The moment Konoha's declaration of unification was released, the entire ninja world was shaken as if a deep-sea bomb had detonated.
Yet the fastest to react were not the Great Nations shouting about resistance, but the forces that had long since been quietly cultivated by Uchiha Tobirama.
Land of Wind, Sunagakure.
The puppet Kazekage did not hesitate in the slightest. Barely ten minutes after the declaration spread, an announcement was transmitted to the entire ninja world:
"The Land of Wind unconditionally accepts Konoha's reorganization. Effective immediately, the nation is abolished and renamed the Konoha Wind Province. All military forces are to stand by and await the arrival of the Imperial Army!"
Immediately afterward—
Fūka Koyuki, Queen of the Land of Snow, issued her own statement:
"The Land of Snow has always been Lord Tobirama's backyard. We are willing to submit the entire country."
The priestess of the Land of Demons followed soon after:
"Everything in the Land of Demons belongs to Lord Tobirama."
This chain of instant surrenders completely stunned the other nations that had still been watching from the sidelines.
You're one of the Five Great Nations, possessing the power of an entire country—and you surrender just like that?
Where is your dignity as shinobi?
…
Land of Iron, Mount Sanlang.
This was the neutral Land of Iron, and at this moment, the final refuge of the ninja world.
Inside the vast circular conference hall, the atmosphere was so heavy it felt as if water could drip from it.
Outside, snow fell thick and fast. Inside, the hall was heated and deafening, voices overlapping as tempers flared.
Gathered here were not only the Kage of the Lightning, Earth, and Water Countries, but also leaders and representatives from forty-one large and small nations, including Takigakure and Kusagakure.
Including the three Great Nations, this amounted to the combined military power of forty-five countries.
An unprecedented anti-Konoha super-alliance.
Bang!
The burly Fourth Raikage, Ay, slammed his fist into the iron table, leaving a deep dent.
"What are you still arguing about?! Konoha's army is about to crush us!"
His eyes were bloodshot, his expression ferocious like an enraged lion.
"I propose that I serve as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces! Only Kumogakure's strongest ninjutsu and taijutsu can barely hold back those monsters!"
"A joke!"
Opposite him, the tall and powerfully built Fourth Tsuchikage, Kitsuchi, sneered coldly.
"You Kumogakure only know how to charge head-on. Facing a monster like Uchiha Tobirama, who controls space-time ninjutsu, charging blindly is suicide!"
"Iwagakure has the largest number of shinobi and excels at defense and positional warfare. I should be the Supreme Commander!"
"Hmph! Defense?" Ay shot back. "In front of Konoha's scientific ninja tools and Tailed Beasts, what difference is there between your Earth Release and paper?"
Neither side was willing to yield. The guards behind them tightened their grips on their weapons, the situation teetering on the brink of violence.
The representatives of the smaller nations trembled. The war hadn't even begun, and the alliance was already on the verge of tearing itself apart.
"Cough… cough…"
A dry yet authoritative cough echoed through the hall.
In the corner, leaning on a cane and wearing a tall hat, an elderly man slowly raised his head.
He was a veteran of the Hidden Mist and the one truly holding power there—the Fifth Mizukage, Genshi.
A sharp glint flashed through his clouded eyes.
"Both of you… at a time like this, you're still fighting over authority?"
"Our enemy is a man who is called a god."
"Whether it's the Raikage's spear or the Tsuchikage's shield, both are meaningless in front of him."
"Only unity gives us even the slightest chance of survival."
Silence fell over the hall.
Mifune, the general of the Land of Iron presiding over the meeting, immediately spoke up:
"Everyone, Lord Genshi speaks the truth."
"Lord Raikage is courageous, but too impatient. Lord Kitsuchi is steady, but lacks experience dealing with the Uchiha."
"Lord Genshi lived through the Warring States Era and has vast experience. The Hidden Mist is isolated overseas, and though it suffered losses before, its core combat strength remains largely intact."
"I propose that Lord Genshi, the most senior among us, serve as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces!"
Ay and Kitsuchi exchanged glances. Though dissatisfied, they both knew internal conflict was the last thing they could afford.
And besides… letting this old man take command wasn't so bad. If they lost, the Hidden Mist would shoulder the blame.
"I have no objection," Ay snorted as he sat back down.
"Agreed," Kitsuchi nodded.
"In that case…"
Genshi rose to his feet, trembling slightly, determination flashing in his eyes.
"Then we fight."
"Mobilize all shinobi and samurai from the forty-five nations—one million Allied Forces!"
"We will fight Konoha to the death!"
"This is the final dignity of the ninja world! Win, and we retain our freedom! Lose, and the nations fall!"
"Kill!!!"
A tragic roar shook the conference hall.
Yet not a single person truly believed they would win.
…
Meanwhile.
As the entire ninja world prepared for war, the eye of the storm himself appeared calmly on the far side of the ocean.
Uchiha Tobirama—accompanied by the reanimated Senju Hashirama.
Land of Whirlpools, Uzushiogakure.
