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

Province of Fire.

The capital city, the imperial palace.

In the blink of an eye.

Half a month passed quietly.

Chiba leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest.

Hey.

Hey.

Footsteps sounded from outside the hall.

Nara Shikaku, the Minister of the Imperial Administration, entered the main hall carrying a stack of scrolls.

He came down the steps and bowed respectfully.

"His Majesty."

"The number of powerful individuals in each province has been completely tallied."

Chiba slightly raised his hand.

"read."

Nara Shikaku unfurled the first scroll.

"After a large-scale investigation and screening, plus a new round of combat capability assessment."

"The number of Kage-level powerhouses currently registered in the Empire far exceeds expectations."

"The province of fire will be the first to be affected, with a total of 32 Kage-level powerhouses!"

"..."

Chiba's expression remained unchanged after hearing this.

The Province of Fire was originally an expansion of the former Konoha Village.

It has a profound cultural heritage and produces many geniuses.

In addition, during these three years, he not only opened up a large number of ninjutsu libraries, but also received a lot of resources from Orochimaru regardless of cost.

Drug modification, blood vessel stimulation, and scientific training.

Kakashi, Might Guy, and Sarutobi Asuma are all veteran powerhouses whose strength has long been firmly established at the Kage level.

Younger generations like Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Neji Hyuga are also catching up.

Not to mention the Uchiha and Hyuga clans, whose foundations are terrifying.

There are already several Uchiha clan members who have awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan.

32 Shadow-level characters, that's not surprising.

soon.

Nara Shikaku swallowed hard and opened the second volume.

"Next is the Province of Thunder."

"Currently, there are 8 Kage-level powerhouses on the register."

The people of Leizhi Province are known for their fierce and unyielding spirit.

Raikage A, Killer Bee (the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki), Yugito (the Two-Tails Jinchuriki), and Darui, among other new generation members.

Having eight Kage-level powerhouses is quite reasonable.

"The Province of Earth, 7 Kage-level powerhouses."

Although Onoki is old.

However, the strength of Huang Tu, the Jinchūriki, and several veterans from Iwagakure should not be underestimated.

"The Province of Water, 5 Kage-level powerhouses."

Mei Terumi, Chojuro, and several other reclusive masters of Water Release techniques.

"The Province of Wind, 5 Kage-level powerhouses."

Rasa, Chiyo, Ebizo, and Gaara, who grew up.

After reporting all the information.

Nara Shikaku slowly closed the scroll.

But he couldn't calm down for a long time.

A total of 57 Kage-level powerhouses!

If this power were placed in the ninja world of the past, it would have been enough to destroy the ninja world more than ten times over.

"What about Kage-level?"

Chiba suddenly spoke.

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an immense sense of authority.

Nara Shikaku gave a wry smile and looked up at Chiba on the throne.

"His Majesty."

"Under normal circumstances... there are no experts at the Shadow level for the time being."

Chiba was not surprised.

Kage level is already the limit for ordinary ninjas.

I want to break through to the Super Shadow level.

They must either possess the bloodline of the Six Paths or master incredible forbidden techniques.

The benchmarks are Nagato, who possessed the Rinnegan, Hashirama Senju, and Madara Uchiha.

How easy is it for something capable of easily altering the terrain and known as a humanoid natural disaster to be born?

"but."

Nara Shikaku changed the subject, his tone now carrying a hint of reverence.

"If you include Sage Mode."

"Our empire can muster around ten Shadow-level combatants!"

Chiba raised an eyebrow.

Tell me more.

Nara Shikaku cleared his throat and then answered.

"For example, Uchiha Shisui."

"Under normal circumstances, he is already at the peak of the Kage level."

"With those Mangekyou Sharingan, his strength is extremely formidable."

"And half a month ago, Shisui successfully mastered the Sage Mode bestowed upon him by Your Majesty."

Speaking of it.

In Nara Shikaku's mind, the terrifying scene of Shisui's test flashed through his mind.

A green, fully-formed Susanoo, hundreds of meters tall, was clad in armor made of Sage Chakra.

With a single swing of his sword, he leveled an entire mountain!

"Once Shisui enters Sage Mode."

"The destructive power of the complete Susanoo has definitely reached the Kage-level standard you set."

"This is practically a human-shaped natural disaster!"

