Just after those words slipped out of her mouth, Mei Terumi's mind began racing.

The Three-Tails—Isobu—and the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, must have already been defeated by the other side.

Only then would that colossal Wooden Golem have appeared.

Though she had never witnessed the Wood Release: Wooden Golem Jutsu firsthand, it was the signature technique of the legendary God of Shinobi—Hashirama Senju. What ninja in the world hadn't at least heard of it?

It was with that very technique that Hashirama captured both the Three-Tails and the Six-Tails, then sold them to Kirigakure at the first Five Kage Summit.

Mei Terumi, a woman determined to become the Fifth Mizukage, had of course studied such events in depth.

Then there was the armored giant that Ao had mentioned…

If nothing went wrong, it had to be Susanoo—Uchiha Madara's terrifying Mangekyō creation. The Shura of the Ninja World himself!

And most importantly… that Wooden Golem had been destroyed.

From all the evidence available:

Kirigakure had started with tens of thousands of shinobi. After the war and the Three-Tails' massacre, fewer than five thousand remained.

The Three-Tails had slaughtered over two thousand of their forces. Bokuto—if still alive—was even stronger than the Three-Tails. And now, the enemy's Susanoo had crushed him.

If you round it up... their enemy could likely wipe out every last Kirigakure shinobi alone.

Not to mention the four to five thousand Konoha forces advancing behind him.

Only one conclusion remained in her heart:

Surrender.

Uchiha Hikaru stood before her—tall, broad-shouldered, clad in the same dark blue combat gear she wore, his demeanor both powerful and composed. He studied her carefully and quickly grasped what she was thinking.

"This must be the famous dual-Kekkei Genkai kunoichi of the ninja world—Mei Terumi."

"Are you certain you can represent Kirigakure's will right now?"

"Just saying it aloud doesn't mean the militants behind you will agree."

At that moment, Mei Terumi put on the act of a seductress reborn, flashing a playful, bashful smile.

"Are you referring to the souls crushed under the Three-Tails' rampage?"

"Most of the surviving shinobi are those who support my succession as the Fifth Mizukage."

"So why can't I represent them?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the Kirigakure shinobi still arguing aboard the ships noticed their leader had gone silent—and immediately turned to follow the voice they'd heard.

In the current state of Hidden Mist, only Mei Terumi had the authority to stabilize the chaos.

That relic Yuura? The old man had proven useless during the Blood Mist years. How could anyone rely on him now?

One by one, the shinobi stepped behind Mei Terumi.

When they saw Uchiha Hikaru, they all instinctively prepared for battle.

But moments later, Konoha's shinobi emerged from the jungle behind Hikaru—one after another.

Red-eyed, bloodied, exhausted… both sides stared each other down.

Every ninja stood poised to fight, just waiting for a single order from their commanders.

None of them had any clue what Uchiha Hikaru and Mei Terumi had just discussed.

Hikaru raised his right hand, signaling the Konoha forces behind him to stand down.

Then he looked toward the Kirigakure shinobi gathered behind Mei.

"Kirigakure has announced its surrender."

For a moment, silence.

Then—rage.

"What?!"

"Damn you, Uchiha! What the hell did you just say!?"

"We're Kirigakure shinobi! How could we possibly—?!"

Mei Terumi immediately turned and roared:

"Silence!"

"I have declared surrender on behalf of Kirigakure!"

The Mist shinobi stood stunned.

Over five thousand of their comrades had died in this war.

They had gained nothing.

And now… they were being told to surrender?

"Damn it all…"

"What about our fallen comrades?!"

Though many of them despised the war-hungry faction within their ranks, they were all shinobi of the same village. Many had lost friends and comrades in battle.

Mei Terumi saw the emotions on their faces and felt a deep guilt rising in her chest.

She hadn't wanted to surrender either.

But when faced with a power they could not overcome, what choice was left?

Surrendering now was the only way to keep more of her people alive.

This entire war was a trap—manipulated from the shadows by the one who had controlled Yagura.

Right now, Kirigakure could do nothing but submit to Konoha.

The Konoha shinobi, seeing the chaos and bitterness on the enemy's side, felt a wave of relief wash over them.

They hadn't expected the Mist to actually surrender.

Whatever Uchiha Hikaru had said or done to make it happen… he had spared them a brutal continuation of the war.

Admiration surged in their eyes.

So damn cool!

But at that very moment, Fuguki Suikazan——stepped out from the crowd, Samehada strapped to his back.

During the war, it had become known that the Fourth Mizukage had been under genjutsu.

The realization had filled him with ambition.

The title of Fifth Mizukage seemed within reach.

And now? How could he let a woman like Mei Terumi seize the spotlight?

He eyed Uchiha Hikaru with an ingratiating smile.

"This must be the famous Assistant Hokage of Konoha—Uchiha Hikaru!"

"Kirigakure's future shouldn't be decided by some little girl like Mei Terumi!"

"As for our surrender—"

He never got to finish.

The moment Hikaru saw this revolting man, his chakra flared—his skeletal Susanoo burst forth in a flash of darkness.

It grabbed Fuguki by the chest and lifted him high into the air.

"AAAGH! W-Wait! Let me finish talking!"

At this moment, the had completely forgotten his earlier bloodlust—when he had ruthlessly massacred Konoha shinobi at the start of the war.

But while he forgot, Shinnosuke, Maruboshi Kosuke, and Nara Yuito—standing behind Uchiha Hikaru—did not.

Hikaru could feel their rage surge the moment Fuguki appeared.

He didn't know all the details of the prior battlefield intel…

But as an Uchiha, attuned to emotion and perception—

He knew enough.

The shinobi behind him didn't react with hostility toward Mei Terumi. That meant she likely hadn't taken part in the initial attack. Perhaps she had even suspected something was wrong from the beginning.

In the original timeline, it was Mei Terumi and Ao who discovered that Yagura had been under a genjutsu.

That's why he didn't kill her on sight.

But Fuguki? He was a known villain in the original timeline. Add to that the way both Konoha and even Mist shinobi were glaring at him—

Hikaru didn't hesitate.

He was going to end this man.

Even many Kirigakure shinobi were now staring at Fuguki with hatred in their eyes.

"W-Wait! I can help! I can unify Kirigakure!"

"Just give me one chance—!"

CRACK!

Uchiha Hikaru couldn't be bothered to listen anymore.

The skeletal hand crushed him into pulp.

...

...

-------

Send Power Stones

Bonus Chapter at 150 Power Stone

Second Bonus Chapter - 300 Power Stones

---------------------

Join my Patreon and get access to 50+ early chapters before anyone else! 🔥

https://www.patreon.com/UK21

Your Support is Truly Appreciated 🫂