In the Hidden Stone Village, Onoki looked at the intelligence report, feeling utterly perplexed.
The report detailed Konoha's frequent dispatch of personnel to several small ninja villages, and also—
Ryoho Kyohiko had personally gone to the Land of Rain, observing the southwestern direction, for unknown reasons.
"Konoha wants to unite with these small ninja villages?"
"But what is Ryoho Kyohiko doing in the southwest of the Land of Rain?"
Onoki pondered deeply but couldn't understand.
He always felt that Konoha was brewing a vast and astonishing plan, one that could change the situation of the ninja world.
Onoki flew up, looking at the ninja world map from above.
Suddenly, his gaze swept across it, and he was struck with alarm.
The Land of Fire, the Land of Wind, the Land of Rain, plus the small ninja villages Konoha was still in contact with—didn't this directly form a curtain?
This curtain bordered their Land of Earth directly, surrounding them.
If you also count the Land of Snow to the north—
A while ago, for the sake of the Land of Snow, Konoha had fought with the A and B combination from the Hidden Cloud Village and even abducted Killer Bee.
One of the reasons the Hidden Cloud Village hadn't started a war for so long was that Killer Bee had been captured and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki was in Konoha's hands.
Konoha's trip to the Land of Snow seemed like just completing a mission there, but in reality, they had reached an agreement with the Land of Snow's daimyo.
This could be seen from the appearance of a group of guardian ninja in the Land of Snow after Konoha left.
Konoha had most likely helped the Land of Snow complete the basic structure of their guardian ninja force.
His eyes followed the lines one by one, his brain working rapidly.
Konoha wants to surround me?
The Land of Earth was already being surrounded by the Land of Fire and its allies, with Konoha's people everywhere.
No!
I must strike hard.
Otherwise, once Konoha completes the encirclement, will the Land of Earth and the Hidden Stone Village have any future to speak of?
Onoki slammed his fist on the table.
Relying on the Hidden Stone Village alone, they were definitely no match for Konoha and its many allies. Therefore, he must contact the Hidden Cloud Village, the Hidden Mist Village, and Uchiha Madara's subordinates.
Only when the three forces act together, combining their strength, can they be truly effective.
Otherwise—
Like before, they would just be defeated one by one in the end.
Onoki landed.
Just as he was about to summon the ANBU, a figure suddenly appeared.
The next second.
Onoki raised his hands, but quickly put them down.
"I was just thinking of you, and you've arrived."
"It's me."
Zetsu replied, "Tsuchikage-sama, I wonder if you were satisfied with the previous gift?"
"Our Hidden Stone Village is very grateful for your help."
Onoki answered seriously.
The scroll Madara gave was indeed very useful.
The section on Fire Style was as detailed as it could be, filling a significant gap in their village's ninjutsu variety.
For the Hidden Stone Village, this was a considerable help.
At least, they no longer had to rely solely on Explosion Style and very limited offensive Earth Style ninjutsu as their few means of attack.
Furthermore, Madara's analysis of Fire Style was simply perfect.
Even if they couldn't use it, they gained a lot of experience on how to counter it.
Now, the hidden strength of the Hidden Stone Village had increased significantly.
Zetsu smiled and said, "Then, I wonder if you are ready to start the war. Otherwise, Konoha won't give us much time."
"I was just about to say, Konoha is probably making big moves. I hope we can start the war as soon as possible!"
Onoki said with a serious expression, "We think alike!"
"You might only be guessing, but I have special intelligence."
Zetsu said, taking out a scroll and placing it on Onoki's desk.
Onoki opened the scroll, and his pupils immediately shrank.
Konoha blew up a mountain?!!
This…
What for?
Onoki was dumbfounded. Then, his eyes widened slightly in astonishment, "Could it be?"
"Yes, Konoha's Ryoho Kyohiko is truly a genius. Although this action won't bring much benefit to Konoha, the Land of Wind has clearly gained a lot."
Zetsu commented.
Onoki was silent.
The scroll detailed Konoha's mountain-opening project in the southwest of the Land of Rain.
This also confirmed his intelligence.
Ryoho Kyohiko was active in the southwest of the Land of Rain, indeed with a purpose!
After opening the mountain, both the Land of Rain and the Land of Wind would benefit.
Moreover.
In the southern Land of Rivers, they had actually agreed to the cooperation of the three ninja villages, willing to designate a jointly administered area there.
How could Konoha dare to do this!
Isn't this equivalent to sharing its own interests with the other two countries?
Onoki couldn't figure it out at first.
But soon, after a little thought, he realized his thinking was wrong.
By establishing such a hub, Konoha could still get the largest share, the Hidden Rain Village would gain secondary benefits, and the one losing out was the Hidden Sand Village.
However.
The Hidden Sand Village exchanged it for environmental and trade route improvements in the north, essentially trading missions for economic income.
