Just as the battle was about to reach its final moment—when both sides seemed destined to suffer mutual destruction—Uchiha Hikari extended the giant hand of her Susanoo and forcibly separated the two groups.
Medical personnel quickly rushed forward, escorting the four heavily injured fighters off the stage.
"Continue."
Her cold voice rang out across the arena.
A few earth-style and construction ninjutsu from the engineering ninja quickly restored the central training ground to its original condition.
Only faint traces of frost and scorched earth remained, silent evidence of the fierce battle that had just taken place.
A day later.
Looking at the finalized personnel list in his hand, Uchiha Soren waved his hand decisively.
Aside from the reconnaissance division, the Royal Court Ninja Army officially gained a new unit—
The Frost Dragon Knights.
Among the five centurion commanders, four were from the Uchiha clan, while the remaining one belonged to the Uzumaki clan.
Half of the squad leaders were also taken by the Uchiha.
With that, the overall military structure had finally been completed.
"Next…"
Soren looked toward the eager young woman beside him.
"…it's time to conquer the Great Tomb."
His tone carried a trace of seriousness.
"Hikari. I'll leave it to you."
"Mm. I won't disappoint you!"
Besides the two of them, Uzumaki Minako and Uzumaki Mito were also present in the room.
According to the plan proposed by the strategic council, Konoha intended to first bombard the enemy barrier with Tailed Beast Bombs, gradually exhausting its magical energy.
After that, they would use the chakra cannons developed over the past few years to launch continuous bombardment.
No matter how strong the Great Tomb's barrier was, it ultimately had no external power source.
All energy consumption depended entirely on Nazarick itself.
If they didn't want to be slowly drained to death by Konoha's siege, they would inevitably have to step outside the barrier and fight.
"At the Blazing Sun level, we are clearly at a disadvantage."
When saying this, Uzumaki Mito glanced somewhat awkwardly at the calm Uchiha Soren and the gentle yet composed Uzumaki Minako.
A trace of bitterness stirred within her heart.
The situation had already reached this point.
There was nothing she could do to change it.
Originally, she had intended to avoid involvement altogether, but Soren had personally ordered her to attend this meeting.
Even though she felt uneasy, her sense of duty forced her to speak seriously.
"Our lowest-cost path to victory is this."
"Hikari and I will hold the front line."
"Meanwhile, using the Heaven's Punishment Spear stationed on the Moon, we will teleport the Great Tomb's powerful fighters to the ninja world."
"And once they arrive…"
"…the Supreme Leader's true body will eliminate them."
"Among them, we must pay special attention to the enemy leader."
"The skeletal magic caster who possesses the world-class item 'Momonga Orb'."
"His self-destruction ability is powerful enough that even Susanoo cannot withstand it."
Below the Six Paths level, Susanoo was an extremely powerful ability.
However, once combat reached the Six Paths realm, Susanoo alone was no longer sufficient.
If not for the immense power of Uchiha Soren's divine energy, which expanded Susanoo to nearly five hundred meters, it would never have survived the battle on the Moon.
Even the Silver Wheel Reincarnation Explosion from the temporarily controlled golden Tenseigan would have destroyed it.
"At that moment, we'll rely on sealing techniques."
Uzumaki Minako continued calmly.
"Lady Mito and I will use Adamantine Sealing Chains to capture Momonga in one decisive strike."
"Don't underestimate him."
Soren's warning made the three women nod.
"That opponent is not easy to deal with."
"His combat experience is extremely rich, and his battle instincts are sharp."
In games, players could revive countless times and continue fighting.
That meant Momonga's combat experience was far beyond that of ordinary people.
He could not be judged by normal standards.
Soren then produced another scroll and placed it on the table between them.
"This is a ninja tool scroll containing the sealed Box of Bliss."
"I don't need to explain its function."
Uzumaki Minako's expression remained calm.
But Uzumaki Mito's gaze turned complicated.
Years ago, she had sent Senju Senmu to the prison city Hōzuki Castle of the Grass Village.
The man had placed all his hopes on the legendary artifact—
The Box of Bliss, said to grant any wish.
Unfortunately…
The only wishes the box could truly fulfill belonged to the dead.
After all, the dead have no wishes.
Senju Senmu's soul had been sealed inside the Box of Bliss, becoming one of its monstrous entities—
Satori.
These creatures had wings spanning sixty to seventy meters, towering bodies forty to fifty meters tall, eagle-like lower limbs, and massive spherical upper bodies with two pairs of claws.
Their upper and lower halves were connected by spiral bone structures nearly ten meters long.
Most Satori possessed strength around the Radiant Moon level.
Their greatest flaw in the past was that they could not distinguish friend from foe.
Once released, they would slaughter indiscriminately.
However—
During one experiment, the Satori formed from Senju Senmu's overwhelming desire devoured the others and became their leader.
Its strength had already reached the Blazing Sun level.
Curious about the artifact, Uchiha Soren had once wrapped the Box of Bliss in divine energy.
Inside, he discovered a hidden mechanism left behind by the Sage of Six Paths.
It took considerable effort to dismantle it.
Now—
Konoha had gained control over the Satori sealed inside the box.
By taking out the Box of Bliss today, Soren had effectively announced that Senju Senmu, whose body and mind had long become monstrous—
Would return to the world.
This time, however, not as an experimental subject.
But as a living shield.
"The Box of Bliss is a significant reinforcement for our forces."
"Lady Mito, Sister Minako… you don't mind, do you?"
Even as she asked, Uchiha Hikari had already grabbed the scroll and attached it to her waist.
Seeing that Minako showed no reaction, she suddenly lost interest.
"What's there to mind?"
Minako smiled calmly.
"Senmu was once a ninja of Konoha."
"Now that he has become Satori, he is still Konoha's Satori."
"Commander Hikari may use him freely."
"Even sacrificing him is acceptable."
"Minako!"
Uzumaki Mito's voice rose slightly.
"What is it, Lady Mito?"
Under Minako's calm gaze, Mito opened her mouth—
But no words came out.
"Even after becoming a monster, Senmu-kun can still serve the Konoha he longed for."
"That should be something worth celebrating."
"You should be happy, Lady Mito."
Even Uchiha Hikari, who didn't know the full story, could sense the strange tension between the two Uzumaki women.
Her eyes shifted slightly, curiosity rising in her heart.
Whatever had happened between Uchiha Soren and Uzumaki Minako…
It probably had something to do with Senju Senmu.
Family scandals were not meant to be exposed publicly.
Uzumaki Mito looked deeply at Minako.
The once obedient young wife had now become one of Konoha's highest authorities.
A single word from her could influence the livelihoods of millions across the ninja world.
Her strength had already reached the Blazing Sun level—
A height Senju Senmu could never have reached in his lifetime.
Faced with such a remarkable woman, Mito could find no grounds to criticize her.
If the two of them truly fell into open conflict…
Then the Senju clan would cease to be Senju.
And the Uzumaki clan would cease to be Uzumaki.
Time had completely transformed Uzumaki Minako.
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