Onoki withdrew his gaze and looked at the remaining Five Kage. "So, what do you all think? Will you cooperate with us?"
"I refuse!"
The impatient Raikage glared at him angrily, enunciating each word. "I will never hand over the Eight-Tails to you!"
"I refuse as well!" Tsunade sneered. "I am the granddaughter of the First Hokage, the Hokage of Konoha. I am proud and will never allow myself to do such a thing!"
"You stole our Kazekage and still want us to submit?"
Chiyo sneered and added, "Sunagakure refuses! We will never negotiate with you, even if it costs our lives!"
"Unfortunately, it seems you are not in the majority."
Terumi Mei sighed regretfully and glanced at Onoki. "Besides, I have no interest in people who are too old. Kirigakure refuses!"
Finally, only Amegakure remained.
Nagato said calmly, "Amegakure refuses."
All Five Kage had rejected him. It was exactly as Onoki expected. His face revealed no joy or anger. He rose from his seat calmly and sighed regretfully.
"What a pity. Since all of you have refused my proposal, next time, we will meet on the battlefield. I hope you won't regret today's decision."
In the next moment, Onoki's figure vanished from the meeting room, as if he had never appeared.
At that moment, Mifune, who had been frozen in place, finally regained his mobility. His face filled with horror as he shouted, "Guards! Guards! Quickly check—are there any other intruders?"
This sudden intrusion almost scared Mifune to death.
If, by any chance, all the Five Kage were killed in the Land of Iron, he wouldn't even know how to face the fury of the Five Great Ninja Villages!
Fortunately, nothing had happened.
After Onoki left, the Five Kage remained silent for a long time before finally exchanging glances.
In the end, their attention fell on the guard from the Rain Village, Konan. "Now, can you explain who you really are?"
"Is that question really important?"
Facing the suspicious gaze of the other Kage, Konan appeared calm and indifferent.
"Cut the nonsense. You know what we're asking!"
The hot-tempered Fourth Raikage could no longer sit still. He slammed the entire table into pieces, glaring at her.
"Who exactly are you? Why does Onoki know you? Tell me everything!"
"Sit down!"
Konan said softly, and once again, the furious Raikage was pinned to his seat.
Here we go again?
Veins bulging on his forehead, the Raikage struggled desperately, but the weight pressing down on him felt like two mountains. He couldn't move at all.
"Calm down, Fourth Raikage."
Konan glanced at Nagato beside her and spoke softly, "Don't get excited, Nagato."
It was then the Raikage suddenly realized that the red-haired man with the Rinnegan next to him was already radiating murderous intent toward him.
"You better not do anything that could be misunderstood."
Nagato's eyes were cold as he enunciated each word, "Otherwise, I can't guarantee what I might do to you."
Clearly a threat from someone with the Sage of Six Paths' eyes, the Rinnegan carried immense weight.
"We mean no harm. We just want you to tell us what's going on," Tsunade tried to ease the tension and spoke as gently as she could.
"Don't worry. Even if you don't ask, I will tell you."
Konan looked at them calmly and said faintly, "Let me formally introduce myself. I am Konan, a member of the Twilight Hermit Order."
The Twilight Hermit Order?!
Hearing that name again, everyone present couldn't hide their shock.
The Aurora Order had always been searching for the Twilight Hermit Order, but whether such an organization truly existed remained doubtful to many.
After all, if it really existed, why had there been no trace of it until now?
Konan looked at the stunned Five Kage calmly and said, "This war will be led by us, the Twilight Hermit Order."
"And if we refuse, what will happen?"
The Fourth Raikage stared at her coldly and asked.
"Whatever."
Konan seemed unconcerned, replying lightly, "Whether you refuse or not, the war has already begun. No one can stop it."
"Do you mean that if we don't rely on the Twilight Hermit Order, we're bound to fail?" Tsunade bit her lip, clenching her fingers tightly.
"That's not what I mean."
Konan's expression remained calm as she said plainly, "Whether you choose to rely on us or not, I am only here to inform you."
Yes, only to inform.
From beginning to end, the Twilight Hermit Order never cared whether the Five Kage chose to rely on them.
The war was about to begin, and no one could stay out of it.
One by one, bronze lamps burning with blue flames were lit in front of the table.
In the next moment, Konan appeared at a nearby seat. She looked at the remaining figures and nodded slightly. "Good afternoon, everyone."
"Good afternoon, ma'am."
Lu Mingze grinned, resting his right hand against his chin, teasingly. "I guess they didn't agree with your suggestion, right?"
"Just as Mr. 'Adam' expected."
Konan nodded and spoke slowly, "Although the Five Kage refused, they still hope to receive some help."
"Give them a little, then."
White Fang said calmly, "Moreover, if the Five Kage can't withstand the direct pressure and collapse too quickly, wouldn't that ruin the plan?"
In truth, from the very beginning, they never believed that gathering the power of the Five Kage alone could resist the Aurora Order and Onoki.
After all, the opponents had three "angels"!
"Everyone, the war has begun."
Orochimaru's face was full of excitement as he spread his arms, as if embracing the future. "Soon, the tide of this era will arrive, and we will be the ones to witness history!"
"Then, this meeting is concluded."
A hazy shadow sitting at the highest point spoke slowly. "Next time we meet, I hope you will bring me a surprise."
"As you wish, Lord Adam."
Those who had been discussing bowed their heads one after another.
The lamps on the table went out in sequence, and the great hall fell back into silent darkness.
"The era has already stepped into the tide we expected."
He lightly tapped the table and said calmly, "Now, we wait for the right moment, and the ritual will be complete."
*******
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