Without the Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Ren—
the ages would have remained an endless night.
That was no exaggeration.
Ren's appearance had changed the course of the shinobi world. More than that, he had changed the fate of countless people.
Even someone as proud as the legendary Uchiha Madara could not help feeling a measure of admiration.
Because of that, the Raikage's office fell into complete silence.
The First, Second, and Third Raikage exchanged glances. In each other's eyes, they saw the same helpless realization.
They had misunderstood A.
It was not that the Fourth Raikage was weak.
It was that Uchiha Ren was far too monstrous.
"The Fifth Hokage has already surpassed the Sage of Six Paths…?"
"That's absurd. How can such a monster exist in the shinobi world?"
"Konoha's luck is terrifying. First, they had Hashirama Senju. Now they have an even more outrageous Fifth Hokage."
After a long silence, the First, Second, and Third Raikage finally spoke with heavy emotion.
They had never imagined that after their deaths, the shinobi world would change so drastically.
Nor had they expected someone like Uchiha Ren to appear.
"Stand up."
Madara glanced at the Fourth Raikage and said calmly,
"As the Raikage of Kumogakure, it's time for you to show your resolve."
"Yes!"
A gritted his teeth and rose sharply.
"No matter how strong Konoha is, I will avenge Kumogakure."
"That's right. Kumogakure has no cowards."
"If we win, Kumogakure rises again. If we lose, then everything ends."
"A, start the Fourth Great Ninja War without hesitation. We want to meet Konoha's shinobi ourselves."
With A taking the lead, the First, Second, and Third Raikage all revealed undisguised killing intent.
They had already died once.
So what if Uchiha Ren was strong?
They would fight.
That was all.
"Is the Fifth Hokage's strength truly above the Sage of Six Paths?"
After a moment, the First Raikage asked in a solemn voice.
"Almost certainly."
Madara's expression did not change.
"I understand."
The First Raikage nodded gravely and said no more.
At this point, there was nothing else to discuss.
Kumogakure could only cling to Madara's side and charge forward.
Besides, they had been revived by Edo Tensei.
They no longer had a choice.
"Begin."
Madara took a slow breath.
"Launch the Fourth Great Ninja War with overwhelming speed."
"Understood."
The Fourth Raikage clenched his fists.
"It begins."
"At last…"
"We're declaring war on Konoha. We're declaring war on Uchiha Ren."
Obito, Black Zetsu, and White Zetsu all showed firm expressions.
They understood very well.
The final battle was about to begin.
The shinobi world was about to be swallowed by a storm.
The next day—
without warning—
a shocking declaration spread across the shinobi world at terrifying speed.
Kumogakure's Fourth Raikage, A;
Iwagakure's Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki;
and Otogakure's leader, Orochimaru.
The three forces issued a joint statement.
They declared war on Konoha.
Boom!
The moment the news spread, the shinobi world exploded as if struck by an eighteen-magnitude earthquake.
No one had expected it.
At a time when Konoha's dominance seemed all but certain, when the Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Ren, stood alone above the entire era—
Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Otogakure actually dared to declare war.
It was madness.
Everyone knew what Konoha represented now.
Even if it had not yet unified the entire shinobi world, that outcome already seemed inevitable.
With the invincible Fifth Hokage standing at its peak, Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Otogakure looked as if they were marching toward death.
To put it bluntly—
declaring war on Konoha now was no different from throwing eggs at stone.
"Have Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Otogakure lost their minds? They actually want to start the Fourth Great Ninja War?"
"The Fifth Hokage is definitely going to be furious. A, Ōnoki, and Orochimaru are finished."
"Hahaha! Who gave them this courage?"
"I'm just here to watch. Anyway, I support Lord Fifth Hokage unifying the shinobi world."
Voices of shock and ridicule erupted everywhere.
Countless people across the shinobi world wore mocking expressions, already waiting to see A, Ōnoki, and Orochimaru become jokes.
At the same time—
deep in their hearts—
many were looking forward to the day Uchiha Ren finally unified the shinobi world.
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