"Mmh…"
Uzumaki Menma groaned as he opened his eyes, clutching his head. Fighting Uchiha Madara alone had been far beyond what he could comfortably handle.
"You're awake?"
A familiar, gentle voice reached his ears. Menma turned instinctively, only to see Namikaze Minato beside him.
"You—"
The moment he saw Minato, irritation flashed across his face, but catching sight of Kyusei nearby, he held it back and clicked his tongue.
"…What are you doing here?"
With Uchiha Hikari's death, the Eight Thousand Spears affecting Minato had already dissipated. The false memories vanished along with her.
Minato looked at his unusually quiet son and gently placed a hand on his forehead, a trace of helplessness in his eyes.
"That's… a long story."
Kyusei didn't pay attention to the father-son exchange. His gaze remained fixed on the Flying Thunder God formation drawn across the ground.
If Hashirama were still here, he could have replaced Menma and completed the Dragon Vein transfer immediately.
But once the battle ended, Hashirama had asked Orochimaru to release the Reanimation, making it clear he didn't want to be disturbed again.
He clearly disliked the technique.
With no other choice, Orochimaru had undone the jutsu.
Now, both Hashirama and Hiruzen were gone.
Everyone had been waiting for Menma to wake up.
Although Nao possessed enormous Tenseigan chakra, its purity was too high and could easily destabilize the formation, making her unsuitable as a chakra supplier.
The group gathered around a campfire, discussing what came next.
Akatsuki had been annihilated.
Nagato, Hikari, and Uchiha Yugen had all died.
That meant—
There was no longer any force in the shinobi world capable of standing against Konoha.
Even if Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure joined forces, it wouldn't matter.
Their so-called top fighters—the Raikage, Tsuchikage, and Jinchūriki—were powerful against ordinary shinobi.
But against Kyusei and Nao—
They weren't enough.
And now, there was also Menma.
He had already declared his intention to join the Dragon Vein plan. As a perfect Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, he was a valuable asset.
"So, with Akatsuki gone… what next?"
Orochimaru asked calmly, his gaze flickering toward Kaoru, the future Fourth Hokage.
Sasuke, however, had no interest in the discussion. He tore a piece of cloth from his clothes, dampened it, and gently wiped Sakura's face as she lay unconscious.
Kaoru met Orochimaru's expectant gaze and spoke steadily.
"Akatsuki is no longer a threat."
"There is no one left in this world who can challenge Konoha."
"Iwagakure, Kumogakure, Sunagakure—none of them matter anymore."
She paused, a faint glint of ambition flashing in her eyes.
"Since they chose to oppose us…"
"They must pay the price."
The room grew quiet.
Kyusei, Nao, Kaoru, and Orochimaru—
These four represented Konoha's absolute top combat power, fully united.
Kyusei and Nao needed no explanation.
Kaoru's Paper Release combined with Flying Thunder God and the Tandem Explosive Tags made her a nightmare opponent.
As for Orochimaru—
His personal strength aside, he could summon others.
And over time, his Reanimation would only improve.
Hashirama, Hiruzen, Nagato, Hikari, Yugen—even Madara's corpse—
All were now in Konoha's possession.
If necessary, Orochimaru alone could rival an entire village.
"If Hashirama won't come back…"
"Then we'll bring back Madara."
Orochimaru thought with a faint smile.
"What are you all discussing?"
Tobirama returned, having inspected the formation and studied the Dragon Vein.
"We're discussing how Konoha should handle the new world order."
Kaoru replied.
"…Mind sharing your thoughts?"
Tobirama sat down casually, clearly interested.
"You're about to become Hokage."
"What's your plan?"
Under his scrutinizing gaze, Kaoru remained composed.
"There is no longer anyone who can oppose Konoha."
"Our priority is to stabilize the Dragon Vein."
"After that…"
She continued calmly—
"The rest will be dealt with accordingly."
"The shinobi world has been at war for a thousand years."
"It's time for peace."
