However, this was not within Kawaki Aoba's scope of consideration.
After explaining Belwark's boomerang-like abilities again, Kawaki Aoba had Suigetsuyama Futon Ghost test it out on the spot.
It had to be said that, given his size, wielding an axe didn't seem out of place at all. Moreover, he showed no signs of rejection toward the Teigu.
Next, Kawaki Aoba produced Blood Collection: Rapid Absorption and handed this set of false teeth-like Teigu to Biwa Juzo. Since the item had been crafted using his Executioner's Blade as a sacrifice, giving it to Juzo now seemed fitting.
After learning about the Teigu's abilities, Biwa Juzo said nothing. He immediately caught a wild rabbit and experimented with it.
After draining the rabbit's blood, Juzo made a cut on his own arm with a kunai. To his satisfaction, the wound rapidly closed at a speed visible to the naked eye.
However, after experiencing the effect firsthand, Biwa Juzo shook his head and said, "The boost in strength is negligible... but perhaps that's due to the rabbit's weak vitality. If I absorbed the blood of a strong shinobi, the enhancement should be far greater."
Like the others, Biwa Juzo experienced no rejection from the Teigu.
After that, it was Kurogane Raiga's turn. At this point, Kawaki Aoba hesitated. Among the remaining five Teigu, the one most suitable for Raiga was undoubtedly Thunder God's Fury: Adramelech.
However, Raiga had once been their enemy. Handing such a precious Teigu to him made Kawaki Aoba uncomfortable.
But considering the missions ahead — ones involving extreme danger and possibly confrontations with the likes of the Third Raikage — they needed sufficient strength. Without powerful weapons, they wouldn't stand a chance.
Thinking this through, Kawaki Aoba steeled himself and handed Thunder God's Fury to Kurogane Raiga, explaining its abilities carefully.
When he had first obtained this Teigu, Kawaki Aoba had actually considered giving it to the Third Raikage. As a master of Lightning Release, the Third Raikage's strength combined with Thunder God's Fury would have been overwhelming.
However, Kawaki Aoba realized that, given the Raikage's brutal, relentless fighting style — charging through enemies without hesitation — the Teigu would likely be destroyed after only a few battles.
Thus, it was better suited to Kurogane Raiga.
After donning Thunder God's Fury, Raiga immediately began testing it.
The results left him ecstatic.
Compared to his former twin swords, Lightning Blade: Kiba, Thunder God's Fury: Adramelech was far superior. Combined with his natural Lightning Release abilities, Raiga estimated he could now reach combat power close to Kage level.
Had the other Seven Ninja Swordsmen still been alive, Raiga was certain he would have become the strongest among them.
Unfortunately, the original Seven Swordsmen — Mangetsu Hozuki, Ameyuri Ringo, and the others — had met messy ends, leaving little chance of revival.
Watching Raiga's excitement, Kawaki Aoba felt reassured. It seemed that ninjas with chakra could easily adapt to Teigu without compatibility issues.
"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen are a thing of the past. From today onward, the three of you will be called the Auspicious Three Treasures. The weapons you have received are Teigu. Learn to master them as soon as possible."
The three men twitched their mouths involuntarily. Auspicious Three Treasures? The name sounded like a joke.
Had they not each been instantly killed by Kawaki Aoba once before, they might have dared to protest.
Seeing their silence, Kawaki Aoba nodded in satisfaction and issued their second formal mission.
"Listen carefully. Your next mission is extremely important: you are to head to the Land of Earth. There, you will seek out the Third Raikage... and together with him—"
The mission was simple: provoke Madara's forces. If they could drag Iwagakure down with them, all the better.
Ever since Kawaki Aoba had gained a measure of strength, he had wanted to challenge Madara Uchiha's plans. Until now, he simply hadn't had the time.
Now, with the final stage approaching, he needed to test Madara's true weight before acting further.
If the opportunity arose, Kawaki Aoba wouldn't hesitate to send Madara to his death early.
Of course, he couldn't reveal the whole truth to these three pawns. Even Madara's name was disguised as a mysterious "shadowy strongman" hidden in the dark.
After explaining the mission, Kawaki Aoba gave the three a final reassurance.
He said calmly, "The target's strength is unknown. This mission is highly dangerous. One or more of you may die again. But that is nothing to fear. As long as your corpses are intact, I can revive you again, just like before."
At this point, what could the three of them say? Kawaki Aoba held their lives and deaths in his hands. Even if they objected, he could force them to obey.
Thus, being spoken to with kindness was already a rare mercy.
The three of them pledged to carry out the mission to the best of their ability.
Kawaki Aoba was very satisfied with their attitude. After giving a few more instructions, he instantly teleported back toward the Land of Wind, leaving the Auspicious Three Treasures standing there, exchanging uneasy looks.
"Space-time ninjutsu... and that terrifying taijutsu from earlier. Could he really be a Konoha ninja?" Biwa Juzo muttered, staring at the spot where Kawaki Aoba vanished.
"Watch your mouth, Juzo. What do you mean by 'that guy'? You should know that man is now our lord. Show proper respect," Kurogane Raiga reprimanded him sternly.
Among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Raiga had been the least attached to Kirigakure. While the others eventually became missing-nin for personal reasons, Raiga simply hated Kirigakure's stifling atmosphere.
Especially after their failed mission, he knew he'd be punished harshly if he returned. In truth, he had been considering defection even before his death.
Now, freed from any ties to Kirigakure, he had no regrets. His only duty was to serve his new lord — Kawaki Aoba — and judging by Aoba's leadership style, there seemed to be a great deal of personal freedom, provided missions were completed.
