From the resolute tone in Jircniv's voice, Hanzo of the Salamander understood clearly—this was the Empire's final bottom line.
But it was a bottom line the Hidden Rain Village could never accept.
"No!"
Hanzo rejected it immediately.
If he agreed to such conditions, forget Konoha—even Uchiha Baru, who was watching from the side, would smash his head open on the spot.
"The Empire must disarm all military forces and await judgment from the Supreme Leader. That is your only choice!"
Jircniv's brows furrowed deeply.
Hanzo's merciless declaration ignited his anger.
Countless calculations and concerns flashed through his mind. In the end, under the gaze of Uchiha Baru, Jircniv spoke in a low voice.
"The Empire will not fall so easily."
"So the negotiations have collapsed."
Before Hanzo could speak, Uchiha Baru calmly cut in.
"Lord Jircniv, are you truly determined to drag the entire Empire down into destruction with you?"
"If we accept your conditions, the Empire will cease to exist anyway!"
"Heh."
Baru chuckled softly.
"If you accept, you may still live."
"If you refuse, there is only death."
"In the coming war, I will personally take the field."
"I suggest you consider your decision carefully."
His indifferent words drifted across the table.
The imperial officials immediately changed expressions.
Only Lenas, the Demon Spear, who had returned to the Empire for the sake of high official salary, stood silently with uncertain thoughts.
Meanwhile, Fluder's teleportation magic was already prepared.
Jircniv looked at Baru and said in a steady voice:
"I believe the Supreme Leader desires a prosperous imperial territory…"
"…not a land of ruins."
"That's true."
Baru nodded.
Then he added with clear disdain:
"Unfortunately, you are incapable of achieving that."
"You won't know unless you try."
"If you insist on courting death, then so be it."
The moment those words fell, Baru rose from his seat.
At the same instant, Fluder activated teleportation magic.
The magic circle flared with light.
Jircniv vanished instantly.
Left behind, Lenas tightened her grip on her spear, while the remaining imperial officials turned pale with despair.
"Leave them alive."
"Let them witness the Empire's final sunset."
Baru raised a hand, stopping Hanzo and the others who were already brimming with killing intent.
Then he left with them.
Lenas did not even glance at the officials left behind.
She simply began walking eastward across the continent.
The Empire was a sinking ship.
Her spear had already been stained with the blood of many ninja.
She intended to try her luck in the eastern nations instead.
With Morning Star–level strength, Lenas possessed more than enough confidence.
After all—
Most people in this world were merely ordinary mortals.
The news that negotiations between the Bahuth Empire and the Hidden Rain Village had collapsed—and that the Southeastern Ninja Army would personally enter the battlefield—soon reached Uchiha Soren.
At this moment, the Royal Court Ninja Army was already assembled and ready.
At the front of the formation stood three majestic Tailed Beasts:
The Nine-Tails
The Seven-Tails
and the Five-Tails, recently released from the Konoha Science Division.
"Allow the Southeastern Ninja Army to act at their own discretion."
With that simple order, Soren casually determined the Empire's fate.
Then he followed behind the advancing ninja army.
Now possessing Radiant Moon–level power, Uchiha Soren no longer needed to act cautiously.
Even a Solar-level enemy above level 100 would find it extremely difficult to kill him—so long as they did not wield a World-Class Item.
The army marched.
Frost Dragons soared through the sky.
Tailed Beasts shook the earth with every step.
Five hundred elite ninja—each at least Jonin level—advanced forward.
They represented nearly sixty percent of the entire Ninja World's core combat power.
Their target—
The Great Tomb.
For them, a distance of more than ten kilometers was nothing.
They crossed it in moments.
Through a magical mirror, Ainz Ooal Gown (Momonga) had already observed the approach of the Royal Court Ninja Army.
Inside the Throne Room of the Tenth Floor, his crimson gaze fell upon the serious figure standing before him.
"Albedo."
"The command of the frontline battle will be entrusted to you."
"I will not disappoint you, Lord Ainz."
For once, Albedo's eyes held no trace of her usual affection.
Only absolute seriousness.
Her cold voice echoed through the hall.
"All enemies who dare invade the sacred domain created by the Supreme Beings…"
"…shall become nourishment for the Great Tomb."
After respectfully bowing, the pure-white succubus left the Tenth Floor—the final defensive line of the Great Tomb of Nazarick.
"Sebas. And the Pleiades."
"Yes, Lord Ainz."
Ainz looked toward the dragonkin butler Sebas Tian and the battle maid squad standing beside him.
With a wave of his sleeve, he spoke with the dignity of a ruler.
"You will proceed to the First through Third Floors."
"Assist the Floor Guardian Shalltear."
"Your priority is survival."
"Within that condition, eliminate as many enemy elites as possible."
"Yes!"
With Sebas and the Pleiades departing, the vast throne room became eerily silent.
Above the pillars hung forty-one guild banners, representing the members of Ainz Ooal Gown.
Under the glow of the chandeliers, every thread was clearly visible.
"Everyone…"
"I will protect the guild."
Ainz stared at the banners.
For a moment, it felt as though the gazes of his old comrades were watching him.
Powerful emotions surged within his chest.
But then—
The familiar green glow of emotional suppression appeared.
His emotions instantly returned to calm.
The projection screen continued displaying the battlefield.
All preparations were complete.
Ainz sat upon the Throne of Kings, ready to activate its power at any moment and strengthen every member of the Great Tomb.
"Prepare the Tailed Beast Bombs!"
Under the feverish gaze of countless Uchiha, a gigantic orange-red Susanoo rose into the sky.
Standing atop the crystalline core in the Susanoo's head was Uchiha Hikaru.
She drew the War God Blade from her waist.
The wind generated by the blade's movement scattered clouds across the sky.
The enormous chakra blade absorbed light and heat.
Looking at it felt like staring into endless cold.
Hikaru raised the hundred-meter-long War God Blade—
And slashed toward the barrier surrounding the Great Tomb.
At the same time, the three Tailed Beasts released the Tailed Beast Bombs they had prepared.
The attacks shot toward the tomb like meteors.
In an instant—
The explosion of light was brighter than the sun itself.
Violent waves of energy tore apart the surrounding ground.
Amid the rising smoke and dust, the barrier of the Great Tomb shimmered with flowing magical energy.
"This is a worthy opponent!"
Hikaru laughed with excitement.
The fact that their initial attack failed to break the barrier was completely expected.
After all—
Any force capable of killing Uchiha Soren could never be destroyed so easily.
"Continue!"
The War God Susanoo stood tall with its blade.
Beside it, the Tailed Beasts—led by the Nine-Tails—fired Tailed Beast Bombs one after another.
The earth trembled violently.
The Great Tomb's barrier began to shake.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Soren's main body returned to the Supreme Leader Building with Kaori and Uchiha Zhilli.
While observing the battle, he remained alert.
Watching the sky beyond the world.
Because he knew—
The Sage of Six Paths brothers…
and the mysterious Dragon Emperor…
were almost certainly watching from the shadows.
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