Chapter 72: The Blood Purification & The War on the Horizon

The weight of a hundred years pressed upon Ryūsei's thoughts. The world had only a century to unify, evolve, and prepare for the true Ōtsutsuki invasion. Compared to their eternal existence, one hundred years was but a fleeting moment. Every choice, every sacrifice from this point forward would decide the fate of the world.

Standing atop the Hokage Monument, the night wind whispering through his robes, Ryūsei gazed down at Konoha, feeling its pulse—its people, its growth, its hidden fears. He could sense the shift in destiny, the inevitable march toward conflict.

But war was not coming from the stars just yet.

First, he had to face the storm brewing on Earth.

The Bloodied Horizon—The Third Great Ninja War Begins

Reports had already started flooding in—skirmishes along the borders, covert assassinations, and increasing tension among the Five Great Nations.

The Cloud, driven by its relentless ambition, had begun aggressive raids into the Land of Fire, targeting smaller villages near Lightning Country's border.

The Sand, weakened by political strife and dwindling resources, was seeking to reclaim its lost honor, pushing toward Konoha's frontlines with mercenary forces.

The Stone, ever pragmatic, was preparing to strike once Konoha was weakened from the other conflicts, their forces lying in wait like silent predators.

And the Mist, shrouded in blood and chaos, remained an unpredictable force, their civil unrest spilling over into external aggression.

It was no longer a matter of if war would happen.

War had already begun—the final trigger was merely a matter of time.

Konoha's Preparation—Forging a New Era of Power

In the underground war chambers, the highest-ranking figures of Konoha gathered—Hiruzen, Sakumo Hatake, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru, Mito, and Ryūsei himself.

A massive map of the Elemental Nations was spread before them, marked with battlefronts, enemy movements, and strategic points of interest.

Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, spoke first. "The clouds of war have thickened. Kumo's raids are becoming bolder. Suna has officially declared hostile intent. Iwa remains silent, but their silence is more dangerous than their words."

Sakumo Hatake, the White Fang, crossed his arms. "We must mobilize immediately. The longer we hesitate, the greater our disadvantage."

Jiraiya scoffed. "I'd bet my last bottle of sake that Iwa is waiting for us to weaken before making a move. They'll strike only when we're vulnerable."

Orochimaru, ever analytical, smirked. "Let them wait. They underestimate us. By the time they move, we will have evolved beyond their expectations."

Tsunade tapped her fingers against the table, her golden eyes narrowed. "What's our approach? Defense or preemptive strike?"

All eyes turned to Ryūsei.

He met their gazes, his presence radiating authority. His six-magatama Rinnegan shimmered, calculating every possibility.

"We will fight on our terms," he declared. "Kumo will be the first to be struck. Their raids must be answered with overwhelming force."

He pointed to the border between Fire and Lightning Country.

"I will personally lead a strike force against their strongest outposts. Destroy their morale before they can fully mobilize."

Mito, who had been silent until now, spoke with quiet wisdom. "And the Sand?"

Ryūsei's gaze hardened. "Suna's forces rely on mercenary support. Cut off their supply lines, eliminate their funding, and their war effort will collapse."

Orochimaru smiled. "And Iwa?"

Ryūsei's voice was cold. "We let them wait. But when they finally move, they will find themselves walking into a grave."

Tsunade smirked. "And the Mist?"

Ryūsei's Byakugan pulsed. "Mist is unpredictable. But they are divided. If we tip the balance, we can collapse their leadership from within."

Hiruzen nodded, exhaling slowly. "Then we prepare for war."

The Blood Purification Campaign Begins

Before they could march to war, Ryūsei had one more mission—strengthening Konoha's foundation.

The Blood Purification Campaign was launched.

Gathering the most talented researchers, including Orochimaru, Mito, and Tsunade, Ryūsei laid out the plan.

"For too long, our bloodlines have been weakened, scattered, and diluted. The power we should have inherited has been eroded by time. That ends now."

Using the Chakra Seed method that he and Mito had refined, they began working on purifying and restoring the bloodlines of Konoha's strongest clans.

The Uchiha, the Hyūga, the Senju remnants, even the overlooked bloodlines hiding within Konoha's civilian population—they would all be restored.

The First Transformation—The Uchiha Clan

The Uchiha were resistant at first.

Fugaku Uchiha, the clan leader, stood with his arms crossed, regarding Ryūsei with mistrust. "You're asking us to let you interfere with our bloodline? We are already the strongest."

Ryūsei stepped forward, his Rinnegan locking onto Fugaku's Sharingan.

"You call yourself strong?" His voice was cold. "Your Sharingan is incomplete. Your blood has thinned over generations. You do not even realize what you have lost."

Fugaku clenched his fists, but another voice interrupted.

"I'll do it."

Everyone turned to see Shisui Uchiha stepping forward, his eyes determined.

"If it means becoming stronger, I'll do it."

With Shisui as the first subject, Ryūsei infused his chakra with the purification process.

The transformation was immediate.

Shisui's Sharingan burned brighter, his chakra doubled, and he gasped as he felt something awaken deep in his blood.

He fell to his knees, panting, before slowly looking up—his Mangekyō Sharingan had evolved.

The Uchiha were silent.

Then, one by one, they stepped forward.

By the time the purification was done, the Uchiha Clan's strength had reached new heights.

The Hyūga Awakening

The Hyūga Clan was next.

Their Byakugan, though strong, had been restrained by their own traditions.

But once purified?

The Hyūga Elders trembled as they saw what their clan members had become—Byakugan so powerful they could see past dimensions, chakra flowing through their veins in perfect harmony.

Some even awakened golden Byakugan, an evolution long thought to be a myth.

The Future of Konoha—A New Era of Power

By the time the Blood Purification Campaign was completed, Konoha had changed forever.

The strong had become stronger.

The forgotten bloodlines had awakened.

The world was marching toward war—but now, Konoha stood ready.

And Ryūsei knew that this was only the beginning.

As he gazed at his people, he whispered under his breath.

"One hundred years… will be enough."