Chapter 266: In the Name of Love, Chiyo Compromises
Temari tried to flip off the tree, but Akiyama Makoto pulled her back into his embrace.
She tried to push him away, but then she heard screams of pain.
She turned her head in confusion, only to see the ninja with bleeding necks clutching their throats and gasping for air, their faces full of disbelief.
Weren't they just killed by him with a single slash? Why are they still alive?
After a careful check, they found they had only suffered superficial wounds.
But that realistic sensation... was it a genjutsu?
In fact, it was.
While his shadow clones were cutting the skin on their necks with Hiraishin, they had used a genjutsu to make them feel as if their throats had been slit.
With the physical pain and the effect of the genjutsu, everyone except Chiyo had thought they were dead.
Even Chiyo had thought everyone was dead. It was only after seeing someone crawl up that she realized this was a trick he was playing.
"Damn it!"
A hot-tempered ninja still wanted to attack, but Chiyo shouted, "Stop! Everyone retreat!"
"Although he toyed with us, he has the ability to kill us all in an instant."
"This meaningless, suicidal battle is pointless. Leave it to me."
Chiyo was currently the highest commander of the entire Sand Village forces. Regardless of what the Sand ninja thought, they could only obediently retreat and make way.
Only then did he wipe away Temari's tears. "I did what I promised you."
"So how do you plan to repay me?"
Temari stared deeply at him. The fear in her heart slowly faded, and only now did she truly experience the terror of his strength up close.
At this moment, she had no other thoughts. She just lowered her head and said, "Whatever you want, I accept it all."
Even if she became his woman here and now, as long as her brothers could be freed, she would have no regrets.
But he made no other moves, because the current Temari had just had her spirit broken.
As for feelings or anything like that, it was impossible. Even if he kissed her, he probably wouldn't get the "+3 Simulation Attempts."
But this was within his expectations. His purpose in meeting Temari today was to make her cooperate with his actions later.
Otherwise, if Temari, as one of the parties involved, did something foolish, he might really have to go on a killing spree.
"Can you tell me who you are? I've never heard your name before. Are you a disciple secretly trained by the Fourth Hokage?"
Seeing that he was no longer talking to Temari, Chiyo finally spoke seriously.
Although her voice was firm, it lacked the murderous intent from before.
"Akiyama Makoto. I'm not the Fourth's disciple. I'm not even a ninja. I'm just an ordinary person living in Konoha."
"Impossible. How can an ordinary person have such strength—"
"Back then, the Senju clan integrated into Konoha. Why can't geniuses appear among ordinary people? I just didn't want to be a ninja, that's all."
Chiyo didn't believe this reason at all, but she turned to look at Temari. Seeing Temari nod slightly, she realized his identity might be somewhat special, something even Konoha couldn't openly acknowledge.
She sighed. How did the Sand Village run into such a guy... She continued, "Then can you tell me why you brought Temari here, and what exactly happened in Konoha?"
"Since you're not a ninja, I can buy this intelligence from you. How about ten million Ryō?"
As soon as Chiyo's words came out, the Sand ninja behind her all showed looks of shock.
That was ten million Ryō!
Rasa would have to sell gold dust for a long time to make ten million Ryō!
He, however, just felt helpless. The Sand Village was broke.
Was this all the highest commander of the Sand Village could offer right now?
Fortunately, what he wanted from the Sand Village wasn't money, but something else.
He said, "I won't take the money. I'm afraid you'll cough up blood later if I do."
"The Sand Village forces were almost completely wiped out. Rasa, Baki, and all combatants above Chūnin level died in battle. However, Temari and her two brothers are still alive. After all, the people of Konoha don't kill those who surrender indiscriminately."
Even though she had already guessed this outcome, Chiyo couldn't help but turn pale.
The Sand ninja behind her also looked pained. Some of the younger kunoichi even fainted directly; it seemed they had relatives who had died in this war.
Chiyo's fingers trembled, forcing down the urge to take out her scrolls and summon her puppets again. At the same time, she strictly ordered her subordinates not to move. Finally, she said, "I understand. It was a trap."
"Orochimaru seemed to be a rogue ninja, but was actually a Konoha spy. He turned on us at the last moment, didn't he—"
He shook his head helplessly, patted Temari on the back, and said, "You tell them. I don't think they'll believe me."
Temari jumped, looking at him uneasily, and whispered, "But they'll hate you—"
"If they hate me because of the war, then I can only use the methods of war to deal with my enemies. Do you understand?"
If it were a grudge between ordinary people, he might still give the other party a chance to tell their story.
But when it escalated to war, there were no excuses to be made. Only the victors lived to reason.
In the simulation, he and Baki were acquaintances, but that didn't stop him from showing no mercy in reality.
Temari's shoulders trembled. She quickly nodded, then stood up and said, "Grandma Chiyo, what I'm about to say is the absolute truth. Please restrain everyone and don't attack again."
Chiyo's eyes flickered, and she nodded slowly. "Alright."
