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<<<>>>
'What is he doing here?' thought Kaoru, his eyes narrowing as he recognized the man holding the white flag. Hakare Hozuki was walking slowly through the camp, surrounded by Takimura shinobi and a few citizens. The crowd showed nothing but hatred and anger, their voices rising in a chorus of curses and threats.
"What is this bastard doing here?"
"Get out! We don't want to share the same air as you!"
"Let's kill him!"
"Are these bastards finally surrendering?"
Despite the yelling and threats, no one made a move. Deep down, they all understood that Takimura needed peace more than it needed revenge.
Kaoru stood a few steps away, he could not help but think of the possible consequences of killing the Kiri delegation,
'All it would take is Lingering Death. I'm confident I can kill him.' After his triumphs on the battlefield, Kaoru had grown confident in his skills. He had seen how much of a difference his new style made. After months of intense training in close combat and refining his attack patterns with Nagizume, he felt that he was much stronger now compared to when he fought Itachi.
His thoughts were interrupted when the crowd's murmurs died abruptly as people shuffled aside, making way. Kaoru's gaze followed the parting sea of bodies until it landed on Maki. Gone was her usual vibrant energy - instead, she moved with a palpable heaviness, dressed in somber traditional robes bearing the Takime clan symbol.
'She might actually kill him,' Kaoru mused, the ghost of a smirk playing on his lips. But he knew better. Despite being on a completely different level than any ninja in Kiri, except for Yagura, Maki understood that even her strength couldn't bridge the gap between Kiri's three thousand battle-ready shinobi and Takimura's mere hundred.
"Follow me!" Maki said, her voice calm but commanding as she guided Hakare toward the command tents.
The three jonins accompanying Hakare involuntarily took a step back when Maki's gaze fell on them. The pressure of an S-rank kunoichi was overwhelming and the stories of her strength from their comrades only added to their fear.
"What if she attacks us?" one of the jonins whispered in a trembling voice. But Hakare shot him a sharp look, silencing him immediately.
'How did such a coward survive in Kiri?' thought Hakare, his face twisting in disgust.
"Please, lead us to your leader, Lady Maki," he said, showing her the utmost respect. While he detested weakness and cowardice, he respected strength, even in his enemies. As he followed Maki, his eyes briefly met Kaoru's. He nodded and smiled, recalling how impressed Kaoru was when he saved every single shinobi from Mei's squad.
'The new generation of the Takime clan are absolute monsters,' Hakare thought. Despite his respect, he would love nothing more than to eliminate any obstacle that threatened the Hozuki clan.
<<<>>>
"I'm sure you didn't expect my visit," Hakare began after the initial introductions and greetings. The Takimura council was fully assembled, with even Maki present this time.
"I assume you've already heard that Kumogakure has invaded us, and Konoha is also preparing to move," Hakare paused briefly to check their reactions. Seeing no surprise on their faces and confirming that they'd already known, he continued. "The Mizukage has decided that it's far more important to deal with Kumo than to sacrifice precious lives from the Land of Water." His tone was smooth, almost as if he were describing a magnanimous and merciful ruler.
Meruem, who had a role to play, immediately rebuked him. "Did these 'precious lives' suddenly become valuable after Kumo's invasion? Because it certainly didn't feel that way before." A mocking smile played on his lips as he spoke.
'These arrogant bastards,' Hakare's irritation simmered beneath the surface. 'Just by coming here, Kiri's reputation is already taking a hit. Never before has a great village asked for a ceasefire from such a small group.' But he maintained a completely neutral expression, choosing to ignore Meruem's jab entirely.
"I'm sure we both understand that while Kirigakure has lost more shinobi in this war in pure numbers, it's not even a fifth of our forces. Meanwhile, Takimura has lost… what, half? Or more?" Meruem opened his mouth to interrupt again, but Hakare raised his voice slightly to cut him off. "But… we've acknowledged the strength of your… village. We want to ask for your cooperation in eliminating our common enemies."
'Village, huh?' Meruem smiled internally, calling them a village as a Kirigakure's representative was the same as the acknowledgment of Takimura's legitimacy. It was a small but significant concession, implying that Kiri would treat them differently from now on - at least until they were no longer needed. Still, Meruem wasn't about to back down.
"Even if what you say is true, we both know this war will weaken Kiri so much that you'll be completely destroyed by Kumo and Konoha afterward. So don't act like you have the upper hand," Meruem shot back, his tone harsher than usual. This was a calculated move. Someone with authority needed to be blunt and unyielding. Akura, as the leader, couldn't play that role, and Meruem refused to let Maki or Mei take it on. He wanted the new generation of Takimura to be seen in a different light, and he didn't care about how he came across.
Hakare remained unfazed, but this time, he acknowledged Meruem's presence. "You're correct. That's why Kiri is asking for a ceasefire."
For a moment, the room fell silent. The admission that Kiri needed this ceasefire was unexpected. 'Something must have happened… Did Zabuza attack them?' Akura quickly connected the dots. But the one wearing the most smug smile in the room was none other than Tereno Takime. Every speculation he had made had come true and it validated him completely.
"I assume you have terms ready for this deal?" Maki asked, leaning forward. Her mere words were enough to silence the entire room.
"We do, Lady Maki. And actually, you play the biggest part," Hakare replied, a sly smile spreading across his face.
'No wonder he was so respectful. They need Maki on the frontlines,' Meruem realized immediately. Not only was Maki incredibly strong, but she also wielded Samehada, a blade that was the perfect weapon to face a Jinchuriki.
