Simultaneous Transmigration: From Douluo Continent to the Pinnacle

Leaves, roots.

The place, once controlled by Danzo and feared by countless people in Konoha, has now changed hands.

Only the neatly arranged research instruments and the mountains of rolled-up documents still retain the essence of the past.

Deep within the spacious, secret room, Orochimaru, dressed in a white robe, gleamed with barely suppressed excitement in his crimson eyes.

"Yao-kun, you are right after all. Research that combines the strength of the strongest village is far beyond what one person can do."

As Orochimaru spoke, he raised his hand and stroked the scrolls labeled "Analysis of the Secret Ninja Tools of the Land of Lightning," his voice filled with greed and admiration.

Uchiha Yao stood beside Orochimaru, watching his almost obsessive expression, and sighed inwardly, "As expected of the tech-savvy Orochimaru."

However, he expressed his support for Orochimaru's fanaticism, after all, technology is the primary productive force.

However, Uchiha Yao, recalling some of Orochimaru's inhuman actions in the original story, felt it was best to draw a clear line, and immediately spoke up:

"Orochimaru, I will support your experiments. You may use all the resources here at will, but there is one red line you must never cross."

That is, research materials absolutely cannot use people from Konoha, not even ordinary ninjas or civilians. This is my only requirement for you.

Orochimaru straightened up, looking at the seriousness that flashed in Uchiha Yao's eyes. A hint of surprise flashed in his narrow eyes, which then turned into a knowing smile.

Unexpectedly, the powerful and domineering Yao-kun had a bottom line that far exceeded that of his teacher and Danzo.

That's rare.

However, even though he didn't have a full understanding of Uchiha Yao's power, he knew that it was beyond his current ability to contend with, and he had to maintain respect for the strong.

He immediately bowed respectfully:

"Hehe, I understand what Yao-jun means, and I will never overstep the line."

Since they have the support of Root's massive research system, it doesn't matter if they draw a red line and prohibit the use of native Konoha or the Land of Fire personnel as materials.

The other four major countries have plenty of people.

However, once Yaojun unified the five great nations, the subsequent experiments became much more difficult.

Ugh!

Orochimaru had a happy kind of trouble in his heart.

Uchiha Yao was very satisfied with Orochimaru's response, believing that orderly development is often more complete and comprehensive than disorder.

In fact, it must be so.

With the power of the Star Palace stacked multiple times, Uchiha Yao has already reached the level of Super Kage and even touched the Six Paths realm.

It wouldn't be difficult for him to sweep through the ninja world on his own.

But conquering the world is easy; governing the world is difficult.

Ruling a country and unifying the ninja world is never a game for one person alone.

It requires a solid foundation, loyal subordinates, and a sound system, rather than simply overwhelming them with force.

What he wanted was not a short-term conquest, but long-term control, so that those around him could share in the glory and benefits.

Ultimately, together they broke free from the constraints of the ninja world and ventured towards the stars and the sea.

Perhaps some people think it's really unnecessary.

As long as you're happy.

But for Uchiha Yao, since he had enough strength to back him up and it was his own will, he had no intention of going against his own will.

Orochimaru clearly sensed Uchiha Yao's conviction and dared not disobey in the slightest.

After pondering for a moment, Orochimaru thought of some excellent experimental subjects and felt it was necessary to mention them to Uchiha You, so he proposed:

"Yo-kun, since we can't use people from Konoha, it means we're short-handed. We need to select some qualified individuals to increase our speed. In my opinion, why not target the Black-clad people of the Land of Lightning?"

He stuck out his tongue and licked his chapped lips, his tone seductive.

"The conflict over skin color in the Land of Lightning has a long history. Both the previous Raikage and the current Raikage are black-skinned, and white-skinned people have been suppressed."

Therefore, stirring up conflict between them can weaken the restless Land of Lightning and allow them to profit from it.

Moreover, judging from the fact that they have produced two generations of Raikage, this guy with this skin color seems to have a natural advantage in strength and speed.

If used as research material, it would certainly yield considerable results.

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Yao fell into deep thought.

