Genji's deep sigh broke the silence, carrying a weight of resignation and authority. His eyes briefly met Mei's before returning to Hikari and Hiashi.
"You must be Hikari Hyuga, right? And this is Hiashi Hyuga, the future patriarch of your clan?", His tone was calm yet firm.
He continued, his gaze steady and assessing, "Although you are strong, perhaps the strongest young man I've ever encountered, we have observed your battle with the Mizukage even though we couldn't intervene directly.",
"You might be nearing the end of your vitality and merely masking your fatigue quite well now. Understand, despite your abilities, we still have the advantage in numbers, particularly among our Anbu. It would be possible to track you, wear you down, and ultimately, eliminate you through sheer numbers force even outside of this village, even if you try to run away afterward."
Genji paused, letting his words sink in to gauge the reaction of his young adversaries. He then offered a resolution, "I recommend that you withdraw voluntarily from this village, along with your people. Disappear, and I will call off any further pursuit.",
His proposal was not just an ultimatum but a strategic positioning meant to assert control over the situation and to test Hikari's resolve and real condition.
Hikari stood calm and collected, unfazed by Genji's warning. His strategy had been to make Genji speak first, a subtle move to shift the power dynamics in his favor.
Genji's prompt to speak first revealed more about his position and confidence than any physical display or words could.
Hikari had read the elder's uncertainty hidden behind a facade of control, and it was time to leverage this in the negotiations.
"Yes, I'm Hikari Hyuga, and this is Hiashi Hyuga...", Hikari responded courteously yet firmly, acknowledging Genji's assessment of their physical state.
"Nice to meet you. And yes, while I am certainly quite fatigued now, I am not nearly as depleted as you might hope and presented it as.",
"I still have enough energy left to cause significant 'damage' here, all around your village, and you know my capabilities well. You've seen my speed; no one here can match it once I'm in motion. That chaos would be unbearable for you."
Hikari paused, his gaze steady and penetrating as he continued, "And yes, you have numbers, but with the Mizukage's fall by my hand—a sight all your troops witnessed—morale on your side has plummeted, whereas ours is only bolstered.",
"It's uncertain who would prevail if this conflict continued, but one thing is clear: further fighting would only lead to the destruction of Kirigakure. It would only be a matter of time before other villages take advantage of its weakened state.",
Hikari's words were deliberate, designed to strike at the core of Genji's fears—further chaos and the potential collapse of Kirigakure.
He was positioning himself not just as a formidable adversary but as a rational actor who recognized the broader implications of continued conflict.
This approach aimed to shift the conversation from threats to potential cooperation, suggesting that a compromise might indeed be the only path forward that preserved Kirigakure's future.
Mei watched Hikari with a mixture of awe and introspection. His youthful face, calm and composed, belied the weight of his words as he engaged in this subtle duel of diplomacy with Elder Genji.
It was almost surreal to see someone so close to her own age display such maturity and command, standing toe-to-toe with an elder who had decades more experience. She couldn't help but feel a deep respect for his ability to navigate these treacherous waters with such finesse.
As Hikari spoke, Mei's thoughts turned inward. She clenched her slender fists, her nails lightly pressing into her palms, a silent, physical manifestation of her internal hopes.
She found herself silently rooting for Hikari's success, understanding intuitively that a peaceful compromise was undoubtedly the best outcome for Kirigakure.
Even though the revelations about the village's dark manipulations under the previous Mizukage had left her feeling betrayed, her feelings toward the village itself were complex.
She hated the regime that had deceived her, but she held no ill will toward the ordinary people of Kirigakure.
They, like her, were products of their environment, mostly unaware of the deeper machinations at play.
Despite the bitter truth about her past, Mei felt a profound connection to Kirigakure. It was the only home she had ever known, a place imbued with memories both sweet and painful.
This attachment wasn't merely about the location but the community and the everyday lives intertwined with hers.
