Chapter 0088: Subjugating the Land of Wind

At the same time, within the War Fortress, the entire populace was busily at work. Red carpets had been laid along the roads, flowers bloomed on both sides, and fountains and statues had also been arranged. It was magnificently splendid.

All around, girls like flower sprites hurried back and forth in tireless activity.

This world conference held in the War Castle was the second in history, and it was unquestionably a turning point of great importance in the progress of the world.

Several lords of small neutral nations had already arrived, enjoying the most comfortable service here, provided, of course, that everything remained within order.

Orochimaru was in the laboratory conducting research, and it had already largely succeeded; mass-producing the Rinnegan was no longer a problem.

Kabuto Yakushi stood beside Orochimaru, listening to his explanation.

"The formation of the Rinnegan requires three necessary conditions. First, the bloodline of the Uchiha. Second, the bloodline of the Senju. Third, the power of emotion.

"The Uchiha bloodline must also be infused with the chakra of Indra, the Senju bloodline with the chakra of Asura, and as for emotional power, it must be cultivated step by step, with at least three experiences.

"Kabuto, this body of yours already has more than enough bloodline power, far beyond the requirement, but emotional power is still insufficient.

"The finished emotional potions have already been stocked recently. Go and select a few vials to try."

"Thank you, Lord Orochimaru!" Kabuto Yakushi said brightly, his face lit with excitement.

Once his Rinnegan awakened, he too would be counted among the greatest figures of the age.

But then a look of hesitation appeared on his face as he said, "Lord Orochimaru, are we really going to spread the art of the ninja to everyone?"

There was deep concern in his expression. It was not the first time he had asked, but he always feared it might become uncontrollable.

Orochimaru put on a white lab coat and began donning gloves, preparing to study the power of the Divine Tree. The Divine Tree's power was formed from the One-Tail through the Nine-Tails, together with the shell of the Ten-Tails, and it was a very complex line of research as well.

Fortunately, the Orochimaru clone had achieved considerable progress over those two years, largely completing the tailed-beast cloning experiment. He only needed to overcome the final step.

"There's nothing to worry about. Spreading the art of the ninja is the inevitable trend of future development. If there are only tens of thousands of ninja, creativity will be too weak. I once tried to learn every jutsu in existence, and it wasn't because there were so many of them after all. In truth, there were not that many. They really could all be learned.

"Besides, the core technology will always remain in our own hands."

Kabuto still looked uncertain. "Then what about Akatsuki?"

If ninja became widespread, if the Rinnegan could be mass-produced, if the bloodline of the Otsutsuki could be mass-produced, then Akatsuki would certainly obtain the Rinnegan and the Otsutsuki bloodline as well.

According to the "history of the ninja" Orochimaru intended to make public, Black Zetsu in Akatsuki had long been working for this. If Orochimaru announced it openly, would Black Zetsu not gain everything without lifting a finger?

Orochimaru said nothing more. He began observing tailed-beast cells under the microscope. After a while, he finally said, "The Otsutsuki clan is already outdated."

...

Within the capital of the Land of Wind, the God of Ninja, Hashirama Senju, led a large force of Impure World Reincarnations in, but they did not find the daimyo of the Land of Wind.

Inside the great hall there was only wreckage: overturned flowerpots and shards of porcelain scattered across the floor.

No one was there, and no one had come to clean it up.

At that moment, the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, stepped out from the crowd. After forming hand seals, he pressed two fingers to the ground, sensing the surroundings in search of the daimyo.

"Underground," he said.

The Second Tsuchikage formed hand seals with both hands and pressed them to the ground. With a thunderous rumble below, a vast underground research laboratory was dragged up to the surface in an instant.

Inside the underground laboratory, Guyuziko screamed as the facility was violently torn free from below. The interior became unstable; various experimental instruments crashed together. She was merely an ordinary person and could easily have died.

Fortunately, she had narrowly escaped disaster.

But just as she let out a breath of relief, a black, mucus-covered claw reached into her heart. She stared blankly down, then lifted her gaze blankly again.

All she saw was a monster standing three meters tall, the one who had killed her: the daimyo.

Her thoughts ended there.

...

"Roar!"

A beastly howl echoed from the laboratory. Hashirama tilted his head to look and said, "What is the Land of Wind's daimyo doing in there?"

