After learning the true identity of Uchiha Shin, the last remnants of any rebellious thoughts in their hearts were completely crushed.
Even though they had never seen him in person before, the tales of Uchiha Shin's exploits were legendary throughout the shinobi world.
Many had compared him to the "God of Shinobi," Senju Hashirama, and some even dared to claim that he had surpassed him.
But regardless of those debates, one thing was certain—judging by the raw power Uchiha Shin had just displayed, wiping out the entirety of Hoshigakure would be nothing more than a minor inconvenience for him.
And judging from his demeanor, he wouldn't hesitate to do so if the mood struck him.
The Third Hoshikage, along with the other remaining higher-ups, were relieved that they had not acted rashly.
As for the deceased Akahoshi and Nighthawk, they had brought their fates upon themselves. Their deaths were nothing more than the logical conclusion of their arrogance.
"We will lead the way. Please follow us to the ancestral hall where the [Star] is stored, Lord Uchiha Shin."
The Third Hoshikage bowed deeply, his voice filled with respect.
Then, as if hesitating, he carefully added, "About what you said… about Hoshigakure joining the Land of Fire… Would that mean our village will still be allowed to exist?"
Unlike his predecessors, the Third Hoshikage was not obsessed with making Hoshigakure into the "Sixth Great Nation." He only wanted his people to live in peace, without fear of destruction.
Uchiha Shin merely gave him a slight nod.
After all, Hoshigakure was just a minor village.
It wasn't worth the effort to conquer or eradicate.
The Third Hoshikage exhaled, finally releasing the tension in his chest. Paying the [Star] in exchange for forming an alliance with this man was the best possible outcome.
He turned to one of the shinobi beside him.
"Sumire, you will escort Lord Uchiha Shin to the [Star]. I… am not in the best condition right now."
The woman he addressed, Sumire, was a renowned kunoichi of Hoshigakure.
She had long, dark violet hair and a piercing gaze that showed intelligence beyond her years. Her beauty was well-known within the village, second only to her combat prowess.
The Third Hoshikage was an observant man. He had heard rumors that Uchiha Shin had a… "particular appreciation" for beautiful women.
Even if those rumors were unconfirmed, it was still a better choice than having an elderly man lead the way.
Besides, if Sumire could make an impression on Uchiha Shin, the benefits to Hoshigakure could be immense.
"…Understood, Lord Hoshikage."
Sumire hesitated for only a moment before stepping forward.
She wasn't foolish enough to disobey, not after seeing how easily Uchiha Shin had dispatched their strongest shinobi without breaking a sweat.
Uchiha Shin, for his part, smirked at the arrangement.
"Well, I suppose I should say I'm honored to have such a lovely guide instead of an old man."
He chuckled, his crimson Sharingan spinning lazily as he motioned for Sumire to lead the way.
"Let's get going then. And don't be so nervous—I'm a reasonable person, after all."
Sumire wasn't sure whether that statement was reassuring or terrifying.
She led the way, her steps measured and controlled, but the air between them was heavy with tension.
The silence stretched between them as they made their way through the village's rocky terrain.
After several minutes of awkward quiet, Sumire finally gathered the courage to speak.
"…Lord Uchiha Shin, may I ask you something?"
"Hm? Of course. Don't be so cold—I already told you I'm quite reasonable."
His tone was teasing, and Sumire could sense the amusement behind his words.
She hesitated, then asked, "You're… Uchiha Shin. The one who single-handedly crushed an alliance of over 3,000 elite shinobi, correct?"
Her voice held a mixture of fear and admiration. After all, growing up, she had heard countless stories about Uchiha Shin—how he had slain the previous Hokage, how he had unified the Land of Fire through sheer force.
Hearing those tales and standing beside the man himself were two vastly different experiences.
Uchiha Shin chuckled at her question.
"Well, it wasn't that impressive. They weren't exactly 'elite.' A bunch of mid-tier shinobi with delusions of grandeur. They just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Sumire blinked. He spoke of it as if he had simply gone for an evening stroll and massacred them on a whim.
That was the level of power he wielded.
He continued, his voice calm.
"But yes, I was there. And yes, I crushed them."
The way he said it sent a chill down Sumire's spine. There was no arrogance in his tone, only the cold certainty of a man stating an undeniable fact.
She swallowed, trying to mask her unease. "I see…"
Uchiha Shin tilted his head slightly, his gaze flickering toward her. "You've got talent, you know. I can tell just by looking at you."
Sumire blinked in surprise. "I-I wouldn't say that. I'm strong, but nowhere near your level, Lord Uchiha Shin."
She hesitated before adding, "I've trained in the [Peacock Secret Technique] to near perfection."
At first, there was a trace of pride in her voice, but it quickly faded as she remembered the terrible side effects of the technique—side effects that Uchiha Shin had casually pointed out earlier.
She lowered her gaze. "…But even so, compared to you, I'm nothing."
Uchiha Shin didn't bother denying it. Instead, he smirked. "You're smarter than most. I like that."
Their conversation continued as they walked, with Sumire growing more and more drawn in by his words.
He spoke of the outside world, of the war-torn lands beyond Hoshigakure, of battles fought on grander scales than she could imagine.
For a girl who had spent most of her life confined to a small village, his words were mesmerizing. She hung onto every story, every detail, absorbing it like a sponge.
And then, finally, they arrived.
Before them lay a massive crater—the place where the [Star] had fallen. In the center stood an ancient ancestral hall, the resting place of the meteorite that granted Hoshigakure its power.
Sumire paused, her breath hitching.
A deep unease settled over her as memories flooded her mind.
She had once been proud to train here. But now, after hearing the truth from Uchiha Shin, she saw it for what it truly was—a death sentence.
Her body trembled as she turned to him.
"Lord Uchiha Shin… How bad is it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "The side effects of using the [Star]… How much time do I have left?"
For the first time, there was genuine fear in her eyes.
Uchiha Shin observed her for a moment before placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Not too bad," he said lightly. "You've got, oh… maybe another twenty-four years, if you don't push yourself."
Sumire's face went pale.
Only twenty-four more years?
"Ah, don't look so crushed," he teased. "You're in luck. Konoha has a special medical team, and I happen to be quite the expert in medical ninjutsu myself."
His smirk widened. "If you listen to me, I might just be able to fix you up."
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