The black race of the Land of Lightning has always lived by plundering. They are fierce and have a strong sense of internal cohesion. Now, with the Raikage's identity, they are even more arrogant.

Using this approach is indeed feasible.

Not only could it provide Orochimaru with a constant stream of research materials, but it could also disrupt the internal environment of the Land of Lightning, achieving two goals at once.

"That's a good suggestion, I agree."

Looking up at Orochimaru, Uchiha Yao nodded in agreement, and then shared his thoughts on how to improve the plan.

"Besides stirring up their conflicts, we can secretly fuel the flames and create a trend among the major noble families of the ninja world to tame black people."

He walked to the map in the secret room and traced his finger across the territory of the Land of Thunder.

"Nobles are all vain. If they can be made to compete with each other in the number of black slaves they own, over time, the black people of the Thunder Kingdom will gradually be reduced to commodities and tools."

In this way, we can both destabilize the Land of Lightning and gain more research material. Why not?

Orochimaru nodded repeatedly, his excitement growing, and his hoarse laughter echoed in the secret room.

"Heh heh, Lord Yao is indeed far-sighted. In this way, the Kingdom of Thunder will collapse without a fight."

……

After dealing with matters concerning the Root organization, Uchiha Yao turned his gaze towards the distant Loulan.

With his powerful mental strength, he could sense a strange mental energy emanating from the ninja world, which was coming from the direction of Loulan.

Could it be the power of the dragon vein?!

"Logically, this shouldn't be the case. Has the power of the dragon veins from our own era suddenly erupted? In the original story, shouldn't it have happened after Naruto returned from Shippuden?"

Uchiha Yao muttered to himself, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, along with a hint of longing.

"Could it be that the butterfly effect caused a change in my own spacetime, which triggered the power of the Loulan Dragon Vein to erupt?"

The power of the Loulan Dragon Vein is mysterious and unpredictable, and it is said to be able to reverse time and space, which has a fatal attraction for Uchiha Yao, who is determined to control everything.

Besides the known Sage of Six Paths, Princess Kaguya sealed on the moon, the clan left behind by Hagoromo Otsutsuki on the moon, and the enormous Tenseigan capable of destroying the world, there are also the Indra and Ashura powers hidden within Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha.

This dragon vein power might become his future aid in fighting against the Otsutsuki clan of the universe and the Otsutsuki god behind them.

After discovering the inexplicable changes in the direction of Loulan, Uchiha Yao immediately deployed a group of elite ninjas to secretly monitor the movements of the Loulan Dragon Vein.

It is essential to grasp the changes as soon as possible.

……

The next day, in the Hokage's office in Konoha.

Kushina Uzumaki wore a red cheongsam, and her bright red hair shone like flames.

Holding two ancient-looking objects in her hands, she quickly walked to Uchiha Yao, her face filled with barely suppressed joy:

"Ah Yao, look! My people found the lost spiritual weapons of my Uzumaki clan, the Totsuka Blade and the Yata Mirror, on the battlefield of the ruins of the Land of Whirlpools!"

Uchiha Yao looked in the direction of the sound and saw Kushina holding a simple, gourd-shaped object lying quietly in her hand.

It should be the legendary Totsuka Sword.

Beside it was a small, round shield, its entire surface gleaming with a faint silver light.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, it will be the Yata no Kagami.

These two magical artifacts are the treasures of the Uzumaki clan. They disappeared after the destruction of the Uzumaki Kingdom, and it is unexpected that they have seen the light of day again today.

"These two spiritual artifacts, like our Uzumaki clan's Shrine of Death, must be enshrined in the shrine for the user to unleash their true power."

Kushina carefully stroked the magical artifact, her eyes filled with tenderness and sadness.

"Moreover, although they appear to be indestructible, their actual bodies are extremely fragile, just like the Grim Reaper's mask."

Once the physical body is destroyed, the power of the magical artifact will completely disappear.

She handed the two spiritual artifacts to Uchiha Yao, her eyes filled with expectation.

"Your Mangekyou Sharingan and Susanoo are perfectly suited to control them. With these two spiritual artifacts, your strength will definitely reach a new level."