Temari took a deep breath. "As you just saw, Makoto—Makoto-kun can use shadow clones to perform the Flying Thunder God for high-speed combat. In addition, he has also learned the Third Hokage's Five-Element Grand Combo. It can be said that he has gathered the strengths of multiple Hokage."
"Father... died under his Five-Element Grand Combo. Baki-sensei and the others also died under Makoto-kun's Flying Thunder God—so everyone, please don't attack anymore. We can't win."
Chiyo's pupils constricted as she stared in disbelief at the smiling young man sitting on the tree branch.
As expected, some of the Sand ninja behind her were overcome by hatred and wanted to rush up and fight him to the death. But Chiyo used her chakra threads to bind them tightly.
Then Chiyo said sternly, "The war is over. If anyone attacks now, it is deliberately provoking a dispute and attacking a ninja of an enemy nation. Your actions have nothing to do with the Sand Village."
"If you die, it also has nothing to do with the Sand Village. I will only say this once."
Chiyo's cold gaze swept over everyone. Most people lowered their heads, but some still looked at him unwillingly.
He also looked at them, memorizing their chakra signatures. Later, they would die silently during some mission. And it would all be done by Chiyo; it had nothing to do with him, the great philanthropist Lord Akiyama.
"Very good. As expected of the veteran master, Chiyo."
He clapped his hands lightly. "You should be able to make decisions for the Sand Village right now, correct?"
Chiyo didn't nod, but instead demurred, "If it concerns the entire village and country, I also have to go back and discuss it with the village elders."
He nodded, not getting hung up on this. "As you said, this war is over. Konoha has no interest in counterattacking the Sand Village, nor any interest in occupying the Land of Wind."
Chiyo's hunched back straightened slightly. She had finally heard a piece of good news today.
Although she knew this was because the Konoha ninja couldn't see the poverty of the Sand Village clearly, it at least gave them a chance to breathe.
"Next, the Sand Village and Konoha can begin peace talks. And I only have one request."
Chiyo raised an eyebrow slightly. "Please speak."
He looked behind Chiyo. She understood and said, "You are all dismissed. I will discuss the peace talks with the Konoha expert."
This reason was impeccable, at least not something these Chūnin could disobey.
After everyone had left, he said, "To be honest, I have a good relationship with Sister Tsunade. So the peace talks between Konoha and the Sand will be decided after she becomes Hokage."
"As for the safety of Temari and her two brothers, you don't need to worry—"
After speaking, he looked at Temari with a smile.
Temari realized it was time for her to perform. So she bit her lip and kissed him on the cheek.
As expected, there was no "+3 Simulation Attempts," only a cool and moist feeling, which put him in a pretty good mood.
Chiyo stared, dumbfounded, looking at Temari in disbelief. She hadn't expected things to take such a turn.
"Temari, this matter is of great importance—is it true?"
Chiyo forced down the joy in her heart. But her expression made Temari's heart sink to the bottom. She forced a smile and said, "Yes, Grandma Chiyo."
"I met Makoto-kun by chance after the Chūnin Exams. Then, during the exams, he treated my injuries. I was moved by his gentleness then."
"In the end, I didn't expect him to have the strength to turn the tide of the battle. I thought I was dead, but he came to see you for my sake, and even wants to intervene in the peace talks between the two villages—although my father died because of him, that was war."
"After the war, I feel that my relationship with him can go a step further."
Temari spoke slowly, and after she finished, she felt a breath of stale air slowly dissipate from her heart.
Before, she herself couldn't make sense of her relationship with him. But now, she felt as if she and he weren't completely without an emotional foundation.
Of course, compared to the love lives of ordinary people, she and he had only met a few times.
But for ninja who walked on the edge of a blade, a few heart-to-heart exchanges were enough for both sides to fall in love.
As for him killing her father, Rasa... Rasa hadn't treated her and Kankurō as cruelly and ruthlessly as he had Gaara, but he was still far from a qualified father.
Especially seeing how Rasa tortured Gaara, Temari and Kankurō naturally couldn't be without resentment towards their father.
Now that he had killed Rasa but saved Gaara—Temari slowly set a tone: she and he were even.
As for him killing Baki and the others... just as he had said before, war is war, and it shouldn't be confused with personal feelings.
Of course, these were all Temari's rationalizations. There was still some distance before she could truly accept it in her heart.
"I see... Good, very good. Rasa left behind a good daughter."
A gratified smile appeared on Chiyo's lips. To Temari, this smile seemed exceptionally heartless.
However, this was already the best outcome Chiyo could have hoped for. Without this outcome, Temari and the others might not even have been able to leave Konoha.
"In that case, I will temporarily postpone the peace talks with Konoha. And on Konoha's side, I also hope Lord Akiyama can take good care of Temari and the others, and prevent the war from starting again."
"As for the specific terms of the peace talks, we can discuss them slowly. But I can guarantee that the Sand Village fully supports the relationship between you and Temari."
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