The destruction of Iwagakure, one of the Five Great Nations, struck the entire shinobi world like a magnitude 12 earthquake.
It was particularly jarring considering that the Third Tsuchikage, Ohnoki, had only recently dispatched envoys to form an alliance specifically targeted at Allen. Yet, before any negotiations could bear fruit, his own village had been wiped off the map.
Anyone who laid eyes on the colossal crater at the center of what used to be the Stone Village, seeing the buildings leveled to dust and the equally devastated underground facilities, fell into a heavy silence. This included the Sand, the Cloud, and the leadership of the Leaf, who had already suffered significant losses recently.
They had no choice but to be silent.
If such a terrifying explosion could happen to Iwagakure, it could naturally happen to any other village. Until a countermeasure was found, or until they figured out how many times the enemy could wield such power, no one was willing to be the first to charge in and become a sacrificial lamb.
Tsunade, having recently stepped up as the Fifth Hokage, wasted no time in summarily rescinding the rogue ninja status of Allen, Sasuke, and Neji. Simultaneously, she ordered the Anbu to conduct an exhaustive investigation into every scrap of information regarding Allen, from his first appearance to the events surrounding his defection.
Looking at a confiscated scroll, one of many circulating among the populace, densely packed with various Ninjutsu and the training methods for Nen, the gambling-addicted woman couldn't help but massage her throbbing temples.
"This man is an absolute lunatic," she grumbled helplessly. "He actually publicized forbidden arts and his own secrets so brazenly? And this power called 'Nen'... it's incredibly difficult to defend against. If this continues, our Genin will be wiped out before long."
It went without saying that as civilians who were unable to refine chakra began to develop various bizarre and unpredictable Nen abilities, every hidden village faced a massive crisis. The "ordinary people" they once handled with ease now possessed the power to resist.
And it wasn't just resistance.
Some vengeful individuals, whose families or friends had died at the hands of shinobi, had begun to take the offensive, hunting down ninjas from the villages they held grudges against. Many Genin with low situational awareness fell into traps; others became cold corpses before they even knew who their enemy was.
The death rate had climbed so high that even the prestigious shinobi clans were starting to buckle under the pressure.
Even more terrifying was the economic shift. As civilians gained power, they were no longer willing to pay exorbitant prices to hire shinobi. Instead, they opted for Nen users, who were cheaper yet possessed formidable combat strength.
This meant that missions, the primary lifeblood of a hidden village's economy, were becoming increasingly scarce.
Higher mortality rates. Lower income. Add to that the mandatory bereavement pensions for the fallen, and the great hidden villages were spiraling into a financial quagmire. If the Daimyos and nobles weren't equally terrified of this bottom-up revolutionary wave and hadn't increased their subsidies to the villages, these organizations might have disbanded on the spot.
Even so, the outlook remained grim. The civilian population base was far larger, meaning more geniuses were emerging through the study of Nen. Combined with the terrifying mechanic of Vows and Limitations, every village now faced dozens of fanatical assassins dedicated solely to hunting their shinobi.
"Sigh... I truly don't understand why he's doing this," Jiraiya sighed, his eyes clouded with confusion. "Does he loathe the peace formed by the cooperation and checks between shinobi, Daimyos, and nobles that much? If the current order collapses, we could fall back into the Warring States Period. Countless people will die because of this."
With his worldview, Jiraiya lacked the perspective to understand Allen's modern mindset. He failed to see that this so-called "peace" was built upon the brutal oppression and exploitation of the common people by the nobility and the shinobi. If that weren't the case, there wouldn't be such a surge of ordinary people willing to launch suicide attacks against the ruling class the moment they gained Nen.
"Forget it, don't overthink it," Tsunade said, picking up a glass and taking a heavy swig of sake. "I can tell his values and way of thinking are worlds apart from ours. We should just be grateful he didn't use that in the village when Orochimaru launched the Konoha Crush. Otherwise, Konoha would have vanished from the map just like Iwa."
Due to the tightening village budget, she had been forced to quit gambling, leaving alcohol as her only solace.
"So, what do you plan to do next?" Jiraiya asked, tapping the table. "As more people obtain those scrolls, the environment for shinobi will only get harsher. Unless the remaining four nations unite to conduct a massive purge of these 'dangerous elements,' the situation won't improve."
Tsunade set down her empty glass and exhaled sharply. "Do we even have a choice?"
"Hahaha! True enough! Then I'll personally make the rounds to discuss the specifics of cooperation with the other villages. We can't sit around waiting for death, or the shinobi might end up like the samurai, just another insignificant speck of dust in history."
With that, Jiraiya stood up and leaped directly out of the Hokage office window.
…
Meanwhile, in the Land of Rice Fields, Otogakure.
With Orochimaru's assistance, Allen had successfully sealed the Five-Tails within himself. Feeling the unique Boil Release chakra, a fusion of Fire and Water, he broke into a satisfied smile.
"Excellent. Using high-pressure steam to augment speed, strength, and destructive power... it's like being a giant biological steam engine."
"I'm glad it's to your liking," Orochimaru replied with a meaningful glint in his eye. "Also, I should inform you: intel suggests the Great Nations aren't going to endure this any longer. They plan to unite and launch a coordinated purge against the civilians using Nen, hoping to snuff out this resistance once and for all."
"And what does that have to do with me?" Allen asked without turning around.
"Oh? You don't intend to help them?" Orochimaru was visibly surprised. "If you don't, they truly might be wiped out."
In Orochimaru's view, since Allen started this revolution, he wouldn't just stand by while the hidden villages suppressed the awakened populace.
Allen shrugged. "It doesn't matter. A revolution that wins without experiencing bloodshed, setbacks, and failure is one that no one will cherish. People only truly value what they've gained through immense hardship."
"I am merely sowing a handful of seeds. Whether they grow into towering trees or wither halfway, I don't particularly care. The moment ordinary people gained power, my objective was achieved."
"Believe me, once this purge ends, the Daimyos and nobles will be forced to make compromises and concessions, surrendering their own interests to appease the masses. These concessions will accelerate as the strength of the common people grows, eventually leading to the collapse of the old ruling structure."
"As for whether the old era ends through bloodshed or compromise, that depends on the will and choices of the people themselves. I will neither interfere nor exert any influence."