Shinigami in the Ninja World

The Land of Iron

Inside a grand ballroom, several daimyo gathered, chatting and laughing.

"Despite a few holdouts, most cooperated beautifully," said the Daimyo of the Land of Wind, clearly pleased. Though the Land of Wind was the weakest in terms of national power, it had performed the best in this campaign, supplying the most soldiers and, ironically, the most corpses for resources.

Unlike the Land of Fire…

They stubbornly guarded their graves, refusing to yield.

The Daimyo of the Land of Fire shifted uncomfortably. "Once this is over, it's time to clean house," he muttered. "We've been too lenient for too many years."

The other daimyo chuckled.

"I can't understand what those who refused to serve were thinking," scoffed the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning, raising his glass. "This was the perfect opportunity to demonstrate loyalty, and yet they squandered it for no reason."

"A sixteen-year-old boy, no matter how strong, could hardly be more powerful than... what was his name again?" He leaned toward the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. "Who was it?"

It was the most humiliating chapter for his family.

During Hashirama Senju's lifetime, it had to be acknowledged that the status of the "Kage" was equivalent to that of a daimyo.

But…

That man was so naive that a mere empty promise had deceived him into loyally serving the daimyo's family.

"A sixteen-year-old stronger than him? Impossible," the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning laughed heartily.

The other three daimyo joined in, chuckling.

In the past, it hadn't been so easy to make fun of this man.

He raised his glass to take a sip.

Suddenly, with a loud crash, a samurai burst into the room, stumbling and crawling, his face pale with panic. "Bad news."

"We've lost."

"We've lost!"

The Daimyo of the Land of Lightning's hand trembled, spilling wine all over the Daimyo of the Land of Water, who sat across from him.

"What do you mean, lost?" The Daimyo of the Land of Earth turned his head, frowning arrogantly at the samurai. "And you dare bring this to us in this state?"

The samurai knelt on one knee and lowered his head. "The first battle against Naruto Uzumaki… we've already lost."

The Daimyo of the Land of Lightning's hand shook again, causing his cup to fall onto the table, wobble, and roll off.

"When did the fighting start?" The Daimyo of the Land of Fire asked, bewildered.

How could this be…

He knew nothing about it.

Hadn't the call to arms just been issued? Weren't the first wave of ninja only just arriving? Hadn't they just started enjoying themselves in the Land of Iron, without even giving orders yet? ℟Ἀ₦ỐBЕ§

Could the ninja have dared to act without orders, taking matters into their own hands?

"Just now." The samurai kept his head down, his voice tinged with bitterness. "I only received the intelligence a short while ago."

"Kabuto-sama said..."

"He already sent the Edo Tensei army to intercept them, and we should just wait for the good news."

He paused, his tone becoming incredulous.

"But as I was preparing to bring you that good news…"

"He suddenly told me that the Edo Tensei army had been completely defeated."

The samurai lifted his head.

His face was even more confused than those of the daimyo.

The contrast was too stark.

Three minutes ago, he had received the "we are about to win" news; three minutes later, he wore a mournful, utterly devastated expression, saying "total defeat."

"Useless! Incompetent!" The Daimyo of the Land of Lightning slammed the table in rage.

The Daimyo of the Land of Earth frowned: "How could Naruto Uzumaki be here?"

The samurai couldn't help but show a brief look of disdain but quickly lowered his head again: "The order to attack has been issued, so Naruto Uzumaki could see it."

"He…"

"He naturally came looking for us."

The Daimyo of the Land of Water's eyes widened: "How dare he?"

The samurai remained silent.

How dare he?

Of course, he dares. He's incredibly powerful, and even the combined strength of the famous historical figures in the Edo Tensei army isn't enough to defeat him.

He doesn't care about the title of "daimyo."

"What do we do now?" The Daimyo of the Land of Fire asked in a panic, clearly flustered. "Can our forces still stop him?"

The samurai reminded them: "The Allied Ninja Forces are still waiting for your orders."

It was only then that they reacted.

"Hurry! Send out all the ninja!" the Daimyo of the Land of Fire urged. "We must not let him reach us."

The samurai responded affirmatively.

After he left, the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning realized something: "Shouldn't we keep a squad of ninja to protect ourselves?"

The daimyo were stunned.

"Have Kabuto and that other one—the long-haired guy—come to protect us," the Daimyo of the Land of Earth ordered, pounding the table.

An attendant responded and hurriedly ran off to fetch them.

A few minutes later, he returned.

But no one was with him.

"Where are they?" The Daimyo of the Land of Fire asked, leaning forward expectantly.

"Kabuto-sama said… he needs to focus on controlling the Edo Tensei and has no extra energy to protect you," the attendant replied cautiously.

The Daimyo of the Land of Lightning frowned: "But what about the other one?"

The attendant's voice became even more careful: "Madara-sama…"

"He didn't give any opinion; he just drove me away."

