Chapter 111: Rebellion Against the Empire? Hope in Despair?

Chapter 111: Rebellion Against the Empire? Hope in Despair?

"Is that so... then... Boil Release: Clever Mist Technique!"

Terumi Mei of the Ninja World exhaled, releasing a vast spread of scorching steam.

A group of ninjas quickly dodged out of the way.

With the steam obscuring their vision, all they could see was the ground beneath their feet beginning to crackle and pop from the intense heat.

This brought a glimmer of hope to a portion of the Kirigakure ninjas:

"The Water Shadow's technique is impenetrable. Even steel would melt! That brat doesn't know what he's up against, he's in for a world of hurt!"

"The Water Shadow will win this one!"

"No..." Qing, on the other hand, shook her head solemnly.

"Ever-changing Fern's Dance!" A detached voice rang out.

Rumble!

Beneath Terumi Mei of the Ninja World and in the surrounding area of several dozen meters, a series of sharp bone spurs erupted from the ground.

Terumi Mei's senses immediately kicked in, and she leaped high into the air.

But the bones continued to extend, turning and twisting in pursuit!

"What a troublesome ability... Lava Release: Scorching River Rock Technique!"

Terumi Mei exhaled once more, sending several massive lava balls toward the bones, only to have them easily pierced, leaving the bones completely unscathed!

The bones then sped up, swiftly reaching Terumi Mei's side and turning to bind her right arm!

More bones appeared and quickly entangled her left arm, right leg, left leg, and body, binding her tightly in midair.

"Water Shadow!" Kirigakure villagers exclaimed in shock as they witnessed their leader being restrained, the situation reversing in an instant.

"My bones are indestructible and provide absolute defense. Engaging me in battle is futile... Water Shadow Terumi Mei, while you are a formidable figure as the leader of a village in the Ninja World, your strength is insignificant compared to the Empire. In our world, your power would be commonplace."

Kimmimaru, with his calm demeanor, controlled the bones to slowly bring Terumi Mei before him. He looked at her with an air of tranquility and said, "Compared to the you in our world, there is a vast disparity."

Terumi Mei fell silent for a moment before a smile curved her lips.

"You're quite a charmer, young man. Perhaps... we can have more 'interactions' in the future."

She winked suggestively.

"Interactions? Ninjutsu? Martial arts? Never mind... The Ninja World doesn't possess the knowledge I seek."

Kimmimaru shook his head, his expression unperturbed, as he released Terumi Mei.

"!"

Terumi Mei's brows furrowed, a vein popping on her forehead as she replied, slightly irritated, "You're not making this easy, young charmer. But... you've shown us your strength, just as the Fire Shadow said... We're not even in the same league; any thoughts of resistance are futile."

By the end of her statement, Terumi Mei's voice carried a hint of dejection.

The ninjas from the other villages shared her sentiment, their heads hung low, their faces devoid of hope.

The leaders of the four great ninja villages had been defeated so effortlessly.

This was something they wouldn't have dared imagine in their wildest dreams, yet here it was, unfolding before their very eyes.

On the other side, a group of Konoha ninjas wore smug expressions, clearly relishing in the fact that their peers were now experiencing the same sense of powerlessness that they had felt.

After all, the Empire had been flaunting its might and intimidating them for a while now.

Did the other four villages realize the immense pressure Konoha had been under? They had tried to offer friendly advice at the beginning, but it fell on deaf ears! They had to learn the hard way! How stubborn could they be?

But now... now they were all in the same boat. They had no choice but to fall in line and listen.

Empire Ai surveyed the ninjas from the four great villages, pleased with their dejected expressions and body language. "This look suits you. You now understand the vast gulf between us. However... what we've shown you today is merely the tip of the iceberg. The true might of the Empire is a hundred, no, a thousand times more formidable. Our glorious God-Emperor is akin to a deity, so do not dare to entertain any foolish fantasies."

"... " Silence fell upon the four great ninja villages.

"From this day forward, the five great ninja villages shall be incorporated into the Empire.

While you may not fully understand the Empire at present, that is of no consequence. Once we deal with the Akatsuki and rescue the Jinchuriki, you will all be able to visit the Empire and witness its prosperity and power firsthand.

Trust us; we would never betray our counterparts from another world."

Empire Ai continued, his tone assured.

"... " The four great ninja villages remained silent.

After a lengthy pause, Oonoki finally spoke, "Regardless... we must return to our villages and share this intelligence with our people."

"Of course, you are now free to leave Konoha."

Empire Ai's demeanor exuded confidence and ease.

The rest of the Empire's members shared his sentiment; they were convinced that after witnessing the immense gap in power, these ninjas wouldn't dare rebel.

"Then... we shall take our leave."

Oonoki nodded and turned to leave, his back hunched even more than before. He and his Iwagakure companions swiftly departed.

The ninjas from the other villages spoke in unison, "We should return to our village as well."

And with that, they, too, took their leave.

Unbeknownst to each other, they all chose the same path, and several kilometers away from Konoha, they once again stopped in unison.

Oonoki heaved a sigh and asked, "Now that you've had time to process everything, what are your thoughts?"