Her tone was calm—
But carried killing intent.
"Kumogakure."
"Iwagakure."
"Sunagakure."
"Anyone who stands against Konoha will not be spared."
"One world."
"A thousand years of chaos."
"Hundreds of nations."
"Each with its own daimyo. Its own army."
She looked at Tobirama.
"Isn't this…"
"A betrayal of the Sage of Six Paths' vision?"
"Did he not wish for mutual understanding between people?"
"Then why is the world still divided?"
Her voice grew colder.
"This ends now."
Tobirama's eyes lit up.
As expected—
Hiruzen's successor was no naive idealist.
World peace?
Yes.
But through unification.
Tobirama fully approved.
Having lived through the Warring States era and witnessed endless conflict, he knew the truth.
Only unity could end it.
They had lost that chance once—
Because of Hashirama.
Now—
It had returned.
And Konoha would not let it slip away again.
At that moment—
Tobirama truly acknowledged her as the Fourth Hokage.
—
By the time the sun rose over the devastated desert, Menma had fully recovered.
When he learned he had been knocked out by Madara and slept through the rest of the battle—
His face turned green.
He had barely stalled Madara before becoming useless.
Even Orochimaru had contributed more than him.
His pride took a hit.
But that no longer mattered.
Now that he was recovered—
It was time.
He and Kyusei stood at the chakra input points of the Flying Thunder God formation.
The others watched.
This entire operation—
Had been for the Dragon Vein.
And now—
It was time to claim it.
Kyusei entered Nine-Tails Mode.
Menma prepared himself.
He had split the Nine-Tails' power into nine parts using Nine-Faced Su Po He, fully integrating it into himself.
He was the Nine-Tails.
And the Nine-Tails was him.
Kaoru placed her hand on a marked kunai and smiled.
"Spiral Flash Super Star Divine Authority Final Form Flying Thunder God Formation—activate!"
Everyone froze.
Kyusei sighed helplessly, smiling faintly.
And began pouring chakra into the array.
Menma followed.
Even Minato looked impressed.
"…What a name."
As expected of his counterpart.
But no one paid him any attention.
The chakra requirement—
Had already been met.
Two perfect Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
Under Kaoru's control—
The formation activated.
Golden light erupted.
In an instant—
The barren desert was replaced by a lush green plain.
"This… what is this?"
Ōnoki arrived with the Four-Tails and Five-Tails Jinchūriki, staring in shock at the transformed landscape.
"Ōnoki…"
"What do we do now?"
Rōshi asked grimly.
Ōnoki's face darkened.
"…It's over."
If Akatsuki had won—
They would have contacted him.
But now—
Silence.
The result was obvious.
A White Zetsu popped out of the ground.
"You're late."
"The fight's been over for a while."
"…Who won?"
Ōnoki asked, clinging to a faint hope.
"Konoha, obviously."
Zetsu replied casually.
"…Finished."
Ōnoki nearly collapsed.
With Hikari gone—
There was no one left to oppose Kyusei.
They would be picked off—
One by one.
—
Meanwhile—
The group returned instantly from the Land of Wind to the Land of Fire.
Konoha's walls were already visible.
Medical teams rushed forward, taking Sakura and Menma away.
Menma had just recovered—
And already pushed himself too far.
Kushina stood waiting.
But when she saw him—
She froze.
"…Minato…"
Her eyes filled with tears.
He still stood tall—
But there was a weariness to him now.
He was only forty-four—
Yet looked far older.
"Kushina…"
Minato embraced her immediately.
"It's over."
"Everything's over."
He had already discussed Kyusei's proposal.
Instead of conflict—
Cooperation.
Through the Dragon Vein—
They would step into a multiversal Konoha.
Sharing power.
Sharing resources.
Working together.
But leadership—
Would remain with Kyusei.
The strength difference made that clear.
And for negotiations—
Kyusei's gaze shifted.
Toward Tobirama.
There was no better choice—
Than him.
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