Uchiha Yao took the spiritual weapon, feeling a warm touch on his fingertips. Chakra was slowly injected into it, and he could clearly feel the enormous power contained within.

He looked up at Kushina, a gentle smile on his face:

"Thank you, Kushina. I also have a gift for you."

As he spoke, he took out a huge scroll of a summoning beast from his bosom and handed it over.

"This is Danzo's 'Dream Baku' summoning scroll. I have erased his mark, and now it belongs to you."

"A dream-eating Baku?!"

Kushina's eyes lit up as she took the scroll and unrolled it, a bright smile instantly spreading across her face.

The Dream Eater is a powerful wind-attribute summoning beast, and since I happen to be lacking a summoning beast, it is perfect for me.

Especially since it was a gift from Yao Jun.

"Excellent! You! From now on, I can not only show off my skills on the battlefield, but also take on disciples, pass on my Wind Release techniques, and create the legend of Kushina Uzumaki!"

Her eyes sparkled with longing, as if she could already see herself leading her disciples across the ninja world.

Just then, the office door was pushed open with a bang, and Tsunade, wearing the Hokage cloak, stormed in, her long golden hair swaying slightly with each step, her face full of impatience and anger. "Lady Tsunade!" Shizune and Kurenai quickly stepped forward, one taking her cloak and the other offering her tea; Konan and Mabui also tacitly brought over chairs and waited to the side.

Tsunade took the tea, tilted her head back, and drank it all in one gulp. She slammed the teacup down on the table and snorted coldly, "Three old fogies who think they're so important! Konoha was conquered by my grandfather and your Uchiha ancestors, and in their mouths, it's all their doing!" She grew angrier as she spoke, her chest heaving slightly. "They've been praised so much over the years that they've lost their bearings and really think they're something special!"

Seeing her puffed-up face, Uchiha Yao smiled and teased, "Judging from your expression, things didn't go very well?"

"Smoothly my foot!" Tsunade glared at him irritably, then softened her tone. "But it's not entirely over. Those two old bastards are in jail, spending the rest of their lives with Danzo; as for the Third Hokage, I've sent him to the shrine to reflect on his actions." She paused at the mention of the Third Hokage, a hint of complexity lingering, but it was quickly replaced by anger. "But, you want me to be the villain? Will that really lure out that mysterious person?"

"I'm not sure." Uchiha Yao shrugged, his tone frank, but a sly smile played on his lips. "But we don't lose anything, do we?" He walked over to Tsunade and patiently explained, "If that mysterious person is really connected to these elders, seeing them in such a state will surely prompt him to take action. At that time, we can take the opportunity to investigate his background. Even if he doesn't appear, these old bastards have abused their power and wreaked havoc on Konoha for many years, and they deserve it. Eliminating them will actually make Konoha more peaceful."

Tsunade was speechless after his retort, and angrily tossed the scroll in her hand over: "Here's the monkey clan summoning beast scroll you wanted, take it."

Uchiha Yao caught the scroll steadily, a smile spreading across his face. He then gently pushed Tsunade towards the Hokage's desk, lightly massaging her shoulders. His tone was respectful: "Tsunade-nee, this isn't what I wanted. It's simply me, as Hokage, reclaiming what rightfully belongs to the village." His fingers applied just the rightful pressure, precisely striking the pressure points on Tsunade's shoulders and neck. "This monkey summoning clan was originally arranged for the Sarutobi clan by the Second Hokage; it's not their family heirloom. Over the years, the Sarutobi clan has used their authority to learn countless forbidden and secret techniques from the village, and we've never investigated. Now, it's merely reclaiming what rightfully belongs to the village—it's perfectly reasonable."

Although Tsunade maintained a stern expression, a slight smile involuntarily crept onto her lips. She naturally saw through Uchiha Yao's little scheme: he wanted to retrieve the summoning scroll but didn't want to give the Uchiha clan any grounds for revenge against the Sarutobi clan, which was why he had sent her, the Hokage, to intervene. However, she couldn't deny that Uchiha Yao's thoughtfulness warmed her heart—in this male-dominated ninja world, people who would so respect her and protect her dignity in matters of seriousness were truly rare.

