Chapter 322: Tsunade Handles It Easily—Rasu and Choumei Are Ready to Surrender!

“Daitobu, I’m warning Itachi!”

“Kumo has chosen to join Konoha, so Tsuchi is now a Konoha ninja.”

“Does Iwa intend to go to war with Konoha?”

Tsunade’s face radiated dominance; she cut straight to the point.

Even during Hiruzen Sarutobi’s time, she was hot-tempered, let alone now that Konoha had grown terrifyingly strong, and both her grandfathers now resided within it.

In this situation, what did she have to fear?

Daitobu: “...”

Looking at the Konoha group, he knew he was finished.

Had he not encountered Konoha, he could still claim ignorance of Kumo’s defection—but now, he truly had no words left.

As Tsunade said, continuing would mean tearing the veil from Konoha.

Konoha was already desperate for an excuse to strike; he absolutely could not give them one, for with the current situation, Iwa could not withstand it.

So, sigh!

After a helpless sigh, Daitobu chose to swallow his pride: “So Kumo has already joined Konoha? I truly wasn’t aware of this. If that’s the case, I have no business saying more.”

With that, he waved his hand.

Though deeply displeased, the Iwa ninja reluctantly parted to make way.

Tsuchi stared, bewildered.

Was it really that easy to resolve?

Only after a blink did he realize—he was no longer a Kumo ninja; he could now call himself a Konoha ninja.

He knew full well how strong Konoha was!

But before, he had never adjusted his mindset—he still thought of himself as a Kumo ninja.

Now that he had adjusted, he instantly understood: he too was now one of the First Ninja Village—Konoha.

This dominance intoxicated him.

The only thing worth lamenting was that he could no longer say the words “Kumo.”

He took a deep breath, slowly stepped out of the Iwa encirclement, and returned before Tsunade.

“Commander!”

“Mm, it’s settled.”

Looking at Tsuchi’s complex expression, she hesitated, unsure what to say.

In past battles, they had often crossed paths.

Back then, they were enemies—but who could have imagined how fickle fate was, that now they would be comrades in the same village?

Tsuchi, too!

His mind was blank; he wandered back to the Kumo formation, dazed.

“Commander Tsuchi, are Itachi alright?”

“Thank goodness!”

“I never expected Konoha to be this dominant.”

“From now on, when we travel outside, we can call ourselves Konoha ninja.”

“...”

Many former Kumo elites now wore deeply complex expressions.

Yet whenever the word “Konoha” was mentioned, their faces could not help but brighten.

And many Konoha ninja near the Kumo group—truthfully—also felt complicated; once, meeting on the battlefield meant life or death, and Kumo had been Konoha’s sworn enemy.

But now?

They were all family!

“Alright, let’s go back!”

Tsunade did not look at Daitobu, Rasu, or Choumei; she had no interest in idle chatter with them—she simply turned and led everyone away.

Because she knew no battle would break out today.

Konoha had not prepared for total war, nor had Iwa, Kiri, or Suna.

Staying here served no purpose.

Small talk?

Sorry.

Someone else might manage it—but Tsunade herself was never good at it.

So, forget it.

Better to return early.

In an instant.

With Tsunade’s words, Konoha, accompanied by the Kumo group, walked out boldly and unchallenged.

And as for this?

Iwa, Kiri, and Suna all wore grim expressions—but no matter how furious they felt, none dared speak up and demand Konoha stay.

They dared not.

Konoha was still too strong—strong enough that they could barely defend themselves, let alone risk war.

Because they all knew: if they fought, they would lose without question.

An hour later, inside the Alliance building.

In the innermost small meeting room, Daitobu, Rasu, and Choumei sat together, each with a cup of hot tea before them.

Yet.

None of the three spoke.

Even Daitobu, the most vehement opponent of merging with Konoha, now wore a face full of confusion and helplessness—he truly could not conceive of any way to resist Konoha.

For Konoha’s strength had reached a level beyond reason.

Even if all three villages allied, they found not a single possibility of victory.

As for Choumei and Rasu, they were even more silent.

“How about—joining?”

“Our so-called alliance, in my view, means nothing.”

Konoha was already powerful enough; now with Kumo’s fresh strength added, I see no chance—not even of barely holding out.

Choumei was direct, uninterested in roundabout thinking.

Meanwhile,

In the past, Daitobu would have immediately retorted.

But this time, he chose silence.

Because he truly had no rebuttal—and he had to consider the survival of his descendants and his village’s future.

If Iwa fought Konoha to the death, even total annihilation would not threaten Konoha.

So.

He chose silence.

Rasu, however, upon hearing this, could not help but speak: “Water Shadow, can Itachi guarantee Itachi’ll convince everyone in Kirigakure?”

“I’m afraid not,” Choumei answered without concealment, shrugging before speaking slowly: “If I had that guarantee, I would’ve walked with Tsunade right then.”

“To be honest...”

“I have deep feelings for Kiri—it’s where I grew up—but now I find it meaningless.”

“Our childhood daimyo court is gone, Kumo has become a historical symbol—what does it matter if Kiri still exists?”

“Kiri may vanish, but the people remain.”

“We can still visit this place later, just as before—no difference at all.”

Rasu fell silent.

Yet he paid no mind to Choumei’s complaints; instead, he began pondering Suna’s situation.

After a moment,

He sighed helplessly: “Suna’s situation is much the same—I can’t guarantee I’ll convince everyone, especially Chiyome and Kurotsuchi. Their grudge against Konoha runs too deep.”

“Though I’ve seized their authority, if these old ones stir trouble, they could ignite a major upheaval in Suna.”

“But for Suna!”

“For the majority to survive, I will personally purge these people first!”

“Wind Shadow, if Itachi’re interested, let’s work together—then we can both join Konoha.”