The second one to suffer a loss was not one of these three, but the Hidden Stone Village in the north!
They were the ones who lost out big time!
"Konoha, I will never rest until you are destroyed!"
Onoki roared in anger.
Zetsu's face became stern, and he said, "Our lord also has a firm determination to fight against Konoha. If you are going to send troops, I suggest you attack the Hidden Rain Village first."
"Hmph, that's indeed what should be done!"
...
Some time ago, in the southwest of the Land of Rain.
On the Land of Wind's side, the ninjas stationed at the border, in cooperation with the Hidden Rain Village ninjas, were using their limited mastery of Earth Style ninjutsu to construct a river channel.
Once the mountain-opening here succeeded, then—
A large amount of water vapor and rivers would enter the Land of Wind, quickly causing a downpour, and might even trigger a terrifying flood.
Constructing the river channel first was necessary to store the water and guide it along the desired path.
"Kurama, let's begin."
"Hmph, you're so strong, you don't need me."
The Nine-Tails clone replied with dissatisfaction.
When it's nothing, he calls me Nine-Tails; when it's something, he calls me Kurama.
The key was—
This kid's tone showed no respect whatsoever, as if he could be summoned and dismissed at will.
"Don't you want to accomplish such a magnificent feat?"
"I don't."
The Nine-Tails clone answered.
It glanced over, then sighed, "Alright, but you have to promise me you'll release more chakra for me when we get back."
"Alright."
Kyohiko nodded.
How could he not understand the Nine-Tails' thoughts?
Doesn't it just want to show off in front of Gyuki and Shukaku to maintain its status and dignity as the boss?
Granted!
The Nine-Tails immediately became excited.
"Alright! Let's do it together. But I only have about thirty percent of my power, will that be enough?"
"It's enough!"
Kyohiko reached out his hand and directly removed the seal on it.
The next second, the Nine-Tails instantly grew huge.
And then—
Boom!
Kyohiko's figure instantly became resplendent with golden light.
Behind them, Hanzo, Yahiko, and Konan watched from a distance. Seeing the change in Kyohiko, their faces immediately showed surprise.
"This is?"
"The power of the Nine-Tails? So, to fully master the power of a Tailed Beast can result in such an amazing transformation!"
Yahiko couldn't help but exclaim.
Hanzo was equally shocked, his face grave, but he shook his head, refuting Yahiko's statement.
"No! This is not an ordinary Tailed Beast transformation!"
"Huh?"
Yahiko looked at him, puzzled.
Hanzo said, "Over the years, complete Tailed Beast transformations have existed in the ninja world, for example, the rampages of the One-Tail and Eight-Tails, and the Four-Tails and Five-Tails of the Hidden Stone Village..."
Hanzo had lived from the Second Great Ninja War until now. If nothing else, his knowledge was indeed very extensive.
"But their Tailed Beast transformations are basically transforming into the appearance of the Tailed Beast, while the Nine-Tails seems to be a bit different."
He looked at the current Ryoho Kyohiko.
A special kind of chakra.
But.
This was not the end.
The next second, Kyohiko put his hands together, and the trees under his feet and around him connected as one. Natural energy instantly poured into his body.
Crack!
Sage chakra was quickly extracted.
Kyohiko's whole body underwent a second transformation.
Sage Fox Mode!
"What technique are you going to use? To use such powerful chakra!"
The Nine-Tails was somewhat puzzled.
In front of them was a small, not-so-tall mountain. According to Kyohiko's investigation, breaking it open here would have the least impact on the terrain, earth veins, and water veins.
In other words.
Breaking through here could achieve more changes at the smallest cost.
"A simple ninjutsu. Hmm, you should have a little impression of it."
Kyohiko replied.
This was also the first time he had tried this technique. To avoid consuming a large amount of his previously stored chakra, he had specifically brought a Nine-Tails clone.
And now.
Kyohiko formed hand seals.
The Nine-Tails' consciousness was active within him. It didn't feel much watching the hand seals, but when the chakra surged and a huge commotion appeared, it gradually got an impression.
It was an unbearable memory of a battle!
The next instant.
Amidst the roaring sound, a huge wooden statue rose from under Kyohiko's feet.
Sage Art: Wood Style: True Several Thousand Hands!
The massive wooden statue rose from the ground, a Wood Style ninjutsu even more powerful than the Wood Golem Technique. After being fully released, even this mountain seemed small.
Behind.
Hanzo's eyes widened, his mask almost falling off.
This...
Is this a ninjutsu that a human can perform?
A word suddenly flashed in his mind.
"God"!
The God of Shinobi of that era was probably only this powerful, right?
Hanzo's eyes widened, not daring to miss any detail.
The giant statue of a thousand hands, magnificent and majestic.
