The joint Chūnin Exams held in Konohagakure had finally come to an end.
This exam could hardly be called smooth—after all, the terrain outside Konoha had been completely reshaped, and countless lives had been lost. Even the Fourth Raikage and the Fourth Kazekage had fallen together within Konoha's walls.
Yet in another sense, the exam had been a success—after all, both the Raikage and the Kazekage had perished here.
"That Ōtsutsuki Genshiki has already left. It seems his target is Akatsuki."
Inside a conference room of the Hokage Building in Konoha, Jiraiya—looking utterly battered from head to toe—spoke while Tsunade tended to his wounds.
He had been the closest to the front lines just now, seeing and hearing far more than the others, and of course taking the heaviest damage.
In the end, he truly could not withstand that final Silver Wheel Reincarnation Explosion. He had been forced to flee with Reverse Summoning.
Kitagawa Gen had already noticed him and deliberately shifted the attack's trajectory—otherwise, Jiraiya's state would have been far worse than simply bedraggled.
"Just who is this Ōtsutsuki Genshiki, and why is he after the Akatsuki?"
Ōnoki spoke bluntly. He was familiar enough with the Akatsuki, and Kirigakure's side knew them even better.
But the thought that such a dangerous organization could be beaten so thoroughly by a single man—this was something they truly struggled to accept.
"In truth, we don't know much about this 'Ōtsutsuki Genshiki' either."
Jiraiya grimaced, and Sarutobi Hiruzen took over the explanation.
"He's far too mysterious. The first time he appeared was in the Land of Fire, where he attacked the Fire Temple and seized the Nine-Tails' chakra hidden there."
"Nine-Tails' chakra?"
Genji frowned in confusion, and Hiruzen quickly clarified.
"Yes. Some people had secretly collected remnants of chakra that had dissipated. He discovered it, and he clashed with the Akatsuki there. The second time… was now."
This matter was far too grave for Konoha to handle alone, so Hiruzen made no effort to conceal it.
"Besides that, the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku seems to know something. Just hearing that name left him shaken. But… he did not share much with Jiraiya."
"So he's that mysterious?"
Ōnoki and Genji both furrowed their brows. A man whose power defied comprehension, yet about whom there was almost no information—how were they supposed to guard against or counter someone like that? They had not the faintest idea.
"For now, all we know is that Ōtsutsuki Genshiki's goal may be the tailed beasts, or their chakra."
Hiruzen rubbed at his brow, and Jiraiya added from the side: "Besides that, his target may also be the Akatsuki, because within the Akatsuki… there is someone who possesses the Rinnegan!"
"What? The Rinnegan?"
"The eyes of the legendary Sage of Six Paths? Impossible!"
The instant Jiraiya said this, both Genji and Ōnoki's faces shifted to expressions of disbelief.
On the other side of the table, even Terumī Mei, who had joined the talks, was visibly shaken.
The Rinnegan.
Any child raised in the shinobi world had heard the stories of the Sage of Six Paths.
The highest of all dōjutsu, the "eyes that govern life and death"—power that belonged solely to the Sage himself.
And now… a member of the Akatsuki possessed it.
To think something like that could exist?
And the most crucial part—someone who possessed those eyes actually lost?
Just how terrifying was this Ōtsutsuki Genshiki?
Perhaps only Deidara seemed unfazed. He had been trying to strike up conversation with Kitagawa Gen the whole time.
"Alright, everyone. The Rinnegan isn't quite as frightening as you imagine."
As the entire chamber sat in heavy silence, Gen—likely unable to tolerate Deidara any longer—spoke up on his own.
"Huh? You've faced the Rinnegan before?"
Deidara blinked in surprise, then leaned forward curiously.
"Yes, I have."
Gen shot Deidara a look full of disdain before continuing.
"And I won."
"You… won?"
Terumī Mei's eyes widened, while Genji and Ōnoki froze, clearly never having expected such words.
"The Rinnegan is indeed powerful, and its abilities work together in ways that seem almost impossible. But the wielder himself… wasn't all that remarkable."
Gen paused to think, then added more firmly: "So, with the combination of Flying Thunder God and Sage Mode, it's hardly strange that I defeated him."
"You say that so casually…"
Jiraiya scratched the back of his head. He knew just how impossibly difficult those two arts were. He himself had never mastered Sage Mode fully, let alone Flying Thunder God.
That was hardly something anyone else could just replicate.
"So it came down to the user's own skill?"
Ōnoki and Genji quickly grasped Gen's point.
It was like those Uchiha who awakened the Mangekyō—could they be compared to Uchiha Madara?
Of course not. They weren't even on the same level.
Even if one possessed the Rinnegan, that did not make him the Sage of Six Paths.
"Then what do you think of this Ōtsutsuki Genshiki?"
Ōnoki suddenly asked, his voice heavy with curiosity.
The question drew everyone's eyes toward Gen.
