In the first century after the two Six Paths brothers sealed Kaguya Otsutsuki, Master Six Paths had been traveling everywhere with his disciples, trying to repair the ravaged land. He tried every method he could, but alas, it was all useless. At best, he managed some minor repairs, and even those were shattered by Ino and the others during this recent war, leaving the world in a state even more severe than a thousand years ago.
Speaking of which, the emergence of the Warring States period was an inevitability. When the living environment is harsh and resources diminish, war is sure to follow.
Only when the population was drastically reduced and no one had the strength left to fight did the wars subsequently subside.
Now, it seemed they had arrived at another crossroads.
For the moment, with Ino's military might keeping everyone in check, there wouldn't be any trouble. Even if Konoha were to blatantly annex the other four great ninja villages, they could only say, "Alright, alright, fine, fine." What they cursed in private was another matter entirely.
"Sigh!"
Master Six Paths departed in a flash of rainbow light. Ino returned to her home and sprawled out on her back. Little Himawari could see her papa was in a bad mood and even reached out with a chubby little hand to pat her face in comfort.
Ino played with her daughter for a while, and her mood improved slightly.
Her mind was full of ideas, but none of them seemed suitable.
There were two major problems. One was the environment.
In many parts of the planet now, not just ordinary people, but even ninja couldn't survive. The living conditions were far too harsh.
The other was the people.
What about those who died in the war? What about those who were left half-crippled after being drained by God: Nativity of a World of Trees? The Rinne Rebirth Technique?
Ino hadn't reached the point of sacrificing herself for others; she didn't want to use her own life to save people. Besides, with such a harsh environment, wouldn't bringing people back to life just create more chaos?
She couldn't think of a solution, and she was a bit tired from the previous night, so she quickly fell asleep.
"Puyo, puyo!"
She rolled over, facing inwards.
"Puyo, puyoyu!"
She pulled the blanket over her head.
"Puyo, puyoyu pupu!"
Without even opening her eyes, she grabbed Tonton by the neck, opened the window, and threw him out with a "swoosh."
Half an hour later, Hinata came to wake her, followed by a black-and-blue Tonton.
"Honestly, I lose sleep night after night for the safety of the shinobi world. I finally get a moment's rest, and you come to disturb me?"
Hinata's face flushed red. When you were playing with balls last night, was that also for the safety of the shinobi world?
Tonton took off his sunglasses and looked directly into Ino's eyes, transmitting a message to her.
"...What's the situation? King Enma wants to see me?"
Ino thought for a moment. The message was brief: King Enma wanted to see her for a face-to-face talk.
What could she and King Enma possibly have to talk about?
"Alright, I'll go have a look." She took off her pajamas and changed into a white long-sleeved jacket with the character for 'Boar' (亥) on the back, grey pants, and open-toed sandals.
She activated the Crossing Moon Bridge and arrived in the underworld.
The underworld was bustling.
What makes ninja stronger than ordinary people? Their ability to use spiritual energy, which is a crucial component of the soul.
The number of ninja wandering the underworld was several times greater than that of ordinary people, and as for wandering ghosts, there were even more.
During the era when Master Six Paths ruled the underworld, King Enma was just a tool. The former didn't want to manage it, and the latter was imprisoned and couldn't even if he wanted to. In the end, it became a laissez-faire system. You died with resentment and didn't want to rest in peace? Fine, suit yourself. It's not like you can go back anyway. Just hang around for a century or so, and your resentment will dissipate, won't it?
Seeing the chaotic underworld, Ino roughly guessed King Enma's intentions.
"Ino! Ino! I'm going to make a thousand friends!" The already deceased Fu, Jinchuriki of the Seven-Tails, possessed extremely strong spiritual energy. Even in the underworld, her soul looked no different from when she was alive, still as full of energy as ever.
"Oh, oh, sure, sure."
Over here in the underworld, the Third Hokage and a few fallen Yamanaka clan ninja were helping to maintain order, but the effect was minimal.
Kitsuchi wanted to see his daughter walk down the aisle; the Fourth Raikage wanted to keep pumping iron, feeling uncomfortable if he missed a single day of training; Killer B was even more exaggerated, still yelling about some 32 concerts as he was dragged away by several Yamanaka clan ninja. These were clearly the types who didn't want to rest in peace.
Ino even felt that the Third Hokage, despite saying "The village is fine, I have no regrets," wanted to be revived.
"Kurotsuchi? Kurotsuchi is doing great recently, probably hunting rabbits in the village.
Darui? Darui was injured before, he's still recovering in Konoha these days.
Concerts? Yo say Ho! Yeeah! No problem, we'll hold a Hokage Has Hip-Hop event later. Don't like that name? How about Kumogakure Has Hip-Hop?"
She walked along, casually placating them. There were too many issues, too much chaos.
Arriving in the depths of the underworld, she met its theoretical ruler, King Enma.
King Enma was still in the same state, bound by chains.
The character for "King" (王) on his forehead was particularly conspicuous in the gloomy underworld.
The moment Ino saw him, she spoke her mind: "Old Enma, if I could free you, I definitely would, but... I really don't have that ability. You're being controlled by Kaguya Otsutsuki's Rinne Sharingan. You know I can't beat her. The root of the Rinne Sharingan is the Chakra Fruit, and my Rinnegan can't break your bonds either...
Look, have I ever used the Rinne Rebirth Technique? I haven't used Samsara Rebirth either, because we're friends, and I don't want to consume your essence to do something like reversing life and death. Just bear with it a bit longer, I'll think of something, okay?"
She rambled on and on, and as she spoke, King Enma transmitted a very vague message to her.
"Hmm?..." Ino carefully identified it twice, repeatedly weighing the words to ensure she hadn't misunderstood: "You're saying... you're my superior? We have a subordinate relationship? Haha..."
She chuckled softly. Did you say the same thing to Kaguya Otsutsuki back then? That you were her superior, and then the 8,000-year-old lady took care of you with a wave of her hand? Then Master Six Paths came, you said you were his superior, and so you've continued to hang here, right up to the present day?
Ino felt that these planetary gods were all a bit dim-witted. Don't you have any idea of your own strength?
King Enma then transmitted another long segment of information. Just like communicating with the Shinigami, their languages were incompatible and their life forms were different. Ino could only piece it together through guesswork.
She frowned slightly: "You're saying... you can solve my current difficulties? Oh... not you, but someone else? And not a person! Another King Enma? King Yama? There's a treasured tool in the universe that can grant any wish? Isn't that the Box of Ultimate Bliss that my master created before? That thing is unreliable, a failed creation."
King Enma shook his head and sent another string of information.
"You're saying an imitation won't work, I must use the precious article? Or the genuine article? I don't quite understand your wording..."
It was like a chicken talking to a duck. King Enma and Ino went back and forth for a full hour.
Finally, all the information had been conveyed.
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