Chapter 181: Itachi, Make Another Choice
Hidden Cloud's group of rogues couldn't wait to see Konoha Village's joke. Seeing Yasushi hand them knives, why be polite? Immediately they called out chaotically.
"That's right! Uchiha Yasushi avenging Konoha Village—natural justice!"
"Completely justified!"
The other three nations also joined the excitement, following along.
"Konoha Village dared destroy the entire Uchiha clan. Now they should pay the price!"
"Who told you not to kill cleanly when killing?"
"Cut grass without removing roots—spring wind blows, it grows again. No problem!"
"Silence!" Itachi's eyes blazed with fury. He turned toward the four nations' shinobi, roaring: "What do you know?"
"The Uchiha clan's thinking was narrow-minded, temperament petty. Impossible to communicate with. If not eliminated, the village would inevitably explode into war again. Countless innocents would die tragically then!"
"Well said!" Before others could react, Yasushi applauded first. "Yo yo" clapping repeatedly, then squinting at him:
"Since you love peace so much that for village peace, you'd rather eliminate your own clansmen—then let me ask you..."
"After eliminating the Uchiha, now villages exploded into war. Have more or fewer village people died compared to before?"
"It's still because of you!" Itachi went berserk again, launching another flurry of punches and kicks at Yasushi. "My greatest mistake was not killing you, letting you survive!"
"Without you, naturally there'd be no later war and current humiliating treaties!"
"The Uchiha clan was destroyed by me. If you want revenge, just revenge against me! Why constantly target Konoha Village's innocent people?"
"Innocent?" Yasushi hated this word most. Immediately he phased into Kamui dimension again, roaring loudly at Itachi.
"Where are Konoha Village's innocent people?"
"When Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo spread rumors about the Uchiha throughout the village, who gossiped eagerly, even fanning flames?"
"The Uchiha clan contributed so much to the village, yet they acted blind. Just wanting to curry favor with the Hokage's faction, they deliberately made things difficult for the Uchiha clan everywhere, finding trouble constantly to flatter their masters!"
"Sarutobi Hiruzen deliberately indulged and covered for them, displaying so-called Hokage tolerance and righteousness to win hearts. Meanwhile the Uchiha clan strictly enforcing village rules became universally despised!"
Yasushi grew angrier as he spoke, his face piling with venomous hatred.
"Talk about only revenging against you?"
"Do you deserve it?"
Yasushi shouted loudly.
"Itachi, don't overestimate yourself!"
"You're merely a tool Sarutobi Hiruzen manipulates at will. Something he uses like a dog. The reason you weren't discarded after use is simply because you still have utility!"
"You really think he trusts you that much?"
"If I hadn't luckily survived, exposing Konoha Village's affairs during the Uchiha massacre night—you wouldn't even be able to return to Konoha Village now. You'd only serve as Konoha Village's scapegoat with rogue ninja identity, spying as their mole in Akatsuki gathering intelligence."
"You can stand here now as a Konoha shinobi entirely because I exist as a powerful enemy!"
"Of course I won't spare you, but I definitely won't spare Konoha Village either!"
"Nor will I spare those ungrateful dogs in Konoha Village who help tyrants abuse power!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!."
Yasushi suddenly burst into loud laughter, spreading his arms as if displaying to everyone.
"Let me show you my achievements!"
"Everything now is my hard work's fruit!"
"Look around—how many familiar faces remain?"
"Look again at this traitorous treaty Sarutobi Hiruzen just signed!"
"Isn't it thrilling?"
Watching Itachi's complexion, tightly clenched fists, trembling body, his Mangekyo spinning madly—Yasushi felt extremely satisfied. He deliberately teased:
"Itachi, looks like you feel extremely humiliated by this treaty's contents?"
"Then let's return to that earlier question. When territorial cession/reparations and village comrades' lives are weighed together, how do you choose?"
"Do you choose territorial cession and reparations to exchange for peace?"
"Or choose sacrificing village shinobi's lives to launch war, reclaiming the Land of Fire's lost territories?"
"If you choose peace, then I say nothing. I respect you as a true man—genuinely a pacifist!"
"Five Kage and all nations' shinobi are here. Let's have them witness!"
"As long as you swear before everyone—if anyone from Konoha Village dares launch war in the future, dragging Konoha Village back into war's quagmire, breaking your beloved village's tranquility—whoever advocates it, you'll eliminate them just like you eliminated the Uchiha clan."
"Then I'll also swear—henceforth all grudges with Konoha Village are written off. I'll never again cause trouble for Konoha Village or you!"
After speaking, Yasushi once again gestured toward the other four nations, calling loudly:
"Esteemed Kage and jonin present—are you willing to witness this for me?"
"Willing! Of course willing!"
The group currently bloomed with joy, loudly agreeing in unison.
They deeply felt attending this Five Kage Summit was so worthwhile. This show alone was worth the admission price.
No matter how Itachi ultimately answered, whether willing to make this oath—they didn't lose.
Actually, whether so-called treaties took effect and how long—didn't that depend on each village's strength?
Various nations had signed treaties not ten times then eight times. Which time lasted over ten years?
Front foot signing, back foot immediately tearing up—such things had happened before.
If Itachi's brain short-circuited and he truly made this oath—that would be wonderful.
Afterward, Konoha Village would essentially plant a massive bomb for itself. Henceforth, wanting to use force reclaiming lost territory required first killing Itachi!
"You..." Itachi erupted with rage, pointing at Yasushi while grinding his teeth. But his chest heaved violently as he gasped for a long while, ultimately unable to voice his choice.
"Hehe, what—don't know how to choose?"
Yasushi sneered coldly, staring fixedly at Itachi, questioning word by word:
"When you destroyed your entire clan, you weren't this hesitant!"
"You were quite decisive then!"
"Or rather—actually you've already made your choice internally. But you chose launching new war to reclaim the Land of Fire's lost territories?"
"Those territories originally belonged to the Land of Fire!" Itachi's face showed bulging veins as he roared loudly.