"As long as QinKage Sama sends a few Shinobi teams, I'm confident I can crush the Waterfall Hidden Village and bring them to their knees!" Kakuzu's voice brimmed with certainty.
Qin Yi narrowed his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips. "How many people do you need?"
Before Kakuzu could respond, Qin Yi waved his hand dismissively.
"Never mind. Go find Gandalf. Take as many soldiers and resources as you see fit."
He paused, his smile vanishing.
"I have only one requirement: if we strike..."
"Failure is not an option."
Qin Yi's gaze hardened, sending a chill through the room.
Kakuzu instinctively straightened, nodding with conviction. "Understood, QinKage Sama. I will see it done."
With that, Kakuzu turned and left, a sinister grin curling at the edges of his mouth. The thought of exacting revenge against the Waterfall Hidden Village ignited a gleeful malice within him. The blood-soaked memories of betrayal still seared his mind, and now the opportunity for retribution had arrived.
Qin Yi watched his retreating figure and exhaled slowly. A renewed smile surfaced. With the Kingdom of Qin's growth, small conquests like this no longer warranted his personal involvement. Just as Uchiha Madara had paved the way before him, now Kakuzu would continue the expansion. In time, other territories would fall, adding to his domain.
His priority now was strengthening himself.
---
A week later, Kakuzu led five hundred Qin Shinobi to the outskirts of the Waterfall Hidden Village.
"Kakuzu, do you have a strategy in mind for the assault?" One of the squad leaders asked, his tone low and measured.
Kakuzu sneered. "A pathetic village like this? With our strength, we don't need a plan."
"We charge."
Without another word, he leaped high into the air, his cloak billowing as he shot forward like a vengeful shadow.
"Reckless fool," The squad leader muttered, shaking his head. But hesitation was not an option. He raised his hand and barked the order.
"All units, attack!"
The Shinobi of Qin surged forward, their movements swift and decisive. Despite their smaller numbers, the overwhelming power gap between them and the Waterfall Hidden Village was evident.
Waves of Shinobi unleashed elemental jutsu, hand seals flashing in rapid succession. Sealing techniques from the Kingdom of Qin, honed to near-perfection, further crippled their enemies.
Within Qin Yi's world, the unique structure of their kingdom granted its Shinobi unparalleled strength. The fusion of different power systems — from chakra and spiritual energy to the mystical arts of distant realms — gave the Nation of Qin an undeniable edge.
Five hours passed. By then, the once proud Waterfall Hidden Village lay in ruin. Amidst the crumbling walls and fallen defenders, Kakuzu's triumphant laughter echoed. The crimson hue of the setting sun painted the battlefield in blood and fire.
"Submit or face annihilation!"
The fury in Kakuzu's voice left no room for doubt. His thirst for vengeance urged him to raze the village entirely. But even as his hands twitched with the desire to kill, he restrained himself, bound by Qin Yi's command.
Nonetheless, the battlefield bore witness to his wrath. The lifeless bodies of Waterfall Shinobi littered the ground, the remnants of their resistance crushed beneath the weight of the Nation of Qin.
The day belonged to Kakuzu — and the kingdom's relentless march continued.
"Kakuzu, I didn't expect you to betray us fir the Nation of Qin, you traitor!" The leader of the Waterfall Hidden Village, bruised and bloodied, spat out the accusation through gritted teeth.
Around him, the village burned in a sea of flames, the once proud settlement reduced to smoldering ruins. Despair and helplessness clouded his eyes.
What other choice did he have? If he refused to yield, the people of the Waterfall Hidden Village would perish. The weight of their lives pressed heavily upon him.
"We surrender."
At last, the leader's trembling voice broke the silence. He sank to his knees, bowing his head in reluctant submission.
---
Back in the Nation of Qin, Qin Yi sat cross-legged in deep meditation, his Chakra flowing steadily. A sudden surge coursed through him as his King's Strength increased, and a satisfied smile curled his lips.
"It seems Kakuzu and the others succeeded. Excellent."
Having attained the rank of Jōnin, Qin Yi had noticed a sharp decline in the effectiveness of the Immeasurable Swallowing-Jutsu. Every technique had its limits, and this one was no exception.
Though it allowed immense Chakra accumulation up to the Jōnin level, further advancement brought diminishing returns. The sheer volume of Chakra within him had undergone a qualitative transformation, significantly enhancing his physical prowess.
The soldiers of Qin, having reached similar limitations, had also shifted their focus to conventional training. Qin Yi was no different.
Progress had slowed, but the ever-growing King's Strength brought him solace. Unlike Chakra, which served as a mere tool, the King's Strength was the embodiment of authority. It was the force that reshaped worlds and unlocked the dormant might of a king.
The annexation of the Waterfall Hidden Village further strengthened the Nation of Qin. But this relentless expansion had not gone unnoticed.
---
Three days later, emissaries from Konoha arrived with grim expressions on their faces. Without ceremony, they presented Qin Yi with a sealed document. Seated in the Qin Kage's office, he calmly unfastened the scroll and scanned its contents.
His gaze sharpened.
The tone was unmistakable. Even without seeing him, Qin Yi could almost picture the stern, imposing figure of Senju Hashirama. The letter was laced with barely restrained anger, condemning Qin Yi's aggressive actions.
It accused him of violating the Six Nations Agreement and breaking promises of peace. Every word dripped with discontent, culminating in an ominous warning.
The message was clear: Konoha would not tolerate further disruptions.
Yet, as Qin Yi rolled up the scroll, a faint smile flickered on his face. The storm was brewing, but he was prepared to meet it head-on.
If the Nation of Qin committed further offenses, Konoha would take coercive measures to maintain stability across the entire Shinobi world.
"World hero, Senju Hashirama, huh?"
Qin Yi's lips curled into a faint, mocking smile.
His purpose in this world was clear: to conquer, wage war, and forge his own kingdom. His ideals stood in stark opposition to those of Hashirama. The inevitable clash between their ambitions had merely been a matter of time.
Still, Qin Yi had no intention of shattering the diplomatic facade just yet. Konoha's reluctance to act immediately, resorting instead to empty threats and external pressure, showed they were attempting to save face.
"A brief period of quiet suits me just fine. It'll give me the chance to perfect my strength."
"The pseudo Gudōdama (Truth-Seeking Ball) is far too limited. But if I can create a genuine one..."
"Mokuton (Wood Release) and the Rinnegan will be key."
Qin Yi's eyes gleamed with determination as the outline of a plan took shape.
He had already made progress. The concept of Gudōdama and methods for unlocking Yin-Yang Release were within reach. Plans for obtaining the Mokuton and the Rinnegan were also falling into place. Once he consolidated all of these powers, few would dare to challenge him.
Even Hashirama would no longer be a threat.
---
Over the following days, letters from the other four great nations arrived, each carrying veiled warnings.
After skimming through the one from the Nation of Water, Qin Yi sneered.
"A fool who refuses to learn from his mistakes."
"Your time will come soon enough."
Unlike Konoha's restrained tone, the Mizukage's letter was filled with harsh rhetoric. It declared that any further acts of aggression from the Nation of Qin would be met with immediate military retaliation.
Qin Yi dismissed it without concern.
As for the other three nations, their words failed to hold his interest. He tossed the scrolls aside and gave a simple command to his attendants.
"Burn them."
---
And so, after the swift annexation of the Waterfall Hidden Village, the Shinobi world fell into a temporary state of stability. But beneath the surface, the tension remained — a calm before the inevitable storm.
(End of Chapter)
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