Chapter 510

"If I force the Rock Shinobi to retreat for you today, then tomorrow, when the enemy invades again, who will you wait for to save you from peril?"

Mizunuki Ryosuke spoke in a leisurely manner, his tone filled with profound meaning.

As his voice fell, the banquet hall was already deathly silent.

An innocent man is innocent, but his treasure makes him guilty. This saying, applied to the Waterfall Shinobi at this moment, was not the least bit false.

Hearing Mizunuki Ryosuke’s words, the Waterfall Shinobi elders and Shibuki were, for a moment, unable to refute him.

Although these words sounded somewhat like sophistry at the moment, it could not be denied that there was indeed some truth to them.

The Seven-Tails was like a hot potato to the Waterfall Shinobi right now. Even though the power of a Tailed Beast was covetous and eye-catching, the Waterfall Shinobi had already lost the capital to keep this power in their hands.

Even without Mizunuki Ryosuke’s "kind" help in "safekeeping" it.

In the survival-of-the-fittest ninja world, the Waterfall Shinobi, who had luckily sent away the Rock Shinobi, would inevitably welcome the next, even more cruel aggressor.

Seeing the Waterfall Shinobi silent, Mizunuki Ryosuke did not pause and continued speaking.

"I killed this person not for anything else, but simply to save the Waterfall Shinobi from danger."

"With such short-sighted people around, wouldn't keeping them only hinder the Waterfall Shinobi?"

Mizunuki Ryosuke’s face was now filled with a sighing expression that read, "I am doing this all for the good of the Waterfall Shinobi." This made Shibuki and the Waterfall Shinobi elders’ brows twitch repeatedly.

"Am I right, Leader Shibuki?"

After speaking, Mizunuki Ryosuke did not stop, instead pushing further to question Shibuki, his eyes carrying a deep, chilling gaze that made one’s heart run cold.

Shibuki’s expression changed drastically. He forced a smile onto his face and responded reluctantly.

"Lord Mizukage, you are too serious; he truly deserved to die."

"You are correct; an existence like a Tailed Beast has always been possessed by those capable of holding it."

"Now that the Waterfall Shinobi has fallen into difficulty, we are indeed unable to protect the Seven-Tails. We are willing to temporarily entrust the Seven-Tails to the Mist for safekeeping."

Shibuki knew clearly that in the current situation, regardless of the optics or the logic, the Seven-Tails could definitely not be taken back.

Even if he felt guilty toward that Waterfall Shinobi elder who had spoken at the risk of his life, he could only follow Mizunuki Ryosuke’s words and offer the criticism that the man "deserved to die."

Rather than continuing to entangle himself and offending Mizunuki Ryosuke over a Seven-Tails, it was better to do a favor and end it all once and for all. Perhaps he could even retreat to advance, preventing Mizunuki Ryosuke from proposing more conditions.

The other Waterfall Shinobi elders, upon hearing Shibuki’s words, also exchanged glances after their initial surprise, seeing the helplessness in each other’s eyes.

After all, the Mizukage was powerful right now; what else could they do?

Clearly, everyone understood that the loss of the Seven-Tails was inevitable, and they knew that Shibuki doing this was unavoidable.

"Sigh."

"Fine, I will reluctantly do a good deed to the end and help the Waterfall Shinobi once more."

As he spoke, Mizunuki Ryosuke wore a troubled expression; looking at it, one would think he had solved a massive problem for the Waterfall Shinobi.

Regarding Mizunuki Ryosuke’s behavior of getting the benefit while still acting aggrieved, the Waterfall Shinobi people still dared to be angry but dared not speak.

At this moment, they finally understood why the Fourth Tsuchikage of the Rock, upon seeing this fellow Fourth Mizukage, had shown an expression as if he had "seen a ghost."

It was for no other reason than that this man’s deep thoughts and ruthless methods were simply impossible to measure by conventional logic.

It was originally the Waterfall Shinobi who were wronged and he who took the massive advantage, yet the other party could still act so lightly, as if it were the Waterfall Shinobi who had gained a great benefit. Such ruthlessness was simply outrageous.

