After the words fell, Jiraiya remained silent, but his heart had already calmed.
He used to think that Uchiha Hikaru was lustful, greedy for food, greedy for money, obsessed with power—just another pleasure-seeking shinobi like himself. He once believed Hikaru was a ninja whose actions were as notorious as his own, someone who rose to his current position only thanks to exceptional talent and a meticulous mind.
But he never imagined Uchiha Hikaru carried such an ideal.
The room fell silent.
Lady Shizuka pictured the beautiful future Hikaru had spoken of. If the ninja world really became as peaceful as he described… could she meet the one she loved, live happily beside him, get married, have children, raise a family?
As she thought, the image of the man from the wedding scene she once witnessed grew clearer and clearer in her mind.
It was Uchiha Hikaru.
Realizing this, Shizuka's entire face turned crimson like fresh cinnabar, and she bowed her head instinctively, flustered.
No one noticed.
Lady Tsubaki sat stiffly in her chair, uneasy and regretful. If she had known earlier… she wouldn't have allowed herself to be blinded by Hikaru's polite, harmless demeanor at the beginning.
After steadying herself, she spoke slowly.
"Everyone becomes one family…"
"In other words, your goal is to unify all villages and nations, isn't it?"
"Now I finally understand why you were the first to establish an organization like the Ninja Association. You want to prepare the ninja world for the future—quietly reducing the influence of hatred. Am I right?"
"I have a question: if Nadeshiko Village refuses this deal, what will you do?"
Even before the words left her mouth, Lady Tsubaki already knew the answer deep in her heart. But she still wanted to try.
What if… she had misunderstood him? What if his meaning was different?
Suddenly, Uchiha Hikaru's pupils deepened, mysterious circular rings expanding outward, silver replacing the whites of his eyes. His expression did not change.
The air thickened instantly, clinging to every limb like mud, making movement nearly impossible.
"It doesn't matter if you refuse. I, Uchiha Hikaru, am not a cruel person. I actually enjoy reasoning with others, and I'm very willing to sit down and talk peacefully." He spoke calmly, his tone almost gentle.
"But I hate fools without manners—those who can't understand what they're told and can't see reality even when it's right in front of them."
"It's a pity negotiations mean nothing to idiots like that."
"But it's fine." Hikaru smiled faintly. "Since I bear the Uchiha name, and I know a little bit about ninjutsu… I have plenty of ways to deal with those idiots."
"If, unfortunately, their jutsu is inferior to mine, and even after losing they still believe they're right… then I can only do a good deed to the very end, send them off peacefully—so they waste less time, and get another chance to restart sooner."
The words sounded calm, elegant, almost poetic—if one ignored the chilling terror beneath them.
Jiraiya instinctively memorized every sentence. He planned to sell this speech to that eccentric Uchiha who ran a famous hair salon in Konoha—the one obsessed with collecting Hikaru quotes. That guy would pay a fortune for it. (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧
After all, Jiraiya wouldn't be receiving mission payments for the next five years. Without extra income, he would never maintain his current lifestyle of drinking, partying, and chasing women.
Lady Tsubaki raised her teacup with trembling fingers, drank in one swallow, and slammed it heavily onto the table.
"Ah."
The answer she feared most was now reality, and the situation was painfully clear.
There were only two paths for Nadeshiko Village:
One path meant opportunity and change—a future where everyone in the village lived better than ever before.
The other path meant refusing the deal… waiting until the Konoha army stood at their gates, then surrendering anyway—with far worse treatment, and the possibility of being erased from the ninja world entirely if the village's leaders continued behaving like fools.
The sharp sound of the teacup against the dark wood was like a hammer striking at an auction, sealing fate.
Lady Tsubaki stood, meeting Hikaru's gaze directly despite the crushing pressure.
"As long as it allows the people of Nadeshiko Village to live better lives—then I agree to this deal."
Hikaru smiled gently and refilled her tea. His eyes returned to normal instantly, as if nothing had happened.
He looked again like the polite, respectful young ninja—charming, hopeful, impossible to hate.
"Lady Tsubaki, what are you saying? Just look at Kirigakure, Kumogakure, Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Amegakure."
"Which village that joined the Ninja Association isn't better off now?"
"You're only being forward-thinking—far ahead of everyone else in your village~"
Jiraiya, watching from the side, looked at Hikaru, who had just been so threatening yet now so warm and approachable.
Isn't this exactly what I want to be like?!
ヽ(;▽;)ノ
Putting aside Hikaru's ridiculous good looks, if he were even one-tenth as charming, Jiraiya was certain he would not still be single.
Shizuka watched Hikaru pour tea for her master and imagined a scene where they would one day have a son and daughter, laughing together while Hikaru poured tea for her teacher. Her blush crept up her neck and over her ears.
Lady Tsubaki smiled helplessly. Now she clearly saw Hikaru's true nature.
He appeared gentle and harmless—someone you might mistake on the street for a handsome young man with a bright future. But the ambition and ideals inside him would never allow anyone to block his path.
Perhaps the Root of Konoha—that fool who never listened to reason—was exactly the type Hikaru meant.
His end will not be good. He definitely won't survive…
"By the way, Hikaru," Lady Tsubaki said suddenly, "since your goal will eventually merge Nadeshiko Village with Konoha, why not form a political marriage with Shizuka?"
"You're close in age. A perfect match…"
Hikaru's expression froze abruptly.
"Senior, such things should depend on personal willingness. Feelings can't be forced."
"Shizuka—are you willing?"
"I… I am willing…" Shizuka whispered in a voice as tiny as a mosquito.
Hikaru coughed lightly. "…I already have a family, Lady Tsubaki."
"It's fine. Shizuka is alone, without peers her age. It wouldn't hurt to have a few more sisters."
"Uh…"
Hikaru laughed awkwardly. "Hahaha… we can talk about that later. We'll… talk about it later…"
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Bonus Chapter at 100 Power Stone
Second Bonus Chapter - 200 Power Stones
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