Some time later, when Shinji learned what had happened, he realized he had still underestimated the Underground Exchange's boldness and capability.
But that was a matter for the future; for now, let's leave it aside.
At this moment, Shinji and his party had arrived in the Land of Fangs. Once they crossed through this country, they would reach the Land of Claws.
It was also right around this area that one of his Cursed Treasure Maps marked a location.
So instead of hurrying onward, Shinji decided to dig up the treasure before moving on.
Perhaps because their armies had been losing battle after battle at the front lines, Shinji's group was subjected to very strict inspection upon entering the Land of Fangs.
If Sasuke hadn't quickly used his Sharingan to hypnotize the guards, Hidan — with his explosive temper — would have likely started slaughtering everyone already.
After entering the country, a heavy atmosphere of tension and sorrow hung everywhere.
Men were rarely seen. Most people working the fields and farming were women — a strange sight indeed.
Shinji asked casually when buying some sweet water, and learned the reason.
Years of constant warfare had nearly wiped out all the young and strong men. The few remaining had all been forcibly conscripted into the army.
All that was left were women, the elderly, and children.
To survive, the women naturally had to step up and take on the work.
The woman selling the water seemed happy to talk, though her face was filled with sorrow — clearly she too had her share of painful stories.
Shinji didn't probe deeper; he was just a passer‑by and couldn't change anything here.
Would the situation improve if he simply killed those in power and installed someone new?
Never!
As long as the deep conflict between the Land of Claws and the Land of Fangs remained unresolved, war would never end — not until one side was completely destroyed.
And judging by the current situation, the Land of Fangs was likely to be the first to fall.
Their male population was nearly gone — were they really going to send their women off to fight too?
Originally, the Land of Claws had been in a similar state. But somehow they had found outside support. Relying on a horde of monsters, they had won several decisive battles.
As one side grew stronger and the other weaker, the Land of Fangs was now in grave danger.
You ask about the ninja villages?
It was true that both nations once had small ninja villages of their own. But those had been exhausted and destroyed long ago during decades of fighting, becoming nothing but history.
Having gathered plenty of useful information from the woman, Shinji paid her well and left.
He was now even more curious about exactly what the Land of Claws was relying on to gain such an advantage.
Following the directions marked on the map, Shinji led his group through winding paths until they arrived at a place.
Emblazoned above the gate, the words "The Lord's Palace" shone brightly.
Even though nearly every man in the country had been sent to die in battle, the palace itself remained grand and imposing.
Trying to keep up appearances even in defeat? Shinji wondered.
"Who goes there?!"
"Move along! No loitering!"
He had only paused to look for a moment when two fierce guards at the gate stepped forward to drive them away.
Shinji smiled faintly, said nothing, and led his group away — stopping Hidan mid‑motion as he was about to draw his weapon.
He was now certain that one of the treasure sites marked on the map was located right inside that compound.
But there was no rush. He could just come back later tonight to dig it up.
They found an inn and rested until night fell.
---
Night arrived.
The Lord's Palace remained brightly lit, with lamps burning everywhere.
Numerous generals and officials were gathered, waiting anxiously for the Lord to make his decision.
Inside the main hall, a burly, energetic middle‑aged man sat deep in thought, wrestling with his choice.
It was clear he had once been handsome in his youth, but now his face was lined with wrinkles, showing a lifetime of hardship.
The only thing that remained unchanged was his pair of sharp, bright eyes.
This was Ishikura Yoshiakira, Lord of the Land of Fangs.
Just three days ago, his army had suffered yet another crushing defeat.
Along with the fleeing soldiers came an ultimatum from the Land of Claws.
The letter demanded that he surrender unconditionally within three days and submit forever to their rule. If he refused, their main army would march to the capital.
Upon breaking through the defenses, they would slaughter every single person in the Land of Fangs as retribution.
Should I surrender for the sake of sparing my people?
Or should I fight to the death for our honor?
For the past two days, his generals and officials had been bitterly divided and arguing fiercely over these two options.
Even those who advocated surrender were not all cowards afraid to die. They simply saw no hope of victory whatsoever.
Since defeat was inevitable, why force the entire population to die alongside us? — that was their argument.
As for the war party, they were made of sterner stuff: Better to break than to bend.
We're going to die anyway, so why not die fighting? And who knows — we might just win!
Even though they knew the odds were slim, surrendering without even trying was simply unacceptable to them.
The two sides hurled insults at each other constantly.
The surrender party called them muscle‑brained, stubborn brutes — rushing blindly into impossible battles not out of bravery, but out of foolishness.
The war party called the others cowards and weaklings, ashamed to even be associated with them.
Neither side could convince the other.
Rumors had also begun spreading secretly, threatening to break the army's and people's morale.
Fortunately, Ishikura Yoshiakira was a decisive and ruthless ruler. He had immediately executed many of those spreading rumors, bringing the situation under control.
But tomorrow was the deadline. Scouts had already returned with reports: the Land of Claws' army had already begun marching.
In the past, even when outnumbered, Ishikura Yoshiakira would have dared to fight them.
But now, those terrifying, fearless monsters were the deciding factor in this war.
Unless he found a way to deal with them, any battle would just end in defeat.
"Do I really have to surrender?"
Ishikura closed his eyes in pain. On the table before him lay two blades — one long, one short.
He had already prepared himself for the worst outcome.
If surrender was the only choice, he would take his own life right there — an explanation and apology both to the enemy and to his own people.
Yet he did not regret the decisions he had made in the past.
He remembered clearly: that mysterious figure had come to him first.
But when the stranger demanded living human sacrifices to create monster soldiers, Ishikura had refused him sternly.
Only later, when those monsters appeared among the Land of Claws' ranks, did he realize what had happened.
After being rejected, the stranger had not given up — he had simply gone on to persuade the Lord of the Land of Claws instead.
In other words… every single one of those monsters was created using human lives offered in sacrifice.
The real reason he hesitated so long was not fear of death — but uncertainty. If he died, would his people be taken by the enemy and slaughtered as sacrifices too?
If that happened, history would remember him as the greatest traitor and criminal in the Land of Fangs' history.
And right at this moment… a figure appeared silently inside the room.
____________________
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