He was already outrageous enough—this time he had fought three Kage at once and killed two!
If he had already defeated a wielder of the Rinnegan, perhaps even Ōtsutsuki Genshiki was not beyond him.
"Yeah, Gen—what's your take?"
Jiraiya pressed the point, perhaps the most confident of all, especially since even the Great Toad Sage had spoken highly of Gen.
"Well…"
Gen looked a little embarrassed. To be asked that directly put him in an awkward spot.
"I can't say for sure. A shinobi battle isn't just about abilities or chakra—there are countless factors involved. You only know once you actually fight. But when I defeated Nagato, I didn't even have Dust Release yet."
"True enough."
Everyone nodded at that. A battle could never be judged by power alone.
Though Ōnoki's face turned a little dark. Did Gen really have to bring up Dust Release right now?
"Dust Release?"
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed thoughtfully, his hand stroking his chin.
If Kitagawa Gen could master Dust Release, then—
'Could he perhaps attempt to learn Wood Release as well?'
The thought lit up Hiruzen's expression.
With talent like Gen's, if he were to master Wood Release… Hiruzen could scarcely imagine what heights he might reach.
Even if it turned out impossible, Kitagawa Gen was still Konoha's treasure.
Hiruzen had already made up his mind—he would devote vast resources to Gen, ensuring the boy's growth to his fullest potential.
"Alright, Gen is tired. Let him go rest."
With that thought, the wrinkled face of Sarutobi Hiruzen broke into a smile as he addressed the others.
"Besides, Ōnoki, Genji, it's time we had a proper discussion."
"Indeed."
Both Genji and Ōnoki nodded. What they had just held was a battle report meeting—now it was time to address the real matters.
"In that case, we'll take our leave."
Gen and the others understood that what followed would likely be beyond their place to participate, so they chose to withdraw directly.
"Gen, get some rest."
But just as Gen turned to go, Hiruzen spoke again.
"Konoha's future rests upon you."
"…"
Gen scratched the back of his head, feeling that something about this was off.
"They're the real future."
Once the younger group had departed, Hiruzen chuckled softly. His words drew nods from both Genji and Ōnoki.
"Indeed. They are the future of our villages."
Clearly, each of the elders had their own thoughts. The three old men exchanged glances, and suddenly broke into knowing smiles.
"Perhaps this was an early meeting of the future Kage."
Genji, unusually lighthearted, spoke with a trace of humor. Hiruzen nodded in agreement.
"The only question is… who will be the first to take up the mantle of Kage."
"First, perhaps—but the last? That will surely be Iwagakure."
At those words, Genji stroked his chin, but Ōnoki's face darkened immediately.
"Hey, what do you mean by that? What do you mean Iwagakure will be the last?"
"It's nothing. Let's turn to the real business at hand."
Hiruzen had no intention of needling Ōnoki further. After all, Iwagakure had already taken heavy losses in this conflict.
"Sunagakure and Kumogakure must be punished, and the interests left vacant must be redistributed."
"And beyond that—the Akatsuki, and the emergence of Ōtsutsuki Genshiki, have brought us a crisis beyond imagination."
"So, everyone… when it comes to the crises ahead, we may have no choice but to face them together."
While the high-level council continued in Konoha—
In the Land of Rain, within the Akatsuki's base, space suddenly twisted. A moment later, Uchiha Obito stumbled out of the Kamui dimension, nearly collapsing.
[Thud—]
He crashed to the ground, gasping heavily for breath. The ground shuddered faintly as Black Zetsu emerged quietly before him.
"Are you alright, Obito?"
There was a trace of concern in Black Zetsu's voice. But Obito said nothing. His entire body trembled violently.
"I'm fine…"
Only after a long while did Obito manage to steady himself somewhat. He clenched his teeth and spoke in a low voice: "I just used Izanagi once… but this loss…"
At that point, Obito's words faltered.
The loss this time was beyond imagination.
Hidan had been instantly reduced to a pile of shredded flesh. Sasori was dead—truly dead this time. Kakuzu's hearts had all been wiped out. Hiruko and Uchiha Itachi—both their fates remained unknown.
Worst of all—Nagato's condition was completely uncertain!
Nagato carried the Rinnegan. But now, he had vanished together with the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. How could Obito not panic?
Without Nagato, how were they to realize their plan in the future?
And the Rinnegan—it was very likely already seized by that man, or perhaps destroyed altogether. That thought made Obito tremble with rage.
He still couldn't understand. How could all of them, moving together, be crushed so utterly by just one man?
Could it be that in that man's eyes, they were nothing more than insects?
"Who the hell is that man? Why does he wield such power?"
Obito suddenly lifted his head, eyes locking on Black Zetsu, his voice breaking into hysteria.
"Aren't you supposed to be Uchiha Madara's will? Don't you know the truth behind all this?"
"Tell me—who is he, really?!"
"Why has it come to this?!"
"That man… just who in the world is he?!"
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