Chapter Thirty-Five: The Aftermath of the Shinobi World!

With Black Zetsu sealed and Madara vanished, the Fourth Great Ninja War came to an end. Though the conclusion might have seemed a bit abrupt, the outcome was undeniably favorable.

First, in the aftermath of the war, the Allied Shinobi Forces were immediately dissolved and fully integrated into the military of the Land of Fire, forming the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Armies. Outside of the ruling party, no clan or faction was permitted to maintain private armies.

Second, the villages of Cloud, Stone, and Mist officially joined Konoha, and three months later, the Lords of the Lands of Water, Lightning, and Earth abdicated of their own accord, formally announcing their integration into the Land of Fire and initiating the reform of the shinobi world.

Thus, the shinobi world was unified. Technology and power advanced at an unprecedented pace, launching this new era onto the fast track.

Time flowed like water, the years passed in a blink. Another ten years soon slipped by...

At this moment in the shinobi world, Tsunade, the first Chairwoman, had long since retired. Gaara, the second Chairman, was nearing the end of his third and final term—six years in all—and the election for the third Chairman was about to commence.

The two most promising candidates were Naruto of the Uzumaki clan and Hinata of the Hyuga clan.

Their friends jokingly called this election a grand, democratic, and history-making contest—one with the distinct flavor of a "dog food" romance.

At sunset, Naruto accompanied Hinata along a riverside path.

They walked together for a long while before Naruto suddenly stopped. Gazing at the river, its surface shimmering with golden sunlight, he asked a question.

"Hinata, do you remember how long it's been since Master left us?"

"Ten years, I think." Hinata brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. "I still remember what he said when he took me as his student."

She gave Naruto a shy glance. Back then, Hao Yun had joked about finding a wife for his disciple... Hehe, his wish had come true!

"To marry you? Heh, Master really was quite the prophet."

Naruto laughed heartily. So many things Master had predicted, especially about romance, had come to pass.

He had been cornered into marriage by Hinata and her Byakugan-wielding family; Sakura had beaten Sasuke into submission and dragged him home as her husband; Shikamaru had married Temari; and Ino, on some idle day, had sneaked into Shino's room, ensnared the King of Bugs with her wiles, and done some mischief...

All of Master’s female disciples had proven themselves formidable.

"Of course. As his disciples, we had to make sure his words came true," Hinata replied, blushing slightly but proudly puffing out her chest. Hehe, we’re just gentle girls following Master’s teachings.

"By the way, how is the Inuzuka family's Pikachu breeding ground faring? A few days ago, Konohamaru was asking about it—he wants one to propose to Moegi."

Naruto deftly shifted the topic to the wondrous creatures Hao Yun had left behind.

When Hao Yun departed, he had specially purchased several pairs of Pikachu eggs for Kiba Inuzuka, but hadn’t left other magical creatures. He'd said that if the Inuzuka could raise even one species well, it would be a great achievement.

"No problem—the little cuties are lively as ever, and the Inuzuka family has been looking to give some away. If Konohamaru wants one, I’ll tell Hana Inuzuka tomorrow."

"If it weren’t for Master, I’d never have known about such amazing, electricity-wielding animals," Hinata mused, thinking of the Pikachu her sister Hanabi raised—the one that was particularly mischievous and had a habit of blasting her father with one hundred thousand volts.

"Yes... Master was truly extraordinary..."

Naruto gazed wistfully into the setting sun. Without Master's intervention, who knows what the shinobi world would have become?

Perhaps he would have turned dark; Sasuke might have been consumed solely by the desire to kill Itachi; and Black Zetsu might have already released Kaguya Otsutsuki, plunging the world into chaos.

Not to mention the unification of the shinobi world, the political reforms, and the ever-improving lives and happiness of ordinary people.

Hinata silently slipped her arm through Naruto's. They exchanged a smile and walked together toward the Hyuga compound.

But halfway there, a piercing alarm suddenly blared throughout the village!

"Warning! Warning! Spatial rift detected! Spatial rift detected! Interdimensional intruders!"

To prevent unnoticed invasions from the Otsutsuki clan, the shinobi world had stationed Hyuga clan ninja on the moon for global surveillance... As Master had foretold, the invaders from another world were coming!

In the military headquarters, Gaara, Sasuke, Itachi, Kurotsuchi, and other new-generation Kage-level shinobi all rose as one. After waiting so long, at last, the moment had come!

"All commanders and above, report to the office for a meeting immediately!"

Naruto, using Flying Thunder God, brought Hinata to headquarters and instantly issued the order to prepare for war.

Soon after, every department head—Research, Medical, Garrison, Foreign Affairs, and more—received Naruto’s summons and was transported by him to the office building in a flash.

"Everyone, a new war has begun!"

Orochimaru adjusted his glasses and gave a cold, satisfied smile. "I've waited long enough. I’m eager to find out what makes the Otsutsuki clan’s genes different from our own."

"Let them come! If they dare invade our world, we’ll meet them head-on and drive them back!"

Tsunade’s eyes flashed with ferocity. Ten years had left no mark on her lovely features; on the contrary, time had only honed her strength and made her a more formidable warrior.

"Wait—I've already developed White Zetsu."

At the side, Kabuto, now Deputy Head of Research, pushed up his glasses and smiled. "Now, White Zetsu can be created using animal life. By combining this with plant matter and Hashirama cells, it can serve as a substitute for human vessels in the Reanimation Jutsu."

"Then let the invaders witness the might of the shinobi world!"

Itachi smiled bloodthirstily. Kakashi opened his Kamui space, retrieving countless preserved cells from the strongest shinobi of every generation and village.

So, when Momoshiki and Kinshiki Otsutsuki descended upon the capital, Konoha, what they saw was a veritable army of the greatest shinobi the world had ever known!

"Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands, Top Transformed Buddha!"

"Rinnegan: Almighty Push, Chibaku Tensei!"

"Sharingan: Amaterasu, Kotoamatsukami, Susanoo!"

"Lightning Release: Lightning Cloak!"

"Taijutsu: Eight Gates Released! Peacock Whirlwind!"

"Dust Release: Particle Style!"

"Ice Release: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals!"

"Rasengan: Rasenshuriken!"

A torrent of ninjutsu and taijutsu surged toward Momoshiki and Kinshiki. Behind them, four or five Tenseigan users locked down space, forcing the invaders to endure a relentless storm of jutsu.

When the onslaught subsided, only a massive crater remained, along with bodies turned to dust...

"Ladies and gentlemen, are we to wait passively for invasion, watching our world be destroyed? Can we not take the fight to them?"

Floating in the sky, the reanimated form of Madara Uchiha glared furiously at the assembled shinobi.

They exchanged glances and rose as one...

Naruto and Hinata rushed to the forefront, issuing the order to counterattack!

"Now, it’s our turn to invade your realm!"