At this moment, ninjas kept entering the Hokage's office to receive missions or report back. Seeing Uchiha You massaging Tsunade's shoulders, they all looked embarrassed and quickly walked past with their heads down. But Uchiha You didn't seem to care at all. Instead, he deliberately raised his voice, issuing missions while massaging her shoulders, perfectly showcasing the harmonious relationship between the Senju and Uchiha clans. This wasn't just for show within Konoha, but also for the spies lurking in the village, letting them know that Konoha was no longer the infighting village it once was, and that the alliance between the Senju and Uchiha was unbreakable.

Winter quietly passed, and spring breezes swept across Konoha, tender green buds sprouted from the branches, cherry blossoms danced in the air, and the entire village was bursting with vitality. Having endured the wounds of the Third Shinobi World War and undergone internal purges, Konoha finally ushered in a new era of prosperity. The commercial streets were bustling with activity, caravans from various countries came and went in droves, stalls were filled with a dazzling array of goods, and shouts and haggling filled the air. At the same time, delegations from various ninja villages arrived one after another. Ostensibly, they were there to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Fourth Hokage, but in reality, each harbored their own ulterior motives, hoping to use the opportunity to probe Konoha's true strength and weaknesses.

At the entrance to Konoha Village, the brand-new gates stood wide open, and the Konoha ninjas on either side stood solemnly, their sharp gazes scanning everyone entering the village. The white Sharingan, the scarlet Mangekyou Sharingan, and various keen sensory ninjutsu made the spies lurking among the caravans and envoy groups tremble with fear, daring not to make the slightest move.

Inside the reception area, Mabui, dressed in a deep red uniform, stood tall and composed, her face expressionless, calmly negotiating with the Hidden Mist envoy. Holding a list in her hand, her voice was clear and cold: "If you want to redeem the Seven Ninja Swords of the Mist, you must agree to our conditions. Otherwise, these ninja tools captured on the battlefield will be directly awarded to the heroes of Konoha."

The Hidden Mist envoy's face was ashen, his hands clenched tightly together, knuckles white. Konoha's conditions were extremely harsh; not only did they demand substantial compensation in supplies, but they also wanted to hand over several important ninjas. He found this unacceptable: "Impossible! Your demands from Konoha are outrageous!"

"Excessive?" Mabui looked up at him, her eyes icy cold. "Back then, how many Konoha ninja were killed by Kirigakure on the battlefield, especially several talented young men from the Aburame and Kurama clans? They all died at your hands. Now, all we're asking is for you to hand over the murderers and compensate for the losses. How is that excessive?" She paused, her tone softening slightly. "Of course, if you are truly sincere, you can offer other terms in exchange."

A glimmer of hope flashed in the eyes of the Mist Envoy, who quickly pressed for an answer: "What are the conditions?"

"Come with me to the Hokage Building. Someone will discuss the details with you." Mabui put away the list, turned and walked towards the Hokage Building. The Hidden Mist Envoy hesitated for a moment, but finally gritted his teeth and followed.

Inside the Hokage Building's conference room, Kushina Uzumaki and Mikoto Uchiha were observing the reception area through a telescope jutsu. Kushina, arms crossed, wore a smug smile: "Mikoto, look, Kirigakure really took the bait!"

Uchiha Mikoto, dressed in a purple kimono, exuded a gentle and refined air. She shook her head slightly, a warm smile playing on her lips. "Kushina, don't rush. It's still uncertain whether Kirigakure is truly willing to take the bait." Her gaze shifted to Samui and Yugito, who stood to the side. Both had short, blond hair and a capable physique, but their faces were flushed, indicating some nervousness.

"Samui, Yugito, you two better work hard." Kushina walked up to Samui, her eyes teasing, her gaze lingering on Samui's chest for a moment. "You've grown quite a bit again."

Samui's cheeks flushed instantly, and she quickly lowered her head, her voice barely audible: "Lady Kushina..."