The others shrugged. Who knew?

"Boom!"

At that moment, the roof of the laboratory exploded. A three-meter-tall monster, black all over and slick with mucus, leaped out. Standing atop the laboratory roof, it roared at the crowd.

"Roar!"

Its teeth were like saw blades.

"Disgusting."

"Is that thing the daimyo of the Land of Wind?"

"Let's just finish this already."

"..."

The Second Tsuchikage said, "I'll handle it." He stepped forward to face the monster directly.

"Pow... pow-er, I am... strong!"

At that moment, the monster was actually able to speak human words. The experiment had succeeded, and it had failed as well. This experiment had granted the Land of Wind's daimyo nearly a hundred different bloodline powers, making him immensely powerful.

But it had also destroyed his body and intelligence, turning him into a monster driven only by instinct and the pursuit of strength.

The beast flailed wildly, and the black skin covering his body began to shine as hundreds of bloodline powers manifested.

For example, gale winds, blinding light, red lightning, and more merged together, causing the weather outside to change dramatically.

The guards and maids hiding nearby to watch were deeply shocked. Their daimyo had turned into a monster, but he looked so powerful.

Just as that thought arose, the man wrapped in bandages, facing the monster daimyo, unleashed a jutsu, releasing a blinding radiance. Then the monster daimyo was gone.

The First Hokage grew eager to try and looked toward the Second Tsuchikage, saying, "That Grand Decomposition Technique is incredible. It stripped the monster down to atoms, didn't it? Can you strip away my Wooden Man too?"

The Second Tsuchikage respectfully bowed to Hashirama Senju and answered with calm composure, "Yes."

Hashirama Senju continued, "I can make a hundred Wooden Men. Can you use the Grand Decomposition Technique a hundred times?"

The Second Tsuchikage: "..."

...

The Land of Wind had also been subdued. With the death of its daimyo, in the span of just two days from top to bottom, everyone declared surrender. The new daimyo was the original daimyo's second son, who said he deeply admired ninja and revered Lord Orochimaru.

Thus, the whole world was unified.

...

Another week passed, and a month had arrived since Orochimaru issued his command. The rulers of every nation gathered in the War Fortress before the Sound Ninja Village.

Everyone drank and laughed together. There was food, fine wine, and fairy-like girls moving about to clean and serve. The scene was luxurious yet harmonious.

The five great nations, Fire, Wind, Earth, Wind, and Lightning, had each changed their daimyo. Even the daimyo of the Land of Earth and the daimyo of the Land of Water, who had surrendered willingly, had been replaced as well.

Not only that, but those fortunate survivors had personally brought large sums of money and other valuables to the War Fortress to seek forgiveness.

From this point on, the nations became vassals of the ninja world.

"Ah."

The new daimyos of the five great nations gathered at one table and sighed heavily.

"What do you think Lord Orochimaru summoned us here for?" the daimyo of the Land of Fire asked.

"Not sure. Maybe to set some rules," said the daimyo of the Land of Earth.

That was the most likely possibility: they would be made to surrender a portion of their national treasury each year in exchange for safety.

The daimyo of the Land of Water said, "This is already very good."

The daimyos of Fire, Earth, and Water were chatting, while the daimyos of Lightning and Wind did not dare to speak.

First, they had already been crippled by Orochimaru's Impure World Reincarnation troops and had become the weakest of the great nations. Second, they truly feared Orochimaru; they were afraid they might accidentally say something improper and end up getting into trouble.

At that moment, the daimyo of the Land of Earth turned to the daimyos of Lightning and Wind and asked, "Do the two of you have any other news?"

Since they had been called on, it would not do to remain silent.

The daimyos of Lightning and Wind exchanged glances, and the daimyo of the Land of Lightning said, "Did Lord Orochimaru's invitation not say it clearly? He will give us a great gift. I heard it's some kind of business deal."

At this, the daimyos of the five great nations all exchanged smiles. A gift that was business? Who were they trying to fool?

It was probably just some pleasant phrasing about ceding resources, the same way they collected tribute from the smaller nations every year, with all kinds of pleasant-sounding reasons attached.

But that could not be said aloud.

The daimyo of the Land of Fire raised his transparent glass and said, "No matter what, let us drink to the 'gift.'"

They rather seemed like a band of bitter comrades in misfortune.