While Uchiha Soren was contemplating his grand ambitions, the Shinobi World welcomed visitors from the Magic Continent.
The Blood Emperor of the Baharuth Empire, Jircniv, arrived together with the imperial archmage Fluder, the warrior "Ghost Spear" Leinas, and several attendants.
Using a continent-level teleportation array, and escorted by a small unit of the Royal Court Shinobi Guard, they arrived at the rapidly developing central city of the shinobi world—
Konoha.
Before them unfolded a scene of prosperity and vitality.
With a population exceeding one million, Konoha resembled a brilliant jewel embedded within the map of the shinobi world.
The Outer Five Rings were carefully planned by the Construction Bureau.
Wide avenues bustled with people moving endlessly like flowing rivers.
Skyscrapers stood one after another.
Yet they were not uniform buildings.
Architectural masters had designed them in a variety of styles, so that turning a corner often revealed something unexpectedly refreshing.
Shops lined both sides of the streets.
The dazzling array of goods was overwhelming.
Vendors' calls rose and fell like a bustling symphony.
The Inner Three Rings formed the true heart of Konoha.
Here, ancient and modern architecture blended perfectly.
Traditional wooden buildings stood beside towering modern structures, creating a unique skyline.
Skyscrapers cut across the horizon, while older structures glowed warmly under countless lights.
Crowds flowed through the streets like living rivers merging into a lively ocean.
Escorted by the Royal Court Shinobi Guard, Jircniv's group slowly advanced through the bustling crowd toward the core district of Konoha.
This was the political, economic, and cultural center of the shinobi world.
The most important resources and talents of the entire world gathered here.
At the center stood the expanded Supreme Leader's Building.
Its architecture followed the ancient design principle of "round heaven, square earth."
Towering above everything else, it symbolized the supreme authority and glory of the shinobi world.
Around it were the residences of the Uchiha and Senju clans, as well as Konoha's central institutions.
On the busy streets, shinobi moved back and forth in orderly efficiency.
"Captain Hatake…"
"Your country truly has countless strong individuals and heroes."
Fluder spoke with undisguised shock.
His special talent allowed him to perceive the rank and strength of others.
Along the way, what he saw left him speechless.
On the Magic Continent, who could imagine six- or seven-year-old children possessing strength comparable to low-rank adventurers?
And this was not rare.
School had just ended.
Groups of children scattered everywhere.
Some ran across walls.
Others leapt over fences.
Their laughter echoed through the streets while teachers shouted angrily behind them.
To Fluder, this was only the tip of the iceberg of the shinobi world's strength.
Yet even this tiny glimpse destroyed any remaining confidence he had in resisting them.
In his eyes, the shinobi world's top experts were indeed terrifying—
But even more terrifying was their education system.
As long as this system continued to function, the backbone supporting the shinobi world's dominance would only grow larger and stronger.
Once they entered the Three Rings District, the true core of Konoha, what Fluder saw shocked him even more.
Children of the great shinobi clans trained here.
Many heroes once praised across the Magic Continent—
Were not even comparable to the dog standing beside Hatake Sakumo.
There were simply too many strong individuals.
"You flatter us, Archmage Fluder."
Hatake Sakumo replied calmly.
"We still have a long road ahead."
Once, he too believed Konoha was invincible.
That he himself was overwhelmingly powerful.
But after the battle with the Great Tomb of Nazarick, his perspective had changed.
At that level of war—
Even Morning Star-level fighters were merely cannon fodder.
Bright Moon fighters were spectators.
Only those at the Blazing Sun level could truly shake the battlefield.
As for Jōnin and Elite Jōnin, equivalent to the Hero Realm of the Magic Continent?
They were no different from fearless skeleton soldiers.
Expendable.
Looking at Hatake Sakumo, who radiated the aura of a veteran hero—already approaching Elite Jōnin level—
Fluder estimated his age was not even twenty.
A bitter feeling rose in his heart.
When he had been Sakumo's age—
He had not even stepped into the Hero Realm.
"Captain Hatake is so young and already approaching the Hero Realm…"
"This old man truly feels ashamed in comparison."
"The Hero Realm?"
"You mean Morning Star?"
Under the puzzled gazes of the imperial delegation, Sakumo patiently explained.
"Our Supreme Leader classifies power above Jōnin into three levels."
"Morning Star, Bright Moon, and Blazing Sun."
"Sun, moon, and stars…"
Jircniv silently repeated the words in his mind.
"So the shinobi world wishes to place its people among the heavens… looking down upon the entire world?"
"What incredible ambition."
Yet—
The shinobi world truly had the strength to support such arrogance.
Unlike Fluder, who focused on combat power, Jircniv—once an emperor with outstanding governance ability—noticed something else.
Economic prosperity.
Social vitality.
The people of Konoha were energetic and confident.
A nation like this—
Unless it suffered a catastrophic disaster or internal corruption—
Would only grow stronger over time.
Furthermore, if the Supreme Leader of the Shinobi World lived as long as Fluder—over two hundred years—
Then ruling for a thousand years might not even be difficult.
If that were the case…
The dream of restoring the Baharuth Empire was nothing more than an illusion.
"As for my own strength…"
Hatake Sakumo exhaled lightly.
"It's nothing more than a drop in the ocean."
Before Fluder could respond, a melodious bell suddenly rang.
It signaled the end of the workday in Konoha.
Jircniv's group stopped and looked toward the source of the sound.
A newly built clock tower stood nearby.
Its bells rang slowly, as if recounting Konoha's glory.
Below the tower stretched a vast plaza.
At the center stood a massive statue monument.
It depicted the heroic figures of past Hokage, symbolizing Konoha's spirit and legacy.
The old Hokage Rock had already been removed by the Construction Bureau.
In its place now stood a colossal Susanoo statue.
Even the Senju clan of the Forest had to admit—
Uchiha Soren's achievements had long surpassed those of Hashirama and Tobirama.
If their stone faces still stood above Konoha now—
It would only be an embarrassment.
The brightly lit streets bustled with activity.
Another group approached from the distance.
Their clothing was completely different from the shinobi world's style.
Jircniv's eyes lit up.
Ignoring the calm expressions of the escorting shinobi, he walked forward with a smile.
"You must be the priests of the Slane Theocracy."
"I am Jircniv, Emperor of the Baharuth Empire."
While the Blood Emperor focused on the high-ranking priests—
Fluder's attention was fixed on the young boy and girl leading them.
The boy was the surviving God-kin captain of the Black Scripture.
His aura resembled the brilliance of a Bright Moon shining in the night.
The girl beside him—
Radiated a brilliance like the Blazing Sun itself.
At that moment, Fluder finally understood from another perspective why the Shinobi World's Supreme Leader had created the Sun–Moon–Star ranking system.
"As expected of what was once the strongest human nation."
"What a pity…"
"They encountered an enemy they never should have faced."
Fluder thought calmly, following behind Jircniv.
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