While speaking, Raiga glanced at the Thunder God's Fury still covering his arm.
"Heh. Of course he deserves our respect. But Raiga, you sure changed sides quickly," Suigetsuyama Futon Ghost said mockingly, his tone dripping with jealousy.
Both of them had lost their original ninja swords and received new Teigu as replacements. Yet it was clear that Raiga had received the best one.
While Biwa Juzo could somewhat accept his fate — after all, he had been the first to kneel — Suigetsuyama couldn't help but feel sour.
Why Raiga?
They had all seen Kawaki Aoba's momentary hesitation when handing Thunder God's Fury over to Raiga.
Thus, even Kisame Hoshigaki — if he had been here — might have felt jealous.
Had he been a Lightning Release ninja, Thunder God's Fury: Adramelech might have been his instead.
Time flew by, and half a month passed in the blink of an eye. During this period, Sunagakure and Konohagakure had been negotiating the terms of surrender.
One side had won, and the other had to yield. With precedents from past wars, it should have been a straightforward matter. Yet, due to the endless bargaining on both sides, the negotiations dragged on for half a month.
Such was Konoha's style — magnanimous and patient, never seeming like the victorious side.
Of course, this generosity only extended to the other Great Ninja Villages. Had Sunagakure been a minor nation or a small shinobi village, Konoha would have crushed and absorbed it without hesitation.
The fates of Yōmyō Village and the Sky Country during the earlier Ninja World Wars were testament enough.
Nevertheless, no matter how prolonged, half a month was sufficient to settle almost everything — except for one major sticking point.
---
"The One-Tail is Sunagakure's Tailed Beast. Please return it, Konoha. This is our final condition for surrender," said Chiyo, sitting sternly at the negotiating table.
She had already repeated this request countless times over the past weeks.
At first, she expected the same stalemate as always. However, this time, from Konoha's side, the usually silent jonin representative, Aoba Yamashiro, finally moved.
Stretching his sore limbs, Aoba stood up and said in a firm, unyielding tone:
"The One-Tail was captured by me on the battlefield. If Sunagakure wants it back, you'll have to trade something of equal value."
He smiled coldly. "Or, if you think you have the strength, you're welcome to try and take it."
"Aoba-san, the One-Tail is a part of Sunagakure's foundation—!" Chiyo began to protest, but Aoba impatiently cut her off.
"Before the Land of Wind was even founded, this desert belonged to no one. Don't bother with meaningless claims.
Now, Sunagakure stands weakened before Konoha. If we desired, we could force an even heavier price — even strip you of your status among the Five Great Ninja Villages.
You should be grateful we are merciful.
Had this been Iwagakure or Kumogakure, they would have bled you dry without a second thought."**
Aoba's words were scathing, sparking rage among the Sunagakure representatives.
Several stood up, glaring fiercely at him. If not for the solemnity of the occasion — and their fear of Konoha's power — a fight might have broken out.
Chiyo, however, remained calm. She was no stranger to such humiliations.
Having witnessed the brutality of three great wars, she cared little for petty insults.
Her true concern lay with Sunagakure's future.
Ignoring Aoba, she turned her sharp gaze to Minato Namikaze, who presided at Konoha's center seat.
"Lord Fourth Hokage," she said coolly, "should I understand that Jonin Aoba's statement reflects Konoha's official position? Does Konoha intend to seize our Tailed Beast?"
The question was sharp and public. Chiyo left Minato no room for ambiguity.
---
Tailed Beasts were not mere weapons; they symbolized the military might and sovereignty of a Great Ninja Village.
If Konoha claimed the One-Tail — adding it to the Nine-Tails they already possessed and the Five-Tails rumored to have fallen into their hands — it would upset the delicate balance of power.
The Third Great Ninja War had only just cooled. Another spark could ignite it anew.
Minato knew this better than anyone. He wanted to preserve the fragile peace.
However, the One-Tail had been captured through Aoba's efforts, and shinobi of Aoba's caliber had leverage.
In theory, the Hokage could order anything. In practice, warriors strong enough to challenge Kage-level fighters earned a degree of autonomy.
Thus, Minato did not immediately answer Chiyo. Instead, he turned to Aoba.
"Aoba," he said diplomatically, "capturing a Tailed Beast is a great achievement... but bringing it back to Konoha may cause more problems than it's worth.
Have you considered other arrangements?"
It was a soft suggestion, but the meaning was clear: Konoha could not openly keep the One-Tail without risking another war.
Aoba understood.
He had waited for this very moment.
Smiling faintly, he faced the Sunagakure representatives again.
"You want the One-Tail back?" he asked, his voice like ice.
"Fine. But I have one condition: Sunagakure must hand over its secret puppetry techniques — including the forbidden human puppet methods — not the superficial tricks sold on the black market."
The room fell silent.
Sunagakure's puppetry arts, along with its deadly poison techniques, were its core heritage.
Asking for them was equivalent to asking Sunagakure to hand over its soul.
Instantly, the representatives erupted in outrage.
"Impossible! Unthinkable!"
"You dare covet our sacred arts!"
"Better to fight to the death!"
Even the usually composed Chiyo's face darkened with anger.
To surrender their secret techniques was a greater humiliation than any battlefield defeat.
But Aoba was unmoved. He sneered coldly.
"Enough, you rats. I know exactly what you're plotting. You want the One-Tail back for free? Dream on.
You have two choices:
Either trade the puppetry techniques...
Or prepare to hear that the One-Tail has been sold to other villages."
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