Hearing Haruki's question, Yushi's eyes reddened. He lowered his head and gave a bitter smile.
Can Amegakure still continue to fight?
A ninja village with fewer than three hundred living ninjas. If it weren't for Haruki, there might not even be a hundred living ninjas now.
Hanzo shook his head, his hand resting on Haruki's shoulder. "I don't know."
Although Sunagakure had suffered enormous losses this time, Sunagakure is, after all, a powerful ninja village backed by a large country.
Amegakure does not have the capacity to bear losses like Sunagakure.
Who knows if Sunagakure's Third Kazekage will act unilaterally and continue to fight Amegakure?
Hanzo couldn't say for sure.
His gaze swept over the remaining Ame ninjas. Their eyes were filled with sorrow and pain. After all, they watched as their comrades who went to the battlefield all failed to return alive.
"Sensei..."
Haruki called out.
Hanzo's gaze fell on Haruki's face. The confusion had vanished from Haruki's face, leaving only determination.
"If there's another war, I'm not afraid."
Haruki's voice echoed in the tent, his gaze sweeping over the silent Ame ninjas. "Even if I'm the only one left, I will defend Amegakure! I will protect everyone!"
Haruki reached out and grabbed Hanzo's sleeve. "Sensei, if Sunagakure wants to continue, let me go alone!"
Hanzo trembled, and he sternly reprimanded him, "What nonsense are you talking about?!"
How could Haruki be allowed to go alone? What would that make them?
Haruki looked at Hanzo, a smile on his face as he said, "I'm not talking nonsense, I'm serious. I don't want to see everyone die before my eyes."
His voice became choked with emotion and his eyes gradually reddened.
He gently shook his head and said, "I don't want to see anyone else... sacrifice themselves before my eyes..."
"I have a curse, I... I can stop them..."
Haruki looked at Hanzo, tears shimmering in his eyes. "That way, no one will have to sacrifice themselves."
"What about you?" Hanzo's angry gaze was mixed with heartache.
"I'm not afraid of death."
Haruki's tears welled up in his eyes. "I'm afraid everyone will leave me, I'm afraid of being left alone."
Hanzo's eyes stung, and a suffocating pain spread through his chest.
His voice trembled. "Do you think we are afraid of death?"
The silent Ame ninjas all looked at Haruki, a smile curving their lips. "We are not afraid of death either."
[Ding!]
[System detected Hanzo's affection value +3000]
[Ding!]
[System detected Yushi's affection value +3000]
[Ding!]
[System detected Kurosai's affection value +3000]
...
[Currently collected affection value totals 60000. Your Love Curse growth value has increased to 6%]
The more Love Curses, the better, of course.
When he activates Geto's Cursed Spirit Manipulation one day, he will be able to fuse multiple Love Curses together. At that time, his strength should be quite astonishing.
Hanzo took a deep breath, his sharp gaze falling on the sandbox. "If Sunagakure wants to fight, we will fight them to the end."
"Yes!" The Ame ninjas said in unison.
Hanzo looked at Haruki and said, "Train well. Only when we are strong can we win."
"Mm!" Haruki nodded heavily.
On the other side.
Land of Wind.
Daimyo's Mansion.
The elders and the Daimyo sat together in a room. This included the Third Kazekage.
The Daimyo of the Land of Wind's gloomy gaze fell on the Third Kazekage.
The Daimyo spoke slowly, his gaze unfriendly as he stared at the Third Kazekage.
"Third, it's not that I'm unwilling to support you, but I've already given you too much but all you've given me in return is failure."
"Konoha is one thing, but you couldn't even take down Amegakure."
The Daimyo sighed deeply, his tone filled with dissatisfaction towards the Third Kazekage.
"You should know how much money, how much food, how many weapons I've provided to support your war, but I haven't seen a single thing you promised me back then."
The Third Kazekage lowered his head, his fists on the table gradually clenching. "Please give me a little more time."
The Daimyo rolled his eyes and said, "Give you more time? I've already given you enough time, but I haven't seen even a shadow of the Land of Fire territory you promised me."
"Konoha is one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, defeating them is not that simple." The Third Kazekage argued.
The Daimyo raised his hand and said, "Don't tell me so much. I only look at results."
The Third Kazekage was speechless. From the results, he had indeed lost.
"I have decided not to provide you with any more support."
The Daimyo coldly glanced at the Third Kazekage and waved his hand towards him. "You may go."
The Third Kazekage immediately stood up and said, "No! Please trust me one more time."
The Daimyo closed his eyes. "You tell me, how many times have I trusted you?"
Before the Third Kazekage could speak, the Daimyo reprimanded him in a low voice, "Leave! Kazekage."
Ebizo and Chiyo's hands rested on the Third Kazekage's shoulders, their gazes reminding him. If he clashed with the Daimyo, the Third Kazekage wouldn't even be able to keep his position.
The Third Kazekage lowered his head and left the Daimyo's Mansion with Ebizo and Chiyo.
"Without the Daimyo's support, we won't last long." Chiyo said indifferently.
Ebizo looked at the Third Kazekage helplessly. He had previously advised against the Third Kazekage attacking Amegakure. If not for that war with Amegakure, perhaps the Daimyo wouldn't have been completely disappointed in them.
"The war between Konoha and the Ame ninjas is destined to end."
Chiyo glanced at the Third Kazekage, her intention unclear. "If the war with Konoha ends, Konoha's Nara clan will surely discover our weakness like hyenas and press their advantage, forcing us to sign an unequal treaty."
Ebizo paused, looking at Chiyo. Chiyo met his gaze, her eyes cold. Ebizo lowered his head.
The Third Kazekage asked, "Elder Chiyo means to negotiate peace with Amegakure?"
Chiyo said calmly, "Given enough time, we can't even sustain one war, let alone two. I'm simply choosing the more suitable party for peace talks between Konoha and Amegakure."
The Third Kazekage's brows furrowed.