In truth, Madara's response wasn't so mild. Upon hearing the daimyo's order, he simply said "Get lost" in a cold voice.

The attendant had no choice but to comply.

The man radiated a killing intent.

Disobeying him would have meant certain death.

"What does this mean?" The Daimyo of the Land of Earth couldn't help but stand up, his body trembling. "Why aren't they coming?"

"Without them, who will protect us?"

"This is an order from the daimyo."

The attendant remained silent, not knowing what to say.

The daimyo were left disheartened.

The cold refusals from those two had made them vaguely realize something.

It seemed that…

Things were getting out of their control.

### Outside the Capital of the Land of Iron

The Allied Ninja Forces were gathering.

The "Sensory Division" was on high alert, ready to detect any trace of "Naruto Uzumaki."

But their jutsu was no match for the human eye.

Instead, it was the "Taijutsu Division" that first spotted him: "Naruto Uzumaki has appeared!"

"And with him are…"

The ninja who called out was panic-stricken: "Uchiha and Hyūga!"

The massive army stirred.

"Are these the ninja that the daimyo brought from the villages?" Neji Hyūga asked calmly. "With chakra like this…"

"There are hardly any worth noting."

Sasuke Uchiha's tone was icy: "How many would willingly die for the daimyo?"

"Naruto doesn't even need to lift a finger."

"I can handle this alone."

His Sharingan spun, chakra surging.

He activated the "Susanoo" once again.

A giant purple figure rose into the sky, soaring toward the army.

"Quick, combine our jutsu!" A jōnin waved, giving orders.

The ninja in the Ninjutsu Division quickly formed seals.

"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique."

From the mouths of thousands of ninja, long tongues of flame surged, gathering together in a massive orange wave that rushed toward the figure in the sky.

The momentum was overwhelming.

But…

Sasuke Uchiha sneered: "Using Fire Release in front of the Uchiha clan."

"You've got guts."

He halted in midair, spreading his arms and drawing his longbow.

The "Amaterasu flames" coalesced on the bowstring, forming in an instant.

A moment later.

With a sharp "whoosh," the arrow shot forth.

Despite Susanoo's enormous size, the arrow was only a few dozen meters long, thick as a spear.

But…

Even against the fire release of thousands, it seemed insignificant.

However, the power of "ninjutsu" isn't always determined by its size.

As the Amaterasu flames burned, they incinerated the "fire wave" upon contact.

Like a shooting star, it pierced through.

The ninja panicked, trying to dodge, but when the arrow shot toward them, they suddenly realized that this seemingly small arrow was actually immense in scale.

In a single shot.

The people died, and the city fell.

With that one strike.

The will of the Allied Ninja Forces wavered.

Most of them weren't really that enthusiastic about fighting; they had simply been taught that ninja must follow orders. Although many of their comrades had made decisions contrary to what a ninja should do, those who came here were proud of their "ninja" identity and their ability to follow the daimyo's orders.

Sasuke Uchiha showed no mercy.

He drew his bow again, releasing a second arrow.

But…

A figure suddenly appeared before the arrow, arms outstretched.

In his palms, red talismans flashed with a sinister light.

The black flames of Amaterasu flickered but did not burn him. Instead, they were absorbed into the talisman.

Absorbed?

Sasuke Uchiha narrowed his eyes.

He looked at the man wrapped in bandages.

What kind of technique is this?

In the next moment, the talisman glowed, and the man raised his hand, reforming the black Amaterasu arrow and using it for himself.

Using his legs, waist, and arms for strength.

He hurled it back at Sasuke.

This is my own ability; how could it possibly harm me?

Sasuke didn't move.

"Blaze Release: Kagutsuchi."

The arrow swirled and then dissipated into nothingness in midair.

"Who are you?" he asked. "I don't recall hearing of anyone like you from any ninja village."

The response did not come from the man himself.

Instead, it came from Orochimaru, who had been trying to keep a low profile since arriving in the Land of Iron.

He stepped out from behind Naruto, grinning: "It's been a long time, my friend."

"Hiruko."

The man's voice was calm as he responded: "It's you, Orochimaru."

"Didn't expect to meet you here."

"Hehe, how nice."

"I have a lot to talk about with you."

He took a step forward, tilting his head: "I heard you're researching the technique of immortality."

"And I also heard you wanted to obtain the 'Sharingan.'"

"But to think the great Orochimaru hasn't accomplished either."

Orochimaru licked his lips: "Are you mocking me?"

"No, I'm boasting," Hiruko shook his head, exuding an air of overwhelming arrogance. "All the things you dreamed of."

"Whether immortality."

"Or the Sharingan."

"I now have them all."

He widened his eyes, which were already red, and as they spun, they grew even more crimson.

Tomoe patterns rotated, and the "Three Tomoe Sharingan" gradually emerged.

"Look," Hiruko raised his hand high, his expression twisted. "My secret technique is complete."

"Now no one can stand against me."

~~~

Sure, Hiruoko...

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