Chapter 110: The Rising Undercurrents in the Ninja World

Apart from Uchiha Madara, the ninjas from the five major hidden villages who had been expelled by Hanma were also closely monitoring the situation in Hozuki Castle.

After all, it involved the Six Paths Sacred Treasures and concerned Konoha's supernova, Hanma, which was indeed front-page news in the ninja world.

Unfortunately, due to Hanma's intimidating presence, no one dared to stay behind and witness the battle between Hanma and Uchiha Madara.

However, the scouts who arrived a few days later saw a sight that left them bewildered and terrified.

The once grand Hozuki Castle was completely gone, leaving only a massive crater created by Chibaku Tensei and the Box of Ultimate Bliss standing silently in the wilderness.

This apocalyptic scene left the ninjas of the major hidden villages in fear.

"What kind of battle could have transformed Hozuki Castle into this?"

"If this level of ninjutsu were used on the battlefield, it would probably be more terrifying than a Tailed Beast Bomb."

The power of Chibaku Tensei was beyond the knowledge of most ninjas, but it also aroused their greed.

"Is this the power granted by the Box of Ultimate Bliss?"

But when they approached, the Box of Ultimate Bliss opened its mouth wide, unleashing a powerful suction that swallowed all the nearby ninjas.

Among the ninjas swallowed, there were no shortage of well-known veteran jōnin, making no one dare to touch this seemingly unguarded sacred treasure. They could only observe from a distance.

The mutation of the Box of Ultimate Bliss and Hanma's escape were also reported back to each of the hidden villages by the sensory ninjas.

Interestingly, among those who died investigating the Box of Ultimate Bliss, the majority were from Konoha, mainly from the Root.

Iwagakure.

The burly, honest Onoki stood upright, nervously awaiting his father's reprimand.

"Lord Tsuchikage, the information regarding Uchiha Hanma and the Box of Ultimate Bliss is all here. Please review it."

The Old Onoki floated in the air, looking solemnly at the information before him.

At this time, his back was not as frail as it would be twenty years later, still standing as straight as steel.

"I don't blame you for failing this mission, Onoki. Konoha always has a few geniuses popping up occasionally; it's to be expected from a village founded by the God of Shinobi."

"Moreover, it was once home to the Uchiha clan, who birthed the Shura of the Shinobi World. You've done enough; no need to dwell on it."

Onoki looked up in confusion, feeling a bit surprised.

His father was always stern and managed Iwagakure meticulously. Even as his son, he did not receive any special treatment.

What happened today?

"Yes, Lord Tsuchikage. I'll take my leave now."

Onoki did not dare to inquire further, respectfully stepping back.

As Onoki left, the old Onoki watched his son's burly figure with a hint of helplessness in his eyes, sighing:

"As expected of Konoha, each era produces some astonishing ninjas."

"Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama at the start of the village, then Senju Tobirama, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Shimura Danzo."

"Now, there are Sarutobi Hiruzen's disciples, Hatake Sakumo, and Uchiha Hanma. These ninjas, if they were in Iwagakure, each could become a pillar."

"And in Iwagakure, besides me, there isn't anyone with the potential to succeed as Tsuchikage..."

The old Onoki sighed. If he had such strong individuals, Iwagakure would have dominated the ninja world long ago, rather than struggling as it was now.

"Though Onoki has abundant chakra, he can't grasp Dust Release. Given the current state of the ninja world, as the heir to Iwagakure, he's not up to the task."

"Ku, Magirio, Todoroshi, Oishi, Akatsuchi, Bunka, Kaigo... forget it."

Old Onoki's mind flashed through the names of Iwagakure's veteran ninja, feeling a headache. Even the other ninjas in the village couldn't match Onoki.

Though there were many elite jōnin, Onoki was certain none of them had the hope of reaching the level of 'Kage.'

Although Roshi and Han had successfully communicated with their Tailed Beasts and gradually mastered their Jinchuriki power, they were deeply dissatisfied with Iwagakure's policies, rapidly deteriorating their relationship with Onoki.

"These two bastards don't understand the difficulty of maintaining Iwagakure's current position!"

Onoki cursed softly, feeling a wave of helplessness.

