After Ōnoki finished signing the agreement, Orochimaru carefully stored the compensation terms. Uchiha Ryun nodded, then made the Five-Tails Jinchūriki lower its head.
He and Danzō Shimura descended, then used genjutsu on the Five-Tails to put it to sleep. The Five-Tails' figure vanished, and Han's body reappeared.
Ryun kicked out, sending Han's body flying back to the Iwa-nin ranks. Ōnoki ordered someone to check Han's condition. After confirming he was only unconscious, he sighed in relief.
He looked at Ryun, hoping he would return the other Jinchūriki as well. However, Ryun smiled and said, "Rōshi will be taken back to Konoha as collateral. Once your compensation is fully paid, I'll send him back."
After saying this, he signaled the troops to retreat. Danzō supported Ryun as they walked at the front of the formation. Ōnoki gritted his teeth and snorted coldly.
"Return to the village, and... prepare the compensation!" His voice carried exhaustion and helplessness. Even though Jinchūriki like Rōshi and Han couldn't defeat Ryun, they were still nuclear weapons on the battlefield.
Money could be earned again, but losing people would weaken the village's strength by more than just a fraction. He understood this principle perfectly.
Ōnoki led the defeated shinobi to clean up the battlefield, then turned and rushed back to the village without looking back.
Once the Konoha forces were out of Iwa's sight, Ryun suddenly collapsed.
Tsunade took Ryun from Danzō and checked his condition. She found that he had only passed out from severe chakra exhaustion and physical strain. She relaxed slightly.
Danzō crouched and asked Tsunade about Ryun's condition.
Tsunade said, "His chakra and ocular power are severely depleted, and his back is badly injured. However, he's recovering. It's not a major issue."
As she was about to call someone to carry Ryun, several Uchiha jonin volunteered a stretcher. Under Tsunade's guidance, they carefully placed Ryun on it.
The Uchiha clan might not listen to others, not even their clan head, but they remembered every word from Ryun and his future wife.
One even asked Tsunade, "Sis-in-law, should we get a bigger stretcher so you and Brother Ryun can lie together?"
Danzō looked surprised, glancing between Ryun on the stretcher and Tsunade. The corners of his lips curled up, as if saying, 'I get it, I get it.'
Tsunade blushed. "N-no, that's not necessary. Uh, you're very kind." She felt awkward, but since the Uchiha shinobi meant well, she didn't say anything else.
The Uchiha shinobi nodded, then four of them carried the stretcher, one holding each corner, steadily marching with the troops.
Orochimaru chuckled softly. Danzō immediately approached him and asked about Ryun's condition. Orochimaru had a good impression of Danzō.
Leading so many Konoha troops to rush to the frontlines in less than two hours to rescue Ryun proved Danzō was a smart man. Orochimaru loved dealing with smart people.
"Danzō-sama, have you heard of the Three Great Sage Regions? Mount Myōboku, Ryūchi Cave, and Shikkotsu Forest."
Danzō nodded. "My summon, the Baku, mentioned them. The Three Great Sage Regions are the pinnacle of summoning creatures, home to three sage toads and various legacies. Are you saying..."
Danzō's eyes widened slightly as he looked at Orochimaru, waiting for his answer.
"Exactly as you think. The man lying before you is Uchiha Ryun, the successor of Ryūchi Cave, who passed the White Snake Sage's trials, mastered Sage Mode, and learned the Sage Arts of Ryūchi Cave." Orochimaru's tone carried envy and admiration.
Danzō sucked in a sharp breath, contributing to global warming, as he stared at Ryun, realizing his worth was still rising.
Damn. Ryūchi Cave Sage Mode, Sage Arts, Wood Release, True Several Thousand Hands, Susano'o, Mangekyō Sharingan...
He suddenly felt his old friend Hiruzen wasn't all that impressive anymore. Though Hiruzen did have one terrifying jutsu—the ultimate one-for-one, Dead Demon Consuming Seal!
But Danzō had one too—the Four Symbols Seal. However, unless pushed to the brink, who would use such a technique?
He shook his head. Whatever. Ryun was Konoha's Ryun. That was all that mattered. He needed to strengthen his ties with Ryun in the future!
Ryun was currently unconscious—or rather, his body was unconscious, but his mind was awake in his consciousness space, feeling bored.
Just then, a voice echoed in his consciousness space:
[Ding. Congratulations, Host, for completing the main quest: Crushing Ōnoki's Ambitions. Completion Rank: SS. Reward: 500,000 points. Current balance: 780,000.]
[Additional reward: Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique. Completing the Small Sage Body, evolving into Sage Body. Original functions remain unchanged, but effects are doubled. Chakra capacity increased to 500 units. Chakra recovery speed increased to 5 units per second. When chakra is full, ocular power recovers at a 5:1 ratio."]
(Apologies, Kakashi. And did everyone really think Kakashi had low chakra?)
As the system's voice faded, Ryun, though still in his consciousness space, felt the changes in his body. His chakra absorption speed skyrocketed.
This was a passive state. If not observed closely, it was unnoticeable. After just three minutes, Ryun felt his chakra fully replenished and his ocular power completely restored.
If he wanted, he could wake up now. But being carried felt nice, so he wasn't in a hurry to rise.
This system was truly great. When it gave rewards, it really delivered. The Sage Body was worth about 1,000,000 points, equivalent to the Eternal Mangekyō, yet it was given just like that.
About half a day later, the group reached the village gates. Ryun finally sat up, stretching his body as his joints cracked.
Everyone looked at him like he was a monster—fully recovered in half a day?
Tsunade covered her mouth in shock. Ryun's recovery ability was insane. In Konoha's history, only her grandfather could compare!
"Morning, everyone! Morning, Tsunade!" Ryun grinned at the Konoha shinobi and Tsunade.
"Uh, Ryun, it's evening. Not morning." Tsunade facepalmed with a sigh.
Ryun looked up. "Oh. Time flies!"
The shinobi, seeing Ryun was fine, relaxed, their worried frowns turning into smiles.
Someone even started chanting, "God of Shinobi! God of Shinobi!"
One led, and others followed. Their gazes burned with admiration and reverence. With Ryun around, Konoha's strength would reach unprecedented heights.
Perhaps the war would end, just like when the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, was alive. Some clan shinobi even secretly wished Ryun would become Hokage. His strength and personality were undeniable.