As time passed, the entire shinobi world turned its gaze toward the Research Institute.
Ryosuke's rise was too fast, so fast it was like a gust of wind brushing past one's ear. Even people who didn't care about major world events had more or less heard of Ryosuke's deeds.
Everyone knew that, with Ryosuke's personality...
"This isn't over."
Tokugawa Shingen listened to his subordinate's report, flicked open his folding fan, and let out a light laugh,
"No wonder Ryosuke invested massive amounts of resources into developing aeronautical technology so early. So his ambition was never limited to the shinobi world, he wants to reach out into the vast expanse of space."
"I don't understand science and technology, and can't help with much, so I'll just send some money over."
His daughter, Tokugawa Yukino, had been learning government affairs from her father recently. Hearing this instruction, she picked up a pen, twirled it between her fingers, and asked, "How much do we send?"
"All of it."
"All of what?"
Tokugawa Shingen smiled and said, "No matter how much money is in the treasury, leave enough for food and water, and send everything else to Ryosuke. To develop rockets, to fight aliens, the Land of Wind can't contribute much manpower, so…"
"We'll contribute money."
Yukino lowered her head and pondered for half a second, then suddenly reacted. She lifted her head toward the vast starry sky.
"You want to invest in space development?!"
"That's right."
Tokugawa Shingen's eyes lit up.
Yukino truly was his smartest daughter, she immediately grasped his logic.
Tokugawa Yukino analyzed, "Right now is a very crucial point in time. Aliens have appeared, aeronautical technology has broken through. With Ryosuke's ambition, he won't be satisfied with the shinobi world."
"The whole starry sky is a resource. Only by investing ahead of time can we gain the initiative."
"If Ryosuke wins, we get to ride the same ship."
"If Ryosuke loses, we only lose money and resources, but to aliens, human wealth is meaningless, so…"
Yukino met her father's gaze, "We lose nothing."
As long as the Otsutsuki want to rule rather than completely exterminate, they'll need human administrators, Tokugawa's family could continue serving them.
If the Otsutsuki want racial extermination, then the Tokugawa family will have contributed appropriately for humanity. If they fail and die, they accept that.
Alive, they gain opportunity, power, resources.
Dead, they gain reputation.
Tokugawa Shingen grinned, "This is called investment theory."
Yukino nodded, transmitted the order, then glanced at her watch, "We've already placed our bet; five hours remain until the 'opening.'"
In five hours, Kaitian-2 would launch.
Even though it was thousands of kilometers away, Tokugawa Yukino couldn't help feeling a trace of nervousness.
Was it because of the massive amount of money bet?
Or because she was thinking of that charming man?
After thinking for a long time, Yukino let out a soft sigh, "After spending so much money… he should at least let me touch him a few times."
"Cough!"
Her father, who was drinking water, sprayed out a mouthful of tea.
———
Time remaining until the launch of Kaitian-2: One hour and thirty-seven minutes.
With the help of the staff, Hidan changed into the spacesuit.
He didn't like this kind of "protective" thing, he felt it made him seem not devout enough to Jashin.
But small impatience ruins big plans.
To connect with the Otsutsuki on the moon as soon as possible, Hidan had no choice but to suppress his annoyance. When he was fully suited up, he opened his mouth and said, "Thank you."
The voice was gentle and pleasant, like a young girl.
This was a necessary disguise for infiltration.
Since they knew a small slug would be operating the clone, the White Snake Sage adjusted Hidan's vocal chords in advance, making him produce the Slug Sage's distinctive "clip" voice, to confuse surveillance.
Because the Research Institute's clone bodies had only bodies, no backside, no head, to appear normal, Hidan's clone body was filled with other materials, and a mask was simply placed on the face.
Hidan also wore a mask.
The result was… Flawless.
Of course it was.
This was the ultimate product of the White Snake Sage + Hidan's real body + Orochimaru's successor Yakushi Kabuto + White Zetsu cells.
As long as Ryosuke didn't use Ripple-sensing, normal equipment would never detect anything wrong.
There was even a small slug inside Hidan's body, but the moment it entered, it was deceived by a preset biological simulation signal, as if caught in a genjutsu. The small slug couldn't transmit any valid information outside.
After another round of preparations and inspections, when Hidan walked toward Kaitian-2, less than half an hour remained before launch.
Ryosuke waited beneath the rocket, shaking hands one by one with the Hidan clones about to board, offering blessings to each brave little slug.
Their mission this time was to go to the moon, investigate the attitudes of other Otsutsuki clansmen, and help formulate the next strategic step.
The enemy was the Otsutsuki, an alien race with interstellar travel abilities. If they were ambushed on the opponent's home ground, the small slugs operating the clones were guaranteed to die.
Even though he knew they were avatars of the Slug Sage, Ryosuke still appreciated their sacrifice.
Soon it was Hidan's turn.
Seeing Ryosuke reach out his hand, Hidan swallowed.
