With Sōmi and Sasori joining the battlefield and Yagura meeting his demise, the outcome of the four battlefronts of Sunagakure was no longer in doubt. The remaining Kirigakure ninja were swiftly cleared out.
However, the Third Kazekage did not rush to counterattack or expel the remaining Kirigakure forces within the Land of Wind. Instead, he dispatched the main forces to the borders and coastlines, preparing to capture all the Kirigakure ninja in one fell swoop and completely crush their main army.
Outside Sunagakure, in a location where corpses were piled up, numerous unconscious and bound Kirigakure ninja lay scattered.
The Third Kazekage stood nearby, his eyes filled with astonishment as he gazed at the intricate formation on the ground. Within the circular array, two characters were inscribed: "Impure" (秽) and "Earth" (土).
At the center of the formation, drawn with black runes, lay a fallen Kirigakure ninja.
"Ah!"
As dirt fragments began to coil around the ninja's body, his eyes suddenly shot open, and a piercing scream escaped his mouth, as if he were enduring the torture of a thousand insects devouring his heart.
Moments later.
When the dirt fragments that had enveloped the ninja's body dispersed, the Third Kazekage discovered that the ninja had transformed into someone entirely different.
However, the eyes of this new figure were lifeless and pitch-black. His torso and face were marked with cracks, resembling a broken doll stitched back together.
"So this is... the Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation technique?"
The Third Kazekage stared in stunned silence as the "corpse" began to perform various ninjutsu and move with remarkable agility. Apart from its wooden expression, everything else was identical to when the individual was alive.
"Infinite Chakra..."
"A technique like this actually exists in the world…"
Even as the Kazekage, witnessing this strategic-level Forbidden Technique for the first time left him murmuring in awe.
He understood all too well what this army of undead—bereft of self-awareness, possessing infinite Chakra, unafraid of death, and only slightly weaker than in life—could mean.
Only now did the Kazekage fully grasp why Sōmi had instructed him to preserve the corpses of all strong Kirigakure ninja and capture as many alive as possible.
If such an undead army were to be formed on a large scale...
"Sensei," Sōmi said, continuing to perform the Impure World Reincarnation technique while explaining to the Kazekage. "I don't think the purpose of this Forbidden Technique is to create an army that appears 'invincible.'"
"The strength of the reincarnated depends directly on the original strength of the living individual and the 'quality of the sacrifice.'"
"If the enemy possesses powerful sealing experts, a weak Impure World army would be essentially useless and would only waste a 'valuable soul.'"
"So, Sensei," Sōmi continued, "I believe the greatest use for these individuals is to treat them as 'machines.'"
"They don't tire, their stamina is infinite, and with the appropriate sealing techniques set in place, wouldn't they function as highly intelligent 'perpetual motion machines'?"
"If the entirety of the Land of Wind's production labor were handed over to these perpetual motion machines, wouldn't it free our citizens from the burden of labor?"
"In doing so, we could rapidly lift our people out of poverty and stride toward a prosperous society of universal wealth and happiness."
Sōmi's expression was calm, as if he were merely proposing an ordinary suggestion, showing no hint of guilt for manipulating the souls of the dead.
"This..."
The Third Kazekage's eyes widened in shock. He turned to look at Sōmi, who stood before the glowing black rune-inscribed sealing formation. The flying dirt fragments carried a faint, rotten stench.
"Of course," Sōmi added, "if we were to completely free civilians from labor, corresponding measures would need to be implemented to support this shift."
"After all, this would be an enormous undertaking. Satisfying the spiritual needs of the populace is far more challenging than addressing their material demands."
Sōmi continued speaking without turning his head.
Before long, the unconscious Kirigakure ninja had all been reincarnated.
Clap!
With a single clap of Sōmi's hand, wooden coffins materialized out of thin air, enclosing the reincarnated puppets. Once sealed, the coffins sank back into the ground.
"Regarding the future development of the Land of Wind, I'll leave my suggestions here for now. The remaining Kirigakure ninja are in your hands, Sensei."
"Sasori and I must head out to confront Uchiha Madara and the other Tailed Beasts."
"We'll discuss the details further when we return."
Standing beside the Kazekage, Sōmi smiled as he spoke.
"Sōmi..."
"I'll say it again..."
"Having a disciple like you is my honor, and it is the honor of the entire village!"
The Kazekage's voice was filled with emotion as memories of Sōmi's childhood flashed through his mind.
He had never imagined that this disciple of his would grow to such heights...
His enemies were now the legendary Uchiha Madara.
His strength was enough to shake the entire shinobi world!
"Sōmi!"
"You must come back alive!"
"This time, don't disappear on me again. I've kept the position of Fourth Kazekage open for you!"
The Kazekage patted Sōmi's shoulder, his heart swelling with pride and admiration for his disciple.
"Don't worry, Sensei!" Sōmi replied confidently. "Just watch—watch as Sunagakure becomes the strongest in the shinobi world!"
A confident smile spread across Sōmi's face.
Before long.
Sasori, having shared a heartfelt moment with Granny Chiyo, joined Sōmi. The two stood atop a golden cloud, speeding toward the border between the Lands of Lightning and Fire.
The last time Sōmi participated in the wars of these two nations, he had laid the foundation for their rise as great powers.
This time, he would ensure that Sunagakure ascended to the pinnacle of the shinobi world!
As Sōmi and Sasori departed from the village, a striking figure in a revealing backless outfit stood silently at the village gates. She gazed at the golden trail fading into the distance.
She had believed that by mastering the Yin Seal and developing Swift Release, she had earned the right to stand by his side and fight alongside him.
But in the end, it was Sasori who accompanied him...
And who was that alluring woman who had been with Sōmi earlier?
He had been missing for so long, yet he still found time to fool around?
In terms of figure and appearance, how did she lose to that woman?!
High above on the golden cloud, Sōmi had no time to concern himself with the musings of a "resentful woman."
His mind was preoccupied with only one thing: Uchiha Madara.
However, even if Madara had returned to this timeline, his speed would undoubtedly lag behind Sōmi's.
After all, Madara's Rinnegan lacked spatial abilities, whereas Sasori's Kamui Mangekyō Sharingan was top-tier in temporal and spatial traversal.
As for Minato Namikaze, Sōmi speculated that the old toad would have left him a contingency plan. It was unlikely that Minato had been caught in the temporal chaos.
Now, it was a race against time.
The more Tailed Beasts one possessed, the greater the advantage!
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