Before the arrival of the Ōtsutsuki on Earth, there was no such thing as chakra. The native inhabitants relied on energies that came almost entirely from three sources: the physical body, the spirit, and nature itself.
Those who mastered physical strength were warriors. Those who tapped into spiritual power were priestesses. And those who commanded the forces of nature were wild mountain spirits and mystical beasts.
But the appearance of beings from beyond the stars shattered this balance. The emergence of the God Tree forcibly melded these once-separate energies into a single force—what came to be known as chakra. The arrival of the Sage of Six Paths further twisted the development of supernatural power across the world.
Those of the old era who failed to adapt to the wave of the new age were inevitably swept away. And so, professions like samurai and shrine maidens were gradually replaced by shinobi.
Yet, some of the top-tier figures of the old age were not willing to exit the stage quietly.
They began to incorporate chakra into their beings, fusing it with their original power to become entirely new forms of existence.
For example, Jashin the Evil God, who merged his cult's heretical power with chakra in order to prolong his life, endlessly repairing his injuries through the power of his faith.
Or those who made pacts with the Sage of Six Paths, merging chakra, spiritual energy, physical energy, and natural energy into one, becoming transcendent beings known as the "Three Great Sages."
Chakra is like ink. It may seem like a small drop, insignificant in quantity or quality.
But no matter how powerful or unique these ancient beings once were, chakra has now left its mark within all of them. Their bodies have been thoroughly infiltrated by chakra.
Under normal circumstances, this wasn't a problem.
But should they come face to face with those from the heavens—or the Sage of Six Paths himself…
"You certainly don't hide your ambition. As expected of a so-called Master of Soul." The White Snake Sage looked down at Yuki Yoru without agreeing or refusing. Its snake head rose high, staring down from above.
"But the Celestials haven't descended yet, and the Sage of Six Paths isn't walking the Earth. Meanwhile, you are alive and active in this world—building an empire of your own."
"Although they're all cages, why should I choose one that's constantly watched and constrained?"
"Isn't that obvious?" Yoru replied with a soft smile. "Because this cage is not only wider and grander—but from within it, you can draw even greater power."
While forceful coercion could secure obedience in the short term, what Yoru desired wasn't just compliance. He wanted the White Snake Sage's submission—not a dead snake.
Over the past few years, Yoru had discovered a crucial detail: whether it was Shinigami, Hollows, or even Miroku—the first Quincy of the Shinobi world—their existence amplified his own strength.
This was why, after he and Hiromi created the first Shinigami—Kushimaru Kuriarare—Yoru's power surged dramatically.
First came the Shinigami. Then the Hollows. Then the entire Soul Society.
That's why Yoru kept researching these entities, creating more and more. Now, he even planned to use Shadow Island to spread the power of the Shinigami across the whole ninja world!
Every new being who grasped "spiritual power" fed a fraction of that power back to Yoru. As long as there were enough people wielding spiritual power, Yoru wouldn't even need to lift a finger—he would ascend to godhood on his own.
But Shadow Island alone wasn't nearly enough to bring the power of the Shinigami to the entire ninja world.
"Besides…"
Yoru chuckled. "Right now, I'm the only 'Master of Soul' in this world. But when it comes to 'Master of Chakra'... who knows how many are out there?"
"Hmph. You're clearly threatening me, but for some reason… you sound almost convincing." The White Snake Sage let out a hissing grunt, its raised serpent head drooping again as it coiled up on its throne. "Fine, fine. If I refuse today, the one who'll laugh the hardest will be that damned toad..."
"But I'm curious—what are you planning to do? That toad, the slug, and I are different from your self-split subordinate."
"You should be able to feel it."
"My power is vast as a mountain and sea. That's my accumulation over a thousand years! Within that power, chakra has already been fully integrated. Forget separating it—chakra is the dominant force in everything I possess. You can't possibly expect me to abandon all of it!"
"Of course not. But the next part might hurt a little."
