"Shinho."
Jiraiya suddenly thought of something and asked, "Have Kumogakure and Iwagakure already been defeated?"
At his words, Hyūga Hiashi and the others instinctively turned to look at Shinho.
They had all suspected as much.
But a suspicion was just that, a suspicion. Until they received a definite answer, anything could still happen.
"That's right."
Shinho nodded and replied with a smile.
For a few seconds, everyone was stunned, and then, almost in unison, they erupted in excitement.
Since the founding of Konoha, this was the first time they had achieved such a terrifying victory in a Shinobi World War.
"Lord Hokage!"
Someone shouted.
Instantly, cheers erupted all around.
"As expected of the man I set my sights on!"
Ino stared intensely at Shinho, finding him more handsome and captivating than ever.
She unconsciously pressed her legs together, a blush spreading across her beautiful face.
Compared to Ino's bold and open admiration, Hinata was quietly stealing glances at him.
She clenched the hem of her clothes, recalling the battle just now, and let out a small sigh of relief.
She hadn't embarrassed him.
All of her Gu, her Snow Fairy Gu and others, came from Shinho. She didn't want to disappoint him.
In stark contrast to the jubilant Konoha shinobi was Terumi Mei.
The composed and mature Mizukage made no effort to conceal her emotions, she looked utterly defeated.
After a moment, Shinho raised his hand, and the cheers stopped instantly.
After this battle, his prestige had reached its peak, rivaling even that of Hashirama Senju.
"Uncle Shikaku, take a team to clean up the battlefield," Shinho instructed.
"Understood!"
Shikaku responded, then allowed himself a rare smile.
The battle was decided. As Konoha's chief strategist, he no longer needed to keep up a stern front.
The Konoha Fortress slowly descended.
"Terumi Mei."
Shinho turned to the silent Fifth Mizukage.
She instinctively lifted her head.
"You know what you have to do now, don't you?"
His tone was calm. "The lives of more than two thousand Kirigakure shinobi depend on your decision."
Terumi Mei's heart trembled as she thought of Chōjūrō and the others.
This was undoubtedly a threat.
But… it was one she could not refuse.
"Surrender to Konoha, and Kirigakure can continue to exist," Shinho said, half-truthfully.
Kirigakure would indeed continue to exist, but only with fifty shinobi.
His plan was the same as what he had done with Amegakure and other villages before.
Leaving them a sliver of hope to pacify their emotions.
This way, Konoha would have the time to assimilate them one by one.
Eventually, the only fate awaiting them was complete absorption.
To unify the shinobi world, the best approach was to take down one village at a time.
But due to various unforeseen events, the Anti-Konoha Alliance had formed, forcing Shinho to adapt accordingly.
"…Fine."
Terumi Mei gritted her teeth, then, after a few seconds, slumped in defeat. "Kirigakure will no longer resist."
With a tremor, the Konoha Fortress landed smoothly on the island.
Terumi Mei and Zabuza leaped down, heading toward Chōjūrō and the others.
"Lord Hokage!"
The Aburame Unit's twenty-two shinobi shouted in unison.
Hyūga Hiashi and the others couldn't help but scrutinize them.
They had known of the Aburame Unit, but what shocked them was their sheer power.
Just twenty-two shinobi had taken down a camp of five thousand.
It was nothing short of a miracle!
One thing was certain, the Aburame Clan would soon rise to become Konoha's most powerful clan.
Previously, despite producing a Hokage, the Aburame were often considered lacking in true combat strength.
But now, their strength was undeniable, and naturally, their status would rise accordingly.
"You all did well," Shinho paused before saying, "Return to the fortress and get medical treatment."
Even with Sage Mode, their numbers had been at a disadvantage, and all of them bore some injuries.
Aburame Shino nodded and led the unit back to the Konoha Fortress.
Without Shinho's orders, medical ninjas were already rushing to treat them.
"What a brutal battle."
Jiraiya looked over the Kirigakure camp and couldn't help but sigh.
First, it had been devastated by kikaichu bugs and Explosive Insects.
Then, it had been trampled by the Six-Tails and Gamabunta's Toad squad.
The camp was now unrecognizable.
More accurately, it resembled a scene from a hell of molten lava.
Charred earth stretched in every direction, littered with mangled corpses.
"This is war."
Shinho paused before continuing, "But after this, there will be no more."
"I look forward to it."
Jiraiya snapped out of his thoughts and smiled.
Shinho was indeed qualified to say such words.
With Konoha's victory and his overwhelming strength, the future of the shinobi world was now in his hands.
But… why wasn't he the Child of Prophecy?
Jiraiya couldn't help but start doubting the Great Toad Sage's prophecy.
Just how extraordinary and powerful would the real Child of Prophecy have to be to surpass Shinho?
"I'm going to talk to them for a moment."
Jiraiya turned and walked toward Gamabunta and Gamahiro.
…
Shinho glanced around.
