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As Hiruzen Sarutobi signed his name stroke by stroke, his aura grew increasingly withered. By the final stroke, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the esteemed Third Hokage, was nearly slumped over the table, his figure stooped.
Ever since signing his name, it felt as though an invisible mountain was crushing him, ensuring he could never rise again!
Seeing his name now on the treaty agreement, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes were sunken and dim. He let out a sigh, pushed the treaty towards Uchiha Madara, and didn't intend to look at it again.
Uchiha Madara shook his head, his tone utterly matter-of-fact:
"Hiruzen Sarutobi, I just said, it's not enough for only you to sign. These next few individuals who are qualified to represent Konoha must also sign!"
Tsunade couldn't restrain herself any longer and roared at Madara:
"Uchiha Madara! Don't push us too far!"
"No, no, no… how could this be pushing you too far? Didn't we just agree on this?"
A moment of stunned silence…
Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent, his entire being seemingly enveloped in shadow. Wordlessly, he stood up, leaving the empty chair, leaving the space for the signature.
The aged Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly turned, looking at the four remaining individuals with those dim eyes. What kind of gaze was this? It was a gaze where sorrow surpassed even the death of the heart!
Instantly, the four were startled by Hiruzen's look and simultaneously turned towards Uchiha Madara seated opposite them.
Uchiha Madara pushed the treaty back towards them. Looking at the four, he pointed at the agreement and uttered only one word:
"Sign!"
No room for resistance, no room for doubt, no room for defiance.
The four looked at each other again for a moment. No one moved.
After roughly another minute passed, it was Orochimaru, the one with the deepest thoughts and highest level of awareness, who finally stirred.
Turning to glance at the others, Orochimaru spoke in his hoarse voice:
"No one's signing? Since it's like this, then I suppose I'll have to go first…"
Jiraiya grew anxious, taking a step forward, unable to stop himself from trying to dissuade his comrade:
"Orochimaru!"
Orochimaru turned his head, looked at Jiraiya, and said in that raspy, sinister voice:
"Jiraiya, this isn't a problem that can be avoided. We failed, and we need to pay the price. That's how it is!"
Orochimaru's words were calm, so calm that Jiraiya was left speechless.
Glancing once more at Jiraiya, Orochimaru slowly turned, walked to the opposite side of Uchiha Madara's table, but didn't take the offered seat. Standing thus, he picked up the pen and calmly signed his name on the treaty.
Watching Orochimaru sign his name and put down the pen, a flicker of appreciation showed in Uchiha Madara's eyes. However, only Orochimaru, being closest to Madara, could sense this subtle praise.
Their eyes met, and for less than half a second, they held each other's gaze. Within that gaze, they exchanged a brief, subtle conversation through eye contact:
[Madara: Impressive resolve. Interested in working under me?]
[Orochimaru: Flattered, but I think I'll pass!]
[Madara: Is that so? A pity, but I still think highly of you. I'll reserve a spot for you in Otogakure!]
Their exchange of glances was instantaneous; no one else noticed. Having signed, Orochimaru simply went back.
The atmosphere grew heavy again. After about four or five seconds, Jiraiya clenched his teeth and looked straight at Uchiha Madara, unwilling defiance in his eyes. He walked over, picked up the pen, and signed his name, his aura still proud and unyielding.
Uchiha Madara had the most disdain for this kind of hot-blooded fool. After Jiraiya finished signing, Madara waved him away dismissively as if shooing a fly. Jiraiya left, sulking.
Taking a deep breath, Tsunade, the princess of the Senju clan, also stepped forward, signing while standing. She lacked Hiruzen's dilapidated weariness, Jiraiya's indignant fury, and Orochimaru's calm acceptance. However, watching her sign with such force that the pen nearly tore through the paper revealed the profound turmoil within her heart.
Having signed, Tsunade returned. Now, only Sakumo Hatake, with his severed arm, remained.
Everyone's gaze focused on Sakumo Hatake, but…
Sakumo Hatake clutched his severed arm, his face grim, standing there rigidly, motionless.
Suddenly, it seemed to the onlookers that they weren't looking at a person, but at a White Fang blade – broken at the tip, yet still unbent!
A wave of admiration rose from their hearts, but after the admiration came worry. They couldn't help but look towards the demon seated there, Uchiha Madara.
Would Sakumo Hatake's silent resistance anger the just-pacified Uchiha Madara? If Uchiha Madara became enraged again, what would they do!?
Unexpectedly, when the crowd looked at Madara, they saw no trace of anger on his face. He was still just as calm, as if nothing of consequence had happened.
Uchiha Madara asked Sakumo Hatake with an inscrutable expression:
773 "You really won't sign?"
Sakumo Hatake stood there, his gaze cold, not even looking at Uchiha Madara, remaining resolutely silent.
The others grew even more anxious, afraid the newly stabilized situation would worsen again.
However, Uchiha Madara didn't fly into a rage when faced with this silent defiance. He gathered the treaty agreement before him, put away the pen, looking completely unconcerned:
"It doesn't matter. One less of you makes no difference, one more is insignificant. Since you won't sign, then let Danzo sign this last name. At least he's a Konoha Elder, the leader of ANBU."
Standing up, Uchiha Madara took the treaty and pen, turned to leave, and walked towards the trembling Danzo nearby.
The Konoha shinobi were stunned into momentary silence… He was so unreasonable just moments ago, and now he's letting Sakumo Hatake off so easily?
Little did they know, the departing Uchiha Madara was contemplating Sakumo Hatake. White Fang's blade: rather break than bend, rather shatter than remain whole, rather die than submit. Within Konoha, Sakumo Hatake was one of the few Madara somewhat approved of. It was just that even the finest blade, left in a rotten environment for too long, would inevitably rust and corrode…