"Thoughts? What thoughts could we possibly have?

"The strength of those guys from another world, you didn't just imagine it. With just our four great ninja villages, we simply can't compete."

"It would be better to surrender and find my handsome man," Mei Terumi, the Water Shadow, said with a flip of her hand, rolling her eyes.

"Water Shadow, please don't speak such discouraging words! Those guys are powerful, but we're not completely hopeless! As long as we join forces—" A Cloud ninja said, his face grim.

"Hope? What hope is there? That brat, Kimmimaro, clearly wasn't using his full strength against me.

And Deidara from another world has mastered Dust Release, which is even more powerful than the Earth Shadow's.

The other world's Raikage easily defeated the Fourth Raikage with a single move.

The Wind Shadow is completely outmatched... I have no idea how we'd fight if they went all out.

And they still have many more who haven't even made a move yet," Mei Terumi argued.

"Maybe... maybe they're only pretending to be strong. Maybe it's just a handful of them who are truly powerful, and the rest are just here to intimidate us?" The Cloud ninja continued, his voice laced with a hint of hope.

"Ask Qing," Mei Terumi suggested. "Your Byakugan, what do they tell you?"

"My Byakugan tells me that each and every one of them possesses an immense chakra reserve.

At the very least, they are all elite jonin-level, and many are on par with kage.

Especially the Kisame Hoshigaki from another world—his chakra is no less than that of a tailed beast.

The chakra emanating from several members of the Uchiha clan is also immense and ominous...

Not to mention their so-called 'qi'," Qing replied, her voice steady.

Hearing this assessment, the group fell silent.

After a long pause, Onoki also sighed and said, "If it were just a handful of ninjas, then perhaps we'd stand a chance.

But they've joined forces with Konoha... At this point, the quality and quantity of their ninja are beyond what we can handle."

"So, are we really going to surrender? That's ridiculous! The five great ninja villages have stood as the strongest for decades! We are the guardians of order in the ninja world... And now, we're supposed to just roll over and submit to Konoha and those strange newcomers...?"

A Rock ninja spoke up, his voice tinged with sadness. As he finished, his voice choked with emotion, unable to continue.

"No! We can't give up! Even if we have only a one percent, or even a fraction of a percent chance of victory, we must not surrender!"

At that moment, a mature voice rang out, causing the members of the four villages to startle and turn toward the source.

A man with white spiky hair and a forehead protector bearing the character for "oil" stepped out from the trees.

"You are... one of the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya?"

A group of ninjas recognized him and exclaimed in surprise.

"Jiraiya of the Leaf, what do you mean by that?" The Raikage frowned, his expression skeptical.

"As you can see, I am not allied with the so-called Empire," Jiraiya stated calmly.

"How interesting. The entire Leaf Village, even the Hokage, has merged with those Empire people, yet you stand apart?"

Darui, the Raikage's bodyguard, paused before asking, "Are you sure they didn't send you to test us?"

Jiraiya's words caused the others to become cautious as well.

"I swear on my reputation as one of the Sannin! I have no ties to the Empire!" Jiraiya declared, his face serious as he raised three fingers.

"So, why are you here now? What do you hope to accomplish?"

The Raikage asked, his eyes narrowing.

"I believe we need to unite against the Empire! And... against the Leaf!" Jiraiya declared, his voice resolute.

"You... Are you serious?"

The Raikage, Ay, looked at him in astonishment.

"I must do this... Otherwise, the world will be destroyed by the Empire," Jiraiya explained, his tone grave.

"What do you mean? The Empire wants to destroy the world? How can you be sure?"

Ay demanded, his eyes narrowing further.

"The prophecy dream of the Great Toad Sage from Mount Myoboku revealed everything to me. I tried to convince Tsunade... But she fears the Empire and is hoping for the best," Jiraiya sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly.

"The Great Toad Sage from Mount Myoboku? I've heard of this sage. Rumor has it that he's a sage from ancient times, having lived for millennia, possessing many mystical abilities... and he's even saved the world with his prophecies,"

Onoki said, his brow furrowed as he recalled the tales he'd heard.

"Save the world? A toad? What a laughable excuse," Ay scoffed, his lip curling in disdain.

"Even with Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, on our side, it would still be useless against such enemies..." Mei Terumi shook her head, her expression resigned.

"That's right... Relying solely on your strength against the Leaf, now backed by the Empire, is futile. But if we join forces, then perhaps we stand a chance."

Another voice, calm and steady, cut through the air.

A figure with two tones, black and white, emerged slowly from the earth—the two-toned Zetsu.

"Who are you?"

"That attire... Are you from Akatsuki?" Someone shouted, their eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"You dare show your faces before me!"

The Fourth Raikage, Ay, roared in fury, his Lightning Release Chakra Mode activating. He shot forward like a bolt of lightning and threw a punch. "Wood Release: Wood Log Wall!"

The white half of Zetsu's body called out, and trees sprouted from the ground, forming a wooden shield that blocked the Raikage's attack.

The ground shook, and the earth caved in, but the wooden shield held firm!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end