The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, stared at the village hidden in the mist, nearly suffering a heart attack on the spot.
His aging back couldn't handle it—he collapsed immediately from the shock.
Just one slap to the ground had jolted his injuries again, and now he lay in agony on a stretcher.
"Deidara… I won't stop you from choosing your own path. I can even forgive you for trying to capture a Tailed Beast," he groaned through gritted teeth.
"But why… why do you want to take control of all of us?!"
Among the younger generation of Iwagakure, the only shinobi who had ever satisfied Ōnoki's expectations—was Deidara.
No one could rival his ninjutsu prowess.
If he hadn't defected, he would have unquestionably become the next Tsuchikage.
"Old man, your vision ends here. That's why you can't see beyond your own nose," Deidara snapped.
"Don't start lecturing me about art again. Don't think I don't know—you just want to preserve the old ways and destroy anything that threatens them!"
He looked at the fuming Ōnoki and smiled—calm, cold, and utterly dismissive.
"You really don't get it, do you? After seeing Hokage and Raikage both surrender, how can you not understand?"
"I now pursue the art of explosions… to serve the gods."
"Your ignorance prevents you from feeling the greatness of divinity."
"That—that is true, eternal art."
"If I hadn't respected you just a little, do you really think you'd still be alive?"
Deidara's eyes gleamed with a fanatical light.
Everyone who looked at him trembled.
This lunatic… was more unhinged than ever.
No one dared speak up.
Everyone feared being used as a "sacrifice" for one of his divine explosions.
Yes, that was the first thing that came to mind when they heard about sacrificial offerings—detonations.
Seeing Ōnoki faint from sheer anger, Deidara curled his lip and turned away, barking orders for the village to begin construction on an altar. He also instructed his team to transport the Two-Tailed Beast back.
Kurotsuchi stared after him and asked, "Deidara, are you really joining them? If that doctrine spreads, isn't our village finished?"
"You just don't understand. This is true peace. Even I can't go against the will of God... Mm."
He paused, then added casually, "But don't worry, once you experience the enlightenment of sacrifice, you'll understand."
Kurotsuchi felt light-headed.
It was over.
Everything generations had built—ruined.
Meanwhile, things were even more intense in Sunagakure, the Village Hidden in the Sand.
There, a bloody revolution was underway.
With Gaara's return, the purge began.
Anyone who showed dissent—was executed.
Even elders were not spared.
One by one, they were buried beneath the desert sands by Gaara's own hand.
"You betrayed us… Communicated with outsiders… Killed the heroes of our village…" Gaara said coldly.
"I hate that I didn't eliminate you all sooner."
One condemnation after another echoed through the streets.
But Gaara didn't waver.
With a single hand gesture, he crushed the rebels beneath his sand.
Moments later, blood seeped up through the grains.
One of the village guards standing nearby felt his heart jolt.
"I gave them plenty of time," Gaara muttered.
"But they refused to cherish it. They failed to understand the divine order. In this world, only warmongers reject peace."
"You've understood well," Sasori said with a rare smile, standing beside him.
"No wonder the High Priest values you so highly."
His words were full of praise—and approval.
Both mercy and authority.
When the time comes, even old friends must be dealt with mercilessly.
That is what makes a proper divine envoy.
Gaara had submitted willingly—he could've killed everyone easily.
But for the sake of his people, he gave them two full weeks.
Still, they clung to their ignorance.
Now, they had to pay the price.
Gaara turned away and asked,
"Is the High Priest ready? We should begin construction on the altar here."
"Yes, I've already deployed a significant workforce," Sasori confirmed.
News of the five great shinobi villages falling reached the Three Great Sage Lands.
Faced with the terrifying power of Orochimaru, they didn't know what to feel.
They had originally planned to align with Konoha and gain influence over the reincarnations of Asura and Indra.
But now, everything was crumbling.
If that god descended again, the prestige of the Three Great Sage Lands would be meaningless.
Worse yet, they might become servants to humankind.
The thought sent chills down their spines.
Even Great Toad Sage began to feel uneasy.
Fukasaku and Shima knelt solemnly in front of him.
"I can no longer predict the future. Fate itself has been rewritten. The grandeur of the gods is beyond comprehension," the Great Toad Sage said.
"Instead of becoming relics of the past, it is better to decide now."
"Fukasaku, go to Jiraiya. Tell him this: if sacrifice is necessary… Mount Myōboku chooses to surrender."
The old toad's voice was heavy with resignation.
He didn't want to make such a decision—but if that deity descended again, it would not be a negotiation.
It would be a massacre.
Just days ago, he had tried to divine the future—and was immediately struck down by a flash of golden light.
He had been unconscious ever since.
Now awake, he summoned the two toads who had always interacted with the outside world—and delivered his final decree.
"Yes, Elder Sage," they said in unison.
The two toads exchanged a glance, then leapt away into the forest.
The Tailed Beasts had all been successfully gathered.
The Golem Altar was complete.
Orochimaru sat at its center and initiated the sacrificial ritual.
