Any Cloud ninja not listed among the 800 would be turned into ordinary villagers.
It was a massive purge.
Some ninjas were still out on missions, around 200 or so, but Kitahara Kaede didn't feel like waiting for them—he simply turned back to the village.
Still, he left behind a code word.
Those returning Cloud ninjas were to head to Konoha themselves and report in.
If someone refused…
Then maybe the Hidden Cloud Village truly no longer deserved to exist.
"..."
In other words, he was using the forty thousand villagers as leverage.
The remaining 800 ninja had already been taken to Konoha, and those left behind were all ordinary people. They had no combat force at all.
And the few lucky ones who hadn't returned yet, upon coming back, would be met by the entire village kneeling, begging them to give up their chakra for the sake of the village, and become ordinary people.
"Kitahara Kaede is basically a devil!"
"No, not even the devil is this terrifying."
"Even the devil would cry after seeing this."
This wasn't just about erasing Cloud—he was cutting off their future, their bloodline.
But no one dared say it out loud.
······
"Ugh…"
After handling everything, Kitahara Kaede left the Ten Tails in the Hidden Cloud Village, but brought the Eight Tails back.
Once the Eight Tails recovered a bit, it became his mount—starting to carry them back.
The reason he didn't use Tobirama's Flying Thunder God was that they still had to bring back 800 Cloud ninjas. It was part of their punishment—to chase behind the Eight Tails.
So right now, Kitahara Kaede and the others were actually riding on the Eight Tails' shoulders.
The Eight Tails charged forward with all its might.
Meanwhile, the group chat livestream had long ended.
Tobirama didn't mind—he had been revived through Edo Tensei and could keep interacting with Kitahara Kaede.
Kakashi, on the other hand, was very much concerned… because under "637," all Cloud's assets were being transferred to Konoha, and he would likely be involved in the inventory process.
Meaning… he was about to start his career as a secretary.
"The tailed beasts really are full of stamina."
"Even after taking such serious damage, they can recover so fast," said Tobirama. "I really want to find some time to study them."
"Maybe worry about your own condition first before saying that," Kitahara Kaede replied.
Tobirama wasn't in great shape.
Since the Rinnegan was a power of the Ōtsutsuki clan, the black rods it created still left holes even after being removed.
So even while talking… Tobirama was basically leaking air.
His back—and even his mouth—had been pierced through by Madara's rods.
Straight-up empty spaces.
"Ugh…"
"Let me think…"
"When we get back to the village, just catch some bandit and use Edo Tensei on me again," Tobirama said.
"But this version of Uchiha Madara… how the hell did he get summoned by Edo Tensei?"
"Son of a…"
Tobirama suddenly cursed. "It has to be that bastard Orochimaru!"
Orochimaru had stolen Tobirama's Edo Tensei.
That forbidden jutsu wasn't something anyone could just learn. Currently, only three people were known to use it: himself, Orochimaru, and Kitahara Kaede, whom he personally taught.
But the one who summoned Madara wasn't either of them, so it was 80% likely… Orochimaru again.
"..." Eight Tails.
At this moment, the Eight Tails was still carrying Kitahara Kaede and the others toward Konoha, ears perked up.
It was totally convinced now.
Basically… whether the ninja world was in chaos or not was entirely up to Konoha.
Every single time—Konoha's people were the ones causing trouble.
"Today's been pretty exhausting," Kitahara Kaede muttered. "I'm thinking of applying for a long vacation. Just take Hinata out for the occasional mission. That okay?"
"No problem at all!" Tobirama replied quickly.
Even Big Dumb - Hashirama admitted he might not be able to beat Uchiha Madara.
But Kitahara Kaede gave him face, beat Madara into the ground—which just proved they were right about him all along.
Kitahara Kaede wasn't just from the future—his potential and talent surpassed even Hashirama's.
So then…
Would Konoha still worry about rising again?
They had seen a Hidden Cloud so powerful—reduced to the weakest of the Five Great Nations in just half a day.
Tobirama had no doubt Kitahara Kaede had the power to rebuild the crumbling foundations of Konoha.
So finally, with the Eight Tails dashing forward, they reached Konoha.
But it was already night.
"A T-Tailed Beast—?!"
The sudden arrival of the Eight Tails startled Izumo and Kotetsu at the gates—but what shocked them even more was how many holes were in the Second Hokage's body.
And following behind the Eight Tails… were 800 Cloud ninjas.
"Calm down, guys."
"It's not like anything bad is happening."
Mei Terumi from the Mist said calmly.
Unlike the others, she and Ōnoki had already been waiting at the gate for quite some time.
"You two are pretty direct," Tobirama commented.
He knew his current appearance was a little scary, so he used a Transformation Jutsu to appear uninjured.
The ones he was talking to… were the only two Kage left.
The Tsuchikage and the Mizukage.
The Raikage was gone, and the Kazekage… was a puppet.
So these two were now far more restrained than they were in the group chat.
"Well, Kitahara-kun made another big splash."
"I just wanted to confirm my instincts were right," Mei Terumi said.
"..." Tobirama.
Fat chance—he knew this Mizukage woman had no shame.
But still, he knew they were doing it all for their own villages.
In hindsight, it was kind of sad—three Great Ninja Wars hadn't been able to shake the Five Great Nations' structure, and now in one week, two of them were gone.
Of course the remaining two Kage were anxious.
"Kitahara-kun…"
Mei Terumi walked up to Kitahara Kaede. "Could I trouble you for a bit?"
"There are a few things I'd like to ask."
She smelled wonderful—something like peach blossoms, noticeable just from getting close.
"Sure," Kitahara Kaede replied.
He didn't dislike women with good figures.
So while Tobirama headed straight to the Hokage Office to begin sorting out the 800 Cloud ninjas—who they were, how to prevent them from rebelling, how to control them, where to place them—
Kitahara Kaede and Mei Terumi went to Ichiraku Ramen.
"Uh…"
Mei Terumi thought he brought her here just to eat ramen.
Ichiraku's food was great and all, but… wasn't this a weird time to eat?
Then she realized—he wasn't planning to talk in the restaurant.
He picked up two suitcases from old man Teuchi and led her to a private room.
Kitahara Kaede placed the two suitcases down.
Then closed the door behind them.
The Mizukage gently stretched her long legs, encased in nude-colored stockings.
Then cast a sultry, glimmering gaze toward Kitahara Kaede.
Realizing she was being a little too flirty, she quickly pulled herself back.
"So… what's inside these two cases?"
"Don't tell me… money?"
She tried to lighten the mood.
"Yeah." Kitahara Kaede nodded.
"…" Mei Terumi. "Eh?"
"Kakuzu came before to redeem a bounty. But before that, I made a deal with him."
"The hair he brought… was actually my hair."
"So since he turned in fake DNA supposedly from the First Hokage, of course I couldn't give him the money."
"…" Mei Terumi.
"…" Mei Terumi.
???
"Holy—"
She froze for a second, nearly shouting.
"Wait, are you saying you saw Kakuzu and already set up the trap to fool Uchiha Madara?" Mei Terumi asked.
"More or less," Kitahara Kaede replied.
"Back during the Chunin Exams, Orochimaru escaped. But if he could use Edo Tensei to summon the Second Hokage, then it was possible he could summon Madara too."
"So when I saw Kakuzu, that thought came to mind."
"And in the end…"
"It came in handy after all."
---
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