"For example, Killer Bee in the Province of Lightning."

"He was already a perfect Jinchūriki, and now he has mastered Sage Mode."

"The combination of Tailed Beast Transformation and Sage Chakra brings about a qualitative change in combat power."

"..."

Chiba nodded slightly.

And then there's Nagato Uzumaki.

Although the Rinnegan is gone.

But he was once a super-King level powerhouse, and he also has the bloodline of the Uzumaki clan.

With the blessing of Sage Mode.

Nagato Uzumaki's strength has also reached the level of a Kage.

And there's Onoki.

His Dust Release technique, enhanced by Sage Mode, became more than ten times more powerful.

Let's calculate it carefully.

In Sage Mode.

The empire now possesses at least ten warriors at the Shadow level!

Ten super-King level characters.

Chiba mentally calculated the number.

There are still more than a decade until the arrival of the Otsutsuki clan.

The empire now boasts ten Super Shadows and dozens of Shadow-level warriors.

Not to mention him, a true Six Paths level expert.

But more than a decade later.

So what if the Otsutsuki descend?

Kill one if one comes, make two if two come!

Time is on Chiba's side.

The more an empire develops, the more terrifying its underlying strength becomes.

"Step down."

"We urge all provinces to continue to increase their resource investment and spare no effort in cultivating talent."

Chiba waved his hand.

Nara Shikaku bowed respectfully and slowly withdrew from the main hall.

A few more days passed.

"His Majesty!"

Orochimaru pushed open the door to the side hall of Chiba.

Chiba has always been extremely tolerant of this scientific fanatic.

"Are the results out?"

Chiba put down the government reports in his hand and looked up at the other person.

Orochimaru strode to the desk.

He directly took out a sketch filled with complex runes and spacetime formulas.

"That passage is simply a miracle of the Creator!"

"but……"

"Just as you predicted."

"The spacetime tunnel is highly unstable."

"The limit is Kage level!"

"It can't even be the peak of the Shadow level."

"They can only be ninjas who have just stepped into the threshold of Kage level, or elite Jonin level ninjas."

"If it's at the level of a super-Kage..."

"Or perhaps someone of Your Majesty's caliber."

"Just take half a step into the passage."

"That terrifying mass of chakra would instantly collapse the entire spacetime structure."

"The passage collapsed, and I am lost in the endless rifts of space and time."

Chiba nodded knowingly.

This is completely consistent with his previous perception.

"Is there no way to widen the passageway?"

Upon hearing Chiba's question.

Orochimaru first shook his head, then nodded vigorously.

"It's completely impossible for us to reinforce it unilaterally."

"unless!"

"Someone can safely reach that parallel world."

"Over there, using the Empire's resources, establish a two-way spacetime anchor portal!"

"Use two portals to completely fix the spacetime rift, and then reinforce it little by little."

"Wait until that time."

"Let alone Kage-level."

"Even if you were to descend in person, the passageway would hold firmly!"

Orochimaru had barely finished speaking.

A glint of light flashed in Chiba's eyes.

This is the result he wanted.

What kind of trouble can a few elite Jonin cause in a parallel world?

Only if he personally descends, or sends the imperial army to press on the border.

That's what you call true interdimensional conquest!

Orochimaru rubbed his hands together, his tone revealing a hint of longing.

"Your Majesty, perhaps I should..."

"no."

Chiba interrupted him directly.

"Your current strength is only a hair's breadth away from becoming a Shadow Realm expert."

"With your forbidden techniques and chaotic chakra, the passage can't withstand you."

Orochimaru was stunned for a moment, then deflated like a punctured balloon.

He desperately wanted to see parallel worlds.

That is the truth that transcends all science!

Chiba stood up.

He walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window and looked down at the bustling capital city.

"The members of the vanguard must be extremely cautious."

"Time-space turbulence can erupt at any moment in the spacetime rifts."

"Too weak, you'll be torn to shreds."

"Their strength is too great; they'll collapse the passage."

"Furthermore, we know nothing about parallel worlds."

"Perhaps the other side is a peaceful and prosperous world, or perhaps the other side is in the midst of a ninja war."

"They not only have to survive over there."

"We also need to find an absolutely safe place to establish a teleportation base station."

"The mission is extremely dangerous."

"..."