The cheers made it clear that the Empire had won this battle!
Konoha's people showed joyful expressions, praising Tsunade.
"Amazing! Hokage-sama! Your decision was the best! Joining the Empire is undoubtedly Konoha's wisest choice ever!"
"Long live Hokage-sama!"
A group of ninja shouted halfway.
Tsunade waved her hand. "Hokage or not, from now on, we're all just ordinary Empire members."
"Yes, Hokage-sama!" The ninja replied, slightly dazed.
"S-Safe?"
"It's over just like that? Really… over?"
"The Emperor from another world spared us; we'd better surrender quickly!"
"Tsuchikage-sama! Let's surrender!"
"Raikage-sama…"
"Mizukage-sama, you were right from the start. We were the fools all along! We should've obediently joined the Empire."
"Kazekage-sama, let's surrender!"
A group of ninja pleaded with their respective Kage.
They had no courage left to face the Empire.
Even Hashirama said: "Tsunade's decision was right. Even if the Great Toad Sage prophesied the world's destruction, we can't resist. All we can do now is pray the Shinobi Emperor is a good person."
"Hmph… incredible power…" Tobirama snorted softly, his shocked expression hard to hide.
The nine surviving Bijuu stayed silent, showing none of their usual wild arrogance, instead cowering in fear.
They suddenly realized this ninja group was too dangerous!
Not to mention being beaten and captured by Akatsuki while in Jinchuriki.
Even when last absorbed into Uchiha Madara, they retained awareness and witnessed the prior battle.
Who'd have thought?
Especially that thick-browed man, treating Madara—who absorbed all their power and had the Sage's eyes—like a grandchild, thrashing him!
That was Uchiha Madara!
A being who could treat them, the Bijuu, like grandchildren and torment them!
And the woman who appeared after was even more terrifying—mother of the Sage of the Six Paths!
Yet… wasn't she obliterated by that final horrifying shadow's single attack!
Terrifying! Too terrifying!
Worse, in the future… they'd have to live with such people. If they displeased them, wouldn't they be beaten to death?
Too frightening for the Bijuu!
*WHOOSH!*
A sharp air-tearing sound rang out.
Imperial Guy landed before the Empire's people, flashing his white teeth and giving a thumbs-up.
Before he spoke, the nine Bijuu shrank their bodies in unison.
Imperial Raikage A spoke first: "Guy-sama! That final attack, was it really His Majesty the Emperor? Has he been near us all along?"
He glanced around, searching for Ryuji's traces.
"Sort of yes and no. The final move was his heart, given to me by His Majesty before I left, sealed with his attack."
"With enough True Qi and chakra, the seal can be undone, unleashing his strike. So you could say it was him, but he didn't come to this world himself." Imperial Guy explained, slightly embarrassed.
"It's shameful… His Majesty sent me to save everyone, but I still had to rely on his power."
"No matter, Guy-sama, you did excellently. Thanks to you, we witnessed His Majesty's power firsthand!"
"In these 22 years, His Majesty's power has clearly advanced rapidly! This further proves the limitless potential of martial arts!" Imperial Raikage A said.
"Right! Martial arts have infinite possibilities! We all have many paths yet to tread!" Imperial Guy said.
Golden light radiated from his body, illuminating the Empire's people.
Their injuries healed visibly, regaining vitality instantly.
They began healing Konoha's people, and the healed Konoha ninja, alongside them, treated other villages' ninja.
This ninja world war initially had at least twenty thousand ninja.
Now, over half died in battle!
Ten thousand perished!
Actually, over eighty percent weren't killed by the Empire but by Madara.
Others died from shockwaves of battles between Imperial Guy, Madara, and Kaguya.
After healing, they gathered with complex expressions.
They sat cross-legged on the ground, like obedient children, dutifully watching the original Empire members at the center.
The Empire people had just activated a strange object, and… that man in the sky appeared!
Seeing him, all village ninja held their breath.
All Empire members bowed, saluting the man, then reported everything.
After listening, Ryuji nodded. "Guy, you did well, but my attack, channeled through your power and this world, didn't erase Kaguya. Her body is scattered worldwide; given enough time, she can revive."
"Revive? Completely shattered, and she can still revive? What kind of immortality is this!?" Imperial Raikage A was shocked, finding the enemy excessive.
"The Otsutsuki clan's immortality is extraordinary, their troublesome trait. It's their advantage over us; as humans, our bodies are fragile." Ryuji said, recalling Boruto's Otsutsuki news from his past life.
Isshiki, Kaguya's superior, was killed in a surprise attack but revived using another's body.
Burned to ash and reborn, isn't that normal?
In immortality, his current martial arts hadn't reached this level.
'But this Kaguya, wasn't she a bit weak? She couldn't even withstand one of my attacks…'
In his world, for safety and to avoid damaging the Empire's flora, Ryuji never fully tested that move's power.
Through this battle, compared to the Sage, Ryuji felt Kaguya's power wasn't above him.
This made Ryuji recall the original work's details, speculating…
In the original, Six Paths Naruto and Sasuke weren't stronger than Kaguya in raw power, sealing her via Six Paths: Chibaku Tensei.