This kind of hiding and sneaking wasn't suitable for him at all. Instinctively, he met Ryosuke's eyes.
Crap!
Ryosuke's gaze sharpened.
Pa!
Their hands clasped tightly.
Hidan's heartbeat halted for half a beat. Suddenly, Ryosuke stepped forward and pulled him into a hug, speaking warmly, "If you're scared, we can switch. Don't force yourself."
Hidan had fought Ryosuke for so long, but this was the first time he'd seen Ryosuke speak with such a gentle tone. For a moment, he was actually… moved.
Fortunately, he remembered his mission and forced his voice into the small slug's clip-tone,
"Boss Ryosuke, I'm totally fine. No problem at all."
"Boss?"
Ryosuke tilted his head slightly.
But he didn't think too much about it.
A mission that was obviously a death trip, who would impersonate a small slug to go die?
That would be way too stupid.
Ryosuke patted Hidan's shoulder. "Good luck."
"Thank you."
Hidan walked into the rocket.
Twenty minutes later, amid the roar of ignition, Kaitian-2 soared upward, piercing the atmosphere and heading toward the vast universe.
The moon was 380,000 kilometers away from the shinobi world. Kaitian-2 was expected to fly for sixty-three hours, land on the lunar surface, and after landing, the five small-slug pilots would exit the capsule and make contact with the Otsutsuki.
The mission control center was extremely busy. Everyone worked day and night, and when too tired, they drank specially made coffee with pearl jam mixed in to forcibly stay awake.
Ryosuke didn't disturb the researchers. He sat in a corner of the mission control center, quietly watching the screen showing the rocket's feedback visuals.
On the screen, the moon grew larger and larger, until it filled the entire field of view.
"Mission Control, this is Kaitian-2. We are about to begin lunar landing." The small slug's voice echoed through the center.
Ryosuke lifted his head, staring at the screen.
Not only him, the entire mission control center fell silent. Many people subconsciously held their breath, waiting for this historic moment.
A flash of emerald-green light appeared.
The next second, the spacecraft exploded violently.
A fireball bloomed above the moon.
But the signal wasn't lost.
Based on the previous explosion experience, and the danger of this mission, the research team reinforced the signal transmission device.
Among the wreckage and twisted metal, a damaged camera was still working.
Otsutsuki Toneri slowly floated up from the moon, surveyed the area, then reached into the cabin and grabbed the only person still alive.
He gripped Hidan's throat, coldly staring at the camera that was adjusting focus and locking onto his face.
"I can feel the abundant life force in his body."
Toneri removed Hidan's mask and brought him close to the camera, "Ryosuke, to you… he must be someone very important, right?"
Ryosuke, "?"
Toneri let out a cold laugh, twisted Hidan's neck with force, and tossed him aside casually. Pointing at the camera, he said, "The next one is you, Ryosuke."
"Twenty-four hours from now, I will descend upon the shinobi world, and then…"
"I will kill you."
Toneri's fingertip shot out another emerald beam.
The camera exploded, the signal was lost, and the mission control center's big screen went pitch black.
A dead silence.
Everyone turned their heads toward the corner of the room.
Ryosuke stood.
"Then… let's go to war."
His tone was steady and firm, without a trace of wavering.
The hearts of everyone, who had been overwhelmed by the destruction of Kaitian-2 and Toneri's declaration of invasion, steadied instantly.
Yes, war.
Maybe they couldn't beat aliens in aerospace technology. Maybe the historical weight behind the Otsutsuki was undeniable. But, when it came to war, who had they ever feared?
The Research Institute became busy again. At the same time, news of war spread through countless phone calls to every major nation and every shinobi village. The entire world entered wartime readiness.
Mei Terumi walked over and said, "I didn't expect it would still come to this… Your condition, can you fight?"
On Ryosuke's skin, faint purple traces were still visible.
His Past Projection training hadn't finished. He still couldn't use Ripple or natural energy freely.
Although he still had many substitutes, his combat power would be greatly affected.
Ryosuke smiled. "Don't worry. Just a small issue."
He looked at the screen again, researchers were replaying the footage of Toneri killing again and again. "More importantly… I'm curious, was that the real Hidan just now?"
"On the moon, can Jashin's power still protect him?"
Before Ryosuke finished speaking, a pair of hands cupped his face, forcibly shifting his gaze.
Mei Terumi took a step closer, meeting his eyes, and said seriously, "Don't try to change the subject."
"Ryosuke, don't shoulder everything alone. I already said it, whether you succeed or fail, I'll walk with you."
"So, no matter aliens or Otsutsuki, I'll face them together with you."
Ryosuke stared blankly at the woman in front of him. Even though they were indoors, it felt like a strand of summer breeze brushed across his cheek.
Her eyes shimmered with a captivating brightness, so much like the beam of light standing in the Past Projection.
In this moment, it felt like their hearts resonated, synchronized like past and memory.