Yoru grinned widely. What he wanted was the White Snake Sage's millennium of accumulated power—that Sage energy.
In the next moment, Yoru appeared directly in front of the White Snake Sage. He lifted one hand and placed it gently on the creature's snake scales.
Twin lights—ghostly blue and icy azure—shone in his eyes. And the instant his palm made contact, an overwhelming surge of soul power erupted, forcefully penetrating the Sage's body.
Instantly, the Sage's internal Sage Chakra began to resist, struggling to expel and destroy the invading force.
The foreign energy clashing against the entrenched chakra caused the White Snake Sage to stiffen violently. Yet, the Sage soon took initiative—guiding its Sage Chakra to open a space for the soul power to enter.
The sensation was... deeply unpleasant—like trying to squeeze two people into a single-seat chair.
Even with attendants moderating the conflict, and laws keeping them from fighting outright, both sides began to push subtly—competing for space in silence.
"Rrhhmmm..."
The White Snake Sage shuddered uneasily, trying to adapt. While suppressing any overreaction from its Sage Chakra, it worked to accommodate the invading soul power.
Only after the soul power settled into a permanent place within its body did Yoru finally withdraw his hand.
"This power will gradually replace your chakra. And as that process unfolds, you'll begin to master an entirely new strength."
"The power of the soul…" The White Snake Sage grunted, feeling the ember-like flicker of spiritual power within. "Fine. But this will take time—probably a long time."
"Time shouldn't matter much to a thousand-year-old Sage like you."
"Heh. I meant for you. Don't get impatient. Until the conversion is complete, I won't be able to do much for you." The White Snake Sage picked up its pipe again, tone casual but cutting. "At best, I'll be like your other subordinate—able to promote your cause, but only once I've grasped the power myself."
"Then I'll be counting on you, White Snake Sage."
"You better know this is trouble!"
Yoru's smile only deepened.
Even if he didn't know how the White Snake Sage would promote spiritual power, with the prestige of Ryūchi Cave as one of the Three Great Sage Region, the effort would be far smoother.
All in all, this was a complete success—everything went perfectly.
Having secured the White Snake Sage's allegiance, Yoru didn't linger in Ryūchi Cave. He left with Orochimaru and returned to Kirigakure, where he resumed his research and began spreading the influence of Shadow Island.
Back in Ryūchi Cave, the White Snake Sage—still adjusting to spiritual power—fell into deep contemplation.
Not over the power conversion—that would proceed slowly even if he did nothing.
The real dilemma was: how to promote spiritual power.
Unlike Shadow Island, which was immediately open to the public, the Three Great Sage Region had accumulated their mystery and nobility over centuries. Many had found Ryūchi Cave, but few had ever passed the trials of the Three Snake Princesses.
Even if they opened the cave to outsiders, who in the ninja world would believe it was the "real" Ryūchi Cave? And the snakes themselves certainly wouldn't be thrilled about welcoming crowds of humans.
One Orochimaru was already enough. Bringing in a flood of people? What did they think this was—a buffet?!
"This is such a pain... Ugh, whatever. I'll just keep transforming my power for now. Worst case, I'll have Tagorihime and the other Snake Princesses take some of the snake horde outside to bite people. Promotion is promotion—as long as we hit our numbers…"
...
The changes to the Three Great Sage Region went completely unnoticed by the rest of the ninja world. For now, everyone remained focused on the recently concluded war between Konoha and Kumogakure.
Thanks to Uchiha Fugaku's deliberate and high-profile publicity, the news of "Mangekyō Sharingan's return" spread like wildfire across the entire world. Once news of Kumogakure's retreat followed, it confirmed the rumors.
Those opportunistic forces hoping to exploit the war between two great nations to steal some benefits quickly backed down.
Even after all these decades, the name "Shura of the Ninja World" still echoed in the mouths of the older generation. Ōnoki, upon hearing the news, threw his back out in shock—proof enough of the Uchiha's lingering dread.
