Naruto: In Konoha Village, I awakened Wood Release at the start.

half a month later.

Konoha Village.

No.

It should now be said to be the absolute center of the entire ninja world.

Outside the towering city walls, the largest returning contingent in history arrived.

Chiba stood at the top of the Hokage Building.

He looked down at the wide street below, his eyes calm as still water.

The Konoha high-ranking officials, leading a large and imposing force, entered the village one after another.

At the very center of the procession were the shadows of the other four villages.

Fengying Luosha walked at the very front.

He walked with a very relaxed pace, even having the leisure to look at the shops on both sides of the street.

Sunagakure was the first village to surrender voluntarily.

Not only did they escape the ravages of war, but they also received considerable material assistance under the protection of Konoha.

Luo Sha is now filled with joy.

Clinging to Chiba's coattails was definitely the best decision he ever made in his life.

Following behind Rasa was the Fifth Mizukage, Terumi Mei.

Although she appeared calm, her eyes revealed a hint of curiosity and trepidation.

Walking at the very back.

It was the Fourth Raikage, A, who had been stripped of all his weapons and was wrapped in bandages, and the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki.

The two men's expressions were identically ashen.

The spines of the Hidden Cloud Village and the Hidden Stone Village were broken in two days.

The village suffered heavy losses, with countless elite soldiers killed in action.

Now even they themselves have become prisoners of Konoha.

"Old man Onoki."

"I never imagined we'd be prisoners of war together one day."

Ai gave a self-deprecating twitch at the corner of his mouth.

Onoki sighed, his eyes clouded.

"Times have changed, Raikage."

"That Senju Chiba... is a monster."

"We, the remnants of the old era, have no chance of turning things around."

Both sides of the street.

The villagers of Konoha erupted in thunderous cheers.

They were cheering for the triumphant heroes, and even more so, celebrating Chiba's great achievements.

Looking at the genuine smiles on the faces of the ordinary people around him.

Onoki was filled with a sense of defeat.

He understood that Konoha had conquered them not only militarily.

Furthermore, in terms of public opinion, they completely crushed all the ninja villages.

That afternoon.

The Hokage Building, inside a massive conference room of the highest standard.

The atmosphere was extremely solemn and respectful.

Chiba sat upright in the main seat.

On the left, seated in order are Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and other resurrected Konoha elders through the Impure World Reincarnation technique.

On the right are the heads of the major Konoha clans, such as Nara Shikaku and Uchiha Fugaku.

And at the very end of the long table.

Rasa, Terumi Mei, Ai, and Onoki sat upright, not daring to even breathe loudly.

This was the most powerful meeting in the history of the ninja world.

Chiba's gaze swept across the entire room.

Everyone who met his gaze involuntarily straightened their backs.

"Everyone."

"The long-standing division and war have come to a complete end today."

"From now on."

"The Land of Fire, the Land of Wind, the Land of Water, the Land of Earth, the Land of Thunder—all these decaying names shall be abolished."

"The narrow names of villages like Konoha, Sunagakure, Kirigakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure are also abolished."

"..."

Chiba's voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.

In an instant.

A suffocating sense of terrifying oppression instantly enveloped the entire conference room.

"I will establish a unified empire."

next moment.

Chiba announced, word by word.

The meeting room was completely silent.

Although I had already guessed this outcome.

But when Chiba said it himself, everyone still felt a strong mental shock.

Hashirama Senju looked at Chiba with eyes full of satisfaction.

His unfulfilled dream from back then has finally been realized in the hands of this younger generation.

Chiba tapped the table, pulling everyone back to reality.

"The entire ninja world will be re-divided into five provinces."

"The central region where we are now is the Province of Fire, which is also the location of the Empire's capital."

"The original territories of the other four major powers, along with the surrounding smaller states, were all incorporated."

"They were respectively established as the Province of Wind, the Province of Water, the Province of Earth, and the Province of Thunder."

Speaking of it.

Chiba looked at the four people at the end of the long table.

"Rasa, Terumi Mei, Onoki, Ai."

The four people whose names were called were startled.

Chiba looked at them and gave the most important appointment.

"The four of you will temporarily assume the positions of governors of the four major provinces."

