Amegakure.
The sky was choked with dark clouds, rain pouring down in sheets.
Then—
as if sliced open—
the clouds split apart.
The downpour ceased instantly, and clear sunlight flooded the war-torn village.
A dead silence hung over Amegakure.
Corpses of Rain ninja carpeted the village, frozen in twisted, horrific death poses.
The few survivors trembled, eyes filled with terror.
Around the main gate, ruins stretched endlessly—walls torn open, the earth gouged and shattered as if ripped apart repeatedly by devastating force.
In the center of a vast crater lay the massive corpse of a giant, dark-gray salamander.
Nearby, the body of a masked shinobi was hoisted into the air, hung atop a tall tower at the heart of Amegakure.
It was Hanzō the Salamander—the "Demi-God of the Ninja World."
Upon seeing Hanzō's corpse, countless Rain ninja broke down and dropped to their knees in despair.
Then—
A lone figure rose slowly from below, ascending into the air, arms spread like a herald of judgment.
Looking down on the Rain ninja, he declared coldly:
"Hanzō is dead.
From this moment onward, I am the new leader of Amegakure."
If Uchiha Yuan were here, he would have recognized this figure instantly—
the man who should have been dead:
Yahiko.
But Yahiko's face was expressionless, and several black receivers were embedded through his neck and wrists.
On the highest tower, Nagato and Konan stood silently, gazing at the puppet-like Yahiko.
Obito and Zetsu waited behind them.
As the Rain ninja slowly knelt one after another, Nagato spoke:
"Yahiko… your dream…
I'll make it real.
From today onward—
I will become the god of this world."
"Nagato…" Konan whispered, her expression a swirl of grief and helplessness.
Obito broke the silence.
"So, Nagato—what's your next move?"
Nagato answered without hesitation:
"I will end all conflict in the Rain Country and restore peace."
Obito let out a quiet laugh.
"Not easy.
There are several foreign factions operating in Amegakure.
Even Konoha's ANBU has been acting unusually… everywhere."
"Konoha…"
Blood-lust flickered in Nagato's eyes.
From the memories absorbed by the Gedo Statue's chakra dragon, he already knew—
Konoha was behind Hanzō's betrayal.
Konoha's hands were covered in Yahiko's blood.
"All foreign shinobi will be expelled.
Rain Country will enter lockdown.
But before that…
every Konoha ANBU must die.
Yahiko's death is their crime as well."
Under his mask, Obito's Sharingan narrowed, cold light pulsing.
"Danzō's dogs…
yes, they should all die."
Rain–Grass Border
Uchiha Yuan stood atop a cliff.
A group of Grass ninja—his subordinates—waited respectfully behind him.
He had returned to Grass Country for several days now, disguised once more as Gintoki.
A flash of movement—
five Grass scouts arrived and knelt.
"Lord Gintoki, we have returned."
"What's the situation in Rain Country?"
The scout reported:
"Rain has officially announced a full lockdown.
All foreign shinobi and wanderers are being driven out."
"And the movements of Iwa or Suna?"
"We heard from refugees that the Salamander himself appeared.
Iwa and Suna forces were completely annihilated.
Both villages have withdrawn from Rain Country."
Yuan's eyes narrowed.
So Rain was now under Nagato's full control.
That meant Grass's western pressure had eased—the Rain ninja would no longer invade Grass.
But…
large numbers of refugees would pour into Grass Country.
Useful.
Those wanderers could be recruited into Grass Village—
strengthening Grass while diluting the old faction's power.
Yuan turned to a Grass ninja beside him.
"Yamazaki Tora.
You'll oversee the recruitment of these Rain refugees.
Grass Village needs fresh strength."
Yamazaki bowed deeply.
"Yes, my lord!"
Grass Village – Leader's Office
"Ohho… this new manga is great!
The heroine's outfit is wonderfully revealing… and in full color…
Magnificent. I love it."
"And the literature of this ninja world is surprisingly good.
In a few years, Jiraiya-sama's Make-Out Paradise should be released…
I can't wait."
Gintoki—actually Yuan's clone in Gintoki form—lay sprawled lazily on a couch, reading a manga with sparkling enthusiasm.
The office door creaked open.
Uzumaki Kanae walked in carrying a tray.
"Lord Gintoki, here are your afternoon desserts."
Beautifully arranged pastries and a steaming cup of milk tea sat atop the tray.
But the moment she saw what he was reading, Kanae froze.
"Lord Gintoki!
H-How can you read such a… such a manga?!"
She snatched it from his hands, face bright red.
The clone sighed dramatically and sat up.
"Kanae… Silver-san is a grown-up, you know? A grown-up.
Give it back."
"You're not a grown-up!" Kanae scolded sternly, cheeks flushed.
"You're Lord Yuan's clone!
You shouldn't be reading such indecent things!
They'll corrupt you! You're still young!"
The clone dug his nose lazily.
"Silver-san already understands men and women.
Men and men.
And of course—what Silver-san likes most—women and women."
"M-Men and men… w-women and women…?!"
Kanae clamped her hands over her ears.
"W-What are you saying?!
My ears! They're dirty now!"
How… how can Lord Yuan's clone become like THIS?!
Then… does that mean Lord Yuan himself is secretly a… degenerate who visits brothels?!
She nearly fainted.
From a small wooden crib nearby, a red-haired baby girl stirred awake.
Little Karin blinked sleepily, then let out a giggly squeal, reaching out toward the clone.
"Karin's awake~"
Kanae scooped up her daughter, only for the clone to snatch the baby away with practiced ease.
He tapped Karin's tiny nose several times, then fed her a spoonful of sweet milk tea.
The baby broke into a happy smile.
Just then—
Flash.
A silhouette appeared in the office.
The real Uchiha Yuan.
Kanae jumped in surprise.
"Lord Yuan!"
Yuan stared at his clone—holding Karin, manga on the floor, nose-picking stance frozen mid-motion.
His expression went blank.
"…Let's change back first."
He extended a hand toward the clone.
The moment their palms touched, the clone's memories flowed into Yuan.
BOOM BOOM.
Twin puffs of smoke filled the room—
both returned to their true forms.
Karin, still in Yuan's arms, giggled happily.
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