Citizens of the Hidden Leaf Village stood around the altar, their eyes filled with fear.
They still trembled in the presence of the infamous Orochimaru, known for his cruelty.
However, many of Konoha's former shinobi had been seduced by power.
Drawn in by the doctrine of Eternal Meditation, they gradually became passive believers.
Tsunade and Samui were chosen as sacrifices.
Upon hearing that such offerings contributed to the world's advancement through divine will, even the Hyuga Clan offered one of their own.
Yes—Hinata Hyuga, still in the early stages of her development.
"Great God of Eternity, your follower Orochimaru prays to you..."
The altar, crafted from the body of the Gedo Statue, spanned a massive area.
Tsunade, Samui, and Hinata stood at the center, not at all cramped.
Each had studied the Doctrine of Eternal Meditation and memorized the sacrificial chants.
So when Orochimaru began reciting, they joined him.
The first round of chanting passed without incident.
The world remained unchanged.
But unseen by the crowd, countless entities were observing—watching what form of divine majesty would descend in response to the loyalty of these faithful.
Far off, Jiraiya sat cross-legged, quietly staring at Tsunade's back.
He could only sigh.
The woman he had always loved…
Now offered to a god.
His heart felt like it was breaking.
At noon, all five of the Great Ninja Villages initiated their respective rituals.
However, the main altar was located in Konoha.
Suddenly, following the second sacrifice, the long-dormant Golem stirred.
A golden pattern lit up before the crowd.
Was it happening?
Jiraiya's eyes narrowed. He looked to the sky.
The blue sky—ripped apart by an invisible force.
A rumble echoed.
"What is this..."
Jiraiya murmured in disbelief, cold sweat forming across his body.
This change didn't go unnoticed.
Everyone lifted their gaze to the torn sky.
They were stunned.
Despite the dramatic vision, the believers kept praying harder, unfazed and unwavering.
Then… divine light descended upon Orochimaru.
A divine realm unfolded.
His face erupted with ecstasy.
It had come.
The world fell into darkness.
Only the radiant light of the altar remained, illuminating the surroundings.
Above, the star-strewn void gave off waves of divine clouds.
This was a terrifying realm.
Just looking into it made one feel as though they couldn't breathe.
And then, beyond the clouds—a sun unlike any they'd seen before.
One that burned with divine fire, larger by billions than the sun they knew.
Was this... the Divine Realm?
Terror overtook them.
Everyone dropped to their knees.
No one dared question God's existence now.
There was only submission.
Within the Divine Realm...
Inside the Ziwei Palace, Liu Che sat upon his divine throne, an amused expression on his face.
"Unexpected… Orochimaru's pace is faster than I thought. Not only has he collected all the Tailed Beasts, he's also unified the entire Ninja World. Not bad at all..."
He had originally estimated it would take at least three months.
But Orochimaru had used sheer force, then invoked the majesty of the gods to demand reverence.
Crude—but efficient.
Even if the depth of belief was lacking, it still worked.
Then the system notifications came.
Liu Che's expression brightened into a satisfied smile.
Ding! You have obtained 100,000 strands of Faith Energy. Ten-thousand-fold multiplier triggered...
Ding! You have received Tsunade, Daughter of Destiny. Ten-thousand-fold multiplier triggered. Returning to origin... Unlocked: Secret of Wood Release. She has become a Six-Star Goddess.
Ding! Your follower Orochimaru has activated the Golem Altar. You have received a Fragment of the Law of Immortality.
Ding! You have received Samui. Thousand-fold multiplier triggered...
Ding! You have received Hinata Hyuga, Daughter of Destiny. Ten-thousand-fold multiplier triggered. Returning to origin... Her bloodline has awakened. She now possesses the Ōtsutsuki Clan's original lineage. She has become a Seven-Star Goddess.
Ding! Bonus reward: Yin-Yang Law essence acquired due to Golem Altar usage.
Liu Che paused, blinking.
Hinata?
"She's so young... Wait—she's still a teenager, isn't she?"
But then he remembered—
The altar multiplies beauty and power.
It enhances the physical form into its most divine state.
"Ah... makes sense."
Back at the altar...
Under the divine light, the three women offered in sacrifice began to transform.
First—Tsunade.
Her Yin Seal vanished completely.
Even without ninjutsu enhancement, her skin regained the smoothness and radiance of youth.
Her vitality surged.
Next—Hinata.
The change was far more dramatic.
She evolved from a petite young girl into a graceful, mature woman.
Her body blossomed instantly—her curves prominent.
Her clothes were transformed into a flowing black-and-white haori.
Her Byakugan gleamed with newfound clarity.
Two small, pink horns sprouted from her forehead—clear signs of Ōtsutsuki lineage awakening.
Nearby, Sakura and the others watched in awe.
They were overwhelmed with envy.
"Good grief..."
"They all want to be sacrificed now!"
"This transformation... it's so tempting!"
No woman could resist it.
As for Samui, her change was more subtle.
But her power level surged dramatically—roughly the strength of a Three-Star combatant.