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*****
Although the exact strength of Sasuke and Kisame Hoshigaki is still a matter of debate, there's no doubt that both of them are Kage-level powerhouses.
Currently, Sunagakure doesn't even have a single Kage-level ninja. Only Gaara can cause them some trouble by releasing Shukaku. How are they supposed to win like this?
Wait... maybe it's not entirely impossible?
Ximen Zhen suddenly realized that the Land of Wind is covered in sand. In such a place, even a human-tailed beast like Kisame would have to think twice before using Water Release techniques.
Even if Kisame uses Sea Release to summon a mobile ocean, Gaara could use his Sand Waterfall Funeral to fill it entirely with sand.
As for Uchiha Itachi, he probably wouldn't go on a killing spree against Konoha's ninjas. Kakashi and Yamato should be enough to stall him. At most, those two would just suffer through three days and nights of torture inside Tsukuyomi.
Whether this plan can actually bring Sasuke back, Ximen Zhen wasn't sure—but at the very least, it could prevent Sunagakure from falling into a full-blown crisis.
Still, thinking was one thing. Ximen Zhen didn't take any action. Instead, he watched the simulation unfold, waiting to restart if necessary.
Now it was time to see how this simulation would end. Honestly, he was quite curious himself.
[Under Maki's command, Sunagakure began its assault on Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki. You offered your own team formation suggestions, but Maki, who saw you as a threat, rejected them outright.]
Ximen Zhen curled his lips in annoyance. Well, this was going downhill fast.
[Under Maki's command, Gaara and his siblings teamed up with Kakashi's squad to intercept Uchiha Itachi. Since Gaara could completely encase himself in sand and avoid eye contact, he could fight without risk of falling into genjutsu.]
[Meanwhile, Maki and his friend Yura led a team to attack Kisame. Though intelligence was limited, he was confident that ten squads would be enough to suppress Kisame.]
[After a day of intense battle, Gaara was seriously injured and rendered unconscious. Every member of Kakashi's squad was also wounded. Maki and Yura's ten-squad force was completely annihilated, and their corpses were devoured by Zetsu.]
Ximen Zhen's pupils contracted. Zetsu?!
That guy had appeared too… though thinking about it, it wasn't surprising. After all, this was a battle against the Akatsuki.
Zetsu was responsible for intelligence gathering and post-battle cleanup for the Akatsuki. He even monitored their members as part of his duties.
Compared to Zetsu's appearance, the total annihilation of Maki and Yura's squads wasn't even newsworthy for Ximen Zhen.
After all, while Itachi might hold back due to his role as a spy, Kisame—being a pure combat-type ninja—had no reason to show mercy to his enemies.
[Sunagakure was on the brink of collapse. At this critical moment, you used the Living Reincarnation Technique and gathered the strength of the entire village to quickly restore Gaara's health, temporarily stabilizing the situation.]
[Ebizō, deeply impressed by your talent, directly recommended you to become Gaara's advisor. Gaara gladly agreed. Thus, after Gaara—the youngest Kage—you became the youngest advisor in the entire ninja world.]
Ximen Zhen was dumbfounded. Did he just hit the jackpot?
Only… the price of this "jackpot" was far too steep. Judging from the situation, Sunagakure was now in worse shape than Konoha after the Collapse Plan.
To exaggerate a bit: aside from Gaara and his two siblings, did Sunagakure even have any jonin left?
[You and the recovered Gaara had an all-night discussion and eventually decided to follow Kirigakure's example of laying low and recuperating. To accurately convey Sunagakure's intentions to the outside world, you were chosen as the village's official emissary and began your diplomatic missions across various nations.]
Upon reading this, Ximen Zhen's eyes lit up. Now this simulation was getting interesting!
He had considered before whether he could visit other countries within the simulation.
The problem was that he knew absolutely nothing about them—not even how to get there. But now the opportunity had arrived!
[You returned to Konoha with the now-recovered Sakura and her companions, where you were warmly welcomed by Tsunade. After learning of Sunagakure's situation, Tsunade expressed her regret at being unable to provide support for now, and you understood her position.]
[Tsunade also offered to fulfill one request of yours in a personal capacity—as compensation for the harm Konoha had caused you—hoping this would help maintain lasting peace between Konoha and Sunagakure.]
At first, Ximen Zhen didn't fully understand her logic, but soon it hit him—Tsunade was worried that a desperate Sunagakure might attack Konoha for resources.
After all, wasn't Konoha currently at its weakest point too?
[You asked Tsunade to properly train Sakura, so that she could become the most outstanding medical ninja in the ninja world. That was the compensation you requested.]
[In Year 65 of the Konoha calendar, you traveled across all the major nations within the ninja world in just half a year. You learned about their local customs, conveyed Sunagakure's policies, and used your medical skills to heal many.]
[Gradually, you earned the title "Sand-Healing Sage." Realizing the potential of this image, you resumed your writing career and began promoting unique travel concepts like "sand therapy."]
[You also took on many disciples, openly teaching medical ninjutsu. In addition, you inherited Chiyo's legacy and began deep research into puppet techniques.]
Ximen Zhen nodded slightly. It seemed that, in the absence of his guidance, his simulated self was adapting well and seriously working to rebuild Sunagakure.
After all, the Fourth Great Ninja War wouldn't reach Sunagakure anyway. If Shukaku was ever extracted from Gaara, he could just use Living Reincarnation to bring him back again.
[In Year 66 of the Konoha calendar, you went against public opinion and applied puppet techniques to the Land of Wind's industries and daily life, boosting productivity for ordinary people.]
[With Tsunade now Hokage and unable to personally treat civilians, you stepped into her ecological niche. As a result, both you and Sunagakure earned massive wealth. Your status in the village became unshakable.]
[In Year 67, a new generation of Sunagakure genin had grown up. Armed with your scientific ninja tools, the village had successfully passed its most dangerous phase.]
[In Year 68, the Fourth Great Ninja War broke out. You and Gaara led Sunagakure's new generation of shinobi into battle, shocking the entire ninja world. However, the real protagonists of the war were still Naruto and Sasuke.]
[Despite their lack of synergy, Naruto and Sasuke relied on their overwhelming strength and the help of the Sage of Six Paths to defeat Obito and Madara. And just as Black Zetsu was about to stab Madara in the back, Sasuke—having already received intelligence about Black Zetsu from you—killed him, ending the "Resurrect My Mother" plan for good.]
Ximen Zhen's eyes lit up—he almost wanted to applaud his simulated self.
Exactly! So what if Naruto and Sasuke weren't on good terms? Killing Black Zetsu solves everything!
But before he could enjoy the moment, the next part of the simulation made him exclaim, "What the hell?!"
[The war didn't end with Black Zetsu's death. Sasuke launched a revenge campaign against the Konoha alliance. Naruto tried desperately to stop him. Their battle shook the heavens, and in the end, both perished together.]
[The order of the ninja world completely collapsed. The war-torn nations began baring their fangs at one another, and a new conflict could erupt at any moment.]
(End of Chapter)