In the Beginning Year of Konoha.
Standing atop the Hokage Rock, Aether gazed down at the bustling construction of Konoha Village, a wave of realization washing over him.
There was no doubt about it, he had transmigrated!
And not just to any Naruto world, but to a complex space-time matrix, a nexus of seven parallel Ninja World timelines.
And then, Aether hears a robotic tone inside of his mind.
[DING!...]
[Initializing...]
[System Access Granted.]
[Welcome Host, for Acquiring the Multiverse Nexus System.]
[Objective: Unite all seven parallel timelines. ]
[Reward: Ascend to Godhood. ]
[Failure to comply will result in host termination.]
Aether felt excited to finally get his golden finger, after calming his breath, he then thinks.
Each Naruto world mirrored the familiar timeline, with the key difference being the divergence points in their histories.
The system's task was clear:
[Select a force within each timeline]
[guide them to unify their respective ninja world]
[and ensure lasting peace for at least twenty years.]
[Success in this grand endeavor would grant the host ]
[Instant and Eternal immortality, a power beyond comprehension.]
The good news? He possessed a system, promising incredible rewards.
and the bad news? The system's main mission was daunting, a challenge befitting the unpredictable nature of the Naruto world.
This was the world of Naruto! A realm where skilled shinobi could unleash devastating power, where villages might vanish in a single cataclysm, and where the might of Tailed Beasts could reshape the very land!
Just a few minutes ago, he was merely an ordinary student in a mundane world. How could he possibly hope to navigate, let alone rule the intricate landscape of the Naruto world?
Moreover, he had to choose a single faction to achieve unification in each world, and that unity needed to endure for two decades!
What's more, there were seven distinct Naruto worlds to contend with.
Even for someone as familiar with the entire history of Naruto as Aether, the sheer difficulty felt insurmountable. It was truly a mission on the highest difficulty setting.
Fortunately, the system offered some crucial assistance:
[First: He could traverse time and space at will, with ten opportunities to travel every day, and no restrictions on the duration of his stay].
[Second: Upon forging a bond with a faction, he would receive a novice gift package].
[Third: After successfully unifying each world, he would gain a system reward and unlock new system capabilities].
Aether secretly thought that with the aid of these systems, he might just have a chance to accomplish this monumental task.
After all, with the system's ultimate reward being so profoundly enticing:
[Instant Immortality and Eternal Life]
it was a goal he had to pursue, no matter the challenges!
"First, let's examine this novice gift package!" excited to look at his reward.
Within the system interface in his mind lay the 5 nations:
[The Land of Fire: Konohagakure]
[The Land of Wind: Sunagakure]
[The Land of Water: Kirigakure]
[The Land of Lightning: Kumogakure]
[The Land of Earth: Iwagakure]
After thinking for a moment, Aether chose to align himself with:
[The Land of Fire: Konohagakure]
and immediately received the 'Novice Gift Package.'
Why Konoha?
It's Simple: to minimize the difficulty.
While Aether held no particular fondness for Konoha as a whole—more precisely, he disliked certain individuals within it—historical analysis of the ninja world undeniably showed Konoha's consistent dominance. Across every era, it possessed unparalleled strength, making it the most logical choice to achieve the goal of unifying the ninja world.
Not to mention, it had housed the reincarnations of both Asura and Indra for generations.
Could any other ninja village or powerhouse truly hope to challenge Konoha without risking their very existence?
There was no reason for Aether to abandon the 'easy mode' for 'hell mode', he was no masochist. His entire strategy revolved around achieving the primary goal, completing the main quest.
[DING!...]
[The novice gift package has been opened!]
[Congratulations, you have obtained a pair of (Rinnegan Eyes)! [Automatically equipped]]
[Congratulations, you have obtained a Ninja Tool: (Qiankun Bag)!]
[Congratulations, you have obtained three (System Modern Exchange Vouchers)!]
Aether's heart soared with elation. He could feel the profound changes happening within him.
A pair of ripple-patterned [Rinnegan Eyes] had replaced his own, and their profound power instantly amplified his visual acuity exponentially. He could even discern the intricate compound eyes of a fly buzzing far in the distance.
It took Aether a moment to adjust to the overwhelming visual input, acclimatizing himself to the terrifying clarity brought by his new eyes.
Furthermore, Aether quickly realized he couldn't access the other abilities of the [Rinnegan].
The reason was clear: his body held no chakra, and he had no knowledge of how to extract or mold it.
Even so, these eyes alone possessed enough power to intimidate and sway countless individuals.
Otherwise, as a mere ordinary person, coming into possession of such a powerful Dōjutsu without the means to protect himself would undoubtedly be an incredibly dangerous predicament, especially if he were to cross paths with true powerhouses of the ninja world like Senju Hashirama.
Hmm, well.