Mikoto Uchiha interrupted Kushina's teasing with a smile, her eyes turning serious: "Yo raised you, and now he's given you the chance for revenge. I hope you won't disappoint him." Her tone was gentle yet carried an undeniable authority. "You should be aware of Yo's ambitions. This ninja world will change sooner or later. Currently, there are countless white-clad rogue ninjas wandering the ninja world from Kumogakure, and your origins and skin color are the best bargaining chips to win over these Kumogakure ninjas."

"Lady Mikoto, we understand!" Samui and Yugito bowed in unison, their eyes shining with unwavering determination. They were personally trained by Uchiha Mikoto, and years of living together had forged their unwavering loyalty to the Uchiha clan. Moreover, Uchiha You had given them hope for revenge against Kumogakure.

Just then, a knock sounded on the door, and Mabui's voice came through: "Lady Mikoto, Lady Kushina, the Kirigakure messenger has arrived."

"Come in," Mikoto Uchiha said.

The Hidden Mist Envoy pushed open the door and entered, his heart tightening at the sight of the meeting room. Kushina Uzumaki and Mikoto Uchiha sat in the main seats, exuding an imposing aura, while Samui and Yugito stood on either side, their gazes sharp as they stared at him.

"Lord Kirigakure, please have a seat," Mikoto Uchiha said gently, gesturing to the chair beside her.

After the Hidden Mist Envoy sat down, he went straight to the point: "What exactly are your village's conditions for returning the ninja sword?"

"It's very simple." Mikoto Uchiha picked up a file from the table and handed it over. "We need three people: Kisame Hoshigaki, sixteen years old, a special jonin; Mei Terumi, fifteen years old, a special jonin; and Zabuza Momochi, thirteen years old, a genius ninja."

The Kirigakure envoy took the file, and upon seeing the names on it, his expression instantly turned grim. Kisame Hoshigaki and Mei Terumi were acceptable; while they were strong, they weren't irreplaceable. But Zabuza Momochi was different. He was Kirigakure's most talented ninja, already approaching Jonin level at only thirteen years old, and the village's future hope. "No way!" the Kirigakure envoy refused without hesitation. "Zabuza Momochi is our village's core genius; we absolutely cannot entrust him to you! We can discuss the others."

"Core geniuses?" Kushina scoffed, her eyes turning icy. "Back on the battlefield, these were the very people who murdered the important young men of the Aburame and Kurama clans. If it weren't for your sincerity in redeeming the ninja swords, would these few even be worth all this trouble?"

Mikoto Uchiha spoke up at the opportune moment, her tone gentle yet carrying a hint of pressure: "You should understand the importance of the Seven Ninja Swords of the Mist better than we do. They are not only powerful ninja tools, but also symbols of the Hidden Mist Village. Losing these swords would greatly diminish the Hidden Mist Village's strength and be a huge blow to the village's reputation." She paused, then continued, "And the people we're demanding are just ordinary ninjas in your village. Exchanging them for the seven swords wouldn't be a loss for you."

The Kirigakure envoy fell into deep thought, his face filled with struggle. He knew that Uchiha Mikoto was telling the truth; the importance of the ninja swords to Kirigakure was self-evident. After a long silence, he finally gritted his teeth and made a decision: "Fine! I agree to your conditions, but you can only return the Executioner's Blade and the blunt sword Kabuto first. The remaining ninja swords can only be handed over after we confirm the safety of the three of them."

"Okay." Mikoto Uchiha nodded, a satisfied smile on her face.

After the Kirigakure envoy left, Kushina clapped her hands excitedly: "Mikoto, we did it! You said that Mei Terumi and Kisame are the most promising young people in Kirigakure. Now that we have them under our command, they will definitely become an asset to Konoha in the future."

"Indeed." Mikoto Uchiha nodded with a smile. "The Hidden Mist's Blood Mist policy excludes bloodline limit ninjas. Mei Terumi must have hidden her bloodline limit to gain a foothold in the Hidden Mist. As long as we give her enough trust and respect, she will definitely work for us." Her gaze drifted out the window, her eyes gleaming with ambition. "By using Kushina's name in the name of restoring the Land of Whirlpools, we can not only gather the displaced Uzumaki clan members, but also absorb the bloodline limit families that have been marginalized throughout the ninja world, making Konoha stronger and stronger."