The ancestral homeland of the Uzumaki Clan.
Though it had long since perished in the original timeline, under Konoha's protection, the Land of Whirlpools still existed here.
A massive sealing barrier enveloped the entire island.
But before Tobirama, whose ocular power had reached the Six Paths level, these so-called absolute defenses were no more than children's toys.
Hum.
Space twisted.
Tobirama and Hashirama appeared out of thin air in the central plaza of Uzushiogakure.
"Who goes there?!"
"Enemy attack!"
The patrolling Uzumaki shinobi reacted instantly. Red-haired figures rushed out as sealing techniques flared to life.
"Stop! All of you, stand down!"
A stern, aged voice rang out.
Uzumaki Ashina, the current clan head—his once-vivid red hair now streaked with gray—hurried forward.
The moment he recognized the two figures, his face drained of all color. His legs nearly gave out beneath him.
"F-First Hokage-sama…?"
"And… Lord Uchiha Tobirama?"
One was their ancient relative and revered elder.
The other was the current nightmare of the entire ninja world.
Why had these two ancestors come here together?
Tobirama clasped his hands behind his back, his gaze cool as it swept over the tense Uzumaki shinobi.
"Clan Head Uzumaki," he said calmly, "I won't waste words."
"Konoha has declared war on the entire ninja world. My armies are advancing in all directions."
"I came here today to give the Uzumaki Clan a choice."
He raised a single finger, his tone cold and absolute.
"Surrender. Join Konoha. Become a part of it."
"Or—"
"Your clan will be exterminated. From this day forward, there will be no more Uzumaki in the ninja world."
Boom!
An overwhelming pressure of chakra descended upon the island.
The clouds scattered, the sea churned violently.
Every Uzumaki felt as though a massive weight pressed down on their chests. Breathing became difficult. Some collapsed unconscious on the spot.
Ashina broke into a cold sweat and looked pleadingly toward Hashirama.
"Lord Hashirama… the Uzumaki and Senju are distant relatives! Lady Mito was one of us!"
"We have always been Konoha's allies. Must it truly come to this?"
"Can we not even retain the name of the Land of Whirlpools?"
Hashirama scratched his head awkwardly, his expression helpless.
"Well… Ashina, there's no point struggling anymore."
"Konoha isn't run by me anymore."
He pointed at Tobirama.
"You know his personality. He means what he says."
"I'm telling you this for your own good. Agree quickly, or he'll really do it—and I won't be able to stop him."
"Look at me. I'm Edo Tensei. I'm just being dragged around to work…"
Hearing the God of Shinobi plead so humbly, Ashina felt all hope drain from him.
He looked at the young clansmen behind him, then back at Tobirama and Hashirama.
"I… I understand."
His shoulders slumped, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.
"For the sake of the clan's survival… the Land of Whirlpools is willing to surrender."
"Starting tomorrow, the entire clan will relocate to Konoha and await Lord Tobirama's orders."
"Good."
Tobirama withdrew his pressure. The cold indifference on his face vanished, replaced by a satisfied smile.
Subduing an enemy without fighting really did feel rather pleasant.
Of course, he hadn't come here only for the clan's submission.
"Since we're family now, I won't stand on ceremony."
His mismatched eyes locked onto two figures in the crowd.
One was a fiery red-haired girl of eighteen or nineteen, well-developed, glaring at him stubbornly—Uzumaki Kushina.
The other was a small girl of seven or eight, hiding behind the adults, wearing glasses and trembling timidly—Uzumaki Karin.
"You. And that little one."
Tobirama pointed at Kushina and Karin.
"Pack your things. You're coming back to Konoha with me tonight."
"W-What?!" Ashina blurted out. "My lord, Kushina is the clan's princess! She's being prepared to succeed—"
"She's my disciple now," Tobirama cut in flatly.
"As for that child, her talent is exceptional. She's also suitable to be my disciple."
"You bastard!"
Kushina finally snapped, clenching her fists as she stepped forward.
"How dare you talk to Grandpa Patriarch like that?! Even if you're Hokage, I—"
"Kushina! Shut up!" Ashina nearly lost his soul in fright and hurriedly stopped her.
Tobirama laughed, stepped forward, and looked down at the furious red-haired girl.
He reached out and pinched her cheek.
"Quite the temper."
"I like that."
"When you get to Konoha, I'll teach you what rules are."
Then he turned to the trembling Karin and offered what he thought was a gentle smile.
"Little one, you'll follow me from now on."
Karin pushed up her glasses. Though frightened, her cheeks flushed inexplicably as she stared at his devastatingly handsome face.
"Y-Yes… my lord."
Hashirama covered his face, unable to bear the sight.
"What a sin… even kids aren't spared."
"At this rate, Tobirama's going to die on a woman's belly someday…"
"Hashirama, what are you muttering about?" Tobirama snapped, turning his head sharply.
"N-Nothing!" Hashirama straightened instantly under Tobirama's glare.
Tobirama snorted and waved his hand.
"Everyone, prepare to relocate!"
"Kushina. Karin. Come with me."
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