The refugees, shocked by Kagami's words, quickly feigned ignorance. "Sir, what are you talking about? We're not causing trouble, we're just hungry…" one stammered.
"That's right, we're just ordinary refugees, not spies. Please don't wrongly accuse us!" another added, his eyes flickering, unable to meet Kagami's gaze.
They thought that as long as they refused to admit it, Kagami could do nothing. Kagami sneered internally at their poor acting. He had long noticed something was wrong. Though dressed in rags, they weren't tired or exhausted. Their eyes held a cunning look, and their hands lacked the calluses of laborers. They were clearly no ordinary refugees.
Moreover, their incitement of the crowd had been organized and premeditated. Kagami saw through them at a glance: they were spies sent by other villages. He didn't believe a word they said.
Seeing that they still refused to confess, Kagami snorted coldly and used the genjutsu of his Mangekyo Sharingan. A powerful illusion instantly enveloped them, their eyes turning vacant.
"Tell me!" Kagami's voice thundered. "Who sent you here to cause trouble?"
Trapped in the illusion, the leaders of the riot revealed their purpose. "We were sent by other ninja villages! They told us to blend in with the refugees, incite them to rebel against Konoha, and cause a conflict!"
"As long as we can bring Konoha and the refugees into conflict, our mission is accomplished! At that time, other ninja villages will take the opportunity to attack Konoha and destroy it in one fell swoop!"
Hearing this, the Konoha shinobi were shocked. They suddenly understood. It was all a conspiracy. These men weren't refugees but spies sent to plunge Konoha into chaos. They had taken in these people with good intentions, only to have other villages use them as pawns. The thought filled them with anger and admiration for Kagami, who had seen through the deception.
The other refugees were also stunned. They had been used. They had just wanted a safe place to live, and they had almost become pawns against Konoha. Terrified, they begged Kagami for mercy. "Sir, we were wrong! We didn't know they were spies! We won't do it again!"
"Please don't chase us away, sir. We have nowhere else to go. As long as you take us in, we will obey your rules!" They knew that if Kagami drove them away, they would surely die. The entire ninja world was in turmoil. No other place would accept them like Konoha had. And they had seen that the common people of Konoha lived better than most nobles. They didn't want to leave.
Kagami withdrew his spiritual pressure, and the spies collapsed, their eyes filled with fear. He waved to the Konoha shinobi behind him, ordering them to capture the spies. Then he turned to the other refugees. "Since you were unaware of this, I will not pursue it further. But if there is a next time, I will punish you severely and expel you all." His voice was cold and majestic, and the refugees fell silent, not daring to object.
Then he made a promise. "As long as you work hard and contribute to Konoha, we will never treat you unfairly. Once you have made enough contributions, you will become citizens of Konoha and live a stable life, just like our own people."
Though Konoha had the resources to absorb them immediately, Kagami knew that people never cherish what they don't earn. By having them exchange their labor for citizenship, he would make them deeply appreciate its value, ensuring their loyalty.
His words filled the refugees with hope. They knew the Hokage of Konoha would not lie. As long as they worked hard, they too could live the good life. They kowtowed to Kagami repeatedly, thanking him for the opportunity. Kagami looked at them, satisfied. He knew these refugees would become his loyal subjects.
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