An experiment...
How dare he.
He was using the entire ninja world for an experiment, all for the sake of a peace theory, treating the current system like it was nothing more than material for his test.
The entire ninja world, with its hundreds of millions of people, was about to become a testing ground for his theory. And he was going to conduct the experiment himself.
And yet… he could actually do it.
No one in the entire ninja world could resist Emiya Shirou. Just having Madara Uchiha standing there, watching over the Allied Shinobi Forces, was more than they could handle. It felt less like a man watching an army and more like one person holding tens of thousands of prisoners captive.
"Clearly, you also want peace in the ninja world..."
The Fifth Kazekage, Gaara, sighed. He stepped forward, took the scroll from Tsunade's hand, picked up the pen, and signed his name. Still, his words held a hint of regret. "Why can't we do this slowly..."
As one of the new generation of Kage, Gaara hadn't lived through the founding era of the ninja villages and was more open to new ideas. After voicing his one reservation, he became the first to sign the agreement.
Seeing the first person take the lead, Emiya Shirou explained coldly, "When one possesses more and more power, one loses more and more patience. Madara has just experienced a failure. We should find a way to help him pull himself together as soon as possible..."
The mood among the Five Kage immediately soured.
However, since someone had to go first, the Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi, sighed and also stepped forward to sign her name.
The Mist Village's strength was simply too weak. Economically and in terms of population, the Mist Village lagged far behind the continental ninja villages.
Even the ninja within the village didn't have much loyalty to its leaders... To be honest, Mei Terumi's position as Mizukage was one she had been pushed into.
"Anyway, we can't resist, can we?" the Fifth Mizukage offered, giving a practical reason for her choice that also implicated the three remaining great ninja villages.
Everyone knew they lacked the power to resist. Having just been under the Infinite Tsukuyomi, their chakra was extremely depleted.
After the Sand and Mist Villages signed their names, Konoha's Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, and the Stone Village's Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, could only sigh and agree.
"I can sign..." The Fourth Raikage gritted his teeth and glanced at Madara Uchiha, his voice deep. "The Cloud Village and the Land of Lightning can be merged into your new country. But all the ninja of the Cloud Village remember their hatred for Madara Uchiha..."
This was a hatred they would not forget easily.
When Madara heard his name, a flicker of surprise crossed his face. Just as a sneer began to form on his lips, the image of a person flashed in his mind, and his body subconsciously stiffened.
Hashirama.
Madara suddenly remembered when he chose to join forces with Hashirama in the Warring States period. He had also made a request: that someone pay with their life for his brother's death. That man had been ready to kill himself with a kunai without a moment's hesitation...
Hatred... it's hatred again... To pursue peace... someone must let go of hatred...
A look of realization dawned on Madara's face. He suddenly understood why his old friend, Hashirama, had been willing to commit suicide back then. Perhaps that man truly believed that if they could just let go of their hatred, their goal would be within reach...
"Hashirama," Madara murmured, his eyes lowering slightly. "I understand you more and more."
After a soft sigh, he began, "If I choose at this time to..."
However, before Madara could finish, Emiya Shirou immediately interrupted him. He looked up at the Fourth Raikage. "Then have you thanked Madara?"
"???" A question mark practically appeared over the Fourth Raikage's head.
Wait… what in the world did he mean, 'thank you'?! Did he expect them to be grateful to Madara Uchiha?
"It seems Madara should have completely killed everyone in the Cloud Village..." Emiya Shirou reached for the scroll on the table, as if ready to end the matter entirely.
"Alright," he said casually, "since the Cloud Village doesn't want this world to become peaceful, then this future peaceful world has no place for the Cloud Village."
The Fourth Raikage's heart went cold. He subconsciously grabbed the scroll as if it were a lifeline, his voice trembling. "Wait..."
This man changed his tune so fast!
The Raikage had only wanted to show the unyielding spirit of the Cloud Village, but he hadn't expected the man to just flip the table on them.
"The Cloud Village agrees..." the Fourth Raikage gritted out, hurriedly grabbing the pen and signing his name. "I just hope you don't violate the agreement, and I hope the ninja world can truly achieve peace..."
"The one who makes the rules," Emiya Shirou said, shaking his head, as if hoping the Raikage could understand a simple truth, "has no need to break them. Once these rules are made, they will shape this future world exactly as we intend."
"Alright," Emiya continued. "There is more to do. From this day on, a new country is born. Any other daimyo, noble, or small ninja village unwilling to obey this agreement will be considered rebels who must be executed. The five great ninja villages, as military institutions, will be responsible for cleaning them up."
It was so swift and decisive.
The Five Kage subconsciously wanted to voice their opposition again. They had good personal relationships with the daimyo of their countries. To hand this task over to them felt a bit...
"You don't want the Akatsuki to carry out the mission of cleaning up the daimyo and nobles, do you?" Emiya Shirou's words cut through their thoughts once more. "The members of the Akatsuki are not very good with words. When dealing with disobedient people, their methods might not be very gentle..."
"We will persuade them..." Tsunade sighed helplessly.
"Then..." The Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, immediately raised an objection, offering his own suggestion. "What about the daimyo of the new country? Can't one be chosen from the old daimyo? Actually, the daimyo of our Land of Earth has always been benevolent and loved by the people..."
"Then he must be very willing to give up his power for the sake of his people."
Emiya Shirou's words choked the Third Tsuchikage and silenced the other Kage who were about to speak.
The Five Kage all shut their mouths. He really had an answer for everything.
As the Five Kage dejectedly accepted their fate and prepared to lead the Allied Shinobi Forces back to their respective villages, Madara Uchiha couldn't help but grow curious.
"Who will be chosen as the daimyo of the new country?"
"No rush." Emiya Shirou was not in a hurry at all.
He didn't even glance at the Akatsuki members who were also curious about the matter. He explained calmly, "Although we all want to be quick, the pursuit of eternal peace is a long process. It doesn't necessarily need a daimyo..."
"After all..." he finished, "what is most important in this world is always military power."