All the nobles, Daimyo, and Kage present carefully examined the agreement document in their hands.
As time passed, Nagato was in no hurry and waited quietly.
The atmosphere became extremely silent, and the sound of everyone's breathing was clearly audible, making them sweat nervously.
They feared that the conference room might suddenly explode.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's brows were tightly furrowed, and his forehead could almost crush a blue fly.
If they signed this peace agreement, under the mediation of the Whitebeard Pirates, the ninja world might indeed achieve temporary peace without any friction.
At least in the short term.
After all, the immense deterrent power of the Whitebeard Pirates could last for a while.
The problem is...
If they signed this agreement, it would mean not only bowing to a pirate group but also submitting to them!
Because no matter how you look at it, the Whitebeard Pirates played the role of a "supreme government" in this peace agreement, with absolute judgment and sanctioning power.
Signing this agreement would mean that Konohagakure Village's relationship with the Whitebeard Pirates would become similar to that of a subordinate.
Perhaps the Whitebeard Pirates wouldn't interfere with Konohagakure Village's internal affairs, but if Konohagakure Village wanted to take any external actions, they would definitely have to go through the Whitebeard Pirates.
That's the content...
Sign?
Or not sign?
For many present, the terms of the agreement were simply unacceptable, as many clauses touched on their interests.
When war begins, some people can only leave their homes and wander.
But some can make a fortune.
However...
When they couldn't help but look at Whitebeard in front of them, the dissatisfaction in their hearts was quickly suppressed.
Because this didn't seem like a choice.
One path was a dead end, and if chosen, they might not be able to return.
The village might suffer from pirate ravages again.
The other path, at least, allowed them to return alive, and the village wouldn't suffer from pirate ravages, giving the village some breathing time.
However, those who had such conflicting emotions were mainly the Daimyo of the great nations and the Kage of the major ninja villages.
For the Daimyo of small countries or the leaders of small ninja villages, they weren't as hesitant.
After all, for them, this peace agreement seemed quite beneficial.
Because once a great war broke out in the ninja world, they, as small countries, would become the battlefield, serving as a buffer zone for the wars of different great nations.
For them, war is definitely unfavorable. When two major countries start a war in a small country, the two major countries might not feel much, but the small country will be devastated!
Among them... the ninja villages and countries that signed the most painfully were undoubtedly Kusagakure Village and the Land of Grass, Otogakure and the Land of Rice Fields.
The former had long been a vassal and lackey of the Whitebeard Pirates.
The latter's founder and controller was Orochimaru.
At Orochimaru's command, the puppet leader of Otogakure and the Daimyo of the Land of Rice Fields signed very quickly.
Next was another lackey of the Whitebeard Pirates—Kirigakure Village.
This was one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, and Kirigakure Village was the only one among them that signed the peace agreement very quickly.
The Daimyo of the Land of Water, under the persuasion of the higher-ups of Kirigakure Village, finally hesitated and signed the peace agreement.
With two sides from small countries and small ninja villages making a statement, and one side from major countries and major ninja villages making a statement, the remaining countries and ninja villages that hadn't signed the peace agreement were essentially being roasted over a fire.
Especially the pampered noble Daimyo, who were all sweating profusely, their hands trembling as they held their pens.
Suddenly, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire wiped the sweat from his forehead and glanced at Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was frowning beside him.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sensed something and turned to meet the Daimyo's gaze. " Daimyo-samaa, do you... have any thoughts?"
The Daimyo took a deep breath and asked Sarutobi Hiruzen a question: "Can we gather all the ninjas of Konohagakure to fight the Whitebeard Pirates?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was silent for a few seconds, then shook his head. "As it stands, we cannot."
The Daimyo's expression was worse than crying. "Then... there is no other choice."
Before Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Hokage of Konohagakure, could make up his mind to surrender, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire had already chosen to surrender to the pirates.
Under Sarutobi Hiruzen's astonished gaze, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire signed his name on the ninja world peace agreement.
After signing, he collapsed into his chair as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
"Daimyo-sama, you..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen was somewhat taken aback. Why did you surrender so early?
Little did he know, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire had been so pressured by the silent atmosphere here that he could barely hold his bladder.
As the Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen might not fear death and was willing to sacrifice his life for the village.
But the Daimyo of the Land of Fire did not want to die.
Nor did he have the courage to sacrifice his precious life for the Land of Fire.
When one major country's Daimyo chooses to surrender, there will be a second, a third, and a fourth...
Like a row of dominoes, once the first one falls, the others can't be stopped.
"Sigh!"
Chiyo watched helplessly as her own Daimyo trembled and signed the agreement. She could only sigh and sign her own name on the peace agreement as well.
There was no other choice. The Land of Wind and Sunagakure Village were too weak to withstand the pirates' torment.
It was better to choose to submit and let the village recuperate during the so-called peace agreement period. When the time was right, they could tear up the peace agreement.
As for when the time would be right...
That might have to wait until the Whitebeard Pirates completely declined.
Next...
The Kages of Iwagakure Village and Kumogakure Village also signed their names on the agreement with bitter expressions.
With the major countries and ninja villages already signing, the smaller countries and ninja villages quickly followed suit.
Finally...
Only Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't signed yet.
"Times have changed!"
For a moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt like he was back in the past.
Back then... the First Hokage of Konohagakure, Senju Hashirama, used his overwhelming power to force every ninja village to make peace, didn't he?
Unexpectedly, the role played by the First Hokage back then was now taken over by Whitebeard.
No...
It should be said that it was taken over by this young man named Uzumaki Nagato.
And Whitebeard was more like a powerful backing for Uzumaki Nagato.