Everyone was busy cleaning up the battlefield, leaving him with nothing to do.
At that moment, words materialized before his eyes.
His heart stirred.
It was here!
His favorite moment.
What kind of achievements and rewards would he receive this time?
[Achievement Unlocked: "I Am Destiny Itself." Reward: Break Luck Gu Gu.]
[Break Luck Gu: A Rank Six Immortal Gu, can be used in conjunction with Connect Luck Gu. As luck flows like the tide, rising and falling unpredictably. It must be severed at the right moment to maintain stability.]
Shinho raised an eyebrow.
So, it came as a set?
Both the achievement name and the reward were closely related to his previous achievement.
Break Luck Gu, as the name implied, allowed him to cut off the luck of specific targets.
Used alongside Connect Luck Gu, it would ensure that Shinho never experienced misfortune.
A highly practical ability.
[Achievement Unlocked: "Six-Tailed Rhino Hound's 'No Honor in Battle'." Reward: Cleanse Soul Immortal Gu.]
[Cleanse Soul Immortal Gu: A Rank Six Immortal Gu, of the Soul Path, capable of refining and strengthening the soul, expelling impure soul fragments from the body.]
Shinho's eyes gleamed.
This was a treasure!
In the shinobi world, soul-related ninjutsu was extremely rare.
Similarly, soul-path Gu was just as scarce.
Its effect was straightforward, refining and enhancing his soul.
Shinho stroked his chin.
He thought about the Pure Land.
He had coveted it for a while.
With so many souls and chakra present, there was an endless list of things he could accomplish.
However, one thing always puzzled him.
Did the souls in the Pure Land never reincarnate?
Based on the original series, it seemed like souls remained in the Pure Land forever.
[Achievement Unlocked: "Shino Aburame's Revival of the Clan's Glory." Reward: Beast Slave Gu.]
[Beast Slave Gu: A Rank Six Immortal Gu, of the Enslavement Path, capable of controlling all beasts.]
Shinho let out a small "Oh?"
So this achievement was finally completed?
Though the reward felt a bit underwhelming.
Currently, the only beasts in the shinobi world worth controlling were the Three Great Sacred Lands.
Among them, Ryūchi Cave had already submitted.
It was unnecessary to control the Shikkotsu Forest's Lady Katsuyu.
That left Mount Myōboku, but he wasn't particularly fond of toads.
Still, since he had it now, he'd keep it. It might come in handy one day.
At that moment, footsteps approached him.
Shinho instinctively turned his head.
"Lord Hokage."
Terumi Mei bowed slightly and said, "I've explained everything to them."
Behind her stood Chōjūrō, Haku, and the remaining Kirigakure shinobi.
Many among them failed to suppress their emotions, their eyes filled with hatred.
Shinho, however, was not angered.
When one reached a certain level of strength, there was no need to argue with the weak.
He retrieved a scroll and handed it to Terumi Mei.
"Follow the instructions inside," he said casually. "There is no room for negotiation."
Terumi Mei pressed her lips together before anxiously unrolling the scroll.
As her eyes moved across the words, her expression kept shifting.
There was confusion, resentment…
Kirigakure would be reduced to only fifty shinobi?
Terumi Mei sighed.
What could she do?
Nothing.
Her only option was to wait.
Just like how Hashirama Senju had suddenly died at the peak of his power.
"One month from now, we will hold the Konoha Summit."
Shinho thought for a moment before saying, "Kirigakure may attend."
One month…
Terumi Mei pondered.
At the summit, more details would likely be revealed.
Because the scroll lacked information about certain key things.
For example, Tailed Beasts and Jinchūriki.
Would Shinho redistribute them, like Hashirama once did?
But Terumi Mei had a bad feeling.
Because Shinho was nothing like Hashirama Senju.
Especially in how he handled the nations behind the shinobi villages.
No matter how she thought about it, she would only know the truth when the time came.
Terumi Mei gripped the scroll tightly, lost in thought.
For now, her biggest challenge was how to pacify Kirigakure's shinobi and make them accept this arrangement.
She knew that some would rather die than submit.
…
Time passed.
The Kirigakure camp was now fully cleared.
The wounded shinobi had all been transported to the Konoha Fortress.
It was time to depart.
But due to the sheer number of people, they had to split into two groups.
Shinho, Jiraiya, and several others boarded the Konoha Fortress.
Meanwhile, Shikaku led the remaining shinobi forces back to Konoha via the original route.
…
When Gamabunta and Gamahiro returned, they stumbled upon a group of toads tending to Gamaken's injuries.
Fukasaku and Shima stood nearby, waiting for the results.
Hearing the commotion, they instinctively looked up and saw Gamabunta and Gamahiro.
"It's over?"
Fukasaku scrutinized them.
Compared to the unlucky Gamaken, neither of them bore any obvious injuries.
"What a shame! You didn't get to see us three brothers beat the Six-Tails to a pulp!"