The system truly was formidable, and this novice gift package proved incredibly valuable.
"Alright," Aether decided. "My first objective: To meet this era's of[The God of the Shinobe], Senju Hashirama."
He rose and directed his gaze towards the towering [Hokage Building].
Logically, this era presented the absolute best opportunity to unify the ninja world.
The major Hidden Villages had only just been established, and Konoha, in particular, wielded almost absolute, overwhelming strength.
Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, together, were more than capable of sweeping across the entire ninja world.
The sheer destructive power of their combined might, the colossal True Several Thousand Hands and the Perfect Susanoo, was enough to level the entire nations, a terrifying testament to their strength, not merely a legend.
However, precisely because of their immense power, the true challenge lay with Hashirama and Madara themselves.
The stronger an individual, the more unyielding their heart and conviction. It would be no easy feat to persuade them to alter their deeply held beliefs and chosen paths!
Not everyone could be as easily swayed by words as Nagato.
If he wasn't careful, after the negotiations failed, he might find himself facing down Madara's Perfect Susanoo all alone.
.....
[Time & Space: The First Hokage's Era]
[Time: Konoha, Year 1]
[Unification Progress: 30%]
Outside the Hokage Building, Senju Hashirama, having just concluded his duties, pushed the door open with an eager smile. Before he could even step out, he heard Senju Tobirama's exasperated roar from inside:
"Brother, where are you going?!"
Hashirama paused, a bead of sweat forming on his brow. "...Ah."
"Are you off to gamble again?! Don't forget your current status! There are still countless official duties awaiting your attention!" Tobirama's voice was sharp.
"No, no..." Hashirama stammered.
"Could it be... you're going to see that guy, Madara?" Tobirama's tone shifted, laced with suspicion.
Hashirama's eyes widened slightly. "Tobirama, how did you know?!"
"Hmph! Of course you'd be happy, Big Brother, when you're off to see that guy!" Tobirama huffed, crossing his arms in clear exasperation.
"Hahaha, Madara asked me to meet him at the Uchiha clan's Naka Shrine. I guess it's something important!" Hashirama chuckled, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish smile.
"Naka Shrine? Madara has become increasingly withdrawn lately. I wonder what he's planning. Big Brother, you really need to be careful! Don't let him fool you again!" Tobirama warned, his voice stern.
Tobirama knew it was futile to stop his elder brother from meeting his old friend; he could only groan in exasperation.
Fortunately, his brother had already assumed the mantle of the First Hokage. Surely, Madara wouldn't be able to cause too much trouble now.
"Alright, alright!" Hashirama waved a dismissive hand. "I'm off! Tell Mito I won't be home tonight..."
Tobirama's face darkened, leaving him utterly speechless. "...!"
And with that, Hashirama simply turned and walked away.
Just then, Hashirama saw a figure materialize out of thin air, directly across the corridor.
It wasn't the Flying Thunder God Technique; this instantaneous appearance was far more subtle and abrupt, leaving no trace of chakra fluctuation or discernible signs.
Even Hashirama was momentarily stunned.
The newcomer had short hair, wore a simple white T-shirt, and his entire attire was distinctly out of place for the ninja world.
But the most striking feature was the pair of deep, ripple-patterned eyes the individual possessed – eyes that bore an uncanny resemblance to the legendary [Rinnegan], rumored to be the highest of all ocular powers!
Hashirama tensed almost imperceptibly, yet his voice remained as friendly and carefree as ever when he spoke. "...And who might you be?"
"First Hokage, Senju Hashirama," Aether stated, his voice calm. "I'd like to have a word with you, if you have a moment."
As expected, his judgment had been correct. Hashirama was a man of immense innate power and unwavering inner resolve, yet he possessed an extraordinary ability to suppress his own terrifying strength and maintain a jovial demeanor.
Otherwise, in the subsequent Five Kage Summit, it wouldn't have been him who made concessions; rather, the other four Kage would have been forced to defer to him.
Such an individual was indeed the most suitable for a first encounter.
If it had been Madara, upon encountering such a dangerous being of unknown origin, he would most likely have activated his Susanoo within seconds and launched an immediate attack. Only those capable of withstanding Susanoo's blade were qualified to negotiate with him.
"Brother? What happened?!" Tobirama's voice cut through the air.
Tobirama instantly flashed out, visibly shocked when his eyes landed on Aether. Without a moment's hesitation, he drew his samurai sword.
"Who are you?!" Tobirama demanded, blade pointed.
"Tobirama, stop it!" Hashirama commanded, his voice firm.
"Big Brother!" Tobirama protested.
Hashirama's voice, now laced with a rare, undeniable authority, boomed, "Clear the area. I wish to speak with this gentleman. You are to remain outside!"
Tobirama pursed his lips, then, seeing the seriousness in his elder brother's demeanor, begrudgingly complied.