Chapter 108: The Slow Conquest

A War Without Bloodshed

The world had expected war.

Instead, it got submission.

Not with swords.

Not with destruction.

But with slow, creeping control.

Kumogakure had fallen.

Not as a burning ruin. Not as a battlefield of corpses.

It had surrendered.

And now, Konoha was reshaping it from within.

By the time they realized what was happening—it would already be too late.

A Village Under New Rule

The Raikage's tower still stood tall against the stormy skies.

To an outsider, nothing had changed. The shinobi still patrolled, the markets still bustled, and the Raikage's banner still flew.

But beneath the surface—everything was different.

Konoha's presence was everywhere.

• Konoha medics walked the hospitals, healing Kumogakure's wounded.

• Konoha ANBU patrolled the streets, watching, listening.

• Konoha mission overseers reviewed every deployment.

Kumogakure had not been invaded.

It had been consumed.

And the worst part? The people were beginning to accept it.

Some welcomed the change.

Some resented it.

And some—plotted in the shadows.

The Resistance Meets

Deep in the mountains, beneath an abandoned temple, the last remnants of Kumogakure's resistance gathered.

The room was dim, the only light coming from flickering torches along the stone walls.

At the center stood a group of battle-worn shinobi, their faces grim, their voices hushed.

"What do we do?" one of them muttered.

Silence.

Then, a younger shinobi slammed his fist on the wooden table. "We kill them."

Some murmured in agreement.

Others hesitated.

"No," another voice cut through the whispers. An older shinobi, his eyes sharp with years of experience. "That won't work."

The younger man scowled. "Why not? If we take out their leaders, Konoha loses its grip."

The older shinobi exhaled. "And then what?"

The room stilled.

"If we kill Orochimaru, Danzo, even the Hokage himself—Konoha will retaliate. And not just against us." His voice darkened. "They will erase Kumogakure from existence."

Silence.

A woman, her arms crossed, spoke next. "Then what? Do we just sit here while they turn us into their puppets?"

The older shinobi shook his head. "We plan. We wait. We watch for a weakness."

A younger kunoichi clenched her fists. "And if we don't find one?"

The older man's eyes flickered with something unreadable.

"Then we make one."

The First Steps of Integration

While the resistance plotted, Konoha continued its slow conquest.

It did not happen all at once.

It was subtle.

A whisper rather than a declaration.

A chain rather than a sword.

At first, the changes were small.

1. Economic Integration

• Konoha flooded Kumogakure with resources. New medical supplies. Improved weapons. Better food imports.

• But in exchange? Kumogakure's economy became dependent.

• The Lightning Daimyo, once independent, now relied on Konoha's infrastructure.

2. Military Merging

• Kumo's elite forces were slowly absorbed into Konoha's command.

• Missions once given to Kumo's ANBU were now reviewed and approved by Konoha.

• New joint-training programs ensured that soon—Kumo's best and brightest would fight not for their village—but for Konoha's empire.

3. Cultural Shift

• Konoha's presence in Kumo became normal.

• The once foreign shinobi patrolling the streets were now a common sight.

• Academy students in Kumogakure were taught alongside Konoha's methods.

• Over time, the young would forget the divide between Kumo and Konoha.

And when a people forget who they were—

They no longer fight for what was lost.

The Raikage's Silence

The Raikage had not spoken once.

Not when they discussed the economic changes.

Not when they dismantled his military.

Not when they rewrote the very culture of his village.

He just… sat there.

Still. Silent.

Until everything was settled.

Until the documents were signed.

Until his village was no longer his.

Then—he stood.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

And without a word—he walked away.

He did not look back.

Because he knew—

Kumogakure no longer existed.

At least, not as it once did.

The World Holds Its Breath

Even as Konoha consumed Kumogakure, they ensured that to the outside world—nothing had changed.

Kumo still stood.

The Raikage still held his title.

The world saw partnership, not conquest.

And because of that, the other villages hesitated.

• Iwagakure did not attack. Because Kumogakure still looked strong on the surface.

• Sunagakure remained neutral. Because if Kumogakure was truly Konoha's ally, then attacking meant war.

• Kirigakure watched, waiting, smiling.

But they did not move.

Because as long as Konoha kept the illusion of resistance alive—

The world wouldn't realize what had happened.

And by the time they did?

It would already be too late.

The Future of an Empire

Orochimaru stood at the highest balcony of the Raikage's tower, gazing over the village.

Hiruzen approached. "It is done."

Orochimaru's smirk widened. "Of course it is."

Hiruzen exhaled. "They will resist us. There will be unrest."

Orochimaru chuckled. "Let them struggle. Let them fight."

His golden eyes gleamed.

"They will break eventually."

Below them, Kumo's people walked their streets.

Some with hope.

Some with doubt.

But none of them knew—they were already lost.

Konoha's empire was taking root.

And soon—the world would belong to them.

End of Chapter 108.