Chapter 132: Submission

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Hashirama's gaze swept over everyone, a slight, charming smirk curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Jiraiya just mentioned," he began, "before we officially start the meeting, let's hold a brief discussion first. The main aim is to understand your thoughts about my Senju Nation. Will you join us, or will you not?"

His tone remained steady, as if he were engaging in casual conversation. Yet, this simple chat sent a chill through those present.

In truth, everyone had their own opinions. They had prepared themselves for this moment before arriving, but in this setting, they were unsure how to express their thoughts.

"I'll join!"

Kagura Mei raised her hand first, waving it in front of everyone, her enchanting smile brightening her face. "Our Kirigakure officially secedes from the Land of Water and joins the Senju Nation."

"The Fifth Mizukage…"

The messenger from the Land of Water darkened, feeling that the dignity of his nation had been stripped away. In front of so many witnesses, being the first to submit felt a bit excessive.

Yet, he couldn't voice his concerns; he had come with the same mission. He had hoped to be the one to propose the alliance, with the Land of Water joining the Senju Nation first, followed by Kirigakure's logical inclusion under its banner. Wouldn't that sound much better?

"Mm."

Hashirama regarded Kagura Mei, nodding slightly. His indifference wasn't a sign of aloofness; rather, he was at a loss for how to respond. However, this did project an aura of coolness.

Kagura Mei didn't mind Hashirama's attitude. Ever since their first meeting, she had found this demeanor appealing. It made him even more attractive!

Feeling satisfied, she settled back into her seat, relishing her moment of being the first to speak.

"Um… ahem… our Land of Water also wishes to join the Senju Nation!"

The messenger quickly followed Kagura Mei's lead, raising his hand to indicate his position. He added, "Our daimyo hopes to discuss the complete partition of the Land of Water in detail after joining the Senju Nation, of course, based on our initial membership!"

"Thoughtful of you."

Hashirama turned his gaze to the messenger from the Land of Water, instantly grasping his intent. In the case of other daimyos, the usual protocol would have been to negotiate terms before joining. If the conditions weren't settled, they wouldn't necessarily agree to join the Senju Nation, which made logical sense.

However, the messenger had specifically emphasized that the Land of Water would join first and discuss terms afterward. In a way, this signaled allegiance to Hashirama, setting an example for other factions that hadn't yet declared their intentions and striving for greater benefits for the Land of Water.

To put it plainly, it was a gamble!

The Land of Water was betting that Hashirama's Senju Nation could unify the world, hoping that as the first unconditional ally, it would receive even better treatment.

"We, the Iwagakure, sever ties with the Land of Earth and join the Senju Nation, fulfilling our previous commitment by providing two jinchuriki."

The Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, spoke up right after.

As soon as the words left his mouth, the expressions of those present grew curious and inquisitive.

Onoki held a prominent position in the ninja world, with extensive experience, and his genuine endorsement served as further validation of Hashirama Senju's strength.

There was one more point to consider: the jinchuriki.

Everyone present keenly picked up on this term. The gathered representatives were all influential figures, and nearly every one of them understood what jinchuriki entailed.

For Iwagakure to offer up their jinchuriki meant they were essentially submitting completely!

Instantly, Nagato and Konan turned their gazes toward Onoki, then back to Hashirama, realizing why Hashirama claimed he could manage the Four-Tails and Five-Tails. This approach would indeed save considerable time.

"Very well," Hashirama replied, nodding once more. All of this had been anticipated, and he was prepared for the reactions of the others as well.

Once Onoki finished speaking, the meeting hall fell into silence.

No one spoke.

There was a noticeable pause as the representatives from the various factions hesitated, observing each other's reactions and weighing the pros and cons. They were eager to negotiate and unwilling to rush into an alliance with the Senju Nation.

This hesitation was more pronounced for certain ninja villages.

However, for the great nations, it felt like handing over their territory without resistance.

"Land of Lightning is willing to join the Senju Nation!"

Suddenly, a rugged voice broke the silence.

The voice belonged to a man in a gray robe, with deeply tanned skin and wearing black-framed glasses.

This man was the daimyo of the Land of Lightning, though he was disguised.

As the crowd turned to look, they confirmed with shock that this was indeed the daimyo of the Land of Lightning. The realization sent waves of astonishment through them.

A dignified daimyo had personally come to the meeting, unconditionally agreeing to join the Senju Nation.

This was simply unfathomable!

The Land of Lightning was fertile and wealthy, one of the foremost nations in the ninja world, and yet it had so readily decided to join the Senju Nation.

Why?

The representatives present were filled with question marks, unable to comprehend what was happening.

"Alright."

Hashirama replied casually, unaware that this man was the daimyo of the Land of Lightning. He was equally amazed by their reaction, but he didn't let it show excessively.

The daimyo of the Land of Lightning nodded at Hashirama, letting out a slow breath as a heavy burden lifted from his heart.

In truth, the daimyo had come personally to make a decisive choice.

Faced with this legendary ninja, he didn't trust any of his subordinates, fearing a misstep that could impact the entire Land of Lightning.

He was well aware of the situation in Kumogakure.

He had even visited the site himself.

The harrowing ruins had chilled him to the bone, which was why he felt compelled to attend this ninja summit personally—no other daimyo had done so.

Ultimately, what led him to make a quick decision was Hashirama's earlier remark at the meeting:

"Those who don't show up are as good as dead."

The daimyo of the Land of Lightning did not want his own mansion to someday resemble the current state of Kumogakure.

The Land of Lightning's inclusion deepened the oppressive atmosphere in the hall.

Sweat beaded on the foreheads of the representatives; their internal scales were gradually tipping, but they hesitated to join hastily.

As time ticked away, silence enveloped the room once more.

"Land of Rain joins the Senju Nation!"

At that moment, Konan's resolute voice cut through the tension, pulling everyone back to the present.

(End of Chapter)