Half an hour later, the voting concluded, and the final results were written on the blackboard behind Ōnoki.
[Yes — 103 votes]
[No — 54 votes]
There were also twenty-seven blank ballots with no answers written on them, which were counted as abstentions.
Ōnoki took a deep breath. Although the result was within his expectations, for some reason, even though it aligned perfectly with his own thoughts and intentions, a faint sense of heaviness still lingered in his chest.
"The voting results are in," he said solemnly. "From this moment on, be prepared for war at any time. The village will begin preparing supplies in advance. Once the commission fee has been finalized with Nadeshiko Village, we will act immediately."
"Everyone, make your preparations."
With that, Ōnoki stood up and left the hall. Huang Tu followed closely behind him. Seeing this, the other shinobi rose one after another and departed, and the meeting finally came to an end.
In the end, only Roshi and Han, the two jinchūriki of Iwagakure, remained in the vast conference chamber.
"Han," Roshi said, turning his head slightly to look at the man beside him, "are you planning to participate in this mission?"
Han opened his orange-red eyes and replied in a low, steady voice.
"That depends on the village's arrangements. As long as the village needs me, I will go."
"And you?"
Roshi paused for a moment, then let out a bitter smile.
"You're still the same as ever. I guess I was worrying too much."
"As for me, I won't go. I keep feeling that there's something hidden behind this commission. It's definitely not as simple as it appears."
"I'll stay near the village and focus on protecting it."
Han thought for a moment after hearing this, then nodded.
"That's good. With you and the Tsuchikage-sama remaining in the village, nothing should go wrong."
"During this time, I've finally gained Kokuō's recognition. My strength has increased significantly. I can use this mission to test it."
After saying that, Han stood up and left the room.
Inside Roshi's mind, that familiar voice rang out again—this time filled with irritation. It was the Four-Tails, Son Gokū.
"You stubborn old bastard! Everyone else manages to gain the trust of their tailed beasts, but you're the only one who refuses to acknowledge me!"
"Is it really that hard to call me by my full name? I honestly don't know what's going on in that thick skull of yours!"
With a huff, Son Gokū cut off the connection entirely. Roshi sat silently in his chair once more.
As a child, he had been chosen to become the jinchūriki of the Four-Tails. That dark memory had always haunted his heart, never fading. It was precisely because of that pain that he had eventually chosen the path of a wandering monk.
If not for Deidara's "attack" on Iwagakure some time ago, he would never have returned to the village—let alone attended this emergency meeting.
How could he not understand the pain and darkness buried deep within his own heart?
As long as he could not let go of it, he would never become a perfect jinchūriki. He and the Four-Tails would never truly become companions.
Choosing the life of a wandering monk had also been his way of searching for a pure land, a place where he could slowly dilute the hatred and darkness within himself.
Even now, his heart was still crying.
...
"Waaah, waaah~ Princess is just too pitiful! In the end, she became a princess of a fallen nation and was forced to leave her homeland!"
Inside the cinema, Kurotsuchi clung tightly to the shoulders of an Iwagakure kunoichi, tears streaming down her face. She was completely swept away by the tragedy of the film, sobbing uncontrollably (;ω;).
For the kunoichi beside her—who was obsessed with cleanliness—this scene was nothing short of torture. She pushed Kurotsuchi's cheek away with one hand and brushed off the arm around her shoulders with the other.
"Stay away from me! Don't get that on me!"
"You're a shinobi—why are you crying like this? A ninja should be able to endure things ordinary people can't!"
In that instant, the kunoichi completely shed her earlier gentle image, turning into a stern instructor, her voice sharp and merciless.
Kurotsuchi wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, still sobbing.
"But Princess is really pitiful~!"
"As a princess, she could only helplessly accept the destruction of her country. She had no power to resist at all!"
Hearing this, the kunoichi felt her blood pressure spike.
So annoying—her fist was itching to fly! 💢
"Weakness is the original sin," she said coldly. "This is a world where the strong prey on the weak. If you don't become stronger, you'll simply be crushed by those who are."
With that, she said no more. She stood up quietly and left the screening room.
Only then did Kurotsuchi snap back to her senses. She stood there for a moment, looking a little dazed, replaying the words she had just heard.
Are humans really just like animals… where the strong devour the weak?
She watched the departing figure, then suddenly raised her hand and shouted.
"Hey—wait for me, senpai!"
She hurried after her.
While running, the kunoichi ahead suddenly stopped. Kurotsuchi had no time to brake and crashed straight into her back.
"Oof!"
The kunoichi stumbled forward, nearly falling, while Kurotsuchi plopped down hard on the floor.
At that moment, a dark-haired figure with deep blue-black eyes flashed from the cinema entrance to the exit in an instant. He caught the stumbling kunoichi and steadied her effortlessly.
"What's wrong with you two?" the man asked, frowning. "How can shinobi be this clumsy?"
Uchiha Hikaru looked at the two of them, utterly confused.
After the meeting with Ōnoki, he had asked around—shopkeepers, passersby, anyone he could find—until he finally tracked them down here.
Of course, he could have located them instantly using chakra perception or ninjutsu. But this was someone else's village, after all. Generally speaking, using ninjutsu freely inside the village was discouraged. Besides, life needed a bit of everyday color—otherwise, wouldn't it be too dull?
Yet the moment he reached the entrance, he saw the kunoichi sulking, and now Kurotsuchi was sitting on the ground with tear-streaked cheeks.
"What happened?" Hikaru asked.
He helped the kunoichi regain her balance, then stepped forward and pulled Kurotsuchi up from the floor.
Both women turned their heads away at the same time, neither willing to speak.
Hikaru felt even more bewildered.
Just a moment ago, it looked like the kunoichi was sulking while Kurotsuchi was crying. But now, it seemed like the kunoichi was the aggrieved one, while Kurotsuchi was the one sulking.
Women really were incredible creatures… 😵💫
The three of them walked on, the two women flanking Hikaru on either side. The strange atmosphere drew curious looks from passersby, making Hikaru increasingly uncomfortable.
Once they reached the inn, Hikaru dragged both of them into the room, slammed the door shut, crossed his arms, and smiled gently at them.
"Alright," he said calmly. "Tell me what happened. Why are both of you so upset?"
Seeing this, Kurotsuchi spoke first, recounting the scene from the movie she had just watched.
The moment she finished, the kunoichi snorted.
"What's so pitiful about a weak princess like that?" she said dismissively. "There's always something hateful about a pitiful person."
"There's no need to sympathize with someone who only knows how to indulge herself, cries when danger arrives, and wears a miserable face."
Those words immediately set Kurotsuchi off. She planted her hands on her hips and began fiercely defending Princess.
"As a princess, her daily life was already filled with etiquette, lessons, and ceremonies! How was she supposed to have time to learn how to fight or resist?" Kurotsuchi shot back. "Her entire life was decided by others from the moment she was born—what choice did she even have!?"
The moment Hikaru heard this, he understood the source of their conflict.
It wasn't about the movie at all.
It was the clash between two completely different personalities—and two entirely different worldviews.
...