"Lord Fifth Hokage, if you have something to say, say it plainly. There's no need to beat around the bush."
At the conference table, under the gaze of the cameras, ten people sat in silence—the five daimyo of the great nations and the five Kage of the great ninja villages. Every face was stiff and grim.
No one spoke.
To the viewers watching from across the ninja world, the screen showed nothing but an oppressive quiet.
By now, even those who hadn't understood the idea of a live broadcast before fully grasped what this meant.
This meeting wasn't private.
It wasn't behind closed doors.
It was being watched by countless people across the ninja world.
Every word spoken here would echo everywhere.
That alone made everyone hesitate. No one wanted to say the wrong thing and become the target of ridicule—or worse—throughout the entire world.
At last, someone broke the silence.
The daimyo of the Land of Wind spoke.
His face was dark, his gaze icy when it passed over Rasa, and no warmer when it turned to Naruto.
No matter how one looked at it, the Land of Wind had suffered terribly. The invading force had been wiped out, and even the Kazekage had fallen into Konoha's hands.
In recent days, the daimyo of the Land of Fire had mocked him openly, again and again.
The humiliation burned.
It was unbearable.
The daimyo of the Land of Lightning narrowed his eyes as well, his presence sharp and dangerous.
Cloud Village's elite had been destroyed. The Raikage himself had been captured alive.
That was a devastating blow.
Remaining in Konoha made the Lightning daimyo feel like a prisoner. Especially in Naruto's presence, he felt an instinctive fear—like standing beside a beast.
If not for the chance to rescue the Raikage, he would have left Konoha long ago.
Only in his own capital did he feel safe.
"Since Your Lordship has spoken," Naruto said calmly, sitting up straight, "then I won't hold back."
In an instant, the atmosphere changed.
It was like a tiger rising from rest—its aura surging outward, heavy and terrifying, making everyone's heart clench.
"The ninja world has gone through the First, Second, and Third Ninja World Wars. Each one left devastation behind. Entire regions ruined. Countless lives lost. In every major village, whole generations were wiped out or crippled."
"The five great nations alternate between alliances and hostility. After every war, they lick their wounds in silence. Ten or so years of peace pass. A new generation of ninjas grows up. Friction begins again. Conflict escalates. One spark ignites everything—and another world war breaks out."
"Whether you like it or not, this is the pattern of the ninja world."
"A cycle."
Naruto's voice carried steadily across the table—and through the screens into homes everywhere.
Countless viewers fell silent.
They knew he was right.
The ninja world had been trapped in flames again and again.
Was it really just a cycle?
Could it be broken?
Everyone stared at Naruto, searching his face for an answer.
The young man in the Hokage robes stood calm and composed, yet his presence alone was intimidating.
"Fifth Hokage," the Raikage said bitterly, "just say what you mean. We all know this reality—that's exactly why it's so hard to change. Every village carries blood hatred. If hatred can't be cut off, it will spread endlessly. War is inevitable."
There was resignation in his voice.
Because he believed war was unavoidable, he had tried to seize advantage first—by invading Konoha, by strengthening Cloud Village for the wars to come.
"You're right," Naruto replied evenly. "Hatred can't be erased easily. You can cut it off for one person, or even one family—but in a world of countless people, someone will always lose themselves to it."
"So we need a peace treaty."
"We need restraint."
"And we need a force strong enough to enforce it."
Naruto's voice rang out, firm and clear.
"Hah. Naive," someone scoffed quietly. "A peace treaty? Isn't that just paper you tear up when it's inconvenient? Look at Sunagakure—they were allies with Konoha and still attacked without hesitation."
From Rain Village, Nagato laughed softly.
To him, this sounded idealistic.
Yet the idea of an overwhelming restraining force struck close to home. After all, that was the core of his own plan.
Around the table, the daimyo and Kage exchanged strange looks.
The same thought surfaced in many minds:
He's young. Too young. Too idealistic.
Naruto smiled.
"You think I'm naive?"
"You think a treaty is just toilet paper—something to be waved when convenient and torn up when not?"
His gaze swept across them, sharp enough to pierce straight through their hearts.
Onoki frowned deeply.
This kid had no restraint at all.
Some things were unspoken rules. You could think them, even act on them—but you didn't say them aloud.
Especially not in front of the entire ninja world.
"A peace treaty is just toilet paper?"
"So this is how the great leaders see peace?"
On screens everywhere, people listened in stunned silence.
No one refuted him.
A bitter laughter spread among viewers.
"So it's true… to them, our lives don't matter."
"When they want war, they fight. When they don't, they sign a treaty and rest for ten years."
Naruto tapped the table lightly.
The smile on his face widened.
A crushing pressure filled the air, making it hard for anyone at the table to breathe.
"Today, we will establish a peace treaty."
"A fundamental principle for the ninja world: peace above all else."
"No nation or village—great or small—may invade another without cause."
"Anyone who violates this principle and breaks the treaty will face the combined opposition of the entire ninja world."
His voice was calm.
Yet everyone felt their hearts tremble.
"And how," Yagura asked evenly, "do you guarantee enforcement? What if one of the great nations or villages violates it?"
Naruto replied without hesitation.
"This is a live broadcast. The entire ninja world is watching. When you agree to this treaty, the people themselves become witnesses."
"Anyone who breaks it will be judged by tens of thousands."
"And more importantly—"
He stood up.
"As long as I, Uzumaki Naruto, live, I will serve as the treaty's guardian."
"My strength may not seem like much," he said lightly, "but destroying a village—or a nation—is well within my ability."
"Even all five great nations together would not be a problem."
He looked down at them.
"So—who agrees?"
"And who opposes?"
The smile on his face vanished.
What remained was something deep and terrifying, like a storm held back by a thin veil.
No one doubted it.
This was not a question.
It was a choice between life and death.
"I agree," Yagura said quietly, lowering his head.
"I agree," Onoki followed, his voice heavy.
"I agree."
"I agree."
"I agree."
One by one, the voices came.
"The Land of Earth agrees."
"The Land of Wind agrees."
The five daimyo spoke almost together.
Under this pressure, none of them dared object.
"Sunagakure agrees."
"…Cloud Village agrees."
Rasa and the Raikage stared at Naruto for a long moment before finally speaking.
"Hahaha!" Naruto laughed brightly. "Excellent!"
"Then the peace treaty of the ninja world is established. The details can be handled by your subordinates."
"Now—let's greet the people watching across the ninja world."
"Let them know that peace has arrived, and that they no longer need to fear senseless wars between great nations."
"And if someone dares to violate this peace—"
Naruto's smile sharpened.
"—I will personally remind them how hard-won peace is."
"Whoever provokes it…"
"Whoever takes the lead…"
"Will be killed on the spot."
He stepped toward the camera, leading the daimyo and Kage forward.
Some followed stiffly. Some looked humiliated. Some looked afraid.
But on the screen, only one figure truly stood out—
A young man smiling brightly,
With eyes as deep and unfathomable as the abyss,
As if the entire world rested in his hands.
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