Hiruzen Sarutobi was an old fox. He knew exactly how terrifying Shénrén Yueyan's reputation and strength were in the Shinobi World. But knowing that didn't change his situation. Even with the truth staring him in the face, he couldn't just sit back and wait to die.
He had his youngest son, Asuma Sarutobi, and the entire Sarutobi clan to think about. Ever since the Senju clan had been divided and weakened, the balance of power in Konoha had shifted. Over the years, under Hiruzen's "wise leadership," the Sarutobi clan had grown rapidly, becoming one of the most influential families in the village. He had carefully protected their development, using figures like Danzo Shimura as scapegoats to keep his own hands clean. Everything had been under his control.
He never dreamed that the Uchiha clan, a problem he thought he could easily eliminate, would cause such chaos at this critical moment. And the most unimaginable thing they did was bring back a legendary figure like Shénrén Yueyan.
Now, Hiruzen had no choice. He had to stand and fight, even if he hated it. Otherwise, the Sarutobi clan, Konoha, and perhaps the entire Land of Fire would be completely annihilated. People often said that Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara ended the chaotic era of warring states, but the truth was, it was all the work of Shénrén Yueyan.
Hiruzen knew his resistance might be futile, but he couldn't just give up and accept his fate.
…
Soon, the bounty issued by Konoha's four great families sent a massive shockwave throughout the Shinobi World. From the Five Great Nations to the smallest hidden villages, everyone was talking about it.
A bounty of one hundred billion ryo!
Such an enormous sum was an overpayment even for the assassination of a Daimyo or a Kage-level shinobi. Eager bounty hunters and mercenaries were already sharpening their blades, but when they saw the target's name, they all froze. The mission was to kill a man named Tsukihiko.
"What's going on? Who is this Tsukihiko?"
"The Konoha higher-ups issued this bounty publicly! This is huge!"
"Heh, you must not have heard what happened in Konoha. It was a big deal."
"It's more than a big deal. This Tsukihiko… he's the same person as Shénrén Yueyan, the legend everyone used to worship like a god!"
The news exploded across the Shinobi World. Countless experts and bounty hunters were thrown into an uproar. Whether they wanted to believe it or not, they had to accept that Shénrén Yueyan was a figure unlike any other. Most shinobi only knew of famous ninja like Uchiha Madara or the Senju brothers. But even if you added all of those legends together, trying to kill Shénrén Yueyan was as impossible as trying to climb to the heavens.
It had been tried before, not just once, but many times. Yueyan's way of doing things inevitably brought him into conflict with Hashirama and the others. It was a fated battle. But even with Hashirama's immense power, Madara's Mangekyo Sharingan, and countless other elite ninja fighting alongside them, it was useless.
Yueyan didn't even need to use any powerful techniques to completely dominate them. His terrifying strength shocked the entire Shinobi World, and his name became a taboo.
As times changed and the Five Great Nations were established, traces of Shénrén Yueyan gradually disappeared. But his reappearance now meant that an unprecedented storm was about to sweep across the land. And the first person in its path was Hiruzen Sarutobi.
…
The Land of Rain, Amegakure
"Heh heh, a big job has finally come our way. But this one looks pretty tricky, even for us."
"Shénrén Yueyan… I wonder how a legend like that would hold up against the Rinnegan."
The Akatsuki, originally founded by Madara and later controlled by Obito, had slowly formed its core members under the leadership of Nagato Uzumaki. While many of its future famous members had yet to join, the group was already impressive. The one-hundred-billion-ryo bounty from Konoha was enough to tempt even a group like them.
They were all young and hadn't lived through Yueyan's era, but they knew their opponent was no simple foe. However, to Nagato, who possessed the legendary Rinnegan, none of that mattered. In his eyes, the Rinnegan made him the chosen one of this era. He was the Child of Destiny. His very existence was meant to change the world. Every word he spoke and every action he took was meant to shape the future.
Now that a so-called "prodigy" from the past had reappeared, Nagato believed it was his destiny to strike him down. The opponent may have been called a "divine being," but Nagato believed he himself was a true God in every sense of the word.
He was the God of the New Era.
…
The Border of the Land of Lightning
While the rest of the world was in turmoil, a patrol of Kumogakure ninja moved along the border.
"Everyone, stay alert. Things have been tense lately," a capable female voice ordered. The surrounding ninja immediately nodded in respect. The woman leading them was Yugito Nii. She was not only one of Kumogakure's two Jinchuriki but also a highly respected kunoichi who had contributed greatly to the village's strength.
"Lady Yugito, have you also heard the news?" an older ninja asked from beside her.
"What news?" Yugito replied, though her heart skipped a beat. A sense of unease washed over her. "Never mind that. Everyone, finish your patrols. That's the most important thing right now."
"Yes, ma'am!" they all replied.
Buzz… Buzz…
Before anyone could move, the air just a short distance away began to ripple and distort. A terrifying, violent roar echoed through the heavens and the earth. Then, from out of nowhere, a throne woven from what looked like blood and fire materialized in the sky.
And upon that throne sat the figure of an impossibly handsome man.
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