Gamahiro boasted proudly.
"It was all thanks to the Aburame Clan's help."
Gamabunta, being the more composed of the two, didn't claim credit.
"The Aburame Clan?"
Fukasaku asked, puzzled. "How could they possibly help?"
It wasn't that he looked down on the Aburame Clan, rather, it was because Tailed Beasts were simply too powerful.
Most shinobi could do nothing against them.
"Because of Sage Mode."
Gamabunta sighed, still in awe. "The Kikaichu bugs they raise have actually developed a fourth type of Sage Mode, and it's incredibly strong."
"Kikaichu bugs? Sage Mode?"
Fukasaku froze.
That description sounded eerily familiar.
"Pa."
Shima suddenly blurted out, "Could it be... they're the clan from the Great Toad Sage's prophecy?!"
At her words, Fukasaku jolted as if struck by lightning.
A chilling sensation crept through him.
It did sound exactly like the prophecy about the Fourth Great Sacred Land that would destroy Mount Myōboku.
"What prophecy?"
Gamabunta noticed their strange reactions and asked curiously.
The prophecy concerned the destruction of Mount Myōboku. To prevent panic, only the three Toad Sages and Jiraiya knew about it.
Gamabunta, despite his high status, was still beneath Fukasaku and Shima.
"Explain everything in detail."
Fukasaku's voice turned serious.
Gamabunta, sensing the gravity of the situation, didn't dare be careless. He relayed the full account of what had happened.
Fukasaku fell silent.
The Kikaichu bug Sage Mode wasn't as refined as the Sage Modes of the Three Great Sacred Lands.
But they had only just begun.
Meanwhile, the Three Great Sacred Lands had been around for over a thousand years.
If given enough time, the Kikaichu bugs might surpass them.
"What exactly is this prophecy?"
Gamabunta pressed again.
"I'll explain after I meet the Great Toad Sage."
Fukasaku shook his head. "For now, just watch over Gamaken."
He then turned and headed toward the depths of Mount Myōboku.
Gamabunta and Gamahiro exchanged glances.
What prophecy could possibly make Fukasaku so wary?
Besides, Konoha, Mount Myōboku's ally, was on the verge of unifying the shinobi world.
…
"Great Toad Sage?"
Fukasaku entered the temple, startled by what he saw.
Today, the Great Toad Sage wasn't sleeping.
Instead, he was sitting in his chair, reading a scroll.
"Fukasaku."
The Great Toad Sage tossed the scroll to him.
Fukasaku caught it and unrolled it.
His brows furrowed deeply as a sense of discomfort washed over him.
The contents of the scroll were simple.
It stated that Ryūchi Cave had fully mobilized to assist Konoha against Iwagakure.
Even stranger was the fact that they had suddenly signed contracts with dozens of new summoners.
Fukasaku knew Ryūchi Cave well.
Something like this should have been impossible.
The Three Great Sacred Lands only chose the absolute best shinobi as summoners.
Even over a thousand years, they never selected more than a few dozen.
Moreover, the snakes of Ryūchi Cave were notoriously selfish, they never acted without a reward.
If someone wanted their help, they had to offer an enormous sacrifice.
To mobilize on such a large scale… just how many sacrifices would it take?
Would Konoha really agree to such a deal?
"Fukasaku, what do you think?"
The Great Toad Sage asked slowly.
"There's definitely something wrong here!"
Fukasaku stated firmly.
"Ryūchi Cave would never help Konoha for free!"
"Exactly."
The Great Toad Sage nodded in agreement.
"There's only one possibility."
Fukasaku pondered for a moment before saying, "Ryūchi Cave and Konoha must have made a secret agreement."
"Go inform Jiraiya. Have him investigate this matter."
The Great Toad Sage instructed.
"Understood."
Fukasaku hesitated, then took a deep breath and said, "Great Toad Sage, the Fourth Sacred Lands might already have been found."
"Oh?"
The Great Toad Sage instinctively sat up.
"Where?"
"In Konoha."
Fukasaku repeated what Gamabunta had told him.
The Great Toad Sage fell into a long silence.
A new Sage Mode…
The only issue was that Kikaichu bugs weren't summoning creatures.
They couldn't speak or communicate like traditional summon beasts, and their intelligence was limited.
But they were bound to the Aburame Clan.
In a way, the Aburame compensated for their weaknesses.
"This is troublesome."
The Great Toad Sage leaned back into his chair.
Right now, the Hokage of Konoha was none other than Shinho Aburame.
If they were not careful, Mount Myōboku could have unnecessary friction, or even outright conflict, with Konoha.
"Troublesome indeed."
Fukasaku sighed. "Perhaps that's why Jiraiya hasn't reported anything."
"Make sure to monitor the Aburame Clan without drawing attention."
The Great Toad Sage spoke calmly. "Do not inform Jiraiya about this."
Fukasaku hesitated but eventually nodded.
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