Chapter 277: Invitation
After relocating to an extravagant tea room and hearing what Minato had to say, Nagato, sporting a thoughtful frown and gazing at the untouched contents of his teacup, muttered, "A deathless land...even if such a thing were possible, the Daimyo of the Five Great Nations wouldn't sit idle as a paradise arose outside of their purview. And as Shinobi, you should know there are worse fates than death in this world..."
"Which is why the Dragon's Pavilion vested me with Divine Protection and absolute authority within the bounds of the safe zone," expressed Minato, offering a nod as he added, "Furthermore, only those who have agreed to follow this land's laws would be able to utilize energy systems like Chakra and enter the Tower I mentioned. Anyone who violates the laws we create will be teleported to holding cells where time doesn't flow to await review, deportation, or judgment if their crimes are particularly egregious."
"And these laws...have they already been written?" asked Nagato, raising his gaze to meet Minato's—his own intense and penetrating but reflecting an unmistakable glimmer of intrigue.
"Several mandates are being passed down to us by the Dragon's Pavilion, such as prohibitions on sexual assault and the exploitation of children, but we have free rein to determine the rest," answered Minato. "To that end, I plan to confer with the Kage of the Five Great Shinobi Countries to outline laws we can all agree upon. That way, everyone will be on the same page, removing any excuses they might have if their people are caught violating the law to further external agendas."
"I see..." muttered Nagato, turning his head to meet Konan's gaze, seated to his left at a luxurious, low-lying wooden table with dragon-themed legs and a complex pattern etched into its surface.
Prompted by Nagato's stare, Konan nodded, shifted her gaze to Minato, and stated, "Honestly, all of this sounds much too fantastical to be real. But, as it would quickly come to light if you were deceiving us, I believe it would be a mistake to dismiss your claims outright..."
"Then it's decided..." stated Nagato, his gaze briefly lingering on Jiraiya before he stared at Minato and affirmed, "We will join you in creating this deathless land. But I do not agree with the people of Ame being forcibly displaced from their ancestral land. I understand it will create tensions with people who migrate here from elsewhere. But as a people who have long been the victims of external wars being fought on our land, I feel it is fitting that the residents of Ame become the natives of this proposed land of peace..."
"I'm afraid that isn't possible," responded Minato, shaking his head before calmly explaining, "Creating a nation isn't easy, but it's even more difficult when the administration of the previous nation is still present. Those who own land or represent vested interests in Ame would rally people together in defense of their ideals and property, and we do not wish our new nation to rise to power via the suppression of such groups. Such sentiments tend to linger for generations, and, as you admitted yourself, the presence of a native population would invariably create tension with those who emigrate here from abroad..."
"So, in the pursuit of your peace and unification, you will oust a group of people who have suffered the greed of other countries for more than half a century from their homes..." muttered Nagato, hanging his head in a way that his shaggy crimson bangs concealed his eyes.