The border of the Land of Lightning.
Ōnoki stood on a cliff, gazing at the distant battlefield where thick smoke billowed, his face ashen.
"Defeated again."
Ōnoki clenched his teeth. "This is the fifth time. The fifth time."
Five days earlier, an allied force of forty thousand had been assembled, made up of elites from the Land of Earth, the Land of Lightning, and more than a dozen smaller countries.
It was the largest allied army in the history of the Ninja World.
Their goal was simple. To stop the Land of Fire from expanding any further.
But reality struck them mercilessly.
In less than three days, the forty thousand allied shinobi were completely routed.
"How many troops does the Land of Fire actually have?"
Ōnoki crushed the stone in his hand. "They absorbed the Land of Wind and the Land of Water. Their forces should be spread thin."
"So why is it that in every battle, they always outnumber us?"
The Fourth Raikage remained silent for a moment.
"It's not about numbers."
He lifted his head, dread filling his eyes. "It's that person."
"Chiba Arashi."
Before the two could continue, a panicked shout echoed from the distance.
"Enemy attack."
"The Land of Fire is attacking."
Ōnoki and the Fourth Raikage turned at the same time.
Countless black dots appeared on the horizon.
It was the Land of Fire's aerial unit.
At the front stood Fugaku.
And at the very forefront of the formation was a figure in white.
Arashi.
He stood suspended in the air, with no visible chakra fluctuations, yet the pressure he exuded was suffocating.
"Ōnoki. Raikage."
Arashi's voice was calm, but it resonated across the entire battlefield.
"Surrender."
"You cannot win this war."
Ōnoki clenched his teeth. "In your dreams."
"Earth Release. Super Light Weight Rock Jutsu."
He shot into the sky, hands forming seals.
"Dust Release. Atomic Dismantling Jutsu."
A beam of white light shot straight toward Arashi.
It was a terrifying jutsu capable of reducing anything it touched to atoms.
Arashi did not move.
He simply raised one hand.
Boom.
The Dust Release dissipated three meters in front of his palm.
"What?"
Ōnoki's eyes widened in disbelief.
That was his strongest jutsu. How could it be stopped so easily?
"My turn," Arashi said softly.
The next instant, his eyes transformed.
Rinne Sharingan.
Nine tomoe rotated slowly within them.
"Planetary Devastation."
A massive black sphere formed in the sky.
Terrifying gravitational force erupted instantly.
Ōnoki and the Fourth Raikage were dragged toward it, their bodies completely out of their control.
"No."
They struggled desperately, chakra flaring wildly.
But before that overwhelming gravity, their resistance was meaningless.
"It's over."
Arashi waved his hand.
The black sphere sealed shut.
The two Kage vanished within it.
The battlefield fell into dead silence.
Everyone stared blankly, their minds empty.
Two Kage. Just like that.
"Surrender," Arashi said again. "I don't want to kill any more people."
The allied shinobi looked at one another.
Then someone dropped their weapon.
Then another.
Then another.
Soon, the sound of weapons hitting the ground echoed across the battlefield.
They had surrendered.
One month later.
Amegakure.
This was the Akatsuki's base, and the hiding place of Nagato and Konan.
Arashi stood at the entrance to Amegakure, with Fugaku and Hyuga Hiashi behind him.
"Daimyo-sama," Fugaku said quietly. "According to our intelligence, Nagato is here."
"He possesses the Rinnegan. His strength cannot be underestimated."
Arashi nodded.
"I know."
He stepped into the village.
Rain continued to fall, countless droplets striking the ground with a steady rustle.
"They've come."
At the top of the tallest tower, Nagato opened his eyes.
"They finally arrived."
Konan stood beside him, her expression solemn.
"Nagato, we…"
"There's no need to say anything," Nagato said, shaking his head. "From the moment he destroyed Obito and Black Zetsu, I knew this day would come."
"But I won't surrender without a fight."
He stood up, the Rinnegan glowing with determination.
"Even if I die, I want him to know."
"The power of the Rinnegan isn't something you can dismiss so easily."
As his words fell, a figure appeared atop the tower.
Arashi.
He stood there, quietly looking at Nagato.
"The Rinnegan," Arashi said calmly. "The power of the Sage of Six Paths."
"Unfortunately, in your hands, not even thirty percent of its power has been drawn out."
Nagato clenched his teeth. "You want my eyes?"
"No," Arashi said, shaking his head. "I came to tell you something."
"This world has reached the moment of unification."
"Your pain. Your hatred. Your dreams."
"It's time for them to end."
Nagato froze.
"End?"
He suddenly laughed. "You think unifying the Ninja World will end war?"
"As long as people exist, war will never disappear."
Arashi did not argue.
"You're right."
"But at least I can reduce meaningless sacrifice."
"And tragedies like yours."
Nagato fell silent.
After a moment, he slowly raised his hand.
"Shinra Tensei."
A terrifying repulsive force erupted, shaking the entire village.
Arashi raised his hand.
Boom.
The forces collided, space itself distorting.
"Is that all?" Arashi said softly.
In the next instant, he vanished.
Before Nagato could react, Arashi was already in front of him.
"Too slow."
Arashi placed a hand on Nagato's shoulder.
A terrifying force surged into Nagato's body.
His strength vanished instantly. His chakra was completely sealed.
"Nagato."
Konan cried out, rushing forward.
Fugaku and Hiashi blocked her path.
"Don't move," Fugaku said coldly. "Or you die."
Konan clenched her teeth, unwillingness filling her eyes.
Arashi looked at Nagato and slowly extended his hand.
"The Rinnegan. I'll take it."
His finger touched Nagato's eye.
Nagato closed his eyes, bracing himself.
Then he heard a calm voice.
"Forget it."
Arashi withdrew his hand.
"Keep them."
Nagato opened his eyes in disbelief.
"Why?"
Arashi turned away.
"Because I don't need them."
His eyes transformed.
Rinne Sharingan.
Nine tomoe rotated slowly, radiating power far beyond the Rinnegan.
Nagato was completely stunned.
What kind of eyes were these?
"This world is already mine," Arashi said calmly. "Your Rinnegan has no value to me."
"Live well, Nagato."
"See what kind of world this unified era becomes."
He turned and left.
Fugaku and Hiashi followed.
Only Nagato and Konan remained, frozen in place.
After a long silence, Nagato smiled bitterly.
"Konan."
"We lost."
"Completely."
Konan helped him up in silence.
"What now?"
Nagato looked in the direction Arashi had left.
"We watch."
"We see if he can truly change this world."
Three months later.
Konoha. Hokage Building.
Arashi sat in the Hokage's seat, holding a document.
It was the first decree issued after the unification of the Ninja World.
"From today onward."
His voice, amplified by chakra, spread throughout the world.
"The Five Great Nations cease to exist."
"All ninja villages fall under the authority of the Land of Fire."
"The Ninja World is officially unified."
The world erupted.
Some cheered. Some cried. Some remained silent.
But regardless of how they felt, peace had finally arrived.
Arashi set the document down and looked out the window.
Sunlight bathed the streets of Konoha as children ran past, laughing.
This was the world he wanted.
A world without war. Without hatred.
"Daimyo-sama," Fugaku said as he entered. "All decrees have been issued."
"What's next?" Fugaku asked.
Arashi smiled. "Next is enjoying life."
"After all, I am the Daimyo."
He walked to the window.
"Fugaku, do you think this world will truly become better?"
Fugaku was silent for a moment.
"It will."
"Because you are here."
Arashi smiled faintly.
"I hope so."
He looked toward the distant sky, anticipation in his eyes.
The new era of the Ninja World had begun.
(The End.)