Arima asked, "Who are these people?"
The Anbu replied, "Their rogue ninja identities are currently unknown… they appear to be puppets!"
Arima paused thoughtfully for a moment before saying, "Immediately organize teams to protect the school venue, and notify the other Kage to come provide assistance!"
The Anbu responded without hesitation, "Understood!"
Then he vanished from their sight.
Arima turned to Tsunade and said, "Tsunade, go find Orochimaru and Jiraiya and help safeguard the school. I'll go scout the front lines. This time, we might finally discover a direct path to the moon!"
With that, Arima activated his ocular jutsu, Kamui, and departed from the Hokage Rock, heading in the direction reported by his subordinates.
Tsunade hurried toward the school venue, determined to prevent anyone from exploiting the chaos.
No sooner had Arima left Konoha than massive explosions erupted across the city, igniting large fires. Civilians were caught in the blasts, cries for help and anguished wails filling the streets.
On her way to the venue, Tsunade ran into Orochimaru and Jiraiya, who had also been alarmed by the explosions and were preparing to investigate.
Tsunade quickly relayed Arima's instructions to them, and the three raced together toward the school.
Those at the venue were terrified by the sudden, deafening explosions. Fearing a repeat of last year's deadly meteor shower, they surged toward the exits.
But the crowd was so dense that movement became nearly impossible.
At that moment, the hidden explosives detonated among the people, turning the scene into a living nightmare of blood and chaos.
Fortunately, the students had already been relocated to the safest areas, and the explosions didn't reach them.
Still, the gruesome sight was too much for the younger children, many of whom began vomiting in shock.
Grade-level leaders took it upon themselves to maintain order among the students, while Anbu operatives discreetly surrounded and protected them.
Natsuka, organizing the ranks, suddenly noticed tiny white insects crawling from the ceiling.
Having spent years alongside her brother, she was familiar with various ninja techniques.
Instantly, she realized that these insects resembled the explosive clay insects used by Earth-style ninjas specializing in Explosion Release.
Natsuka leapt forward and shouted, "Enemy intrusion! Watch out for explosions!"
No sooner had she spoken than the hidden Explosion Release ninja detonated the countless insects. By his estimate, this blast could annihilate almost all the students.
But the explosions failed to trigger as planned.
As he hesitated in confusion, the Anbu had already located his hiding place and engaged him in combat.
The Anbu fought cautiously, but the Explosion Release ninja was reckless, caring nothing for others' lives.
Meanwhile, Arima had arrived at the location of the puppets within Konoha.
The moment he saw them, he knew it was another scheme orchestrated by Isso.
Arima clasped his hands and entered Sage Mode to heighten his perception.
He activated his Tenseigan and unleashed Silver Wheel Reincarnation, sweeping all the puppets away in a single strike.
Behind the puppets, he noticed a dimensional portal, from which they continued to pour out endlessly.
Just as he prepared to continue clearing them, he sensed the ocular jutsu in the necklace he had left with his family being triggered, he realized immediately he had been lured away from the city.
Arima split off a shadow clone to handle the puppets, while his main body rushed back to Konoha.
Returning to Hokage Rock, he saw fires erupting in multiple districts, with the streets filled with wailing citizens.
At that moment, the Third Kazekage, along with the other three Kage, arrived before him.
Arima didn't pause, ordering, "Rescue the people immediately! Everything else comes later!"
In his mind, he mused, 'It seems I underestimated Isso again. This assault… Konoha likely suffered heavy civilian casualties.'
While the Kage were busy saving citizens, Arima noticed storm clouds gathering above the city. From the four corners of Konoha, lightning pillars shot into the sky, merging with the clouds.
He recalled seeing a similar technique in his grandfather's ninja scrolls, Lightning Release: Thunder Dream Technique!
The energy within those clouds was immense. If unleashed on Konoha, the entire city could be obliterated.
Worse, he sensed natural energy converging elsewhere in the city, forming what appeared to be an unfilled black hole.
He recognized it as the forbidden technique of the Tsuchigumo clan: Fury Jutsu. The recent explosions and fires also involved members of the Tsuchigumo.
Biting his right thumb, Arima summoned a massive slug and dispatched its countless duplicates to rescue people throughout the city. Meanwhile, he entered Chakra Mode with his Tenseigan.
Ascending above the ravaged city, Arima vowed, "Isso, this time, your blood debt will be paid in full!"
In an instant, he appeared behind a Tsuchigumo operative, transporting him into Kamui space.
Just as he prepared to confront the ninja wielding Thunder Dream Technique, he sensed natural energy converging elsewhere.
Clearly, Isso was using his puppets' vision to observe Arima's every move, intending to exhaust him with suicide attacks from the Tsuchigumo so he couldn't respond to the lightning technique.
To achieve this, he also deployed numerous Explosion Release ninjas across the city with clay bombs.
At the same time, a meteor shower approached Konoha.
Even with multiple clones, Arima struggled to contain Isso's forces and the widespread destruction.
To neutralize the threat from rogue ninjas, Arima instantly arrived at the Death Forest. Forming hand seals, he murmured, "Wood Style: Deep Forest Bloom!"
From the forest, countless sturdy vines erupted from the ground, their tips sprouting vivid red buds.
The buds bloomed almost instantly, releasing yellow pollen that spread rapidly. Anyone inhaling it fell into a deep sleep.
The technique was so potent that even the Kage succumbed to the narcotic pollen. The city fell silent, securing the rear at last.