He knew from early on that the talents of this generation of Iwagakure's ninja were mediocre and had resolutely adopted a strategy of quantity over quality to compensate.

Currently, Iwagakure boasted the highest number of ninjas among the five major hidden villages, ready to field two to three thousand seasoned ninjas at any time.

However, this also brought challenges in resource allocation and management.

Without a leading figure, Iwagakure could only rely on deploying large groups to maximize their numerical advantage.

This required tight coordination among ninjas, leading to extremely strict management, which dissatisfied the Jinchuriki who wielded Tailed Beast powers.

After all, nobody with great power wanted to be bound by rigid rules.

More urgently, the rocky terrain of Iwagakure couldn't produce sufficient resources to support such a large number of ninjas, forcing them to rely on aid from the Daimyo's palace and emergency supplies.

Ninjas consumed a lot of gold; the village's resources were becoming increasingly scarce for everyone. This was an undeniable fact, no matter how much Onoki spread propaganda.

Moreover, the name 'Uchiha' stirred long-buried memories of humiliation in Onoki.

"Is this ninja world going to suffer under the Uchiha once again?"

Contemplating Hanma's accomplishments, Onoki felt a sharp pain in his teeth.

Given Hanma's age, he wasn't exactly a newcomer to the ninja world, but his rise to fame was extraordinarily rapid, achieving the feat of killing a Jinchuriki right as he stepped into the limelight.

Now associated with the Six Paths Sacred Treasure, his power seemed to grow like wildfire, unchecked by anything.

"Could he be another Uchiha Madara? The Uchiha clan, so warlike and powerful, are indeed the bane of the ninja world."

Once again, Onoki recalled an indelible memory:

A towering blue giant swung an unstoppable sword, shattering all the pride of his teacher and leaving a profound psychological scar on young Onoki.

"Even those Uchiha who don't walk the bloodline path will become disruptive elements. Sooner or later, they will turn into major threats to Iwagakure."

Onoki's eyes were filled with determination as he conjured a formidable white pillar, vibrating powerfully, even disintegrating the surrounding air.

"I will inherit the will of the previous Tsuchikage."

"I will make this ninja world understand that no one is invincible!"

After the Second Tsuchikage Mu was defeated by Uchiha Madara, he dedicated years to developing the never-before-seen Bloodline Elimination technique: Dust Release.

But fate was cruel. Before he could display its power to Konoha or the ninja world, he met a pyrrhic end alongside the battle maniac from Kirigakure.

"Shikawa-sama, Mu-sama, the Will of Stone will shine brilliantly in my hands, and Iwagakure will become the strongest ninja village, justifying the village's investment in me."

With his hands behind his back, Onoki gazed at the ninja world map, seemingly scheming something.

After a long while, he sighed deeply.

"Launch the war as soon as possible."

Onoki's eyes reflected the faces of many Iwagakure ninjas; some were naive and honest, some were adorably innocent, and many had happy families.

But the excessive number of ninjas had become a burden. The only way to alleviate this was through war.

Onoki could only strive to secure greater benefits in this process.

Moreover, the patience of the two Jinchuriki was wearing thin. They had to be thrust into the battlefield before they acted out.

"A true Kage must act with ruthless pragmatism."

"For Iwagakure's sake."

In the vast Tsuchikage office, only a cold sigh remained.

...

Sunagakure.

In the high council meeting, a deathly silence hung over the room. Unlike Onoki with some cards left to play, Sunagakure was at the end of its rope.

Although still one of the Five Great Villages in name, it was only because the smaller hidden villages didn't measure up. If Hanzō of the Salamander's Amegakure were still around, it could probably match Sunagakure's strength.

Sunagakure's resources were scarcer than many small hidden villages. The Land of Wind was mostly desert and produced few resources. Meanwhile, relations with the Daimyo deteriorated, and without funds, Sunagakure could barely function.

Militarily, they weren't faring any better. The One-Tail Shukaku, compatible with Sunagakure, was killed by Hanma, and significant losses were inflicted on both the lower and upper echelons.

Sunagakure hadn't collapsed possibly because no one would see benefits from a rebellion. The ninjas barely scraped by.

"...That's the situation."