In other words, Whitebeard's current position was even higher than the First Hokage's position in battle back then?
With countless thoughts flashing through his mind, Sarutobi Hiruzen finally resigned himself to fate. He signed his name on the peace agreement with a blank expression.
All the countries and ninja villages present, none chose to oppose the Whitebeard Pirates!
Seeing this, a rare smile appeared on Konan's usually cold face.
It was as if a heavy burden that had been carried for many years was suddenly lifted.
"Yahiko... do you see this? The ideal you were so persistent about back then, Nagato and I... and the captain, have achieved it for you."
Konan murmured to herself.
Nagato also smiled. Perhaps achieving peace in the ninja world wasn't as complicated as he had imagined.
Why did he believe Uchiha Obito's lies back then?
However, Nagato also understood. Without the Whitebeard Pirates, the influence of Akatsuki alone would never have made this group of people submit.
The credit for the signing of the ninja world peace agreement was probably only ten percent due to Akatsuki.
The remaining ninety percent was all due to the Whitebeard Pirates.
Nagato whispered to Konan behind him, "The signing of the agreement doesn't mean our mission is over. How to maintain this peace is the real beginning for Akatsuki."
Konan nodded.
She understood as well.
"Kakuzu-Senpai, did we get beaten up for nothing the other day?" In the corner, Deidara, with bandages on his head, grumbled to Kakuzu, who had only one heart left.
Kakuzu glared at him, "If it weren't for you, brat, would we have been beaten up by the Whitebeard Pirates' officers?"
Deidara was stunned, "Huh? Wasn't it you, who started the trouble with them?"
Deidara was a bit confused. Are adults really this sinister?
Clearly, it was Senpai's doing, so why is he blaming me?
Kakuzu's face darkened, "Brat, you dare talk back?"
...
Such explosive news couldn't be hidden, and besides, no one dared to conceal what happened in Kirigakure Village.
In less than five days, everyone in the world knew what had happened in Kirigakure Village.
This left them a bit bewildered.
How did the entire world's situation change so drastically in the blink of an eye?
Although there hadn't been any major wars in the ninja world recently, there were still many small skirmishes between the ninja villages, and these skirmishes often claimed the lives of many ninjas.
But now, it seemed these skirmishes were no longer allowed to happen.
If any ninja village dared to provoke another country, the provoking village would violate the peace agreement and face dual sanctions from the Whitebeard Pirates and the Akatsuki.
Just the Akatsuki alone was enough to make a ninja village's scalp tingle. After all, everyone had witnessed the Akatsuki's strength, and provoking them wouldn't end well.
If you add the Whitebeard Pirates?
Oh boy...
They might as well surrender unconditionally.
After all, anyone who could single-handedly oppose the Akatsuki and the Whitebeard Pirates wasn't human; they were a god.
...
Konohagakure Village.
In the Akimichi clan's barbecue restaurant, the current Ino-Shika-Cho trio was gathered.
"The Whitebeard Pirates have done something incredible... Has the ninja world really become peaceful? Will there be no more wars?" Akimichi Chouza sighed, "If there's no war in the ninja world, do we ninjas have any use? Can we just retire?"
Nara Shikaku shook his head and said, "This is a peace forced upon the ninja world through overwhelming power. This kind of peace won't last long."
"If one day the Whitebeard Pirates can't suppress the entire ninja world, the undercurrents will stir up another war."
Nara Shikaku paused and continued, "No one knows how long the Whitebeard Pirates can suppress the ninja world. So, don't think about retiring too soon!"
Yamanaka Inoichi smiled and said, "With the current strength of the Whitebeard Pirates, the ninja world can enjoy at least several decades of peace."
"Decades?" Akimichi Chouza was surprised, "That long?"
Yamanaka Inoichi said, "Whitebeard is old, but he should live for another decade or so, right? The old members of the Whitebeard Pirates is also very strong. They can ensure another ten to twenty years of peace in the ninja world. Adding these numbers together, it's already several decades."
Yamanaka Inoichi continued, "And the youngest generation of the Whitebeard Pirates also has many talented children. If they can grow up..."
"Then peace in the ninja world might last for nearly a hundred years!"
A hundred years of peace was something unimaginable in the past.
Now, although it's not 100% certain that a hundred years of peace can be achieved,
at least they dare to think in that direction.
The reactions of the ninjas from Kumogakure Village, Iwagakure Village, Sunagakure Village, and other ninja villages were similar.
For most people, they couldn't control the changes in the ninja world's structure.
Whatever changes happened in the ninja world...
They could only accept them.
Moreover, this change didn't seem too hard to accept. Who doesn't long for peace?
Especially since the last ninja world war ended not too long ago.
In less than ten years, many ninjas who participated in the ninja world war or ordinary people affected by it hadn't yet recovered from the shadow of war.
Now...
A chance for peace and stability was in front of them.
Would they choose to decisively reject it?
Or choose to accept it?
Most people's answer...
was the latter!
But when they learned that such peace was promoted by a pirate group and a mercenary organization, many people felt a bit surprised and bewildered.
Whether it's a pirate group or a mercenary organization, both are derogatory terms.
But it was precisely these organizations, which seemed to stand against peace, that brought a special kind of peace to the ninja world.
How could people not be astonished?
How could people not be moved?
...
On the other side.
In a remote place unknown to anyone, the hull of the Moby Dick burst into a dazzling purple light.
The pirate group used the power of the Dragon Vein to tear open the space-time rift again.
This time, it wasn't carried by the power of the Dragon Vein.
Instead, they actively used the power of the Dragon Vein!
This means...
The Whitebeard Pirates have mastered the power to travel between two different worlds at will!
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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