After taking over the snake uncle's foundation, Sasuke came to surrender on his own initiative.

Chapter 293 Summit

In the Trade Summit Hall of the Fire Nation's "Maple Leaf City," gilded chandeliers cast a warm glow, yet the undercurrents in the air were indistinct. Representatives from Konoha, Iwagakure, Kirigakure, and Sunagakure sat on either side. Contract scrolls lay spread out on the desk, but no one began writing. Ohnoki, the Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, crushed the teacup on the table with his Dust Release chakra, leaving cracks along its rim like spiderwebs. "You want Iwagakure to give up the eastern mineral vein? Only if Konoha can demonstrate convincing sincerity."

Kirigakure's Second Mizukage, Hozuki Gengetsu, stepped on the Water Mirror, steam swirling in his palm. His gaze swept over Ototake in the corner, full of contempt: "I heard that Otogakure recently defected to Konoha? Why did they only send a small attendant? Is there no one else here?"

Laughter echoed through the hall. Ototake, dressed in a plain gray attendant's uniform, stood quietly behind Hiruzen, his hands clenched softly at his sides. He had been invited by Hiruzen to observe the summit as a "normal attendant," but he hadn't anticipated the Iwagiri and Kiryu countries would exploit the situation and humiliate Otogakure as well. Hiruzen tapped his fingers on the table, about to speak to ease the tension, when Ōnoki's Dust Release suddenly struck Ototake. A pale gray light brushed past the edge of his clothes and blasted the pillar behind him into dust.

"What? You don't dare to speak?" Ohnoki sneered, "If Konoha's followers are so cowardly, what's the point of talking about cooperation?"

Yinzhu slowly raised his head, a flash of crimson light flashing beneath his lowered eyelids. He ignored Ōnoki's provocation and simply walked to the center of the hall, bowing slightly to Hiruzen. "Third Hokage, some sincerity requires proof of strength."

These words resonated like thunder in the hall. Gui Deng Huan Yue's water mirror suddenly froze. "How dare you, a mere follower, boast about your strength?" He raised his hand and unleashed the "Water Escape? Water Prison Technique." A blue water prison enveloped Yin Zhu, attempting to trap him and make an example of him.

Yin Zhu stood there, motionless. Just as the water prison was about to reach him, the Eternal Mangekyō suddenly opened behind his eyes, and crimson pupil power spread like a tide. The water prison froze in mid-air, then shattered with a loud bang, disintegrating into a sky full of water droplets. Hozuki Gengetsu's expression suddenly changed: "Sharingan? Are you an Uchiha?"

"Uchiha Yi, Ototake, the guardian of Otogakure." Ototake's voice was calm yet oppressive. His grey attendant's uniform had been replaced by a black windbreaker, the hem rustling in the air. "The water dungeon just now was a warning to you. If you dare to humiliate Otogakure again, I won't mind making you stay in Maple Leaf City forever."

Ohnoki stood up suddenly, and Dust Release condensed into a cube in his palm: "Uchiha kid, don't be so arrogant! Not even Uchiha Madara dared to talk to me like that back then!" He raised his hand and threw Dust Release towards Yinzhu. Wherever the light gray light went, the air was distorted. It was obvious that he wanted to decide the outcome with one move.

Ototake's Mangekyo spun rapidly, and a Flying Thunder God kunai instantly appeared in his hand. "Flying Thunder God? Space-Time Instant Kill!" His figure left an afterimage, and the next second, he was behind Ōnoki, kunai pressed against his throat. The Dust Release Cube lost control, grazed Ōnoki's scalp, and blasted a large hole in the hall's dome. Sunlight streamed through the hole, falling directly onto Ototake's Mangekyo, reflecting a crimson light.

"You..." Ōnoki froze. He hadn't expected this seemingly ordinary follower to possess speed faster than Tobirama and eye power capable of suppressing a Kage-level warrior. Hozuki Gengetsu attempted to unleash his Steaming Dangerous Explosion, but was instantly locked into Ototake's illusion—the Mangekyo shimmered with the illusion of him trapped in a water prison, slowing his movements.

"Iwagakure wants cooperation on mining, Kirigakure wants trade routes, and we can all discuss these." Ototake didn't move his kunai, but his voice softened a bit. "But the prerequisite is that you respect Konoha, respect Otogakure, and respect every ninja village present." He paused, his eyes sweeping across the room. "Peace in the ninja world isn't achieved through threats and humiliation, but through strength and sincerity."

The Fourth Kazekage of Sunagakure, Rasa, was the first to applaud, and his magnetic chakra condensed into a gold sand badge in his palm: "Lord Ototake is right! Sunagakure is willing to cooperate with Konoha and Oto Village to jointly develop the mineral veins!" Representatives from other small countries also echoed, and the atmosphere in the hall instantly reversed.

Ōnoki took a deep breath and raised his hand to disperse his Dust Release. "Alright! Iwagakure agrees to cooperate, but I have one condition—at the next Ninja Summit, I want to see your full strength." Hozuki Gengetsu also put away his Water Mirror, his expression complicated. "Kirigakure also agrees to cooperate. I apologize for the offense just now."

Ototake retracted his kunai, his Mangekyō gradually receding, and his black windbreaker transformed back into his grey attendant uniform, as if the previous outburst had been an illusion. He returned to Hiruzen's side, his eyes lowered once more. But now, no one dared to mistake him for just another attendant—those Mangekyō that could suppress a Kage-level warrior, his speed surpassing that of the Flying Thunder God, were etched deeply into everyone's mind.

After the summit, Hiruzen patted Ototake on the shoulder, his eyes full of admiration: "I didn't expect you to have such a skill. If it weren't for you today, this summit would have been a mess." Ototake smiled and said: "I just don't want Otogakure to be humiliated, and I don't want Konoha to be embarrassed."

When they left Maple Leaf City, the setting sun was falling on the city wall, stretching their shadows very long.