The Sunagakure intelligence ninja finished his report, his back drenched in cold sweat. The oppressive atmosphere in the meeting room was almost unbearable.

"You've done well. You may leave."

The Third Kazekage removed his hat, rubbing his brow as if trying to reassure himself:

"It's okay. Our village still has Rasa, who has inherited the Magnet Release, and Pakura of the Scorch Release. As long as these two grow, they will be the cornerstones of our revival."

"The disciple of Monk Splendor has also inherited his teachings, mastering the Senju Rasengan. He is a prospective perfect Jinchuriki for the One-Tail."

Chiyo remained silent, having lost her son and younger brother. Now, all her thoughts were focused on her grandson, "Sasori."

"Chiyo Elder, I've heard your grandson Sasori has become the most talented puppet ninja in the village at a young age. Truly remarkable."

The Third Kazekage complimented Chiyo, trying to build a connection.

He was initially pleased when Chiyo used her power to send Shukaku into battle. After years, he finally grasped full control of Sunagakure and could put plans into action.

But facing the current situation, he was at his wits' end and had to ask Chiyo to return to the high council to stabilize the morale.

"Indeed, Sasori is a very talented child."

At the mention of Sasori, a glimmer of hope flashed in Chiyo's eyes, but it soon dimmed. Coldly, she said:

"The village still has some talented ninjas, but we need to provide an environment for their growth. In this regard, Kazekage-dono, you need to be more diligent."

"Take Rasa, for example. With the current financial state of the village, he probably has little time for training and is instead searching for gold mines in the deep desert, isn't he? Wasting so much time, can he really become a strong enough Kazekage in the future?"

"And young Monk Faisa, who harbors significant resentment over Master Splendor's death. It remains to be seen if he will serve us in the future."

"Lord Kazekage, you need to put more thought into the village's planning."

"I am tired and will rest now." Without hesitation, Chiyo stood up and left, not wanting any more interaction with the Third Kazekage.

Watching her leave, the Third Kazekage's eyes flickered with a hint of anger.

"Rasa, although Elder Chiyo's words are harsh, it is indeed time for you to take on more responsibilities for the village."

Rasa nodded respectfully, beginning to report on the gold mines he had discovered in the Wind Country's desert.

As Chiyo walked home, her mind was not at ease. Sunagakure was on the verge of splitting apart.

The puppet clan, the Temple line, the Kazekage line, the ninja clan, and the Daimyo line each had their stances and refused to compromise.

Despite their poverty, they fought tooth and nail to determine dominance.

Especially concerning Sasori's attitude towards the Third Kazekage and Rasa, which left Chiyo with mixed feelings.

"Grandma, these useless people responsible for Uncle and Father's deaths. I'll make them into puppets and have them kneel at the village gate to atone for a thousand years!"

"If I ruled Sunagakure, I'd spread the art of puppetry to all ninjas and never grovel to those noble dogs!"

These were Sasori's first words to Chiyo after locking himself in for ten days following his father's death.

Unlike his counterpart from the original world, this Sasori didn't lose his parents and, still nurtured by maternal love, didn't strive for immortality.

However, his hatred driven by his family's deaths targeted the high council and formed a strong desire to become the Kazekage.

"Sasori, if you truly intend to do that."

"Your grandmother will fully support you."

Instead of having the less talented Third Kazekage maintain Sunagakure, Chiyo preferred her extremely talented grandson to lead the Wind Country's future.

With a smile, she quickened her pace towards home.

...

Kumogakure.

"I always tell you to train hard, but now you came back with your tail between your legs without even testing the waters against your opponent!"

"How can you become the Raikage in the future? Keep this up and don't ever tell anyone you're my son!"

The Third Raikage harshly reprimanded his son.

A and Tsuchikage's Aid Taitō Kawarama watched indifferently as the Third Raikage criticized his son.

"Raikage-dono, Uchiha Hanma's strength is on par with yours. Engaging in a forced battle would only lead to unpredictable consequences."

"I was the one who ordered the retreat, please don't blame A."

The Third Raikage snorted, signaling them to sit down, and spoke in a deep voice:

"Just a year after Konoha, Sunagakure, and Amegakure's skirmish, the ninjas from the major villages are starting to act up."

