Chapter 74: The Shadow of War Grows

The world was on the brink of disaster.

Konoha's overwhelming response to Kumo's aggression had shaken the very foundation of the ninja world. Where once nations waged war for power, now they fought for survival.

The brutal annihilation of Kumo's vanguard left an undeniable truth—Ryūsei Ōtsutsuki was not a shinobi to be measured by ordinary standards.

Suna hesitated. Iwa grew wary. Kiri remained a silent predator lurking in the mist.

But Ryūsei and Konoha had no intention of waiting for their enemies to come to them. This war would be waged on their terms.

Kumo's Retaliation – The Wrath of the Raikage

Lightning flickered outside the Raikage's war chamber, illuminating the storm of rage and grief inside.

With a thunderous crash, the Raikage slammed his fist into the stone wall, sending cracks splintering through it. The force of his fury shook the room.

His breath was ragged, his chest rising and falling with barely contained wrath. His gaze bore down on the trembling jonin before him.

"How many casualties?" his voice rumbled, low and menacing.

The jonin swallowed, visibly struggling to meet his Kage's eyes. "…All of them."

A suffocating silence settled over the chamber.

"All of them?" the Raikage repeated, his voice dangerously soft—too soft for a man known for his explosive temperament.

The jonin clenched his fists. "Ryūsei Ōtsutsuki… he wiped out our entire forward force. There were no survivors."

Another shinobi stepped forward, his expression dark with disbelief. "Lord Raikage… it was a single man who did it all. One man. His power is beyond comprehension."

The words hung heavy in the air.

Ryūsei wasn't just another powerful shinobi.

He was a walking calamity.

The Raikage's teeth ground together, his muscles taut with unrelenting fury. "Then we strike back." His voice was steel. "Summon every available elite force. We will drown Konoha in thunder and blood."

The war had only begun.

Suna's Doubt – The Kazekage's Dilemma

Far to the west, the sands of Sunagakure carried whispers of war.

Inside the Kazekage's office, a heavy silence loomed over the gathered council. The reports of Kumo's catastrophic defeat sat on the table, untouched, yet their presence carried an unbearable weight.

The Kazekage leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled as he stared at the name written in bold letters.

Ryūsei Ōtsutsuki.

A single man had annihilated an entire army.

One of his advisors shifted uneasily. "Kazekage-sama, if we continue this war, we will eventually have to face him."

Another hesitated before speaking. "Perhaps… we should consider negotiating with Konoha. If Ryūsei is truly as powerful as these reports claim…"

The Kazekage's eyes darkened.

"Are you suggesting we surrender?"

Silence.

"No," the Kazekage finally said. "We have already chosen our path. There is no turning back."

Yet deep inside, doubt gnawed at his soul.

Had they made a grave mistake?

The Hidden Stone's Gambit – Iwa's Silent Scheme

In the mountains of Iwagakure, the ever-calculating Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, watched the world burn.

Unlike Kumo and Suna, Iwa did not act rashly. They observed. They waited.

Sitting in his dimly lit office, the old Kage smirked. "Let Konoha and Kumo tear each other apart," he mused. "Once they are weakened, we will crush them both."

It was a simple, ruthless strategy. Bide their time. Strike when the world least expected it.

But for all his wisdom, Ōnoki failed to realize one thing.

Ryūsei was already aware of his plan.

And he had no intention of letting Iwa watch from the sidelines.

The Next Step – Ryūsei's Decision

High above the sleeping village of Konoha, Ryūsei stood atop the Hokage Monument, the wind tousling his white hair as his gaze pierced the darkness.

His Byakugan and Rinnegan shifted, scanning the lands beyond.

100 years.

That was all they had before the true enemy arrived.

The ninja world could not remain divided.

The shinobi nations could not be allowed to waste time fighting among themselves while oblivion crept toward them.

This war was inevitable.

But Ryūsei would control it. Dominate it.

"It's time to move."

The Meeting with Hiruzen

Inside the Hokage's Office, the weight of the world pressed upon the leaders of Konoha.

Hiruzen exhaled deeply, listening to the man before him. Across from him, Ryūsei's golden eyes burned with resolve.

"So," the Hokage murmured, "you want to strike first?"

Ryūsei nodded. "We cannot sit back and allow Kumo to dictate the pace of this war. They are already mobilizing. If we wait, we lose the initiative."

Hiruzen steepled his fingers. "It's a dangerous gamble."

"It's the only option," Ryūsei replied firmly. "The longer this drags on, the harder it will be to unify the world. We have to end this war before it truly begins."

Tsunade, standing nearby, folded her arms. "If we do this, there's no turning back."

"There never was," Ryūsei said simply.

A heavy silence settled in the room.

Then, finally, Hiruzen nodded.

"Do it."

Konoha's Next Strike – The Night Raid

That night, the shadows of Konoha came to life.

A silent army moved through the darkness, their steps precise, their presence invisible to all but the most trained shinobi.

Ryūsei led them—Sakumo, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Tsunade—each one a legend in their own right.

Their target: Kumo's war headquarters.

Their mission: Erase it from existence.

Beneath the moonlit sky, Ryūsei's golden Rinnegan gleamed with divine power.

The wind whispered through the trees.

The storm of war had arrived.

And Konoha would emerge victorious.