Konoha.
Hokage Conference Room.
When Kyusei stepped into this long-unvisited room once again, he couldn't help but feel a sense of change.
In less than a year, the Third Shinobi World War had begun with the assassination of the Tsuchikage's daimyo and ended with the world split into two opposing poles.
Now, when he returned—
Sarutobi Hiruzen, who once commanded the room, was gone.
Tsunade was absent due to pregnancy.
Hatake Sakumo had fallen to enemy sches.
But in their place, new figures had appeared.
Nao, who had awakened the Tenseigan.
And Uchiha Sasuke, the so-called playboy, who had taken the initiative to join.
Kaoru, personally designated by Hiruzen as the future Fourth Hokage, sat firmly at the head of the table.
Kyusei sat to her left, followed by Jiraiya and Orochimaru.
On her right were Nao, Sasuke, and nma.
At the far end sat Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.
The seating arrangent alone spoke volus.
Kaoru had inherited Hiruzen's political legacy perfectly.
But more than that—
It reflected the current truth of the shinobi world.
Power was everything.
No matter how skilled Koharu and Homura were politically, in the face of absolute strength, it ant nothing.
"Everyone."
Kaoru cleared her throat slightly, looking at the strongest forces Konoha had to offer.
Koharu and Homura sat quietly, eyes closed.
The situation was already clear. Whether they liked it or not, they were stepping out of the political stage.
With Tsunade and the Nine-Tails jinchūriki backing her, Kaoru could ignore them entirely.
Kyusei sat calmly, waiting.
Everything had already been discussed beforehand.
"I believe everyone here is familiar with the Dragon Vein."
Kaoru got straight to the point.
She unfurled a scroll onto the table.
A detailed map appeared.
"This is…?" Jiraiya frowned, looking at the unfamiliar yet structured layout.
Kaoru looked at him.
"This is Konoha's new city plan."
Then, without hesitation, she said,
"I plan to demolish Konoha and rebuild it."
"…What?!"
Jiraiya stared at her in disbelief.
She hadn't even officially taken office yet—and she wanted to tear down Konoha?
"I've calculated everything," Kaoru said calmly. "With Konoha's current funds and the compensation from the Land of Water, rebuilding is entirely feasible."
"That's not the issue!" Jiraiya said sharply. "Do you even realize what you're doing?"
Rebuilding Konoha wasn't a small project.
Handled poorly, it could cause chaos.
Clan territories, internal conflicts—especially the Uchiha clan.
And most importantly—
"Why?" Jiraiya asked seriously. "Why rebuild Konoha?"
Kyusei frowned slightly.
Why ask this here, in front of everyone?
Couldn't he wait until she finished?
Kaoru remained unaffected.
"The Dragon Vein connects to other worlds."
"It cannot remain in Akatsuki's hands."
She paused.
"The significance of that should be obvious."
Jiraiya fell silent.
"So you plan to move the Dragon Vein here?" Orochimaru asked, pointing to the empty central area on the map.
"Yes."
"With the Dragon Vein, we gain access to other worlds."
"Resources. Cooperation. Even military support if needed."
Everyone glanced at Sasuke.
He was already proof of that.
"Akatuki has already shown its ambition," Kaoru continued. "They instigated the Third War. The Second War was also tied to Agakure."
"They are not a stable force."
"And the Dragon Vein is located in the Land of Wind."
"Which is under Akatsuki."
"That is unacceptable."
Silence fell.
Then Koharu spoke.
"Even so… isn't this too sudden? The war has only just ended…"
"What if Akatsuki reacts?"
Bang!
Kyusei slamd his hand on the table.
His gaze was cold.
"Elder Koharu, have you ever heard of boiling a frog?"
Her expression darkened.
"…Explain."
Kyusei smiled faintly.
"If we do nothing, we're the frog."
"The temperature rises slowly."
"By the ti we realize the danger, it's too late."
"Surely you understand sothing that simple?"
Koharu's face turned red with anger—but Homura stopped her.
Jiraiya sighed.
"Well… even if that's true, Kyusei, you don't have to—"
"Jiraiya, be quiet."
Kyusei cut him off directly.
"…Fine."
Orochimaru smirked slightly, clearly uninterested in the argunt.
"What's the plan?"
He only cared about one thing.
That Yin-Yang technique Kyusei ntioned.
Kaoru continued imdiately.
"Kyusei will enter first using my Flying Thunder God marker."
"He will destroy any Yin-Yang barriers."
"The enemy's known forces include Uchiha Hikaru, Uchiha Yuma, and Haruno Sakura."
"Yuma relies on Yin-Yang techniques, but is manageable if we're cautious."
"He must be eliminated imdiately."
"Uchiha Hikaru has mory manipulation abilities."
"She will be handled by Kyusei."
This had already been decided.
Only Kyusei's ability could avoid direct contact.
"Haruno Sakura…"
"I'll handle her," Sasuke said calmly.
Kaoru nodded.
"Agreed."
"But…"
Her expression grew serious.
"There is one more person."
The atmosphere shifted.
"Uzumaki Nagato."
Jiraiya shot to his feet.
"That's impossible!"
"Sit down, sensei," Kaoru said quietly.
Orochimaru pulled him back down.
"…Sorry."
Kaoru continued.
"He possesses the Rinnegan."
Shock spread across the room.
"The Rinnegan grants him the following abilities…"
She listed them one by one.
Summoning creatures with shared vision.
Soul extraction.
Absorbing all ninjutsu.
chanical weapons.
Gravitational control.
Immunity to genjutsu.
Mastery of all chakra natures.
Imnse chakra reserves.
And—
Reviving the dead.
Silence.
This wasn't a person.
It was a monster.
Even Kaoru had been stunned when she first heard it.
How do you fight sothing like that?
"Nagato will be handled by Nao, nma, and Orochimaru."
nma's expression froze.
He was confident—
But not stupid.
Against that?
Even he felt the pressure.
Nao, he acknowledged.
But Orochimaru?
"…What exactly is he supposed to do?"
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