Thousands of miles away, in Konoha…
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, urgently summoned Root Chief Danzo.
"Tell me, what's going on here?"
Third Hokage slammed the document in his hand on the desktop and asked with a stern expression.
In his decades of political career, such an attitude is extremely rare.
Danzo slowly opened his only eye.
"What happened?"
His tone was extremely indifferent, and the crutch in his hand was firmly supported on the ground.
Third Hokage stared at him coldly.
"Stop pretending, Danzo."
"The front-line report states that Konoha's forces, led by Hanyu Simu, were attacked by Iwa Shinobi and Suna Shinobi in the Land of Rain."
"Not only that, even the leader of Amegakure, Hanzō of the Salamander, was involved in the attack on Konoha!"
"Don't tell me this matter has nothing to do with you."
Third Hokage's tone was as cold as frost, and he stared at Danzo.
It seems to find a little flaw in the old friend's old face.
Danzo seemed to have just woken up and replied casually:
"Oh, that? Konoha is at war with Iwa and Suna. Isn't it natural for our troops to be attacked?"
"Natural?"
Third Hokage was furious, glared at Danzo and said:
"If I recall correctly, you've had secret dealings with Hanzo, haven't you?"
With a calm expression, Danzo said lightly:
"A little bit, but you don't think I can control Hanzo's actions, do you?"
Third Hokage was suddenly speechless.
Although he knew that this thing should be done by Danzo.
But he has no proof!
The root is an independent individual among Konoha.
Even him, Hokage-sama, couldn't get involved.
Therefore, it is even more difficult to find evidence against Danzo.
Suspicion alone will never convict Danzo.
Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a deep sigh, sinking into his chair. His voice was heavy with sorrow.
"Two thousand Konoha shinobi… gone."
Danzo glanced at him, then finally spoke.
"Hiruzen, you've grown old… and too soft-hearted."
Leaning on his crutch, he walked toward the office window, gazing out over Konoha.
Beyond the village, the three great Hokage faces stood carved into the mountain.
"Two thousand ninjas—is that really such a high price for Konoha's future?"
Danzo turned back to the Third Hokage, his eyes sharp.
"I warned you about Hanyu Simu. Keeping him was a mistake."
"If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have fallen out with the Daimyo Mansion, and Konoha wouldn't have fallen into such a helpless situation."
"One country, one village is a system established by the first hokage. If he is allowed to continue like this, that system will be destroyed."
The Third Hokage fell silent.
Seeing that Sarutobi Hiruzen was silent, Danzo continued:
"Besides, many ninjas in the village now feel that you are getting old, and it's time for you to abdicate and run for a new Hokage."
Danzo finally threw out this big move.
As an old friend for decades.
Of course he knew what Sarutobi Hiruzen cared about most.
Not bad for trying to keep the peace in the village.
But everyone has selfishness, and Sarutobi Hiruzen's selfishness is his family and the position of Hokage.
Hiruzen had held the power of Hokage for decades.
Once someone is corrupted by power, letting go is nearly impossible.
Danzo tapped his cane against the floor.
"Hanyu Simu is just like Hatake Sakumo back then. Are you planning to hand him half the Hokage's robe?"
He turned his head to look at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"If Hanyu Simu becomes Hokage, do you think Konoha can maintain the balance as it is now?"
"Don't forget his three little 'girlfriends.' One from the Hyuga clan. One, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. And the last—the Uchiha clan leader's daughter."
"Do you think the Sarutobi clan can maintain their current status after he takes over?"
"Don't forget, he is a student of Jiraiya, I am afraid that even your political resources will be taken away by him."
Danzo's words made Sarutobi Hiruzen fall into deep thought.
If Simu is allowed to continue like this....
A trace of unwillingness flashed in his eyes.
Danzo had already walked slowly to the door of the office.
"With Ohnoki, Hanzo, and over 10,000 shinobi against him, there is no way Hanyu Simu survives."
After finishing speaking, he ignored Third Hokage's ugly face and walked out of the office.
In the huge office, only Third Hokage was left sitting alone.
As for all the Anbu ninjas around, they had been dispersed in advance by him.
He folded his hands, and the pipe in his mouth flickered on and off.
Finally, he spit out a cloud of smoke, and his eyes finally became firm.
"Simu, Simu… I never expected you to grow this fast."
Turning his back to the room, he looked out the window and murmured to himself:
"Everything I do… is for Konoha."
...
On the battlefield
Dazzling white light enveloped everything.
The entire battlefield fell into silence.
Even the Suna Shinobi troops and Iwa Shinobi troops in the distance stopped to watch this scene like a natural disaster.