No one could afford to ignore the Uchiha. The title of "Ninja World's Strongest Clan" wasn't just empty talk—it was built on rivers of blood and mountains of corpses.
For a time, an eerie peace fell over the entire shinobi world.
Only after confirming that Kumogakure had truly withdrawn—and that no other major factions were making moves—did Uchiha Fugaku return triumphantly to Konoha with his forces, preparing to reap even greater rewards.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, the two village advisors, and Konoha's top brass welcomed them with open arms, holding a grand celebration and award ceremony. The whole village rejoiced in the war's end and their overwhelming victory.
The end of the Third Great Ninja War had felt rushed and unsatisfying. Everyone had known it would soon flare up again.
But this time was different.
Konoha had crushed Kumogakure in a direct confrontation. Even though the primary force was the Soul Society, and neither side's top-tier fighters had clashed directly, the fact remained—Konoha had won.
Fugaku, clad in his Susanoo, rampaged across the battlefield, sweeping through enemy lines like the legendary Shura himself reborn.
But beneath the joy, dark currents had already begun to swirl.
Some voices began saying: the Fourth Hokage was dead, and during the war, the Third Hokage had nobly returned to power. But now that the conflict was over, the Third should retire again—and it was time to choose the Fifth Hokage.
Others sang the praises of the Uchiha clan and its leader, Fugaku—their valor, their strength, their unmatched leadership in defeating Kumogakure.
Some top-tier artists even created a stirring painting of Fugaku crushing the Kumogakure banner beneath his Susanoo's foot while raising the Konoha flag high—and gave out prints for free, spreading them throughout the village.
Yes, there were whispers about "Uchiha favoritism," "brutal law enforcement," "public beatings," and even "Uchiha men abusing their power and women."
But these criticisms paled in comparison to the triumphant wave that the Uchiha rode into the village.
"Fake news!"
That's what they called it. All lies—slanders against the great war hero, Uchiha Fugaku!
"Hiruzen! Why the hell did you let Fugaku become the commander of the army?! Look at what's happening in the village now!"
Inside the Hokage's office—
Danzo slammed a scroll filled with praise for Uchiha Fugaku—and calls for Hiruzen to retire and begin the selection for the Fifth Hokage—right onto the Third's desk.
"This kind of momentum! This kind of public opinion! If this continues, all our efforts—everything Sensei and we have worked for to contain the Uchiha—will be wasted!"
"..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen quietly puffed on his pipe, eyes dark as he stared at the scroll.
He didn't need to read it. The things he'd heard in recent days were enough to confirm everything Danzo was saying.
But what could he do?
Back then, who else but Fugaku could lead the army? Who else in Konoha could defeat Kumogakure?
Should he, the Hokage, have taken the field himself?!
What a joke!
"Talking about it now is pointless, Danzo. What we need to do is stop Fugaku—stop the Uchiha." Koharu's voice was firm as she glanced at the silent Hiruzen. "That clan of lunatics must never take power. If they do, there's no telling what chaos they'll cause."
"Exactly. Just look at what those guys have been doing lately. With just one victory, they've made it seem like Konoha is already under Uchiha rule. If we actually let them take power, are we going to rename the village 'Uchiha' next?" Homura Mitokado coldly snorted.
"That's right. Sensei's (Tobirama's) concerns back then were absolutely correct. No matter what, the evil Uchiha must never be allowed to rise to power!"
"They must be stopped—otherwise, they'll destroy Konoha from within."
Koharu and Homura spoke in tandem, voicing exactly what Danzo and Hiruzen were thinking. But thinking was easy—doing something was another matter.
Uchiha Fugaku had returned triumphant, his Mangekyō Sharingan awakened. His power was unmatched. If they confronted him directly, even if they won, the cost would be devastating.
For a long moment, the Hokage's office fell into silence. Not even Danzo—usually the idea man—could come up with a plan.
But then—
A voice broke the stillness:
"Third Hokage-sama, a messenger from Kirigakure has arrived!"