After hearing these rather hypocritical words from Hiruzen's mouth, Shanks let out a short, cynical chuckle. He met the Hokage's gaze with eyes that held no warmth.
"Allies, you say? That's a rich word," Shanks retorted, his voice carrying clearly across the plaza. "I came here specifically to be disrespectful, to insult Konoha, and to definitively sever the illusion of the alliance that you are so carefully presenting to your people and the world outside."
He spread his hand slightly, gesturing to the silent, watching figures. "Most of the world has generally come to terms with the fact that the Uzumaki and Konoha are no longer allies. Far from that, they are actively hostile. Don't tell me, Hokage, you don't think in such a manner. After all, people directly under your command have constantly sought to attack and eradicate us from time to time. If not for being hidden from the world and our powerful strength, we Uzumaki would most probably be completely dead."
(The weight of his words hung in the air, a blunt accusation of genocide.)
Although these words were the painful, undeniable truth, Hiruzen could not possibly accept them in front of so many of his village's most important ninjas. Doing so would be detrimental to his image and a massive hit to his political career—something he absolutely didn't want. Maintaining a perfectly calm look despite the internal rage, Hiruzen said, "You are definitely mistaken, Clan Head Uzumaki. I believe that this seed of hatred was planted by other ninja villages. They must be trying to sow discord between us."
Shanks shook his head slowly, a look of utter weariness on his face. "If you are thinking I am here to debate with you to determine the 'truth,' and if suddenly, out of thin air, you are proven to be innocent, we Uzumaki will magically become your allies and live happily ever after like best buddies, then you are totally mistaken."
(He let out a short, hollow laugh that held no mirth.)
"We are not here for any such thing. We are here for only one thing: We, the Uzumaki, are not allies of your Konoha."
Shanks pointed directly at the massive building behind the Hokage. "You will immediately remove all the Uzumaki emblems from your uniforms and your different monuments, like your Hokage building, where I can see a large emblem of my clan's symbol prominently displayed. You will remove it, because if you don't, I will be sending my brothers and sisters on a mission to hunt any and every Konoha ninja who is seen wearing this Uzumaki emblem. They will be slaughtered like dogs. I promise you this."
As soon as Shanks finished his ultimatum, he released his Conqueror's Haki in full, terrifying force. The sheer pressure was immense: the ground around him immediately started cracking, the walls around the compound began to shudder and shatter, and nearby buildings also started to develop visible stress cracks. The released aura was an almost physical wave of pure will, which was felt by every ninja present. They immediately became alert, their bodies tensing, instinctively ready to fight for their lives. A few of the weaker ninjas, those in the ranks of Chunin or Genin, started falling to the ground like dominoes, their eyes rolling back.
Opposite him, Hiruzen immediately started releasing his own chakra aura in full force, a dense, defensive pressure that actively repelled Shanks's overwhelming Conqueror's Haki. Both invisible auras clashed in the middle ground between them, creating a tangible ripple effect in the air. The ground directly in front of their feet cracked and splintered instantly.
Hiruzen, who had been trying to maintain politeness until now, understood one thing completely: Shanks was not here to talk or negotiate at all. He was simply here to display his strength, and based on that frightening show, he intended for Konoha to yield to his demands.
"The way you are behaving right now is not how a leader of a village and a clan should behave," Hiruzen declared, his voice ringing with barely contained fury. "I have already ignored the fact that, while coming to this place, the entire area you walked through is now filled with Konoha civilians who have mysteriously fainted. And now you are standing here, openly threatening to kill the ninjas of Konoha. This I cannot and will not let happen."
After saying that, Hiruzen attacked, lunging forward with his Adamantine Staff.
(The staff extended with a metallic whirring sound.)
Shanks responded instantly, unsheathing his massive sword, Gryphon, in a single, fluid motion. The sword collided with Hiruzen's staff with deafening force. The impact was so huge that a powerful shockwave was immediately generated around them, shattering all the nearby glass. A large, circular crater appeared in the courtyard stone, and the people around them were violently pushed back a great distance by the residual kinetic energy.
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