"In front of me… and you still tried to attack?"
After glancing at Suien's corpse, Uchiha Ren shook his head expressionlessly.
What was there to say?
He hadn't originally intended to kill him.
But since Suien insisted on courting death—
Ren simply granted his wish.
"Gulp… Suien is dead…"
"That traitor deserved it!"
At the same time, seeing Suien lying there dead beyond doubt, the Takigakure shinobi all revealed excited expressions.
Some even clenched their fists in satisfaction.
A traitor deserved nothing but death.
Suien had betrayed his own village—his end was only fitting.
"It's over…"
Meanwhile, the Kumogakure shinobi were overwhelmed with despair.
All courage to resist had completely vanished.
Even Mabui collapsed onto the ground weakly.
At this point, whether she accepted it or not, the truth was clear—
the Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Ren, now controlled everything.
"Fifth Hokage-sama… this is Takigakure's Hero Water."
At that moment, Shibuki suddenly seemed to remember something.
His eyes lit up.
He hurriedly pulled out a sealed scroll from his robe and respectfully offered it forward.
"Since the Warring States era, Takigakure has sealed every batch of Hero Water we obtained inside this scroll."
"I offer it all to Konoha."
"We only hope that Konoha will provide some protection for Takigakure."
"No need."
Ren raised an eyebrow slightly and replied calmly,
"The Hero Water's side effects are too severe. It has little use for Konoha."
"You should keep it as Takigakure's secret weapon."
Of course—
Ren left one thing unsaid.
When he had checked in at Takigakure, the system had already rewarded him with Hero Water without side effects.
Because of that, Takigakure's flawed Hero Water was practically useless to him.
He might as well leave it for the village so Shibuki could maintain some sense of security.
"…What?"
Shibuki froze.
His eyes filled with disbelief.
He had never expected the Fifth Hokage to be completely uninterested in the Hero Water.
After all—
this was Takigakure's unique treasure.
Even though the side effects were severe, every major shinobi village had coveted it for years.
"Since you're willing to submit, Takigakure's shinobi may stand."
Buzz!!
Before anyone could react, Ren casually waved his hand.
In the next instant—
the Takigakure shinobi found their bodies moving on their own as they rose from the ground.
They had all been forced to kneel before.
But now they were standing again.
"What… what's happening?"
"I feel stronger…"
"More than that—my body feels lighter!"
Soon, the Takigakure shinobi began shouting in astonishment.
At the moment they stood up, an invisible wave of chakra had flowed into their bodies.
Not only had it healed their internal injuries—
it had also refined and strengthened their chakra.
"Fifth Hokage-sama!"
After sensing the change within himself, Shibuki was so emotional that tears filled his eyes.
He bowed deeply.
"Submitting Takigakure to Konoha is the best decision I have made in my life."
"Mm."
Ren nodded casually.
"It's nothing."
"There are many benefits to submitting to Konoha."
As he said that, Ren's gaze shifted toward the Kumogakure shinobi—especially Mabui and Yugito.
He didn't say a word.
But the invisible pressure surrounding them suddenly intensified.
The Kumo shinobi felt as if their minds had been struck by a thunderbolt.
Several of them began vomiting blood again, their spirits collapsing.
"Cough… cough…"
At that moment, Yugito—who had previously fallen unconscious—coughed violently and slowly woke up.
"The… Fifth Hokage…"
After waking, she wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth carefully.
Her heart was filled with despair.
Everything was finished.
"Our paths are different."
Ren's voice sounded indifferent.
"You can remain here in Takigakure."
Buzz!!
As those words fell, a killing intent flashed through Ren's eyes.
He raised his hand.
A black Truth-Seeking Orb slowly condensed in his palm.
Ren had never shown mercy to enemies.
Even if the opponent was Yugito or Mabui—
he could still strike without hesitation.
"Damn it… the Fifth Hokage intends to kill us all."
The moment the Truth-Seeking Orb appeared—
the Two-Tails inside Yugito panicked.
"Yugito! That's a Truth-Seeking Orb—something only Six Paths-level beings can use!"
"You must surrender immediately! Otherwise you'll be killed instantly!"
"…!"
Yugito hesitated.
Her expression twisted with conflict.
But when she looked behind her at the Kumo shinobi lying helpless on the ground—
she finally took a deep breath.
"Wait… I surrender."
"Oh?"
Ren paused slightly and looked at her with mild curiosity.
"As Kumogakure's jinchūriki, you're truly willing to surrender?"
"…Yes."
Yugito clenched her fists.
Though unwilling, she still nodded decisively.
"You are simply too strong."
"A defeat willingly accepted is still a defeat."
"Yugito! You traitor!"
Upon hearing those words, Mabui—who had been lying on the ground coughing blood—suddenly roared in fury like someone experiencing a last burst of strength.
"No matter who the enemy is, Kumogakure shinobi do not surrender!"
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