These words were spoken.

The entire audience was astonished.

Especially Ai and Onoki.

They thought they would be executed or imprisoned indefinitely.

Chiba actually let them go back and continue managing their original territory?

Don't get too excited yet.

Chiba's lips curled into a cold smile.

"Although you are provincial governors..."

"But the empire's administration, military, and economy must be highly unified."

"I will draw personnel from the various clans of Konoha."

"They will be stationed in your provinces to serve in key positions such as deputy governor, police minister, and finance officer."

"All families were dispersed and assigned different roles."

"They will assist you in rebuilding the provinces and improving the lives of the common people."

"certainly."

"They will also watch over you for me."

Do you understand what I mean?

Chiba's gaze swept across the four faces like a knife.

Ai gritted her teeth and remained silent.

Onoki gave a bitter laugh and leaned back weakly in his chair.

This is hardly an appointment.

This is clearly the highest level of surveillance and manipulation!

On the surface, they are still the highest-ranking officials.

But their core departments are all staffed by people from Chiba.

If they dared to make any unusual move, they would be executed on the spot by their deputy.

What's even more amazing is...

Chiba dispersed and distributed the clans of Konoha.

This means that every province has the eyes of the Uchiha, the Byakugan of the Hyuga, and the brain of the Nara.

They didn't even have a chance to collude and cheat!

"What's wrong?"

"Any objections?"

Upon seeing this.

Chiba raised an eyebrow.

Luo Sha was the first to react.

He suddenly stood up and loudly declared his stance.

"The Province of Wind firmly supports His Majesty's decision!"

"I will definitely cooperate with you all to govern the Wind Province well!"

Mei Terumi also quickly stood up and nodded respectfully.

"There are no objections to the Province of Water."

Only Ai and Onoki remained.

The two looked at each other and saw the desolation in each other's eyes.

Can they still refuse?

The village has been ravaged, and reconstruction requires a massive amount of resources and manpower.

Without these people coming in, they wouldn't even be able to save the civilians who are starving to death on the streets.

"Thunder Province... Obey the order."

"The province of Tu... As ordered."

The two lowered their heads with difficulty, resigning themselves to their fate.

Chiba withdrew his gaze with satisfaction.

This is the absolute control he desires.

Unification by force is only the first step; assimilation through systems is the cornerstone of lasting peace.

The Konoha clan leaders in the conference room all had burning eyes.

They understood that Chiba was fulfilling his promise.

What enormous benefits it would bring to let them take control of the four major provinces!

Fugaku Uchiha had even begun to consider which elder to send to the Lightning Province as the Minister of Police.

Just then.

Chiba focused his gaze solely on Rasa.

Luo Sha understood immediately.

Without hesitation, he walked to the front of the long table and pulled out a huge sealing scroll from his pocket.

boom!

The smoke dissipated.

The scroll was unrolled, and it was densely covered with various sealing techniques.

"His Majesty."

"This contains all the ninjutsu, secret techniques, and forbidden techniques developed by the Kazekage of each generation, originally collected by Sunagakure."

"Now, all of them shall be handed over to the Imperial Ninja Artifact Treasury for His Majesty's complete disposal!"

Luo Sha knelt on one knee and raised the scroll above his head with both hands.

What is the foundation of the ninja village?

Those are the unique secret techniques and forbidden arts!

Handing over these things is tantamount to selling the soul of the village!

There's nothing we can do about it.

This was something Chiba had already instructed us to do.

Those who surrendered and were defeated had no right to refuse.

Mei Terumi sighed.

She also took out the Hidden Mist Ninjutsu scroll and quickly stepped forward to hand it over.

Onoki's fingers trembled.

He touched the Hidden Rock Scroll in his arms, and finally sighed before handing it over.

Only Ai remained.

His eyes were bloodshot, and his fists were clenched tightly.

Lightning Release Chakra Mode is the culmination of the efforts of successive Raikage of Kumogakure.

But he glanced at the expressionless Hashirama Senju beside him, and then at Fugaku Uchiha, who was radiating killing intent.

Ai slumped and released his grip.

He threw the reel on the table, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

"It's all here..."