'Even if my heritage lies elsewhere...', She thought to herself, 'This village is part of who I am. It shaped me, for better or worse. And now, perhaps, I can help shape it for the better...'
Meanwhile, Hiashi also observed Hikari's interactions with a mixture of respect and surprise the entire time.
The younger Hyuga's poise under pressure was remarkable, and Hiashi deferred to Hikari's judgment throughout this passive confrontation.
This deference was not borne out of obligation but from a genuine belief in Hikari's leadership.
It was an unusual position for Hiashi, who was older and more experienced—traditionally, the qualities revered in a leader within shinobi culture. Yet, here he was, instinctively looking to Hikari for guidance.
The fact that Hikari had single-handedly defeated the Mizukage added to Hiashi's respect for him.
That victory demonstrated Hikari's combat prowess, strategic acumen, and ability to endure extreme stress.
It was these qualities that had earned Hiashi's complete silent endorsement from now on.
Hiashi recognized that Hikari's blend of strength and tactical thinking made him exceptionally fit to navigate the complexities of their current mission.
Moreover, Hiashi was also aware of the subtle shifts in their interaction—how Hikari had begun to address him simply as "Hiashi" rather than with any honorific that might denote seniority and how he had taken the initiative to lead discussions and make decisions.
These changes might have bruised the ego of a less secure leader, but Hiashi saw them as positive. He appreciated the efficiency and directness they brought to their operations.
In his heart, Hiashi felt no envy. As the future patriarch of the Hyuga clan, his primary concern was the welfare and strength of his clan, and he saw Hikari's emerging leadership as a boon to their collective success.
His realism about the clan's needs and his own capabilities allowed him to embrace Hikari's ascent not just with acceptance but with optimism.
He understood that Hikari was a vital asset and that supporting him was not just sensible—it was necessary for their survival and prosperity at this point.
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Elder Genji listened intently to Hikari's words, his stern expression giving way slightly to show his contemplative mood.
After a moment, he responded, his voice mixing caution with a measure of respect that had not been there before.
"You raise a valid point, young Hyuga...", Genji started, his authoritative tone softened by a dose of pragmatism,
"Your skill and determination are clear, and the fall of our Mizukage at your hands speaks volumes. You're capable of wreaking havoc next if you so choose.",
He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as he leaned slightly forward, emphasizing his next words with careful deliberation,
"However, you can't trick someone with my level of experience. I watched your battle with the Mizukage closely.",
"You're running on gas despite your efforts to conceal it. You might not even have a quarter of your former chakra left.",
"Even if your fighting style relies mostly on using the same external energy as our fallen Mizukage also did, you saw his end, right? It still needs to be controlled and parried with your own body and internal chakra reserves first to be employed in the first place...",
He then paused, weighing his next words carefully, "However, your acknowledgment of the potential destruction that continued fight could bring to Kirigakure didn't fall on deaf ears.",
"I am tasked with the safety and continuity of our village, and I must consider all paths that lead to peace,
"Although, your own cream of the crop of the Hyuga clan elites would also probably perish here if this continued, so don't make it seem like this is a one-sided thing...",
Genji's demeanor softened slightly as he continued, "If you are suggesting another kind of a compromise, then I am willing to entertain this discussion slightly, at least.",
"Kirigakure has suffered enough, and if there is a way to end this with diplomacy rather than further bloodshed, it is worth exploring...",
This response marked a significant turn in the encounter, moving it from the brink of further conflict to at least the possibility of a peaceful resolution.
Hikari nodded, absorbing Genji's words but ready to counter with his own leverage. His expression hardened and turned colder as he prepared to reveal his most important ace.
"Thank you for your assessment, Elder Genji...", Hikari began, his voice calm but with an underlying sharpness,
"While I appreciate your call for pragmatism, I must correct your perspective on our situation. It's not just about my remaining strength or the Hyuga clansmen still fighting over there."