Thus, their power levels weren't too far apart.
Where did this power come from?
If he recalled correctly, the Sage granted it.
Before receiving Six Paths power, Naruto and Sasuke were swiftly defeated by Madara without Juubi power.
Defeated by non-Six Paths Uchiha Madara.
That was their power without Six Paths—Kurama mode and Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan. After gaining Six Paths power, Naruto activated Six Paths Mode, Sasuke his six-tomoe Rinne-Sharingan.
Naruto then suppressed one-eyed Six Paths Madara, his power leaping from earth to sky.
In other words, without the Sage splitting his power to Naruto and Sasuke, could he have sealed Kaguya himself?
This seemed uncertain.
The Six Paths Yin-Yang power was all given by the Sage to them.
This showed the Sage's power wasn't weaker than Kaguya's, and with sealing expertise, he surpassed her.
Thus, not being weaker than Kaguya made sense.
After Kaguya's sealing, the Sage grew over thousands of years.
Compared to a millennium ago, he was incomparable.
Ryuji hadn't considered this connection carefully, thinking Kaguya was formidable, but was this all?
'Seems I was too cautious. But against Otsutsuki, caution's never wrong. Who knows how strong this cosmic race truly is?'
"His Majesty is right." Empire people agreed.
Then, Shinobi Empire members sneered at the ninja world people: "Your Majesty, these people broke their word. Should we punish them?"
"…"
Ryuji didn't answer, only casting a flat gaze at the four villages' people.
They felt their scalps numb, bodies trembling, losing control.
Even Chunin, Jonin, and Kage weren't exempt.
Only Edo Tensei reincarnates, due to their unique constitution, moved freely.
The Second Tsuchikage, seeing his village's living people cower like quail, shook his head inwardly, about to speak.
But Onoki bit his tongue until it bled, blood dripping from his mouth, using pain to break free from fear of Ryuji, stepping forward. "Y-Your Majesty… please forgive everyone. This was caused by Jiraiya's lies and my indecision. If you must punish, punish these old bones. I'll bear it all, please spare them!"
He knelt, forehead touching the ground.
"Right… It's all my fault. Please, Your Majesty, punish me. The others are innocent." Jiraiya admitted without defense, kneeling.
"Your punishment will be decided by the legal department. Next… everyone prepare to evacuate. This world is no longer suitable for humans. Prepare to relocate to the Empire."
"Also, bring Obito, Itachi, Hiruzen, and Danzo's souls to the Empire; their punishment isn't over." Ryuji said, ignoring the two elders.
"Your will, Your Majesty!" Empire people said respectfully.
"Oh… right. Don't think you can relax in the Empire. We have enemies to defeat."
"I hope, after joining, you'll strive to improve and serve the Empire. Understood?" Ryuji said, eyeing the village ninja.
"What? An Empire so strong still has enemies? How?" Ninja world people were stunned.
Having seen the Empire's strength, they couldn't imagine what could rival them.
"Another empire from another world?" someone guessed.
"No, the Otsutsuki clan!" Imperial Guy gave a thumbs-up.
"Otsutsuki clan? What's that?" Ninja world people looked confused.
"The woman I last defeated was Kaguya of the Otsutsuki clan." Ryuji said.
Ninja world people gasped. "Otsutsuki clan… That woman, does the clan have many like her, or stronger?"
"Of course, that's why the Empire stays vigilant and fights them. The Otsutsuki clan traverses the universe, invading and plundering weaker worlds."
"Experts like Kaguya are countless in the clan; stronger ones are unknown, so we must prepare. That's why I didn't want rough actions against you initially."
"Because we're all in the same boat. But sadly… persuading surrender is harder than expected. Without experiencing some things, people don't grow. I understand this well." Ryuji said.
Ninja world people showed enlightened, ashamed expressions.
Even Imperial Raikage A, Kisame, and others gave awkward smiles.
Clearly, they too once opposed Ryuji's unification, submitting only after thorough beatings.
"Sorry… Your Majesty, we misunderstood you."
"Your Majesty is so great, yet we judged you with our petty minds… truly outrageous…" Ninja world people said sheepishly.
"It's fine, I won't hold it against you."
After speaking, Ryuji's shadow vanished.
Everyone began acting per Ryuji's orders.
Soon, the Jinchuriki, Ninja World Obito, Itachi, and others were reincarnated via Edo Tensei.
Opening their eyes, seeing a familiar yet alien world and gathered village people, they were stunned.
More shocking were the figures at the forefront.
Naruto stared at Minato and Kushina, dazed.
Kushina rushed to him, hugging him tightly, sobbing. "Naruto! It's Mama! Waaaaah!"
"It's all Sarutobi Hiruzen and that fool Minato's fault!"
"If not for their incompetence, Naruto wouldn't have been a Jinchuriki or died like Mama! Waaaaah!"
"Mama? You… my mama?" Naruto said, a bit foolishly.
"Yes! Naruto! I'm your mama, your real mama in this world!" Kushina said.
"Mama…"
Naruto's heart trembled, gently hugging Kushina. "I'm so glad, even after going to the Holy Land, I can meet Mama… but why are so many people here? Did everyone die?"