Kushina wore a bittersweet smile: "Whether the country is restored or not is unimportant. I only hope to find more members of my clan, so that the name of the Land of Whirlpools will once again be remembered by the ninja world. In the future, Konoha will have another powerful Uzumaki clan!"

Inside the Hokage's office, Uchiha You was discussing the next steps with Tsunade. "Tsunade-neechan, absorbing the bloodline ninjas and clans of the ninja world may seem daring, but it's the fastest way to strengthen Konoha." Uchiha You stood before a map, his finger tracing the locations of the various ninja villages. "Since the founding of the ninja villages, countless bloodline clans have been feared and destroyed because of their power, leaving countless bloodline ninja scattered throughout the ninja world. The Hidden Mist's Blood Mist policy, the Hidden Cloud's racial conflicts, and the Hidden Sand's internal strife all present opportunities for us."

Tsunade sat behind her desk, her fingers tapping lightly on the surface, a hint of worry on her face: "Aren't you afraid of attracting a lot of spies? After all, it's hard to guarantee the loyalty of these foreign ninjas."

"Spies will naturally exist, but we have ways to deal with them." Uchiha Yao's lips curled into a confident smile. "As long as we let them settle down in Konoha, have wives and children, and have responsibilities, their hearts will naturally lean towards Konoha. Moreover, after the Third Shinobi World War, Konoha suffered heavy losses, creating a large gap in profits. At this time, absorbing outside ninjas and sharing some of the benefits with them won't cause too much internal backlash. If we wait until Konoha recovers to its peak before trying to absorb outsiders, the resistance will be much greater."

He paused, his gaze turning serious. "What we need to do is not just unify the ninja world, but also prepare for the fight against the Otsutsuki clan of the universe. Only by uniting the power of the ninja world can we have enough confidence to face future threats." He looked at Tsunade, his tone firm. "Tsunade-neechan, this is not just my ambition, but our common goal—the true peace of the ninja world."

Looking into his determined eyes, Tsunade's worries gradually dissipated, and a smile appeared on her face: "Alright! I'll support you! As for Kirigakure, we can use Kushina's restoration as an excuse to recruit her bloodline clan; Sunagakure has already started making contacts; and we'll leave the white exiled ninjas of Kumogakure to Samui and Yugito to win over."

"However, we can hardly absorb the Land of Lightning." Uchiha Yao shook his head, a hint of disgust flashing in his eyes. "Danzo's plan to divide the land into black and white has begun to show results. Now, there are already claims that black people are superior in the Land of Lightning. They are plunderers, do not engage in production, and are completely unable to integrate into Konoha. In the future, when the ninja world is unified, the nobles will need the lower classes to enslave, and these black people will be the best choice. Killing them would be a waste; it's better to make use of them."

Tsunade nodded. She had no goodwill towards the Black people of the Land of Lightning. The Black people of Kumogakure were instrumental in the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools, and she had always kept that blood debt in her heart.

In Sunagakure, the Village Hidden in the Sand of the Land of Wind, yellow sand swirled in the sky, giving the entire village an air of desolation. The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, clad in his Kazekage cloak, sat solemnly in the main seat, his face so grim it seemed to drip water. Below him, the five village elders bowed their heads, barely daring to breathe.

"The conditions proposed by Konoha are utterly unreasonable!" an elder couldn't help but speak up, his tone full of dissatisfaction. "They want us to hand over Pakura and send the Kazekage's son to Konoha as a hostage—this is an absolute disgrace!"

Luo Sha snorted coldly, his eyes icy: "Ye Cang is arrogant because of his merits and has repeatedly disobeyed my orders, becoming an unstable factor in the village. As for the hostage, she is just a child. If she can gain Konoha's support and consolidate my rule, why not?" He had already made up his mind. Sacrificing a daughter for power was nothing to him.

"But Lord Kazekage, Temari is only four years old!" another elder exclaimed urgently.