He took a moment, ensuring his next words carried the full weight of their implications, "As we speak, I have two of your Tailed Beasts, still inside of their Jinchuriki, sealed within special scrolls on my body.",
"I can also release them at any moment here, over your village. The havoc they would wreak could effectively end Kirigakure, while my people and I evacuated easily. I suppose those beats must've built quite a grudge against your village.",
Hikari's gaze was steady and piercing as he continued, "This isn't a threat; it's a fact of our current standoff. My preference is for a diplomatic resolution, not destruction. However, this means you don't have the luxury of considering whether to negotiate.",
"We need to find a solution now, one that ensures the survival and stability of Kirigakure. You're not in a position to 'explore' options; you need to act on them as soon as possible or face total annihilation.",
As Hikari issued his ultimatum, he was keenly aware of the complexities behind his position. Internally, he grappled with the limitations of his threat.
The truth was, releasing the Tailed Beasts wasn't as straightforward or as appealing an option as he made it seem.
He lacked a reliable method to reseal them once unleashed, and they could pose a significant risk not only to Kirigakure but to himself and his forces, despite him stating otherwise, at least to some extent.
The beasts' unpredictable and destructive nature could easily spiral out of control, turning a tactical advantage into a catastrophic blunder.
Moreover, Hikari's strategic goals extended beyond mere destruction. His vision for Kirigakure was not to waste it but to integrate it into his broader plans against the current Hokage and Konoha's leadership.
Destroying Kirigakure would serve Konoha by eliminating a potential rival, whereas securing its allegiance would significantly bolster his own faction's standing and resources in the looming larger conflicts he anticipated.
Genji's reaction to Hikari's revelation was immediate and intense. The elder's composure faltered, betraying his shock as he processed the unexpected news about the Tailed Beasts.
Genji had been certain those powerful entities were securely under Konoha's control, but they were now potentially being integrated into new hosts after Hikari stole them.
The thought that Hikari had managed to intercept and personally keep them for so long was startling, suggesting a level of audacity and strategic depth that Genji had not anticipated.
This revelation forced Genji to reassess his understanding of Konoha's political landscape. He cursed Kirigakure's inadequacy of intelligence, which had failed to grasp the extent of the internal divisions plaguing their rival village.
As Genji processed this information, he realized the strategic restraint Hikari had shown. The fact that Hikari hadn't unleashed the beasts immediately upon their arrival suggested that his intentions extended beyond mere destruction.
Hikari sought leverage, aiming to bring Kirigakure into some form of alliance or into the 'orbit' that would serve his broader goals.
This insight shifted Genji's perspective, highlighting the necessity of navigating this negotiation with great care.
Furthermore, the knowledge that Hikari possessed not only the Tailed Beasts but also 6 of Kirigakure's prized swords now compounded the gravity of the situation.
It became clear to Genji that Hikari held most of the cards, and if Kirigakure was to salvage anything from this confrontation, concessions were inevitable.
With a heavy heart and a mind burdened by the weight of his village's future, Genji acknowledged internally that he would need to offer more than he had planned.
His goal now was to secure the best possible outcome for Kirigakure under the current circumstances.
"Very well, Hikari Hyuga...", Genji said, his voice steady despite the turmoil within, "It seems you've outmaneuvered us at every turn. Let's discuss your terms for this... alliance.",
"What exactly are you proposing, and how do you envision Kirigakure's role in your plans...?",
While conceding the negotiation's direction to Hikari, his question also sought to clarify the specifics of what Hikari expected in return for peace and cooperation.
Even the Kirigakure shinobi nearby couldn't hide their reaction to Hikari's bold declaration.
They flinched, their previous aggression melting into a more defensive stance, a subtle but clear sign of their growing apprehension.
The weight of Hikari's threat had clearly shaken them, introducing a layer of fear and uncertainty into their demeanor.
Up to 60 additional chapters ahead are available on my Patreon. The link is below as well on this story's main page!
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