buzzing with excitement.
Every one of them looked as though they had been injected with stimulants.
As the news spread throughout Konoha, the clans that had previously remained cautious and merely paid lip service to Uchiha Kai could no longer remain still.
Inside the Hyūga Clan's main compound.
A branch family ninja rushed into the meeting hall.
"Clan Head! We've just received confirmation! Lord Uchiha Kai... has completely taken control of Kirigakure!"
"What?!"
Hiashi Hyūga immediately rose from his seat.
For the first time, genuine shock appeared on his usually composed face.
Several main-family elders who had once held reservations about the Uchiha exchanged uneasy glances.
Cold sweat formed on their foreheads.
Not long ago, they had congratulated themselves for not immediately throwing the entire Hyūga Clan behind the Uchiha.
They believed they had preserved the clan's independence.
But now?
That wasn't independence.
That was stupidity.
Uchiha Kai's power had already reached the point where he could casually overturn the government of a major nation.
Compared to that, what was the Hyūga Clan?
"Quick!"
Hiashi made his decision instantly.
His voice trembled slightly with excitement.
"Prepare gifts!"
"No—bring my finest tea leaves!"
"And the ancestral scroll as well!"
"I'm going to the Uchiha Compound immediately!"
"No!"
"I'm going to the Hokage Building!"
"I will personally convey the Hyūga Clan's highest respect—and absolute loyalty—to Clan Head Fugaku!"
Similar scenes unfolded throughout every corner of Konoha.
The fence-sitters who had once hesitated now rushed toward the Uchiha Clan with unprecedented enthusiasm.
Everyone wanted to submit their allegiance before anyone else.
A vast and unstoppable tide centered around Uchiha Kai was rapidly taking shape within Konoha.
Meanwhile, the three visiting Kage had already stormed toward the Hokage's Office with dark expressions.
They intended to demand an explanation directly from Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The entire shinobi world was being thrown into turmoil.
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