Boom!
With a thunderous crash, Salamander Hanzō's body was driven straight into the rubble.
The ninja once hailed as a "demigod" died just like that—effortlessly—at Nagato's hands.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Yuzuru smiled as he patted his hands and said to Pain's Deva Path, "Nicely done. If your real body had come, it would've been even easier."
The Deva Path slowly said: "Yuzuru, without you, I don't know how long it would have taken me to get my revenge."
"What do you need me to do next?"
Yuzuru brushed his chin thoughtfully. "Next, you'll begin taking over the Rain Village and then tighten your control over the entire Land of Rain."
"Once we secure the surrounding smaller nations, we can make our move on Konoha."
Hearing this, The Deva Path nodded, a flash of cold light passing through his eyes.
Compared to Salamander Hanzō, Shimura Danzō of Konoha was the one who truly deserved to die.
"All right, stay here for now. I'll send people to assist you."
After giving his instructions, Yuzuru activated Kamui and vanished.
Killing was easy—but the aftermath mattered just as much.
If he wanted to control the entire shinobi world, he needed reliable allies.
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After leaving the Land of Rain, Yuzuru made a detour through the Land of Grass and the Land of Rice Fields.
Just as he had planned, both countries were already under the firm control of the Uchiha clan.
With the Land of Frost recently captured by the Cloud shinobi, the nations under Yuzuru's effective command now numbered more than four.
"I still need to keep pushing."
Yuzuru folded up the map, unable to stop himself from sighing.
There were simply too many small nations in the shinobi world. Bringing them all under his control would not be easy.
When he returned to Kumogakure, Yuzuru went directly to the Raikage Building.
The Third Raikage was alone in his office.
Seeing Yuzuru walk in, the Raikage immediately smiled. "Yuzuru, how did things go in the Land of Rain?"
Yuzuru answered lightly, "Salamander Hanzō has been killed. As long as we send some men over, it won't take long to gain full control of the Land of Rain."
The Third Raikage couldn't help giving a thumbs-up. "Yuzuru, I'm afraid no one in this World is a match for you anymore."
Hanzō had been the one who ignited the Second Shinobi World War. The poison he used was said to be capable of killing any living creature with ease. Facing the combined assaults of Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Konoha, he had still led the Rain Village to survive through sheer power alone. That was why people honored him as a "demigod."
Only the "God of Shinobi," Hashirama Senju, surpassed him.
Yet such a man still met only one possible fate before Yuzuru—death.
Perhaps there really was no one left in this world who could match Yuzuru Uchiha.
"Raikage, the shinobi world isn't as simple as it looks. Even now, I can't guarantee victory against everyone."
The Raikage stared, wide-eyed. "Yuzuru, is there someone stronger than you?"
"There is." Yuzuru nodded. "But you don't need to worry. These individuals likely won't be actively moving around in the Ninja World in recent years."
Hidden figures like Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, the sealed Ōtsutsuki Kaguya on the moon, and the future arrival of Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki…
None of them were to be taken lightly.
"What a pity."
The Third Raikage sighed regretfully.
If possible, he truly wished he could personally face the powerful opponents Yuzuru spoke of.
Seeing his expression, Yuzuru smiled. "Raikage, I've heard Konoha has a forbidden technique called the Impure World Reincarnation Technique, which can summon the dead."
"When we fight Konoha in the future, you might get your wish to battle legends like Hashirama and Tobirama Senju."
"Really?" The Raikage's eyes lit up, his whole body trembling with excitement.
"Yuzuru, then let's attack Konoha right now!"
Seeing him so eager, Yuzuru said calmly, "That day isn't far, but before that, we should finish conquering the surrounding small nations."
The Raikage took a breath and regained his calm. "Currently, the nations under our control include the Land of Frost, the Land of Rice Fields, the Land of Grass, and the Land of Rain…"
"I suggest our next targets be the Land of Iron and the Land of Hot Water."
Yuzuru had no objections. "I'll visit both personally in a few days."
After leaving the Raikage Building, Yuzuru returned to the clan grounds.
At the academy, Fugaku Uchiha was leading the clan in their studies of cultural and ideological education.
Watching quietly for a moment, Yuzuru nodded in satisfaction.
To fully control a nation, both military conquest and ideological unity were essential.
These Uchiha clansmen would become the medium through which he seized the entire shinobi world.
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[DING! Congratulations! Your clan population has surpassed twenty thousand! Bloodline Evolution Count +1!]
Hearing the system ring in his mind, Yuzuru—still half-asleep—snapped his eyes open.
"So the clan has already surpassed twenty thousand…"
He glanced at the system panel, unable to hold back a faint smile.
With his support, the Uchiha population had been growing at a terrifying speed every year.
In just a few short years, the number had doubled.
At this rate, the hundred-thousand population requirement to unlock the next treasure chest wasn't far away.
Just thinking about it made him excited.
When the clan reached ten thousand, the golden treasure chest had granted him a power that completely transformed him.
What kind of monstrous reward awaited at a hundred thousand?
Shaking his head, Yuzuru steadied his emotions and focused on the system panel.
[Current Yotsuki Bloodline Evolution: 100%!]
[Current Uzumaki Bloodline Evolution: 100%!]
[Current Chinoike Clan Bloodline Evolution: 71%!]
[Current Magnetic Release (Sand) Evolution: 1%!]
Without hesitation, Yuzuru declared, "Evolve Magnetic Release (Sand)!"