His words were simple and direct, without the slightest attempt at concealment.
Mei Terumi's heart began pounding violently.
She had a vague feeling that she was witnessing the birth of a brand-new era.
"As for me, I have no interest in dealing with all those trivial details."
Kai pointed at himself, speaking as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
"So I'll be the Chairman of this Committee. Just a figurehead is fine. As for the actual work, you'll handle it."
He paused for a moment, searching for an appropriate term.
"You can be the Secretary-General."
Chairman?
Secretary-General?
Mei Terumi savored these unfamiliar titles, her eyes gleaming with a strange light.
In an instant, she understood Kai's intentions.
This was absolute centralization of power!
The Chairman possessed supreme authority, while the Secretary-General was the sole executor of that authority.
Such a structure would completely eliminate the factional struggles and mutual obstruction that had plagued the Elder Council.
It would unite the entire village into a single force, unleashing unprecedented efficiency and strength.
The young man before her not only possessed world-shaking power, but also such profound and visionary political insight.
"I understand, Chairman!"
Mei Terumi's breathing grew slightly rapid.
Dropping to one knee, she made her declaration with unprecedented solemnity.
"I, Mei Terumi, swear to devote everything I have to assisting you in achieving your great ambitions!"
"Alright, alright. Get up."
Kai waved his hand impatiently.
"First, gather all the useful people in the village who are still alive. Hold a meeting and announce the Committee."
"If anyone objects, deal with them on the spot."
"Yes!"
Mei Terumi immediately sprang into action.
Before absolute power, any resistance appeared pale and powerless.
When the surviving Kirigakure shinobi—including Ao, Chōjūrō, and the others—were assembled before the ruins, every one of them was stunned by the scene before them.
The corpses of Genji and the Elder Council had not even gone cold yet.
The air was thick with the smell of blood.
And Mei Terumi, standing amidst the carnage like a blood-soaked demon, radiated a terrifying aura that sent chills through everyone's hearts.
When she announced, in an unquestionable tone, the abolition of the Mizukage system, the establishment of the Joint Committee, and the appointments of Uchiha Kai as Chairman and herself as Secretary-General—
The entire crowd fell silent.
Of course, a few remnants of the old era still lacked the sense to keep quiet.
Attempting to stand up and object, they shouted about tradition and dignity.
However, before they could finish speaking, Mei Terumi's vastly enhanced Lava Release instantly erased them from existence.
Bloody suppression was the most efficient way to establish a new order.
After that, not a single person dared voice another objection.
The consolidation of Kirigakure's power structure was completed at an unprecedented speed.
"Mm. Not bad."
Kai nodded in satisfaction.
Then, like he was picking up a chicken, he grabbed the unconscious Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, from the ground.
"I'm taking this one with me."
He casually informed Mei Terumi.
"Consider him a trophy."
"You stay here and develop the village. Manage it properly."
"Send the village's income and any rare resources you gather to Konoha regularly."
"Don't disappoint me."
"Understood, Chairman!"
Mei Terumi bowed respectfully.
"We're leaving."
Kai gave a casual farewell.
Then, together with Itachi, Kisame, Sasori, Future Sasuke, and the "trophy" Yagura in his hand, he departed under the reverent gazes of Kirigakure's people.
Behind them stood a village that had been reduced to ruins—
Yet had also been reborn.
And the news they carried with them was like an unprecedented superstorm, destined to sweep across the entire shinobi world.
Konoha
Near the Hokage Building, a newly constructed complex had risen from the ground.
Its architecture was completely different from Konoha's traditional style.
It was grander.
More imposing.
The banners of Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure hung prominently throughout the compound.
This was the Five Great Shinobi Villages Joint Administrative Office, proposed by Uchiha Kai and personally approved by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Privately, however, people jokingly referred to it as the "Hostage Garden."
At this moment, the atmosphere inside its largest reception hall was somewhat tense.
"Hmph!"
"What exactly does that old man Sarutobi think he's doing, leaving us hanging here?"
"Does he really think some brat's little tricks are enough to suppress us?"
The Fourth Raikage, A, slammed his fist onto the table.
The sturdy surface instantly cracked with spiderweb-like fractures.
Pale-blue lightning crackled around his massive frame, reflecting his extreme displeasure.
"Please calm yourself, Lord Raikage."
Sitting across from him, the diminutive Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, slowly rubbed his aching lower back as he spoke.
"Konoha has changed quite a bit lately."
"That boy called Uchiha Kai possesses rather strange methods."
"Even I find him difficult to understand."
"For now, we should simply observe."
"Eventually we'll find a weakness."
Although Ōnoki claimed he couldn't understand Kai, a calculating gleam flickered within his aged eyes.
Meanwhile, seated at the far end of the room, the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, remained silent.
His face was gloomy.
Sunagakure's finances had always been poor.
Being forced to stay in Konoha under the guise of diplomatic exchange while effectively being monitored was a humiliation he found difficult to accept.
The three of them were leaders of the Great Shinobi Villages.
Yet now they were gathered together in Konoha.
That alone was a historical anomaly.
And the cause of it all was a single boy from Konoha.
Uchiha Kai.
Just as each of them remained lost in their own thoughts—
BANG!
The doors of the reception hall were suddenly thrown open.
A Kumogakure intelligence ninja stumbled inside.
His face was filled with shock and disbelief.
Even his voice had changed from panic.
"Lord Raikage!"
"Something terrible has happened!"
"Compose yourself!"
A barked furiously.
The oppressive force of his presence instantly silenced the man.
"Speak."
"What happened?"
"It's... it's Kirigakure!"
The intelligence ninja swallowed hard.
His voice trembled as he continued.
"We've just received a highest-priority emergency report from the Land of Water..."
"Kirigakure..."
"Kirigakure has changed!"
"Kirigakure?"
Both Ōnoki and Rasa frowned simultaneously.
What could possibly happen in that isolated and closed-off village?
"The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi..."
"Has been defeated and captured."
"The Three-Tails, Isobu, has been suppressed."
"The Elder Council led by Genji..."
"Has been completely wiped out."
With every sentence, the expressions of the three Kage grew increasingly grave.
By the time the final words left the intelligence ninja's mouth—
The entire reception hall had fallen into deathly silence.
"What did you just say?!"
A exploded to his feet.
Grabbing the intelligence ninja by the collar, he lifted him into the air and roared:
"Yagura is a Perfect Jinchūriki!"
"You're telling me he was captured?!"
"You're telling me Genji and the entire Elder Council were wiped out?!"
"Do you think this is some kind of joke?!"
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