Chapter 148: Wager
"But even so, if this is your vision, why only Konoha? Why not other villages?" Rasa asked, his tone skeptical.
Naruto met his gaze with unwavering confidence. "Because throughout history, Konoha has always been the one striving for peace. Meanwhile, the ones who instigated wars were you— the other four villages. If we gave leadership to any of you, who knows what kind of world you'd create."
He paused, letting his words sink in before adding, "And the main point is this: Konoha has always been the strongest among the villages. It's only natural for the strongest to lead."
Naruto's words hung in the air like a challenge, the tension palpable. The Kages exchanged glances, their pride clearly stung by his blunt statement. Rasa frowned deeply, while A's hand twitched, his temper barely contained. Mei raised an eyebrow, intrigued but cautious, and Onoki looked as though he were ready to erupt.
"Konoha, the strongest?" A finally barked, his voice filled with indignation. "Brat, don't forget that Kumo has always rivaled Konoha in power. And as for instigating wars, you speak like Konoha has no blood on its hands."
"Rivaled Konoha? Don't make me laugh, A," Naruto said, his voice laced with disdain. "Do you really think being passive means weak? Hiruzen and his cohorts feared war, and more importantly, they feared the strongest clans that allied with Konoha. That's why they helped you destroy the Uzumaki and Senju clans, leaving only one Senju alive and a few scattered Uzumaki.
"If not for them, do you honestly think you could rival Konoha? Any one of the Uzumaki, Senju, or Uchiha clans could easily wipe out any of the other villages on their own. And let's not forget—the Uzumaki were only destroyed because all five villages united against them. Otherwise, you all know what the consequences would have been," Naruto declared, his words sharp and unwavering.
Naruto's words struck like a hammer, silencing the room. A's fists clenched tightly, the veins on his arms bulging as his anger threatened to boil over. "You dare insult Kumo like that, brat? You talk as if Konoha's clans are invincible, but look where they are now. Broken, scattered—because they were too arrogant to see their downfall coming."
He leaned back in his chair, his crimson hair glinting in the light as he smirked. "Arrogance? Don't confuse honor with arrogance, Raikage. The Uzumaki and Senju clans didn't fall because they were weak. They fell because the other villages couldn't handle their strength. It took all of you—five villages, united under the banner of fear—to destroy them. Even then, it wasn't a battle; it was a massacre. The kind of victory that leaves a bitter taste."
He continued, his tone growing sharper, "I think I've given you all too much credit. Either Hashirama or Madara could have easily dominated all of you together. Isn't that right, Onoki?" He turned his gaze to the elder Tsuchikage, who visibly stiffened.
"If it weren't for Hashirama's strength and vision, none of your villages would even exist right now," Naruto added. "Because if Hashirama hadn't been there to stop him, Madara would have destroyed all of you without a second thought."
Naruto's words echoed through the hall, carrying the weight of undeniable truth. The Kages shifted uncomfortably, their pride clashing with the history they all knew. Onoki, the eldest among them, felt the sharp sting of Naruto's reminder more than anyone. He clenched his cane tightly, his expression darkening as memories of the past resurfaced.
"You speak boldly, boy," Onoki said, his voice trembling slightly, though it was unclear whether it was from age or anger. "Yes, I knew their strength. Hashirama Senju was a man of unmatched power, but he was also a fool—too idealistic to see the dangers of the alliances he tried to forge. And Madara… Madara was a demon. If he had his way, none of us would be here today."
Naruto smirked, his gaze unwavering. "Exactly my point. Hashirama's ideals gave you all a chance at survival. Without him, Madara would have crushed you. You stand here today because Konoha's first Hokage was merciful. And yet, what did you all do in return? Betrayed that mercy. You destroyed the very clan that helped you survive the wrath of the Uchiha."
A slammed his fist on the table, his temper flaring. "Enough with your lecturing, brat! You're acting as though Konoha was some saintly village while the rest of us were nothing but villains. Every village has its sins, including yours."
Naruto leaned forward, his crimson eyes locking onto A's. "You're not wrong, Raikage. Konoha has its sins—sins I'm working to correct. But let's not pretend you're innocent. Your village sent shinobi to infiltrate the Land of Fire. Don't act high and mighty when your hands are just as dirty."
Mei interjected, her tone measured but firm. "Naruto does have a point, Raikage. None of us are without blame. The question is, what do we do now to ensure a future where we don't repeat the mistakes of the past?"
"If you guys still don't think Konoha is strong," Naruto said, his voice echoing with unwavering confidence, "as I said earlier when I entered—come at me all at once. I'll show you what it truly means to be a Konoha shinobi."