"So what if she's four years old?" Rasa interrupted him, his tone resolute. "She is the Kazekage's daughter, and this is her destiny and responsibility!" He looked at the elders below, his eyes sharp as knives. "Pass on my order: have Yekura escort Temari to Konoha to sign the peace treaty on behalf of Sunagakure."

The elders, seeing the resolute look in Luo Sha's eyes, were secretly alarmed. This Wind Shadow was far too ruthless; he was even willing to sacrifice his own daughter. They dared not harbor the slightest disloyalty.

Rasa stood alone by the window, gazing at the desolate village outside, a complex look flashing in his eyes: "Temari, don't blame your father for being heartless. Kankuro is a boy, destined to inherit the position of Kazekage; Gaara is the village's secret weapon, and nothing can go wrong with him. Only you are the most suitable candidate."

Within the Forest of Death in Konoha, the trees formed a dense canopy, with sunlight filtering through the leaves to create dappled patterns of light and shadow. Two figures darted swiftly through the forest; they were Kisame Hoshigaki and Mei Terumi, who had been ordered to rendezvous with Konoha. Kisame Hoshigaki was tall and burly, with shark-like markings on his face and icy, emotionless eyes, like a tool devoid of feeling. Mei Terumi, on the other hand, had reddish-brown hair, emerald green eyes, and wore a half-mask to conceal her face; her unease had grown stronger along the way.

"The tower ahead is the rendezvous point," Kisame Hoshigaki said coldly, stopping in his tracks, his voice completely flat.

Mei Terumi looked around, her brows furrowed. "This is Konoha's Forest of Death, the venue for the Chunin Exams. Choosing this as our meeting point is too strange." She looked at Kisame Hoshigaki, a hint of worry in her voice. "Besides, Konoha is heavily guarded right now. Won't it be dangerous for us to trespass like this?"

"Ninjas only need to follow orders, not question them," Kisame Hoshigaki replied coldly, turning and walking towards the tower. He was a ninja trained under the Blood Mist policy, long accustomed to unconditional obedience.

Mei Terumi had no choice but to follow. She pondered to herself, "I've concealed my bloodline limit, and I'm just an ordinary special Jonin in Kirigakure. I shouldn't attract Konoha's attention. Could something be wrong in the village?" She racked her brains, but couldn't come up with a solution.

Soon, the two arrived at the tower. This tower was the selection venue for the Konoha Chunin Exams. The doors were wide open, and the interior was dark, exuding an eerie atmosphere. Kisame Hoshigaki went in first, followed closely by Mei Terumi, their unease reaching its peak.

Upon entering the tower, a colossal stone statue came into view. The original statue of the Third Hokage, with its arms forming hand seals, had been recarved, replaced with a pair of young, powerful arms—a symbol of the soon-to-be Fourth Hokage of Konoha. "This statue has been replaced," Kisame Hoshigaki said coldly, his tone devoid of any emotion.

"The time has come, and our people haven't arrived yet." Kisame Hoshigaki glanced at the sky, his brows furrowing slightly.

Just then, with a loud "boom," the tower's doors slammed shut, plunging the surroundings into darkness. Immediately afterward, a dense chorus of footsteps sounded, and countless Konoha ninjas emerged from the shadows, surrounding the two.

"Oh no!" Mei Terumi's expression changed drastically, and she exclaimed in alarm.

Kisame Hoshigaki swiftly placed his hand on the ninja sword behind his back, his eyes still cold, but a sense of vigilance rose within him. The Konoha ninjas around him all possessed powerful auras, especially several masked Anbu members whose eyes gleamed with a scarlet light—the Sharingan!

"Mist Ninja! Trespassing on Konoha's forbidden grounds, you shall die!" The cold voice of the Anbu ninja rang out, carrying a chilling aura.

"Misunderstanding! We are here on orders to meet with the messenger!" Kisame Hoshigaki explained hoarsely, trying to defuse the crisis.

Mei Terumi's mind raced, and she instantly understood everything: "We've been tricked! It's a trap! The village and Konoha made a deal, and we're the pawns being sacrificed!" Her heart was filled with anger and resentment.

