"Uchiha Ryūjin, are you really going to go your own way?"
The Sage of Six Paths frowned slightly, his voice deep as he looked down from midair.
"What I do has nothing to do with you," Ryūjin Uchiha replied with a shrug, his tone turning colder. "So there's no need to explain anything."
The Sage fell silent for a moment before speaking again.
"I have given you my advice. Think carefully."
With that, his figure vanished without a trace.
From beginning to end, Ryūjin's expression did not change. Even after the Sage left, there was no sign of concern on his face.
If this were the Sage at his peak, Ryūjin would not confront him directly. But now, the Sage was nothing more than a lingering soul after countless years.
There was nothing to fear.
When the Sage appeared earlier, Ryūjin had quietly entered Sage Mode and sensed him.
The result matched his expectations.
The Sage's chakra was not particularly strong.
Of course, that was only in comparison to Ryūjin's current Sage Body. The Sage still possessed chakra far beyond ordinary shinobi, easily surpassing Kage level and even comparable to Madara Uchiha.
Combined with his Six Paths techniques, he remained a terrifying existence.
But not enough.
Not enough to threaten Ryūjin.
"If he stays out of my way, fine," Ryūjin muttered. "If he interferes, that's his problem."
With that, he lay down as if nothing had happened.
"Sleep."
---
After sealing Black Zetsu and clashing with the Sage, Ryūjin's life returned to a steady rhythm.
Work, daily sign-ins, slacking off, and the occasional date.
Nothing remarkable.
His only real focus was locating the remaining jinchūriki.
Within Konohagakure, everything remained peaceful. With Ryūjin's overwhelming strength and the presence of the Eight-Tails, Gyūki, the villagers felt secure.
Outside, however, the situation was entirely different.
A large alliance was quietly forming.
Led by Kirigakure, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure, the coalition had a single goal.
Eliminate Ryūjin.
Under leaders such as Mei Terumi, Kitsuchi, and Baki, secret meetings were held constantly. Troops were gathered, forces expanded.
At first, everything remained hidden.
But as the alliance grew, secrecy became impossible.
Soon, the entire ninja world knew.
The three great villages were leading a united force to destroy Konoha and kill the Fifth Hokage.
The atmosphere across the world shifted.
Tension spread like an approaching storm.
Everyone understood what was coming.
A war that would reshape the entire ninja world.
---
Konoha was not blind to this.
Reports flooded into the Hokage's office.
"I know. Let them do what they want."
Ryūjin remained indifferent, showing no intention of responding.
The higher-ups were anxious, but powerless.
Time passed.
Konoha Year 51 came to an end, and December arrived.
On December 7th, the three great villages issued a joint declaration.
They accused Ryūjin of killing multiple Kage and becoming the greatest threat to the ninja world. To preserve peace, they would unite with other villages, gathering a force of thirty-three thousand shinobi.
Their objective was clear.
Attack Konoha on December 9th.
Eliminate Ryūjin.
---
The announcement caused an uproar across the ninja world.
"Konoha is finished. Thirty-three thousand shinobi?"
"They barely have over two thousand!"
"Two thousand against thirty-three thousand, that's not even a fight."
"You're forgetting the Fifth Hokage. Ryūjin is called the new God of Shinobi."
"So what? Numbers still matter. Thirty thousand people can crush anything."
"Exactly. Even the Third Raikage died from exhaustion."
"Ryūjin brought this on himself. Too arrogant."
"Occupying the Cloud Village and killing Kage, he was asking for this."
Discussions like these spread everywhere.
Almost no one believed Konoha could survive.
The gap was too large.
Even with their past victories, the odds were overwhelming.
---
Inside Konoha, tension rose rapidly.
The moment the news arrived, the village's top officials gathered in the Hokage's office.
Koharu Utatane, Shikaku Nara, Ibiki Morino, Hiashi Hyuga, and others filled the room.
Every face showed concern.
"Hokage-sama," Shikaku stepped forward, his tone serious. "The allied forces have gathered thirty-three thousand shinobi and will attack Konoha on the 19th."
"I know."
Ryūjin sat lazily in his seat, completely unfazed.
It sounded like trivial news to him.
The others exchanged uneasy glances.
"Hokage-sama, do you have a plan?" Hiashi asked.
"You handle it."
Ryūjin waved his hand casually.
He had always been clear about his role. He was the deterrent, nothing more. Strategy and management were better left to those who understood them.
Hiashi forced a smile.
"We only have a little over two thousand shinobi. They have thirty-three thousand."
"I know," Ryūjin replied. "Do what you need to do. Leave the rest to me."
Silence filled the room.
After a moment, Shikaku spoke again.
"Hokage-sama, can you really stop them?"
All eyes turned toward Ryūjin.
"Of course."
His answer was immediate.
"If they step into Konoha, none of them will leave."
His tone was light, but carried absolute confidence.
The room fell quiet.
Despite the arrogance, his certainty eased their nerves.
Then Ryūjin suddenly straightened.
"Oh right."
Everyone looked at him.
"Since they've declared war, we should respond."
"What should we say?" Shikaku asked.
"Keep it simple."
---
On December 12th, Konoha issued its reply.
Trespassers on Konoha territory will be killed without mercy.
---
The statement shook the ninja world once again.
"That's insane. Thirty thousand troops and they say that?"
"Are they serious? What are they relying on?"
"This is arrogance."
"When the army arrives, we'll see how many he can kill."
"Thirty thousand people could flatten Konoha just by charging."
Mockery spread everywhere.
To most, Konoha's confidence looked like delusion.
---
Inside the allied forces' base in Iwagakure, anger erupted.
"Ridiculous!"
Mei Terumi slammed her hand on the table.
"He doesn't take us seriously at all!"
Baki sneered.
"After defeating Hashirama Senju, he really thinks he's a god."
Kitsuchi remained composed.
"He is strong. Killing thousands with a single attack is not something we can ignore."
Mei's eyes hardened.
"I don't believe he can do that repeatedly."
Even if he could kill twenty thousand, ten thousand would still remain.
And could he really kill that many alone?
Her words steadied the room.
Confidence returned.
"He would run out of chakra after one attack."
"The Uchiha don't have that kind of reserves."
"This is the entire ninja world against Konoha. No one can stand against that."
Voices rose one after another.
Inside the base, morale surged.