He paused, letting his challenge sink in before continuing, "Do you have the guts to take on this wager? If I win, you all must submit to Konoha. And if I lose..." Naruto's eyes narrowed, "...it's up to you."
The room fell into tense silence as his words hung in the air, daring the gathered Kage to respond.
Naruto's words hung in the air like a thunderclap, silencing the murmurs and shifting the atmosphere in the hall to one of tense anticipation. The Kages, each with their own pride and strength, exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of disbelief and intrigue.
A, the Raikage, was the first to respond, his booming voice laced with both anger and curiosity. "You're bold, brat. Challenging all five Kages at once? Do you think you're invincible?"
Naruto smirked, leaning back with an air of unshakable confidence. "Not invincible, just prepared. I've trained for this my entire life. If you all think Konoha isn't strong enough to lead, prove it. Come at me together, and I'll show you the difference between a true shinobi of Konoha and the rest of you."
Onoki, the oldest and perhaps the wisest in the room, narrowed his eyes at Naruto. "You're playing a dangerous game, boy. Even if you have the strength to back up your words, do you really think we would agree to such a wager? The fate of the shinobi world isn't something to be decided by brute force."
"Onoki," Naruto said, his voice cutting through the tense silence, "I think you all have forgotten the main point. The strong are the ones who rule the weak. The weak can't even decide how they die."
He leaned forward slightly, his gaze locking onto Onoki. "If Hashirama wasn't strong, do you think this world would even still be alive?" Naruto's words were heavy with the weight of history, a reminder of the power that had shaped the world.
Onoki's eyes narrowed sharply as Naruto's words struck a chord, a subtle hint of guilt and understanding flashing across his face. He had lived through many eras, witnessed wars and destruction, and knew the weight of strength in shaping the course of history.
"Hashirama…" Onoki muttered under his breath, the name of the First Hokage carrying a deep weight of its own. He had fought alongside him, respected his ideals, but also understood the price of those ideals. Hashirama's power had indeed shaped the world, but it was the balance of that power that Naruto was now challenging.
Naruto continued, his voice unwavering. "Exactly. If Hashirama hadn't been strong enough to keep the peace, this world would have collapsed long ago. The weak were at his mercy, and he knew that. It's why he fought so hard to protect what was worth saving, not just with words but with the sheer force of his will."
He turned his gaze toward the other Kages. "You all know this as well as I do. The reason this world still stands is because those with power have the responsibility to protect the weak. But when that power is misused, when those who are supposed to lead allow the weak to fall into despair… that's when this world becomes a battlefield."
A quiet tension hung in the air. Tsunade, standing behind him, watched the room carefully, sensing the growing unease. Rasa shifted in his seat, his eyes flicking to Gaara, who was silent, his gaze distant as he processed Naruto's words.
Naruto's eyes were fierce as he locked onto Onoki. "But I'm not here to bring more war. I'm here to unite this fractured world, to show that strength can be used for peace. If you don't believe that Konoha can lead that peace, then maybe you should remember who stood against Madara and the rest of the world. And who stood with them."
Onoki, for the first time, seemed to hesitate, his voice softening slightly. "You're not wrong, Naruto. I've seen the weight of strength and the devastation it can cause. But do you truly believe you can unite these villages? With the history we've had? With the blood that's been spilled?"
Naruto's gaze hardened. "I don't just believe it. I'll make it happen. But first, I need you to understand—this isn't just about power. It's about purpose. If you can't understand that, then maybe you should ask yourselves why you've been fighting all these years."
The room fell into an uncomfortable silence. Mei, who had remained somewhat detached, leaned forward, her voice cutting through the tension. "I think he's right, Onoki. Our villages have been fighting for too long. It's time someone took the lead. Whether that's Konoha or not… we need to know who is truly fit to lead us."
Naruto stood tall, his presence commanding, his words like a challenge to the very foundation of the shinobi world. "This isn't just a game, Onoki. This is the future of all shinobi. And if you all refuse to see that, then you'll be left behind in the dust of history."
The old Tsuchikage's eyes lingered on Naruto, a mixture of admiration and regret. He understood all too well what the younger man was proposing. It was the same vision that Hashirama had tried to create—a world of peace through strength. And yet, Onoki had lived through too much to simply accept it without question.
"I don't know if I can support you, Naruto," Onoki said quietly, his voice heavy. "But I'll give you this: your strength and your conviction have shaken me."
Naruto smirked, the fire in his eyes unwavering. "That's all I need, Onoki. The rest will follow."
The Kages remained silent, each of them processing the weight of Naruto's words. It was a turning point, a moment where the future of the shinobi world would either be decided by the old ways or forged anew under Konoha's leadership.