Maki simply nodded, signaling Hakare to continue. Her actions stirred a range of emotions among those present in the room.
'Maki is finally stepping up to assume the role of a leader.'
'She's practically declaring herself as the leader.'
'She'll probably be elected as Kage after this.'
…
Hakare began explaining the terms. "We won't ask Takimura to send their shinobi, as you've suffered heavy casualties. But we do ask that you send your elites."
"If we send just our elites, they'd have to follow someone else's commands. I'm sure you understand that we find that unacceptable," Akura interjected, he was not impressed so far. Hakare, however, nodded instead of arguing.
"That's why we're offering Lady Maki an independent force of five hundred. She won't be under anyone's command. The army I'm referring to is currently led by Ao, I'm sure you've heard of him." Hakare's smile grew even slyer.
'So, he's not just asking us to fight alongside them but also to take control of an army they can no longer command,' Akura thought, finally understanding Kiri's urgency. They were trying to preserve Ao's force. However, one thing puzzled him - if Maki took charge of the five hundred shinobi, they would likely become loyal to her, effectively increasing Takimura's strength.
"There's one thing I'd like to ask before we move forward with the discussion," Akura said, he had a hunch. "What happens when Kumo and Konoha retreat and the Land of Water is free of invaders? How does Kiri see coexisting with Takimura?"
Hakare grinned, having anticipated the question. "There can't be two villages in the same nation, but waging war against each other isn't feasible either. The Mizukage is offering two options: either Takimura joins Kirigakure, with its leading clans' given seats on the council, or we decide the fate of the nation through a duel - your strongest shinobi against ours."
<<<>>>
Thanks to the premium soldier pill, Kaoru was unable to sleep. The chakra within his body was recovering at a rapid pace, and soon he'd have to start exhausting it again. His mind was in equal chaos too, unable to accept the harsh reality.
So much had changed in just a single day. So many people he cared about were gone. Even though Takimura still stood, the people who had made it the home he loved had suffered heavily. Kaoru wandered aimlessly through the camp, unable to find peace. Without realizing it, he found himself in front of the infirmary, where Sugeru's and Akito's lifeless bodies lay.
"Your friend has come, Sugeru. Please stand up and greet him like you used to," Sugeru's mother whispered, kneeling beside her son's body. She gently caressed his hair, her tears falling silently. She wasn't crying loudly, as if trying to respect the others mourning their own loved ones.
Kaoru couldn't hold back any longer. Tears began to stream down his face, droplet by droplet.
"Kaoru, come here, please," Sugeru's mother called softly. When he was close enough, she hugged him tightly.
"He loved you like a brother… He used to say you were the hope of our village, that you'd definitely become Kage someday…" Her voice broke as tears drowned her words. "He wanted to be your most loyal support… Kaoru, I know it's selfish to say this, but I wish my son's dream will come true… even if he won't be the one supporting you…" She buried her face in Kaoru's shoulder, her sobs muffled.
Kaoru hugged her tightly, unable to find the right words. But something deep inside him shifted. He had always desired strength to protect the people he loved, but now he realized his circle was much larger than he had thought. He needed to aim higher - not just for himself or his family, or for Sugeru, but for everyone who believed in him and the future of Takimura.
"I promise. I'll defend Takimura until the day I die. I'll become strong enough that no one will dare to even think of attacking us." It was a childish promise, one that might have seemed naive in any other context. But in that moment, in that place, both of them believed it. They believed that an eleven-year-old boy could one day become the strongest shinobi in the world.
"Kaoru, could you stay with my Sugeru for a while?" she asked, her voice trembling. "I need to mourn my husband's death as well. He must have felt alone all this time, but I'm sure he'll understand that I couldn't leave our son alone."
Kaoru's heart fell at her request. The weight of her sorrow was almost too much to bear. He was struggling to meet her eyes but still nodded.
"Of course. I'll stay for as long as you need."
<<<>>>
Obito sat silently in the dark room, his presence almost blending into the shadows. Suddenly, Zetsu emerged from the ground, his form materializing in front of Obito.
"Obito, the Three-Tails Jinchuriki lost against the girl I told you about," Zetsu reported, his voice echoing faintly in the dimly lit space. He paused, waiting for a reaction, but Obito remained silent, unmoving.
"What about Kisame? How is he adapting?" Obito asked in an indifferent voice. He had already dismissed the matter of Yagura. As long as Kirigakure was being torn apart, he didn't care about the details.
"We're still looking for a partner for Kisame, but we've finally found one. He's also from Kirigakure and was one of the Seven Swordsmen," Zetsu said with an ugly smile. He had been tracking several potential candidates but had ultimately chosen this one.
"What about the one who's supposed to solve our financial problems? Have you located him yet?" Obito raised his head slightly, his masked face tilting toward Zetsu.
"Yes, but he can't be persuaded by me. We'll have to send Pain," Zetsu replied. He had been busy scouting new members for Akatsuki, and this particular individual required a more forceful approach.
"What about Orochimaru?" Obito's voice was calm but carried a hint of curiosity.
"I approached him and offered the body of Mangetsu Hozuki, as you suggested. I also promised information about Mangetsu's younger brother, but he didn't respond. Instead, he killed my clone," Zetsu said, his unsettling smile stretching across his face as he recalled the encounter.
"Soon… we'll be ready to move very soon," Obito whispered behind his mask.
**
A/N -
I've decided to reduce the time given to other Villages and Characters, but I won't be removing them completely. Most readers asked to keep the different POVs, saying it really adds depth to the story - so they'll still be there, just a bit more balanced.
You can see the Pic showing Maki in the comments.
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