Hoshigakure, a small Ninja Village nestled deep within the mountains, had a combat force of just over 200 Ninja. Among them, only about 40 were Chunin, and elite Ninja like Akahoshi, Shiso, and Yotaka numbered a mere five at best.
The rest of the so-called 'elites' were, at most, Special Jonin-level fighters. Under Hikari's overwhelming assault, these Ninja were swept aside like autumn leaves before a raging storm… utterly powerless!
Had Naruto not wanted Hoshigakure to serve him, Hoshigakure might have already been littered with corpses under Hikari's merciless onslaught!
Watching his Ninjas being flung across the battlefield one after another, the Third Hoshikage, Yosei, struggled to his feet, his heart filled with bitterness.
If it were a year ago, Hoshigakure could still muster eight Jonin-level fighters.
But ever since the two Jonin, Natsuhi and Hotarubi, 'defected' last year, the village had been left with only a handful of high-level Ninjas.
"Stop!" Yosei clutched his wounded shoulder, his hoarse roar drowned out by the explosions and flames.
At the center of the battlefield, Hikari stood with her arms crossed atop the ruins of the Hoshikage Building, her foot planted firmly on the back of a bald Ninja.
Behind her, the tower burned fiercely, the flames illuminating her figure and casting a deep shadow of fear over the surviving Hoshigakure's Ninjas!
Yosei recognized the man beneath her foot… Yotaka, one of the village's younger Jonin. This guy is renowned for his Taijutsu, and yet he hadn't even been able to withstand a single casual kick from Hikari.
Looking around, the dozens of Hoshigakure's Ninjas scattered across the battlefield around the tower were mostly severely wounded but not dead… clearly, the girl had held back from killing them.
"You want the Star, right?! Take it!" Yosei staggered forward, clutching his wound.
The surrounding Hoshigakure's Ninjas struggled to rise, but their injuries were too severe. All they could do was watch helplessly as their Kage surrendered to the enemy.
"Who said I wanted that worthless rock?" Hikari lifted her foot and kicked the bald Ninja away.
The bald Ninja crashed into the rubble, and there was no more movement.
"You... you're not here to steal the Star?" Yosei was stunned.
The most important treasure in Hoshigakure was the meteorite that had fallen there two centuries ago. The village's Ninjas had gathered under its influence, using its power to vitalize their Chakra and develop the [Mysterious Peacock Method].
To Hoshigakure, their Star was a coveted treasure that the entire Ninja World desired!
But now, this girl dismissed it with contempt.
"Hmph. If your so-called Star can only make you this weak, then it's truly not worth coveting." Hikari had already assessed Hoshigakure's combat capabilities and found the so-called Star utterly unimpressive.
"Then why attack Hoshigakure?! What do you want?!" Yosei demanded, completely bewildered.
"I want your entire Hoshigakure… to submit!"
Amid the flames, the girl's voice was as cold as a blade, severing Yosei's last shred of hope.
…
The next day.
By the time Gato's merchant convoy and Kanon and her daughter arrived, Hoshigakure had already changed allegiance.
Deep in the forest not far from Hoshigakure, at the center of a massive crater several kilometers wide and hundreds of meters deep, stood a training hall.
Inside the room, Hikari, Kanon, and Karin sat on one side, while Kakuzu and Gato sat on the other.
The group curiously observed the purple meteorite placed on an altar at the center, held aloft by a claw-like branch structure.
Yosei, who is now in his forties, had changed out of his Hoshikage's robes and hat. He knelt nervously below, awaiting the arrival of the one these powerful Ninja referred to as 'that person'.
Kanon respectfully took out a Flying Thunder God kunai from her ninja tool pouch, injected Chakra into it with both hands, and then placed it on the cushion at the head of the room.
When seeing this Flying Thunder God kunai, even the knowledgeable Kakuzu trembled slightly.
The Flying Thunder God Technique, developed by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, and later mastered by the Yellow Flash, Namikaze Minato, was legendary across the Ninja World!
With the injection of Chakra, the Flying Thunder God kunai shook slightly.
A figure appeared out of nowhere on the cushion and picked up the specially crafted kunai.
"Shura-sama!" Hikari, Kakuzu, Kato, and Kanon, who was holding Karin's hand, all bowed deeply to the figure.
Even Karin clumsily imitated the gesture.
Yosei, still kneeling on the ground, nervously raised his head and saw the mysterious figure clad in a black robe, wearing a white three-eyed fox mask… the infamous Shura, whose name had been rising rapidly in the Ninja World over the past few months!
Even a small Ninja Village like Hoshigakure has heard of Shura's deeds.
Causing chaos in Konoha and Kumogakure, yet managing to escape unscathed under the pursuit of these two Great Ninja Villages… Kumogakure then offered a bounty of 70 million Ryo for Shura in the bounty exchange!
If news of what happened in Kusagakure had spread, it would have only added another fearsome feat to Shura's name.
"Shura-sama... I am the leader of Hoshigakure... Yosei." The elderly man wisely avoided using the title 'Hoshikage' and instead prostrated himself in the traditional dogeza posture, signaling complete submission.
Menma glanced around, his gaze settling on the purple meteorite enshrined at the center of the room.
Then, he removed his fox mask, revealing his youthful face.
Kakuzu and Gato, who had never seen Shura's true appearance before, couldn't hide their shock and curiosity.
Gato, in particular, couldn't help but compare this face to that of the orphan boy Menma whom Shura had ordered him to take in back in Konoha.
'There's no doubt about it… that orphan must be Shura-sama's son! The resemblance is uncanny!'
"From this day forward, Hoshigakure will be at my disposal!" Menma declared, his voice carrying undeniable authority as he looked down at the kneeling Yosei.
"Y-Yes, my lord…" Yosei didn't dare resist. The entire village couldn't even defeat a single member of this organization, so how could they possibly stand against the infamous Shura, who had left two of the Five Great Ninja Villages helpless?
Menma approached the meteorite and picked it up, channeling his Chakra to examine it.
This meteorite emitted radiation that enhanced Chakra activity, but over time, it also corroded the body.
However, Menma didn't destroy it. Instead, he stored it away.
'Maybe this meteorite is related to the Otsutsuki cClan who planted trees everywhere in the universe. I can do some research on it later.'
…
For the next period of time, Menma remained in Hoshigakure, overseeing its reconstruction.
Kanon was appointed as the village's political advisor, spearheading sweeping reforms.
Hikari took the role of Jonin Commander, commanding all Ninja forces and restructuring the village's military training.
Kakuzu served as the Anbu Commander, responsible for reorganizing the Anbu and counterintelligence work.
Menma told Kakuzu that anyone who tried to escape from Hoshigakure would be hunted down.
Gato served as the Financial Advisor, auditing and restructuring Hoshigakure's economy.
As for Yosei, he was relegated to Construction Advisor, assisting in the village's transformation under the organization's directives.
Gato's merchant caravans brought much-needed supplies to the impoverished mountain village. Menma ruled with an iron fist… crushing dissent with force while offering benefits to those who complied.
Under this carrot-and-stick approach, the Ninjas and civilians of Hoshigakure gradually accepted their new reality… being ruled by a power far beyond them.
And the conquest of Hoshigakure was only the first step in Menma's plan to unify the Ninja World.