Chapter 161: Chakra Cannon

The Chakra Cannon of Kumogakure, a weapon mentioned only in the final movie, was said to possess power capable of destroying the moon.

Although it didn't actually fire at the moon in the movie, the meteors it obliterated were very real. The cannon's power was undeniably sufficient to annihilate small satellites.

Even Tobirama couldn't fathom how the brash shinobi of Kumogakure managed to develop such advanced technology. Still, that didn't stop him from adopting their ideas for his own use.

As Orochimaru once remarked, the forces opposing a unified shinobi world were obstacles that could be overcome with time. The real threat lay in the Otsutsuki clan.

Sealed on the moon was Kaguya Otsutsuki, and alongside her, the descendants of Hamura—whose unhinged ideologies posed a latent danger.

So why not simply blow up the moon and solve everything at once?

After all, in the shinobi world, the moon wasn't a true satellite—it was merely a vessel created by the Sage of Six Paths to imprison his mother. Its destruction wouldn't affect the ecosystem in any way.

"Hand over the plans for the Chakra Cannon," Tobirama demanded, his sharp gaze piercing through his opponent.

Facing Tobirama's audacious attitude, A couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

"Hah! You—!"

"You've already reduced Kumogakure to ruins, and now you dare demand our village's secrets from me? Tobirama, your shamelessness truly knows no bounds!"

With nothing more to say, A's lips pressed into a firm line. No matter what Tobirama said next, it was clear he wouldn't respond further.

"Ridiculous," Tobirama scoffed.

"The unification of the shinobi world under Konoha is inevitable. I don't have time to waste playing games with you. Do you really think withholding information will stop me?"

The moment the words left his mouth, A found himself immobilized. His entire body refused to respond, leaving only his mouth free to speak.

"What are you doing?!" A shouted.

Tobirama's fingers curled into a claw as he gripped A's head, his Rinnegan gleaming with a cold, eerie light.

An intangible spirit, visible only to the wielder of the Rinnegan, was forcibly drawn from A's body.

The sight of such a formidable figure as A, his eyes rolling back as his soul was extracted, was almost enough to make Tobirama sigh in exasperation.

"So that's how it is…"

From A's soul, Tobirama gleaned the information he sought.

Though Kumogakure hadn't yet constructed the Chakra Cannon, its theoretical framework was already complete. The only thing missing was the time required to assemble it.

With massive amounts of chakra supplied by tailed beasts, the cannon could launch a projectile powerful enough to destroy celestial bodies.

And if there was one thing Konoha had in abundance now, it was tailed beasts.

...

Land of Grass – Hozuki Castle

The advance of the Kirigakure forces into the Land of Grass had slowed.

For reasons unknown, the daimyo of the Land of Grass had struck a deal with Mui, the warden of Hozuki Castle. This alliance had turned Mui—who was once prepared to surrender—into a staunch enemy of Konoha.

What's more, Mui had unleashed a creature rumored to be one of the Sage of Six Paths' tools—a monstrous being of unspeakable evil.

Yet now, that very creature was trembling.

"Incredible," muttered Senju Hashirama, his voice heavy with awe and disdain.

"Such a vile existence, reeking of hatred and greed. How many innocent lives have been taken by your hands, you wretched beast? I will not allow you to harm the shinobi world any further!"

As he spoke, his aura grew more oppressive, dark shadows spreading under his eyes. The ground beneath him quaked violently, and in an instant, a colossal Buddha statue, nearly a thousand meters tall, rose into the heavens.

Its countless arms radiated divine light, surrounding Hashirama like a god made manifest.

Even from kilometers away, the statue's overwhelming presence was palpable.

Should the monks of the Fire Temple witness this sight, they might very well mistake Hashirama for a reincarnation of Buddha himself.

This was the true power of the God of Shinobi, the man who single-handedly brought peace to the Warring States Period—Senju Hashirama.

Even without the Rinnegan, Hashirama in this state was beyond the reach of even Uchiha Madara.

And now, the so-called "monster" that stood before him—a mere speck compared to the statue—was trembling uncontrollably, its form nearly prostrate.

"Impossible!" the creature shrieked, its twisted face contorted in disbelief.

"Wasn't Asura's reincarnation supposed to have died decades ago? By now, he should've been reincarnated as a child! How is he here, now? This makes no sense!"

Unfamiliar with this particular monster, Hashirama wasn't concerned with its identity. He didn't care to learn its origins—it was enough to know it posed a threat.

"Sage Art: Wood Release – True Several Thousand Hands!"

A thousand arms descended like a relentless storm, their speed leaving only afterimages visible to the naked eye.

"GAAAH!"

The creature let out a final, pitiful wail before being crushed under the unrelenting assault.

For minutes, the earth shook, the pounding fists reducing the landscape to rubble. Even the mountain beneath the battlefield was leveled entirely.

When the attack ceased, not even a fragment of the monster remained.

"Phew…"

Releasing a long sigh, Hashirama deactivated Sage Mode, and the massive wooden Buddha disappeared in an instant.

From afar, the stunned Kirigakure shinobi could only watch in silence.

"…Incredible…"

"…No words…"

Finally, Hoshigaki Kisame broke the silence.

"So this is the strength of the God of Shinobi…"

Sweat dripped from his palms as he gripped Samehada tightly. Whatever illusions he'd held about challenging Hashirama were shattered completely.

After a moment, Kisame's sharp voice cut through the air.

"AO! Launch the full-scale assault. Now."

Awakened from his stupor, Ao quickly rallied the troops for the final push into the Land of Grass.

The remaining defenders of Hozuki Castle had already sacrificed themselves in a blood ritual to the monster. With no forces left to resist, the castle fell with barely a struggle.

Inside, they found the daimyo of the Land of Grass and Mui both dead—likely victims of the monster's demise.