At this time, the Iwa Shinobi army has been devastated.
Even with 5,000 ninjas, handling three Tailed Beasts at once was an overwhelming task.
Of course, under the relentless attacks of the Iwa Shinobi, even the Tailed Beasts had suffered heavy damage.
Two-Tails saw the rising mushroom cloud in the distance, and a familiar fear crept over it, A fear it hadn't felt since facing Simu years ago.
Five-Tails Kokuō stood still and murmured,
"Simu-sama reminds me of that man."
Two-Tails nodded in agreement,
"Even a Tailed Beast Bomb might not cause such destruction."
Four-Tails crushed an Iwa Shinobi into the ground with a single punch.
Though it resented being used as a Summoning Beast, it had to admit Simu's power was beyond their reach.
The devastating shockwave from the explosion tore through the battlefield, whipping up hurricanes that ravaged the land.
Exhausted ninjas were flung away like ragdolls.
As the massive ball of light faded,
a towering mushroom cloud slowly rose into the sky
Leaving a terrifying abyss hundreds of meters wide on the ground.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the abyss.
The lingering smoke slowly dispersed with the wind, revealing a shadowy figure.
As the dust settled, thin streaks of light traced his form.
"No way... even after that explosion..."
Suna and Iwa Shinobi watched in disbelief.
Simu stood tall, his mace planted firmly in the ground, his foot pressing down on the dying Hanzo.
His golden pupils gleamed from the depths of the crater.
The demigod is dead!
He is the new God of this world!
The audience was silent, only Simu stood in the center of the abyss.
It is also the center of the whole world now!
After a long time, Konoha's ninjas let out passionate shouts.
"Simu-sama is invincible!"
"Simu-sama! Simu-sama!"
"Hanzo is dead! Follow Master Simu and defeat these Ame Shinobi!"
The morale of Konoha's ninjas was greatly boosted.
Even Aburame Shibi, Simu's deputy, couldn't help but be shaken.
"This guy... he's terrifying."
The remaining Konoha Shinobi, thousands strong, felt their morale surge. With renewed vigor, they raised their weapons and charged at the Ame Shinobi.
Katsuyu, the Immortal Slug, clung to them, continuously releasing medical ninjutsu—healing wounds, restoring strength, and keeping them in the fight.
Meanwhile, the Ame Shinobi stood frozen.
From the moment they saw Hanzo crushed underfoot, their fate was sealed.
"Impossible..."
"Hanzo-sama is the god of the Land of Rain! How could he lose?"
Their voices trembled with disbelief.
To them, Hanzo wasn't just a leader—he was a legend.
The man who defied the Great Nations in the Second Ninja World War.
The protector of Amegakure
Other villages called him a demigod—but to the Ame Shinobi, he was a true god.
And now, their god had fallen.
With their faith shattered, they stood no chance.
Against the shout, battle-hardened Konoha troops, it became a one-sided massacre.
"As expected… it's still not enough."
Onoki hovered in the air, his face grim.
Below, Simu stood in the abyss, lifting his head slowly. The dragon scales on his body were scorched black, a trickle of blood running from the corner of his mouth.
The explosion had been a light-based attack—something even his elementalization couldn't fully negate.
Ironically, the most serious injury he had suffered in this world had been from his own attack.
Simu flexed his arms and rolled his shoulders.
"You're next, old man."
He crouched slightly, gathering power.
But before he could move—
Onoki immediately shot upward, retreating into the sky without hesitation.
"So decisive?"
Simu paused for a moment, genuinely surprised.
He hadn't expected the mighty Tsuchikage to flee so quickly.
Especially after Iwa Shinobi had sent 5,000 troops and two tailed beasts to crush Konoha in revenge.
Onoki's voice echoed from above.
"Iwa Shinobi troops, retreat!"
There was no other choice. He had teamed up with Hanzo, yet they had still been overwhelmed.
Now, Hanzo was dead, and he was the only one left. Facing Simu alone was impossible.
Sure, he could gamble—bet that Simu, badly injured by his own explosion, was only putting on a show.
But he wouldn't take that risk.
Iwa Shinobi wasn't like Konoha.
If the Hokage fell, the Sannin or others could take his place.
But in Iwa, there was no one else.
His remaining Explosion Style ninja had been wiped out, and his son, Kitsuchi, had been brutally killed by Simu.
If he lost here, Iwa Shinobi would collapse.
And without Iwa's strength, even the Land of Earth's position as a great nation would be in jeopardy.
Onoki gritted his teeth.
He had no choice but to abandon his troops and flee.
.
.
TO BE CONTINUED
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