A massive sphere floated within a palace on the moon.
This sphere was the mighty Rinnegan.
Beside the Rinnegan stood an eyeless youth. As Uchiha Fugaku and Nagato battled, he felt a sense of connection and, using the Rinnegan, gazed out upon the Ninja World.
"Father, war has broken out again in the Ninja World. This time, the fighting is even more intense than it was a few years ago!"
the eyeless youth exclaimed, but no one responded.
Years passed, the dying elders passed away one after another, and even his father succumbed to a hidden illness from his youth.
Now, he was the only one left on the moon.
"The Ninja World is still in constant war and conflict. Father, this Ninja World is wrong. I intend to initiate my plan and destroy this wrong world!"
The eyeless youth turned his face toward the outside of the palace, as if he could see beyond.
Outside, a vast array of humanoid puppets stood solemnly, their ranks in formation, like an army.
"Move!"
With the eyeless boy's command, the puppets sprang into action. They boarded flying puppets, departed from the Moon Castle, and headed towards the Moon.
There lay the passage to the Ninja World.
...
A hidden building near the Iron Castle was the base prepared by the Iron Country's Admiral, Mifune.
Before the Five Kage Conference began, Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, Kurotsuchi, and several others had been relocated there.
In a room, Uchiha Fugaku, bandaged in various places, lay propped up against the headboard.
Beside him sat Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto.
"Father, I want to become stronger. I don't want to be a burden anymore." Gazing at the injured Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Sasuke clenched his fists and spoke with determination. He was deeply displeased at being unable to participate in the battle due to his early departure. However, he also understood that it was the right decision. With his current strength, he simply couldn't participate in
a
battle of that magnitude.
If he insisted on staying, he would not only be of no help, but would become a burden.
"Uncle Fugaku, I want to do that too. I want to become stronger, so I can fight alongside you and Sasuke," Uzumaki Naruto exclaimed.
"I look forward to that day," Uchiha Fugaku smiled.
He longed for the growth of Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto. Once they grew and became his support, his life would be much easier.
He had no doubt they could achieve it.
While reaching the Six Paths level required opportunity and the assistance of the Six Paths Sage, reaching the Super Kage level was easy.
Another pair of Mangekyō Sharingan was already prepared for Uchiha Sasuke. Once Uchiha Sasuke awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan, he would also gain the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, achieving Super Kage-level combat power.
As the Jinchūriki of the Nine-tailed Beast, the Nine-tailed Beast's most powerful, Uzumaki Naruto would undoubtedly see his combat power dramatically increased if he could master the Nine-tailed Beast's Mode.
Combined with Sage Mode, reaching Super Kage-level combat power would be no problem.
Two Super Kage-level warriors would be enough to turn the tide of battle.
If they had fought Nagato this time, they would have had two Super Kage-level supporters, and the battle wouldn't have been so difficult.
After a few days of rest, Uchiha Fugaku's injuries had largely healed.
White Zetsu had Hashirama's cells fused within him. Having repeatedly melted White Zetsu's corpse, while not giving him the same recovery abilities as Senju Hashirama, it had made him more resilient than the average ninja.
In a conference room, the Five Kage Conference resumed.
To be precise, this was the true Five Kage Conference. Previous Five Kage conferences were merely traps to lure the Akatsuki into the fray, and those participating had no intention of engaging in serious negotiations.
But this time was different; the five major ninja villages were truly committed to serious negotiations.
In the conference room, Admiral Mifune of the Iron Country still presided over the meeting.
The only difference was that the participants were no longer just the Kage of each village.
Konoha, in addition to Uchiha Fugaku, also had Hatake Kakashi and Jiraiya.
On the Sand Village side, in addition to the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, the top-notch puppeteer Chiyo.
In addition to the Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi, the Hidden Mist's side also gained Mangetsu Hozuki, the village's only remaining member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
Mangetsu Hozuki was originally destined to die under Uchiha Obito's Blood Mist policy, but his control over the Fourth Mizukage was revealed ahead of time, allowing him to survive.
On the Hidden Mist's side, in addition to the Third Tsuchikage, the Hidden Mist's side also gained his son, Koto.
On the Hidden Mist's side, in addition to the Fourth Raikage, the Hidden Mist's side also gained Killer Bee, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.
"Although we successfully ensnared the Akatsuki this time, the results were not good. We only ambushed and killed two Akatsuki members and failed to destroy them. The threat from Akatsuki still exists," said the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, as he glanced at the crowd.
"That's understandable. Akatsuki has those who can use space-based ninjutsu, and we have no way to counter them. Destroying Akatsuki is difficult," the Third Tsuchikage frowned.
"B and I once fought the Fourth Hokage, who was a master of space ninjutsu. Doesn't Konoha have anyone who knows space ninjutsu now?" the Fourth Raikage asked, looking at Uchiha Fugaku.
"Practicing space ninjutsu requires an extremely high level of spatial talent. While there are suitable practitioners in Konoha, they haven't yet mastered this technique due to their young age." Uchiha Fugaku shook his head.
"What a pity! If this person had mastered space ninjutsu, they might have been able to stop them earlier," the Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi, lamented.
"Now we're in trouble. We ambush Akatsuki but failed, and it even put them on guard," the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, said in a deep voice.
"Damn it!" Feeling depressed and oppressed, the Fourth Raikage angrily slammed the table.
(End of the chapter)