Mizunuki Ryosuke saw that the Waterfall Shinobi leader Shibuki and the elders were all so frightened by his power that they dared not speak, and he knew the "stick" had been used enough.

Now, it was time to appropriately offer some "sweet dates."

Immediately, Mizunuki Ryosuke’s face once again wore a gentle smile that felt like a spring breeze. Those familiar with this guy knew he was about to start scamming people again.

"Everyone’s expressions are so ugly; could it be that you are still immersed in the barbaric invasion of the Rock Shinobi and cannot pull yourselves out?"

Mizunuki Ryosuke feigned confusion and asked the people in front of him, despite knowing the answer.

Hearing this, the smile that Shibuki had barely squeezed onto his face stiffened again. He glanced nonchalantly at the Waterfall Shinobi elder on the ground, whose head had a hole in it and whose body was not yet cold, his eyes extremely complex.

Why their expressions were so ugly—if others didn't know, didn't you know?

But even so, since Mizunuki Ryosuke had already asked, they naturally had no courage to accuse him to his face. For a moment, Shibuki could only lower his head and agree.

The reaction of the Waterfall Shinobi leader Shibuki did not exceed Ryosuke’s expectations. He just smiled nonchalantly and took the opportunity to continue speaking.

"Leader Shibuki, do not worry."

"I will take responsibility for this matter to the end."

Hearing Mizunuki Ryosuke say this, Shibuki’s heart sank, and he became even more worried.

"All the 'origins' in the ninja world are one family; this is not just empty talk."

"As Mizukage, I naturally have the responsibility to protect the Waterfall Shinobi from harm."

"I have a method that can ensure the Waterfall Shinobi eternal peace."

Mizunuki Ryosuke said with a sincere expression, but the more he did so, the more uneasy Shibuki felt in his heart.

During the previous battle, Mizunuki Ryosuke’s words—that the Mizukage should dominate everything and everyone related to "water"—were still fresh in his ears.

Right now, Mizunuki Ryosuke’s words seemed like good words, but bringing this matter up again did not look like he had good intentions at all.

Especially after several contacts, this Mizukage’s ruthlessness had left a deep impression on him, and he had absolutely no hope for this person’s "moral standards."

Therefore, no matter how he looked at it, the other party’s sudden kindness seemed more like "ill intent."

And the so-called "eternal peace" looked more like an empty check.

When Senju Hashirama distributed the Tailed Beasts, he had also promised the Waterfall Shinobi "eternal peace," but was there really peace?

So-called peace, in the current ninja world where wars were frequent, was more like a joke that wasn't funny.

"Lord Mizukage, why do you say that?"

Thus, Shibuki did not dare to directly accept Mizunuki Ryosuke’s words, but instead cautiously probed him.

Regarding this, Ryosuke had long anticipated it and did not take Shibuki’s cautious attitude to heart. Next, he would reveal a grand plan he had been meticulously plotting since the outbreak of the Great Ninja War.

"Leader Shibuki, in your opinion, how can the Waterfall Shinobi maintain peace forever?"

Mizunuki Ryosuke did not explain, but instead asked Shibuki again.

Hearing this, Shibuki hesitated, not knowing how to answer for a moment.

"It should be strength!"

"Strength is the fundamental guarantee of peace!"

Finally, in a vague manner, Shibuki gave an answer that most people would agree with.

But who knew, after hearing Shibuki’s answer, Ryosuke just shook his head lightly.

"You are right, and you are wrong."

Regarding Mizunuki Ryosuke’s rejection, Shibuki became even more confused; he did not know what medicine was in Mizunuki Ryosuke’s gourd.

"Then let me ask you again, do you know why the Rock Shinobi wanted to launch a war against the Waterfall Shinobi?"

Ryosuke asked again. Shibuki intended to blurt out an answer, but the words stuck in his throat. He couldn't speak for a long time, and in the end, he simply fell silent.