Chapter 389: The Final Battle
After confirming Karma wouldn't fully release quickly on Hiruko, Yasushi entrusted him to Shin for research on the seal—whether sealing or extracting it, they absolutely couldn't let Isshiki truly possess Hiruko.
While Konoha absorbed territories and cleared bandits, shocking news arrived.
Obito had suddenly appeared at Konoha Village, brawling fiercely with the Edo Tensei Madara left behind on guard duty.
Though ultimately repelled, their complete Susanoo mutual combat had completely leveled Konoha Village and surrounding areas for a hundred miles.
"Obito?" Yasushi's mind briefly turned, immediately knowing Black Zetsu must have orchestrated this.
He hadn't planned dealing with Black Zetsu previously because he'd calculated Black Zetsu's combat power proved too low—only employing schemes and conspiracies, fundamentally unable to raise significant waves.
Ultimately, he'd still miscalculated regarding Obito.
Originally Obito had been firmly controlled in his palm. Now he'd become Black Zetsu's blade again.
With Black Zetsu's manipulation, Obito would indeed prove tremendously troublesome.
"Have all parties pay attention to intelligence. After discovering Obito's traces, immediately send me messages. I'll go capture him."
After issuing instructions, Yasushi ignored it, continuing searching for miniature Ten-Tails' traces.
But during following days, Obito's figure seemed to vanish—not attacking Konoha Village again, nor coming to Rain Village to trouble Yasushi.
Yasushi assumed Obito was scheming with Black Zetsu. Besides having everyone stay vigilant, he still proceeded normally with the predetermined unification plan.
Then he witnessed humanity's diversity again.
"What?
"Water Country internal rebellion?"
Hearing this news, Yasushi's first reaction: Black Zetsu must be secretly sabotaging. But Kabuto's intelligence negated this.
"In fact, it's completely Water Country's Daimyo committing evil himself.
"After that previous battle, the shinobi alliance was annihilated. Water Country's deployed shinobi also suffered over half casualties.
"But after returning, they faced Water Country Daimyo's fury.
"Due to their defeat, Water Country's Daimyo not only refused paying pensions for fallen shinobi—he even reduced Mist Village's budget again.
"This perverse behavior finally provoked Mist Village's riot.
"Enraged Water Country shinobi—led by the new Mizukage—stormed into Water Country's capital.
"After one bloody night, Water Country's Daimyo and nobles all died.
"Of course, whether our Konoha Village's exemplary influence played a role remains unclear."
"Hahahaha..." After hearing Kabuto's introduction, Yasushi laughed until his stomach hurt. "Truly those who commit evil cannot live!
"This actually works well—saves us from acting ourselves.
"Send people to recruit Mist Village. We'll collect taxes ourselves—budget absolutely sufficient.
"If they remain stubborn, simply annihilate them."
So Kabuto dispatched people for recruitment. After careful consideration, Mist Village finally became one link in the shinobi world's new order.
Now Lightning Country's Daimyo grew anxious.
Realizing he stood alone without support, Lightning Country's Daimyo decided risking everything—extracting all treasury resources, planning to recruit Iron Country warriors for jointly resisting Konoha Village.
Iron Country's leader Mifune first refused Lightning Country's Daimyo using "permanent neutral nation" as pretext.
But after negotiating unsuccessfully with Konoha and confirming Konoha would annex even Iron Country, Mifune decisively abandoned so-called "neutrality principles" and "peace beliefs," allying with Lightning Country and establishing a new shinobi alliance.
Their actions also influenced remaining shinobi world's various small nations. Those unwilling to be annexed joined the new shinobi alliance, planning jointly facing Konoha Village's punitive expedition.
"Allied?" Yasushi greatly rejoiced receiving the news. "This is excellent!
"Perfect for settling everything in one battle, sweeping all opponents clean—saves them secretly scheming after unification.
"If Black Zetsu and Obito plan anything, this is their final opportunity.
"Summon those surrendered soldiers and generals. Time to test their loyalty."
Yasushi paused searching for miniature Ten-Tails, specifically returning to deploy troops and prepare for completing this final battle, thoroughly eliminating obstacles to unifying the shinobi world.
After some days mobilizing supplies, Yasushi led his side's shinobi forces forth—advancing unstoppably all the way to Lightning Country's border.
The new shinobi alliance already awaited in strict formation here.
This time Konoha didn't need Edo Tensei legions for appearances. At Yasushi's command, he threw the other three nations' shinobi onto the battlefield.
"Kazekage-sama, Hokage-sama plans using us as cannon fodder!" A former Sand Village shinobi quietly approached Rasa, speaking softly.
"Correct, Kazekage-sama. We can't be recklessly expended here. We must find ways preserving strength." Others voiced agreement one after another.
Rasa's eyes swept across these speakers in a circle. Suddenly exploding into action—one slash per person—he killed those from non-allied factions.
"Seeing your sinister appearance, you're definitely transformed White Zetsu!"
Everyone jumped back in alarm, hurriedly retreating. Looking down at those people, they saw the several unfortunate corpses lying motionless—fundamentally not reverting to White Zetsu appearance.
"Oh, I misunderstood." Rasa's face showed apologetic expression. "It's their fault—actually saying such disloyal words.
"Where are there still Kazekage or Mizukage nowadays? My loyalty toward Hokage-sama—heaven bears witness, sun and moon attest."
Facing Rasa's utterly loyal appearance, what could others do? They could only transform into Konoha loyalist dogs too, preventing being mistaken for transformed White Zetsu.
Under this "loyal" atmosphere's guidance, these shinobi could only steel themselves, charging toward those enemies occupying geographical advantages opposite.
The new alliance had prepared early. Relying on dangerous borders, they'd formed mixed formations—Cloud Village Lightning Release units as spearhead, warrior groups as solid shields, various shinobi assisting.
When attack horns blew, defenders also released earth-shaking war cries. Two torrents composed of countless shinobi and warriors—across border's narrow valleys, mountain ridges, river surfaces—fiercely, without flourish, collided together.
Within just an instant, both sides' battle entered white-hot intensity.
Yasushi glanced twice from the rear. Discovering enemy forces' defensive fortifications still proved quite advantageous, he waved toward his side.
"Nagato, drop a Chibaku Tensei on their side—eliminate the alliance's terrain advantage."
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