Arima left a clone to extinguish fires and identify and capture Isso-controlled ninjas, while his main body ascended toward the meteor shower.
Observing the approaching meteors, he said calmly, "Let's see the effect of the Railgun."
Drawing a newly developed electromagnetic cannon from Kamui space, he fired at the meteors at maximum power.
Chakra poured into the weapon, forming a massive energy beam that struck the meteors, causing bright explosions that shook the heavens.
Several meteors were disintegrated, satisfying Arima's expectations.
Seeing the remaining meteors, he thought, 'It's time to try that one technique.'
Using Kamui, he moved to the leading meteor, falling with it. Opening his left Rinnegan and right Tenseigan, he concentrated immense chakra into his eyes.
With mere moments before impact, he launched the Supreme Technique.
A powerful repulsive force erupted around him, smashing the meteors upon contact as if they hit solid ground. Konoha was now protected by an impenetrable defense.
Isso had no idea that Arima still possessed the Rinnegan as a trump card, and his spies had been eliminated by Arima's clones, leaving him completely unaware of events below.
Isso had never intended a one-time strike anyway. From previous encounters, he knew Arima's strength rivaled his own.
He planned to deal repeated heavy blows over the years, gradually depleting the ninja world's resources.
After neutralizing the meteors, Arima's chakra was nearly exhausted, barely allowing him to hover.
Glancing at the system's million-point reward, he felt conflicted. The city's infrastructure had been devastated, and countless civilians were injured.
While the system offered vast rewards for stopping Isso, these were purchased with human lives.
Looking up at the gray sky, he murmured, "Isso… well done. It seems we'll meet again soon."
This day left an indelible mark on Arima, and a permanent scar on the ninja world.
Statistics later showed over 30,000 civilians injured and hundreds killed.
That night, Arima stood alone among the corpses until dawn.
The Alliance conducted months of meticulous inspections, rooting out hidden puppets and spies.
Previously, Isso had exposed the passage from Earth to the moon using his puppet army.
Arima, leading top Alliance ninjas, successfully breached it and eradicated the remaining lunar puppet forces.
However, the Otsutsuki clan's territory on the moon had long been deserted, leaving Arima with a sense of unfulfilled expectation, but some gain was made.
He convened the Alliance leadership with new plans: the moon would become a forward base for the ninja world, capable of rapid response to threats.
It could also serve as a vacation destination, providing reassurance to the fearful populace.
Reconstruction of Konoha began in earnest. Three months later, the city rose from the ashes.
A monument now stood at the city center to honor the fallen.
Arima also built a welfare home for orphans.
On the day the children arrived, Arima personally brought gifts to each one.
Among them, one particular girl caught his attention.
She wore oversized round glasses, appearing shy, but her face lit up warmly upon receiving Arima's gift.
Other orphans were timid, still haunted by the recent attacks, but she seemed different.
Curious, Arima asked, "What's your name?"
The girl replied sweetly, "I'm Nono Yakushi."
"How old are you?" he asked.
"My mother said I'm three this year!"
Arima's heart ached. He forced a smile and asked, "Are you afraid to sleep alone?"
Shaking her head, she said, "No, Mother will always be with me!"
Puzzled, Arima asked, "How do you know she'll be there?"
Pointing to her glasses, she explained, "These are Mother's. She told me that she needs a good rest, but whenever I want her, I can talk to the glasses, and she'll hear me in heaven!"
Arima gently patted Nono's head. "She's watching over you from heaven. She'll protect you."
Standing, he instructed the Anbu behind him, "Take good care of this child."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out candy. "Here's a special reward for you. I love your smile, keep it up, Nono!"
She nodded happily, asking, "Can I share the candy with others?"
Arima inquired, "Why not keep it for yourself?"
"My mother said good things should be shared! And aren't you always helping others, Hokage-sama?"
Arima smiled, realizing she had been told about him by her mother.
Nono ran to her small room and returned with a photo album.
Pointing to a delicate-looking woman, she proudly said, "This is my mother!"
Arima felt a faint familiarity with the woman.
Flipping to a page with candy wrappers, Nono said, "These were Mother's favorite wrappers!"
Arima finally understood, the girl he had given his first candy to as a child during the Nine-Tails attack had kept the wrapper all these years.
Memories of the past flooded him, she had always quietly watched over him. The fragments revealed her pure, innocent affection.
With emotion, Arima whispered, "May you live eternally in heaven."
Turning to Nono, he asked, "Would you like to live with me?"
She paused, then asked eagerly, "Hokage-sama, I really can live with you?"
Smiling, he said, "Of course. You are the child of an old acquaintance, so it's only natural. You can call me Uncle from now on!"
Nono adjusted her glasses and cheered.
Arima thought, 'At least now I can honor her memory.' He still could not recall her name, adding to his guilt.
He instructed the Anbu, "Hold an internal leadership meeting at 10 AM tomorrow. Tell Koharu to make the arrangements."
He planned to enact a special adoption decree to give these children a real home.
Bending down, he lifted Nono into his arms. "Let's go home. You'll meet many new family members, remember to be sweet!"
She quipped, "Uncle Arima, my mouth is already sweet from the candy!"
He laughed at her innocence, gently rubbing her rosy cheeks. "Alright, let's go home! Nono's smile is the sweetest of all!"
---------------
Guys do leave some power stones and reviews.
🤞pa treon . com / plotplanner🤞
Remove all the spaces in between and then search.
If you guys enjoy this story, you can support me on Patreon and get access to 30 Advance Chapters, it really helps me to work on new chapters.