"Thousand Hands, is this the origin of the Senju surname?"
Yahiko was also stunned.
He and Konan were both born during the Second Great Ninja War. Although they had heard many rumors about Senju Hashirama, they had never truly witnessed it.
Now seeing Kyohiko's technique...
They felt that Senju Hashirama must have been like this too!
No wonder he was so powerful it was suffocating!
At this moment, not only the ninjas of the Hidden Rain Village, but even the ninjas of the Hidden Sand Village on the other side of the mountain could see this majestic giant statue.
As solemn and terrifying as a god!
The next second, Top Transformed Buddha!
It really is this technique.
The Nine-Tails was inside Kyohiko, feeling very complicated.
Top Transformed Buddha.
Madara was defeated by this sage art!
At that time, it was forced to merge with Uchiha Madara's Susanoo, reaching almost its most powerful state.
But facing this strike from Senju Hashirama, it and Uchiha Madara were still thoroughly defeated.
The Valley of the End also came from this.
Now, Kyohiko was replicating it, using this technique to smash open this mountain.
That was simply...
Too easy!
Boom!
A thousand wooden hands smashed down from above.
The rumbling sound caused a huge earthquake, and even Hanzo, far behind, felt the violent shaking.
Such a technique completely defied their past understanding.
So a person could be this powerful!
On the other side, the group that had completed the simple guidance of the channel was resting on the side. Suddenly hearing the rumbling and the great earthquake, they were all terrified.
"What happened?"
Rasa looked into the distance, and the next second, his shadow clone disappeared.
A look of shock immediately appeared on his face.
And then...
He murmured to himself.
"Is this a level a human can reach?"
What terrifying Wood Style!
Did the first Kage of their time establish their villages under such pressure?
No.
Perhaps, the other party never even considered the Kage as enemies. Otherwise, would the Hidden Sand Village still exist today?
Rasa fell into deep self-doubt.
He realized.
This action was both Kyohiko's help and Konoha's deterrent.
Konoha could help them.
Similarly, Konoha also had the ability to destroy them!
This was the meaning of power.
At this moment, everyone was looking up, dumbfounded, witnessing the god-like, powerful Wood Style technique.
Kyohiko put his hands together, and the wooden statue under his feet quickly collapsed.
At this time, everyone finally reacted.
The mountain...
Was opened!
As the mountain and the two surrounding ones were smashed open, a fierce wind howled, and rain was quickly blown through the gap.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
The fierce wind, carrying the rain, swept towards the desert.
On the other side, the Hidden Sand ninjas on the small mountain saw a dark cloud pressing over from the distance, and they all stood there stunned.
In an instant.
Splash!
The rain fell as if being poured, slanting down in this small area, hitting the sandy ground.
Without trees, the water soon spread everywhere.
Fortunately, there were pre-dug channels. The water quickly passed through the mountain gullies and channels, flowing into them.
Soon, a river was formed.
"Rain, a river!"
Rasa stood in the fierce wind and heavy rain, cheering with excitement.
In the distance, Yahiko, who had body-flickered to a mountain top, watched this scene with complicated feelings.
Rain.
The thing they detested the most, but in the hearts of the Hidden Sand Village, it was as precious as gold.
For this, they could give up many interests.
And now.
Konoha had helped the Hidden Sand Village achieve it!
Hanzo came to a distance of thirty or forty steps from Kyohiko and did not get any closer, but spoke cautiously.
"So, this is how the Valley of the End came to be back then. What a truly shocking and convincing powerful ninjutsu."
He was worried about being considered offensive by Kyohiko, and having the intention of a sneak attack.
Kyohiko looked at the opening and smiled, "Yes, the Valley of the End back then was formed by the battle between the First Hokage and Madara."
However.
He paused and said, "What I used is still inferior to the First Hokage."
Kyohiko answered seriously.
His Top Transformed Buddha used a part of the Nine-Tails' power, and the Nine-Tails cooperated with all its heart, to achieve its current power.
As for Senju Hashirama...
He didn't have the Nine-Tails back then; he relied entirely on his own immense chakra.
One could only say.
Asura's chakra is truly monstrous!
Kyohiko complained in his heart.
Hanzo looked at the huge gap, pursing his lips without speaking.
Such power...
Is still not at the level of Senju Hashirama?
This was also Kyohiko's purpose. He didn't tell the whole truth, just to let these people know—
I can be even stronger!
This is not the limit of Senju Hashirama, nor is it the limit of me, Ryoho Kyohiko, but the limit of your perception.
The heights a ninja can reach are far beyond their imagination!
Learn to be in awe, to learn to respect.
Otherwise.
After a while, when the weather clears up, these people might think they are capable again.
Hanzo's shock was beyond words.
He looked up at the distant mountain, thinking—
If this strike were aimed at him, could he dodge it?
Probably not.