Chapter 299: A Tale of Two Futures
A few days later.
The large logistics battalion, dispatched by Konoha to oversee the merger, arrived at Kirigakure (Village Hidden by Mist).
Leading the battalion was a capable, stern-faced Konoha Jōnin, chosen for his efficiency and neutrality.
"Lady Mei Terumī," the Jōnin addressed the new Mizukage, his tone respectful but professional. "By Lord Hokage's order, I have come to assist Kirigakure with the immediate relocation matters."
"We are here to fully cooperate with the allocation of all remaining supplies and the movement of personnel."
Mei Terumī looked at the Jōnin—his attitude neither humble nor overbearing—and the disciplined, well-equipped team behind him, and once again felt a surge of respect and resignation.
This was the Konoha of today: Powerful, organized, and utterly confident in its dominance.
Mei Terumī nodded slightly. "Thank you for your trouble, Jōnin-dono."
"I have already prepared the initial relocation plan. The first batch, consisting of roughly one thousand villagers and essential ninja, will serve as a vanguard to enter Konoha first."
The order was quickly passed down through the ranks of the Mist ninja.
The entire Kirigakure was enveloped in a peculiar, complex atmosphere. There was sadness at leaving their mist-shrouded homeland, but also anticipation, fear, and profound unease about the unknown future under the Uchiha regime.
Several more agonizing days passed in travel.
At the massive, imposing entrance of Konoha Village (Village Hidden by the Leaves), the huge wooden gates stood wide open, a grand, inviting sight under the morning sun.
Tsunade, wearing formal, clean robes, personally led a group of Konoha's highest-ranking officials and clan heads. They stood in a receiving line, waiting formally at the gates.
In the distance, a large, slow-moving convoy appeared on the horizon, raising plumes of dust.
It was the first batch of Hidden Mist Ninja and villagers, finally arriving in the Land of Fire.
At the very front of the procession were Mei Terumī, now composed and regal in her new role, and Ao, looking tense and watchful.
"Welcome to Konoha, Lady Mizukage."
Tsunade stepped forward, offering a formal yet warm smile—the public face of Konoha's compassionate integration program.
"Lord Hokage is currently attending to vital strategic matters, so I, as the Sannin and his appointed representative, will be receiving everyone."
Mei Terumī looked at the legendary Sannin before her, returning the polite, wary smile. "Lady Tsunade, I have long heard of your renown. I thank you for your generosity."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Tsunade's gaze fell upon Ao, particularly lingering for a moment on his right eye, which was covered by a sealed eye patch.
"This must be Lord Ao," Tsunade said, her voice clear and formal. "Lord Hokage has already explained the circumstances regarding the Byakugan (白眼, White Eye)."
"Be assured: Konoha will not pursue the matter."
Ao's heart instantly tightened, and he quickly bowed low, recognizing the immense political favor he was being granted.
"Thank you for Lord Hokage's magnanimity."
In the crowd of Konoha officials, a chillingly cold gaze fixed intently on Ao.
The head of the Hyūga Clan, Hyūga Hiashi, stood among the people.
Although he made no move, the slightly bulging, visible veins on his forehead betrayed the raw killing intent burning in his heart.
[The Byakugan! The unique Dōjutsu of the Main Family, stolen by an outsider, a Mist Ninja, and brazenly transplanted onto his body!]
To Hiashi, this was the greatest insult to the Hyūga Clan's honor and sacred bloodline purity.
Hyūga Hiashi almost lost control, his muscle memory screaming at him to act on the spot, to cripple this damned Mist Ninja and reclaim the eye that belonged to the Hyūga!
Ao's body instantly tensed!
As a battle-hardened sensory Ninja, he clearly felt the undisguised, chilling killing intent radiating from the Hyūga Clan leader.
But then.
In Hyūga Hiashi's mind, Uchiha Akira's cold, final instructions from days ago flashed, overriding instinct.
"The Hyūga Clan must be used by me, to serve Konoha's great cause. All past grievances are insignificant before my will."
Hyūga Hiashi's clenched fist slowly, agonizingly relaxed.
[For Lord Hokage's great cause...]
[For the future survival and prosperity of the Hyūga Clan...]
Hyūga Hiashi took a deep, shuddering breath, forcibly suppressed the killing intent in his heart, and coldly averted his gaze from Ao.
[This eye, for now... will be temporarily entrusted to you, Mist Ninja.]
Feeling the suffocating killing intent recede like a tide, Ao's tense nerves finally relaxed slightly, but his back was already drenched in cold sweat. He had survived the first confrontation.