"Quite perceptive." A gentle voice echoed within the tower, followed by black hell butterflies fluttering out of the darkness and landing on the fingertips of the stone statue. A graceful figure slowly emerged—it was Uchiha Mikoto. She wore a purple kimono, surrounded by hell butterflies, her demeanor gentle yet exuding a powerful aura of oppression.

"Such powerful chakra!" Kisame Hoshigaki was startled, feeling an unprecedented pressure.

Mei Terumi's face turned deathly pale. She knew that they had no chance of winning against such a powerful opponent.

Mikoto Uchiha slowly walked up to Mei Terumi, her gaze falling on her emerald green eyes, and she smiled appreciatively: "What beautiful eyes." In her eye sockets, the three-tomoe Sharingan slowly rotated, eventually connecting into a single line, forming the Mangekyou Sharingan.

A powerful genjutsu instantly enveloped Mei Terumi and Kisame Hoshigaki. They felt a blur before their eyes and lost control of their bodies, becoming unable to move. Kisame tried to resist, but was firmly suppressed by the Sharingan of the surrounding Anbu members, unable to mobilize his chakra at all.

"You were sent here by Kirigakure as bargaining chips to exchange for ninja swords." Uchiha Mikoto's voice was gentle yet tinged with coldness. "In Kirigakure's eyes, your value is nothing more than two ninja swords; but in Konoha's eyes, your potential is far more important than ninja swords." She turned to the ANBU ninja and ordered, "Take them away, lock them up, keep a close watch on them, and don't hurt them."

"Yes!" the ANBU ninjas responded in unison, and stepped forward to take the two immobilized individuals away.

Meanwhile, inside the Hokage Building, Sunagakure's elite Jonin, Pakura, was escorting four-year-old Temari, following behind the Sunagakure envoy. Pakura, dressed in Sunagakure's uniform, was tall and stunningly beautiful, carrying a ninja tool pouch on her back, her eyes warily scanning her surroundings. Walking through the bustling streets of Konoha, she was filled with shock and envy: "Is this the foundation of the strongest ninja village? So prosperous, so powerful."

Young Temari looked around with innocent curiosity, her little face full of excitement.

As the group entered the Hokage Building, a sudden doubt arose in Ye Cang's mind, and she couldn't help but ask, "Are we going to see Konoha's new Hokage now?"

The Sand Village envoy didn't answer, but quickened his pace. Suddenly, he whirled around, the kunai in his hand slicing across his own arm, blood splattering everywhere. At the same time, another kunai pierced towards Temari's vitals!

With a "plop," the kunai pierced Temari's body, and blood spurted from her mouth. Yekura was shocked and instinctively reached out to hug Temari, his face turning deathly pale.

"Yakura! You traitor!" The Sand Village envoy, clutching his bleeding arm, shouted hoarsely, his voice echoing throughout the Hokage Building. "You were unwilling to accept defeat in the war, so you actually tried to assassinate Miss Hijiri, igniting a war between the two nations! You war maniac! It's a good thing you didn't become the Fourth Kazekage!"

This sudden turn of events startled everyone inside the building. Konoha ninjas who had come to receive their missions, envoys from various countries, and merchants all gathered around, staring in shock at the scene before them. In their eyes, Yekura, holding the injured Temari, was clearly taking the Kazekage's son hostage.

"Yakura! You have betrayed the village! You are a traitor to Sunagakure!" The Sunagakure messenger continued to roar, his eyes filled with terror, but inwardly he was secretly relieved: the Kazekage's order had finally been fulfilled.

Holding the dying Temari in her arms, Yekura was speechless, her eyes filled with fear and anger. She never imagined that she would be framed by the village in such a way.

Inside the Hokage's office, Uchiha You peered through the window at the chaotic scene below, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. Mei Terumi, Kisame Hoshigaki, and Pakura—these promising talents of the ninja world were now all under his control. He didn't need to act personally; he only needed to set a trap to bring these geniuses under his command. The first step towards controlling the ninja world had been successfully taken.

……