"The next great ninja war will inevitably involve us, Kumogakure!"

Taitō nodded, analyzing the situation.

"Currently, our primary enemy is still Iwagakure, given our historical animosity."

"Konoha isn't our main adversary; there's no need to provoke them."

"The Daimyo is very supportive of our current policies. Recently, he allocated nine billion ryō as military funds."

The Third Raikage nodded in satisfaction, saying:

"Unlike other villages with pampered, lazy noble families, our Daimyo is truly respectable."

"But we must increase our high-end combat power. Iwagakure's strategy won't work on the battlefield; only ninjas like me can determine the outcome."

A's face stiffened, as if he had already guessed what the Third Raikage was about to say.

"Prepare for B's trial at the Waterfall of Truth."

"And issue an order in the village, seeking volunteers for the new Two-Tails Jinchūriki, with proper rewards!"

A's face turned pale; B was his cousin, the Third Raikage's nephew, renowned for his inability to control the Eight-Tails, causing significant damage to Kumogakure.

Sending him to the Waterfall of Truth meant facing death if he failed to pass the trial.

"As a Kage, one must prioritize the village, even if it involves family members."

"If needed, I, the Raikage, will also stand up for Kumogakure without hesitation!"

"As my son and heir, you must adopt this mindset!"

The Third Raikage saw through A's thoughts, placing a large hand on his shoulder, speaking sternly.

A trembled, responding firmly:

"I understand, Raikage-dono!"

Seeing his son's unusual response, the Third Raikage sighed, choosing to explain softly:

"Our tailed beasts must be combat-ready. An uncontrollable tailed beast only brings disaster and diverts our resources."

"Konoha's Nine-Tails can't be mastered. Thus, our Eight-Tails should be the strongest tailed beast in the ninja world, invincible in war!"

Taitō's cough brought their attention back to the current opportunity.

"As for Konoha, we might leverage their internal conflicts for Kumogakure's benefit."

"Recent reports indicate heavy friction between the Uchiha clan and Konoha's higher-ups, escalating to open confrontation."

"With Uchiha Hanma's disappearance these past three months, the higher-ups have reverted to probing the Uchiha clan, stirring great resentment."

The Third Raikage pondered, signaling Taitō to continue.

A listened intently, clearly intrigued.

"During the last ninja war, Konoha repelled Sunagakure and Amegakure but suffered significant losses, leading to widespread dissatisfaction with the Third Hokage's leadership."

"If we seek an alliance with the Third Hokage now, even at a cost, he would likely agree to bolster his standing."

"An alliance with Kumogakure, something his teacher never achieved, would greatly enhance his reputation within the village."

"In exchange, he would likely offer concessions, allowing our ninjas to infiltrate Konoha, seeking to recruit talented Bloodline clans."

"In essence, this would be a mutually beneficial, albeit unspoken, agreement with the Third Hokage."

A wide-eyed A finally remarked:

"Targeting the Uchiha's Sharingan seems too risky?"

Seeing the knowing look on the Third Raikage and Taitō's faces, A promptly closed his mouth.

Taitō, dismissing A's concern, slowly explained:

"Targeting the Uchiha would only heighten the Third Hokage's vigilance, making our intentions too obvious."

"Moreover, provoking Uchiha Hanma could incite retaliatory strikes against Kumogakure, unchecked even by the Third Hokage's authority, yielding no benefit."

"Our optimal target is the Hyūga clan. The Byakugan holds enormous strategic value on the battlefield, with a higher activation rate compared to the Sharingan."

"Furthermore, the Uchiha dilemma has stirred unrest among Konoha's other noble clans. Suppressing their spirits would also align with the Third Hokage's interest."

The Third Raikage patted Taitō's shoulder, pointing at A with a hint of pride in his voice:

"Kumogakure owes its bright future to Taitō's guidance. Young A, you have much to learn from him."

"Draft the orders and send the formal alliance request to the Third Hokage in a week!"

A gazed in admiration at Taitō, feeling as if he had unlocked a whole new perspective beyond his relentless physical training.

...

Kirigakure.

The Third Mizukage's face twisted in fury. The Seven Ninja Swords