Tsunade took it all in—the silent struggle between the two great Dōjutsu clans—but said nothing, only giving Hyūga Hiashi a deep, acknowledging look.
She waved her hand, signaling the guides.
"Alright. You must be tired from your journey. I'll have our teams take everyone to get settled."
Under the disciplined guidance of Konoha Ninja, the people of Hidden Mist, their hearts a turbulent mix of hope and profound unease, passed through the main, bustling streets.
The streets were full of people, a scene of prosperity, activity, and wealth far more obvious than the constantly war-torn Kirigakure.
This left many Mist villagers and ninja dazzled, and the unease in their hearts about the future lessened slightly.
However, the group did not go directly to the planned residential area.
The Konoha Ninja led them around a large bend, towards a massive, dusty area on the outskirts of the Village.
Before they even got close, a colossal cloud of dust and a clamor of noise—the rhythmic clanging of hammers, the shouting of overseers, the sound of stone being cut—rushed towards them.
It was a massive construction site. The scale was immense, stretching into the distance.
Countless figures were busy on the site, engaged in backbreaking, heavy physical labor.
"Look, over there..."
A sharp-eyed Hidden Mist Ninja pointed nervously in the direction of the construction site, whispering urgently to his companion.
Everyone followed his gaze, their blood turning to ice.
They saw that the laborers on the construction site all had numb, defeated expressions and performed their strenuous movements mechanically, under the strict supervision of Konoha guards.
And on the foreheads of these laborers, they wore unified, distinguishing headbands.
On the headbands was the deeply scratched, universally recognized symbol of Sunagakure!
"It's... it's Sunagakure prisoners!"
A collective gasp of shock and profound fear sounded from the Hidden Mist crowd.
"I heard that over two thousand Sunagakure Ninja were captured and made to work as forced laborers, day and night, building his super city..."
A Hidden Mist Ninja looked at the disheveled, sweat-soaked Sunagakure prisoners—their recent allies, now reduced to slaves—then thought of his own impending fate. He couldn't help but swallow, his throat dry.
[Is this the fate of the defeated? Is this what we have been spared for?]
The hearts of all Hidden Mist Ninja sank to the bottom.
[How would Konoha... how would Akira... treat us?]
Even Mei Terumī's composed expression became somewhat solemn. Although she believed Uchiha Akira's promise, seeing such a stark reality with her own eyes—the brutal reality of annexation—a ripple of cold unease inevitably arose in her heart.
Just as all the Hidden Mist Ninja were trembling with fear, convinced they were about to follow in Sunagakure's footsteps and be put to work as slaves...
The leading Konoha Ninja abruptly guided the column past the construction site.
They walked quickly through the vast, noisy work zone, continuing towards a new, untouched residential area on the far side of the Village.
The Konoha guide spoke loudly, his voice cutting through the noise of the construction, delivering the final, definitive message.
"Everyone, please follow me."
"Lord Hokage has ordered."
"From today onwards, all of you will be Konoha's 'Kirigakure Division'."
"Konoha will be your new home. You are to be treated and trained as Konoha Shinobi, members of the ruling military structure."
Kirigakure Division?
Not prisoners? Not laborers?
But... a division of Konoha's military? A privileged part of the ruling power?
All the Hidden Mist Ninja trembled, but this time, it was from a sudden, dizzying sense of relief and an overwhelming flood of gratitude!
They subconsciously turned back, looking once more at the dusty, brutal construction site where the Sunagakure prisoners toiled.
A realization, uncontrollable and profound, surged wildly in everyone's mind.
[Laborers... and the Kirigakure Division...]
[One is a prisoner of war, the enemy. The other is a political conquest, integrated as an essential, high-status branch.]
The difference in treatment was like heaven and earth! Annihilation versus survival! Slavery versus integration!
An indescribable sense of relief, gratitude, and ecstatic loyalty instantly washed away all their previous unease and fear!
"Lord Mizukage's decision... was truly wise! She saved us!"
"We... we got an incredible deal! We survived! We are safe, and we retain our status!"
[Inorin's Note:
Enjoying the story? Dropping a quick review, comment, or Power Stone means the world to me and keeps these daily updates flowing!
Want to read 50 chapters ahead or just want to help keep a shameless translator alive? (My livelihood actually depends on this, haha 😭). You can support me directly here:
(P.S. Just remove the brackets and replace the [.] with a regular dot . to use the links!)
✨ Patreon (50 Advanced Chapters): patreon[.]com/InorinTL
☕ Ko-fi (Support / Sponsor): ko-fi[.]com/InorinTL
Thank you so much for reading and keeping this project alive!]