KOW Chapter 20 Shameless

"Of course, please follow me." The cat-masked Shinobi spoke quickly before leading the way.

He couldn't help but glance again at the hundred soldiers sitting cross-legged on the ground. Their discipline and mental fortitude left a lasting impression.

Unlike the stealth and assassination-oriented demeanor of Shinobi, these soldiers exuded an overwhelming presence, one that could stir the very soul.

Qin Yi and his party soon arrived in front of the Hokage's office.

Though he was about to meet the legendary "God of Shinobi," Senju Hashirama, Qin Yi felt no great emotional fluctuations in his heart.

Instead, his mind was occupied with calculating the Hokage's intentions and the potential benefits he could secure for the Nation of Qin.

Perhaps it was his position as king that shaped his perspective. Qin Yi had imagined he would feel excitement or reverence, but now, standing here, he realized such thoughts had been mere fantasies.

"Creeaak!"

The doors of the Hokage's office opened. The cat-masked Shinobi gestured for them to enter and then disappeared without a trace.

Adjusting his expression, Qin Yi stepped inside. Gandalf, towering as he was, bent low to avoid hitting the ceiling. Qin Lin and General Yang Yi followed behind him.

"Welcome to Konoha! I'm Senju Hashirama, the Hokage of this village." As soon as they entered, Senju Hashirama's hearty laughter greeted them.

Qin Yi glanced at him. Just as depicted in the anime, Hashirama radiated warmth and kindness, a Shinobi whose presence was as bright and uplifting as the sun.

"Greetings, Hokage of Konoha. I am Qin Yi, King of the Nation of Qin."

Seeing the confusion on Hashirama's face, Qin Yi smiled and clarified.

"In your terms, you might refer to me as a Daimyo."

Understanding dawned on Hashirama as he nodded and scanned the group. When his gaze landed on Gandalf's towering figure, he chuckled.

"Elder, you should take a seat first. This room might be a bit small for you. Hahaha!"

His laughter echoed once more, leaving Qin Lin and Yang Yi with strange expressions.

They hadn't expected that the leader of the most powerful military nation in this world – famed for its might – would be such a seemingly carefree and jovial person.

"I'm very curious about your identity. Tobirama mentioned that you appeared suddenly in the Konoha Forest while we were battling the Sand Shinobi."

Hashirama's laughter subsided, and he sat down, his tone becoming more serious as he asked the question.

Qin Yi's expression grew solemn as well. "Since you ask about our identity, Hokage Sama, I would like to ask you a question first."

"Oh?"

"Do you believe in the existence of Otherworlds?"

Gandalf and the generals were visibly shocked. They hadn't expected Qin Yi to reveal the truth so openly.

"Otherworlds?"

Hashirama's face showed a hint of surprise, which soon turned to solemnity as he nodded.

"I do. There are legends that the origins of Shinobi power in our world stem from an Otherworld. But you?"

"We come from a desolate world, one on the brink of destruction. With no other choice, we wandered until we arrived here."

Qin Yi shook his head as he spoke, his face filled with sorrow.

"So you hail from an Otherworld. That explains much." Hashirama nodded in understanding before saying. "I deeply sympathize with your nation's plight."

"When we first arrived in this world, we endured many hardships. The deaths of our compatriots brought us immense pain, and now we face the dire issue of dwindling supplies." Qin Yi spoke with a pained expression.

He understood that Senju Hashirama, unlike Uchiha Madara, was someone who sought to bring love and peace to the world. His ideals centered on ending war through compassion. If Qin Yi presented their struggles, there was a high likelihood that Hashirama would offer assistance.

"I hope to receive Hokage Sama's assistance."

Senju Hashirama was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected such a direct request for help.

"Of course, in the future, we will repay your assistance generously. Whatever support you provide this time, we will return it twofold," Qin Yi added with a resolute tone.

Hashirama remained silent. Although he wielded significant authority within Konoha, supporting another faction was not a decision he could make alone. Moreover, from Tobirama's earlier words, it was clear that his brother preferred to integrate such forces into Konoha to strengthen the village.

"Actually, I was hoping to invite you to join Konoha," Hashirama said, scratching his head.

"That's impossible!"

Before Qin Yi could respond, Qin Lin and Yang Yi shouted in unison.

Seeing Hashirama's head droop in disappointment, looking utterly dejected, Qin Yi couldn't help but think, "He's exactly the same as depicted in the original series!"

A slight smile curved Qin Yi's lips as he continued, "Hokage Sama, we approached this meeting with great sincerity and high expectations."

"We hope to form an alliance with Konoha. While our current strength may seem insignificant, having one more ally will bring no harm to your village."

At this mention, Hashirama began to ponder seriously.

"In times of war, our nation will stand alongside Konoha, but your village will not be obligated to abide by this agreement."

The room fell silent, and everyone present was stunned by Qin Yi's words.

This declaration carried immense significance. It meant that if Konoha went to war, the Nation of Qin would assist them. However, if Qin's Nation faced aggression, Konoha would not be required to intervene.

Hashirama was taken aback. His brother Tobirama had mentioned that if they couldn't convince them to join Konoha, forming an alliance was the next best outcome.

The combat strength of Qin Yi's six thousand soldiers might not mean much to Konoha, but what intrigued them was the young man claiming to be a Daimyo and the towering elder accompanying him.

"An alliance? I agree!"

"As for supplies," Hashirama added, looking troubled.

In Konoha's early days, resources were scarce. Most of their supplies came from the Nation of Fire.

"We only hope for support in the form of food and seeds. We will repay it double in the future!" Qin Yi quickly interjected.

After a month in this world, his army was nearly out of supplies. Their current priority was to secure provisions. Even after settling in the Land of Waves, acquiring such resources would not be easy. With Konoha's help, they could stabilize their early development without logistical concerns.

"I will need to discuss this with others. As Hokage, I cannot decide this alone," Hashirama said apologetically.

"We understand. Your willingness to consider this is already more than we could ask for," Qin Yi replied with a smile.

"I'm truly sorry."

Hashirama's gentle and kind nature left a deep impression on Qin Yi. After this initial meeting, Qin Yi respected him even more.

The brief discussion also softened Gandalf and the generals' views of Konoha's Hokage. Even the resentment they once harbored seemed to diminish slightly.

Without a doubt, Senju Hashirama was a leader of remarkable charisma.

(End of Chapter)

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