Ryosuke nodded fiercely and smiled, "I understand. Against these alien devils, forget honor or rules, I'll call every brother I can, and we'll righteously gang-beat him together."
Mei Terumi gave a thumbs up.
"When the time comes, you smash your cup as the signal, I'll be the first one rushing up, hacking that alien bastard into pieces."
When Mei Terumi left, Ryosuke slowly withdrew his smile.
The words sounded bold, but the battlefield contained far too many variables, especially since the opponent was the ancient and mysterious Otsutsuki clan. Let alone his dragon-vein condition, even at full power, Ryosuke wasn't certain of victory.
However…
"I can't show it."
Ryosuke looked at the busy crowd.
He was everyone's pillar. If he panicked, the world would fall apart.
As for the dragon-vein's influence, he did have one last trump card, something he had never used... the Stone Mask.
Ryosuke took out the Stone Mask from the ghost room.
"The Past Projection absorbed most of the pressure. If I use the Stone Mask, with my current physical strength, I can definitely recover instantly, and I won't become a vampire. The Stone Mask is just a strengthening tool; it enhances, it doesn't corrupt. But…"
His genes would be contaminated.
The Stone Mask was created by Kars. If one day Ryosuke wanted to challenge and kill Kars, his genes must never be contaminated by it.
Ryosuke threw the Stone Mask back into the ghost room.
"One step at a time."
"If Toneri is truly strong beyond imagination… then I'll just have to stop being human."
Compared to a trial mission, compared to an opportunity to boost Ripple, this world was Ryosuke's true foundation.
Having decided, Ryosuke closed his eyes and re-entered the River of Time to cultivate the Past Projection.
———
There was no time to mourn Hidan.
Next to appear was Otsutsuki Toneri.
Obito, the White Snake Sage, and Yakushi Kabuto were frantically preparing for war. As for who they were helping?
Of course, they were helping the righteous alien lord defeat the evil tyranny of Ryosuke.
Not only the cult of Jashin and the White Snake faction, Konoha, Suna, Iwa, and Kiri all entered wartime readiness. All missions were suspended, waiting for war to erupt.
But in the Hidden Cloud Village, things were a little different.
Aside from entering wartime readiness like the other villages, Killer B carried a suitcase to the deepest level of the Cloud Hospital.
Fourth Raikage A lay on a hospital bed.
He had been unconscious for three years.
Losing his memory discs and ninjutsu discs, if he were an ordinary person, three years would have left his muscles atrophied, his body exhausted, and he would've died.
But A's body was too strong. With medical ninjutsu assisting, there was no major issue.
"There's still a bit of time left, but since Ryosuke already agreed…"
Killer B took out two discs from the suitcase. Even though he could wield swords for a whole day without trembling, at this moment, even holding two discs was difficult.
He took a deep breath and placed the discs into A's chest.
"Wake up, bro."
The discs fused into A's body. A few seconds later, A's eyes snapped open as he roared, "Ryosuke..."
The roar abruptly stopped.
A stared at Killer B right in front of him.
"B, why… why have you aged so much? What happened?!"
"It's a long story…"
Killer B explained the basic situation to his brother, three years asleep, Ryosuke conquering the world, aliens about to invade, and so on.
At the end, Killer B asked, "Big bro, I'm planning to help Ryosuke fight the aliens. You coming?"
"What kind of bullshit is that?!"
A clenched his fist and punched B in the chest. "No matter how hateful Ryosuke is, he's still human… Help me up, we're going to kill the Otsutsuki!"
Time quietly passed in anticipation.
Until a certain moment, Toneri appeared above a city in the Land of Fire. The pedestrians stopped and looked up at the man floating over the city.
"Yes… just like that. Look up to me. And then…"
"Die."
Toneri waved his hand. A beam of green light fell into the city and exploded violently, turning tens of kilometers of streets into ruins, killing tens of thousands.
He wasn't killing to vent anger, he was simply using this method to inform Ryosuke, 'I'm here. Come die.'
In Toneri's view, with his status, how could he go see Ryosuke?
Naturally, Ryosuke should come pay respects to him.
Toneri waited a few seconds. Seeing Ryosuke still hadn't shown up, several more green beams descended. With each explosion, countless deaths followed. As he listened to the sound of death, Toneri smiled.
Suddenly, he saw a school.
In the campus, a blond kid was pulling a short-haired girl, running out of a collapsing teaching building.
The déjà vu darkened Toneri's face.
He released a green sphere between his hands, which condensed into a terrifying tornado, rushing toward the school, intending to kill the blond brat along with the thousands of children and teachers inside.
The tornado roared toward them. It was about to sweep up the two children... A distant thunderclap rang out.
The next second, a hand gently rested on the children's shoulders.
The tornado collapsed instantly.
As if suppressed by an even greater force.
Ryosuke's gaze landed on Toneri, "You want to kill me?"