"Heh... I have to say, the Sharingan really is a convenient tool."
In the Ninja World, ordinary people stood no chance against the hypnotic power of the Sharingan. Even for seasoned shinobi, facing a Mangekyo-level eye meant they could be plunged into a trance with effortless ease.
Only when pitted against superior ocular power, massive Chakra reserves, or unique entities—such as Jinchuriki—did the threat of the Sharingan's hypnosis truly diminish.
However, it was painfully clear that in the entire Land of Snow, not a single person could be found who was immune to such influence.
Consequently, Hoshino Hitomi moved through the country as if walking through an empty field.
At this very moment, Hitomi was reclined haphazardly on Kazahana Doto's throne. She had one leg crossed over the other, her small foot—clad in a long blue high-heeled boot—swinging back and forth in a fit of boredom.
Beside the throne stood the Star Eater in human form, hands folded behind her back. Her breathtaking face, perfect physique, and inhuman features made her every bit as captivating as Hitomi herself.
Yet, no matter how beautiful the two were, not a soul in the room cast a glance toward them. It was as if they were being completely ignored.
In reality, it wasn't a conscious snub; rather, their subconscious minds had been rewritten to believe that the master and servant simply did not exist.
The current de facto ruler of the nation, Kazahana Doto, stood with his arms crossed, his back turned to his subordinates. He was staring slightly upward at the wall behind the throne, looking for all the world as if something fascinating was there.
In truth, there was nothing but bare stone.
"Calculating the time... they should be arriving soon, right?"
"Yes, Lord Doto! Our men have already set traps along the inevitable route. We are simply waiting for Princess Koyuki to walk into them!"
"Excellent! Once I have the Hexagonal Crystal, I can unlock the secret vault of the Land of Snow and obtain even greater power! When that time comes..."
Doto was already lost in his own delusions of grandeur.
Hitomi let out a bored yawn and materialized a scroll out of thin air.
Opening it, she scanned the detailed data and construction schematics for an airship.
She had to admit, Kazahana Doto and his brother were geniuses in their own right. One had managed to build a Geothermal Generator in a wasteland like the Land of Snow, turning a frozen tundra into a habitable, warm region.
The other, despite the isolation and poverty of the land, had developed a series of "black technologies."
Trains, railways, airships—these were impressive enough. Though given the Ninja World's bizarrely uneven tech tree, such things might exist elsewhere. However, creating armor capable of amplifying Chakra was a feat very few could replicate.
Most importantly, this armor was actually effective.
"Speaking of which, Kazahana Koyuki—the big movie star—is about to arrive in the Land of Snow."
Uchiha Hoshi had no interest in airships, so she dismissed the scroll with a wave of her hand. She called up the data for the Chakra Armor instead, staring at it with vacant eyes.
Clearly, her mind wasn't on the scroll.
"Yes. Is she the one Master has been waiting for?"
"Perhaps. On that ship, aside from her, there are several other excellent Prime Bodies."
"Master refers to the people from Konoha... If I may be so bold, I fail to see anything remarkable about them."
"Anyone who can survive a Great Collapse has the potential to be a Prime Body. So, just watch. Once the people from Konoha arrive... the Second Honkai Impact will truly begin."
Senju Tobirama: "Interesting. This method of Chakra amplification could significantly boost the strength of Chunin and Genin. It even offers a marginal increase for Jonin."
Orochimaru: "I wouldn't have guessed it, Kazahana Doto. To think you've quietly cooked up something so intriguing."
Onoki: "Quick! Everyone, memorize the contents of that scroll! Write down as much as you can!"
Kazahana Doto: "YOU PEOPLE!!!"
Doto was absolutely livid.
That equipment was the result of his life's blood and research—his hope for conquering the Ninja World. If the other hidden villages got their hands on it, wouldn't he just be doing their hard work for them?
His ego simply couldn't accept it.
Kazahana Sosetsu: "I never expected you to go this far, my brother."
Kazahana Koyuki: "Father..."
Kazahana Sosetsu: "It's been a long time, Koyuki. I'm sorry I couldn't stay by your side."
Asama Sandayu: "Lord Daimyo!"
While the father and daughter shared a tearful reunion in the comments, the images on the Sky Screen continued to roll.
The scene shifted, and the inhabitants of the Ninja World finally witnessed the true power of the Chakra Armor.
Before Koyuki's ship even reached the Land of Snow, they encountered an iceberg island. They had originally planned to sail around it, but the director felt the island was a perfect backdrop for a scene and led the crew ashore to film.
The moment they stepped onto the ice, the Land of Snow forces—who had been lying in wait—launched their assault.
Unlike the original timeline's three-man squad sent to deal with Kakashi, there were now four full ninja squads.
Aside from the team engaging Kakashi, the other three squads were led by Chunin with Genin subordinates. However, because they wore Chakra Armor, the three Chunin working together were actually able to hold their own against Asuma.
The Ino-Shika-Cho trio, meanwhile, found themselves in a bitter struggle. The enemy outnumbered them two-to-one and their armor made them incredibly difficult to take down.
Yet, they lived up to their reputation. With flawless coordination, they managed to fight the Snow Ninja to a standstill.
Asuma, observing the battle while dealing with his own three opponents, wasn't in a hurry to finish things. To him, this was a rare and valuable training opportunity for his students.
The battle on the other side was just as intense, with both sides trading blows in a chaotic flurry.
No one was more thrilled than the director. No matter how realistic a movie set was, it couldn't compare to a genuine life-and-death battle. He sprinted across the battlefield, barking orders at his film crew.
His only regret was that they hadn't brought enough equipment or staff to capture every spectacular angle of the fight.
Compared to the original history, the strength of this era's Team 7 had undergone a world-shaking transformation. They were utterly dominating the other two enemy ninja.
Naruto still only used two techniques—Shadow Clone and Rasengan—but with his absurd Chakra reserves, he managed to unleash a devastating "human wave" tactic.
Meanwhile, Sasuke's Fire Style and swordsmanship were already showing the polish of a master. The blade in his hand was peerlessly sharp; even the heavy armor of Mizore Fuyukuma, renowned for its defense, couldn't withstand his slashes. What appeared to be impenetrable plating was bypassed with ease.