While Kumogakure was still reeling in fear and confusion over the complete annihilation of their Raikage, Jinchūriki, and main forces, two "Shinigami," Sōmi and Sasori, arrived at their doorstep.
What followed was a nightmare for the Cloud shinobi.
They soon realized, to their horror, that even their ultimate weapon—the Chakra Cannon—was utterly ineffective against the two intruders.
The duo strolled through the village as if taking a leisurely walk, harvesting lives with ease. No matter how powerful the "elite shinobi" were, they were reduced to nothing more than a wave of the hand.
To make matters worse, the red-haired youth absorbed the corpses of every "Lightning Release master" into his eyes.
As for the other man, the one with the Rinnegan, he was even more terrifying—he could directly extract a person's soul and "read" it.
Under such methods, the so-called secrets of Kumogakure were completely laid bare.
It didn't take long for the Cloud shinobi to understand the pair's true objective: the researchers in their scientific department.
Yet, even knowing this, the Cloud shinobi had no means to stop them. They could only watch helplessly as the researchers were taken away in their entirety.
And that wasn't the end of it. The two even dug up the graves of past Raikage, taking their remains as well.
Despite their anger and hatred, the Cloud shinobi dared not voice their grievances. Those who had tried to resist or speak out were already reduced to unrecognizable piles of flesh.
A few days later.
In the Land of Earth, within a hidden underground laboratory in Otogakure.
With the complete destruction of Konohagakure, spies from various nations had naturally disappeared as well, leaving no one to report back any information.
Even Kumogakure, which had been thoroughly ravaged, had no time for self-pity. They were consumed with fear, wondering when Sunagakure's forces would invade the Land of Lightning and take over their territory entirely.
And then, what would become of the remaining Cloud shinobi?
This uncertainty weighed especially heavily on the female shinobi of Kumogakure, particularly those of striking beauty. They worried about their future and even considered desperate measures—offering themselves to the enemy in hopes of assassinating Sunagakure's leaders and rebuilding their village.
It had to be said that someone like Samui, with her assets, could indeed "nurture" a man quite effectively.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru, having received no real-time information, was still pondering the potential impact of Madara Uchiha's resurrection on the balance of power in the shinobi world.
"Hmm?"
"Who are you..."
Orochimaru's steps came to an abrupt halt as he noticed a terrifying figure ahead. Yet, there was something strangely familiar about the figure's presence.
"Orochimaru-senpai!"
From the shadows, Sōmi stepped forward, emerging into Orochimaru's view.
"Ah..."
"So it's you, Sōmi-kun..."
"I heard that you..."
"Hm?! What are you—"
Orochimaru's face initially lit up with a sly smile upon recognizing Sōmi. But in the next instant, his expression changed drastically.
"Kotoamatsukami!"
In Orochimaru's vision, the pattern in one of Sōmi's Mangekyō Sharingan suddenly expanded.
The image of a crimson blood moon, overlaid with a pure black square and curved lines, burned itself into Orochimaru's very soul. He stood frozen, staring blankly ahead.
For a long moment, he remained motionless.
When Orochimaru finally regained his senses, his face returned to its initial sly smile. However, by this point, Sōmi could rest assured that Orochimaru was now one of his "own."
"Unexpected..."
"So even your body has been replaced with one of Zetsu's..."
Sōmi scrutinized Orochimaru, easily uncovering the truth.
Orochimaru's current body was clearly a specially modified Zetsu body, brimming with vitality.
It was evident that Orochimaru's next research goal was to combine Shin Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan with Hashirama's cells to cultivate a new pair of Rinnegan.
Unfortunately for him, the moment he encountered Sōmi, his deeper consciousness had already been completely rewritten.
Even with Hashirama's cells, Orochimaru stood no chance against Sōmi's Six Paths-level power and Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Heh heh!"
"My modest accomplishments are nothing compared to the progress you've made, Sōmi-kun..."
Orochimaru chuckled softly, seemingly unaware of what had just transpired.
Such was the terrifying power of Kotoamatsukami—the target remained completely oblivious to the changes in their own thoughts.
"Orochimaru-senpai."
"Please relocate to Sunagakure to continue your research."
"Our village has already prepared a fully equipped laboratory and experienced assistants for you."
A faintly sinister smile played on Sōmi's lips as he spoke.
Yet, no matter what strange requests Sōmi made, Orochimaru would no longer oppose him. Instead, he would follow Sōmi's commands with unwavering loyalty—even if it meant abandoning his lifelong obsession with immortality.
When news of Konohagakure's destruction and the bloodbath in Kumogakure finally spread across the shinobi world, the leaders of both major and minor nations alike turned their fearful gazes toward Sunagakure.
They now understood that the balance of power in the shinobi world had shifted entirely into Sunagakure's hands.
And they certainly did not believe that Sōmi—the man who had turned all of Konohagakure into a barren wasteland—was anything like the First Hokage, a "messenger of peace" who would bow to the leaders of other villages.
Since his rise to fame in the shinobi world, Sōmi had always been known for his ruthless methods.
Upon confirming the fall of Konohagakure, the Third Kazekage was so elated that he spent an entire night in "intimate discussion" with Karin's mother.
A dozen days later, in the Kazekage's office.
The Third Kazekage was brimming with excitement as he looked at Sōmi and Sasori.
However, Sōmi's expression was somewhat peculiar as he addressed his teacher:
"Sensei..."
"You must have been 'overworking' yourself lately..."
"At your age, you really ought to take better care of your health!"
The Third Kazekage's face turned awkward, his complexion pale and his eyes ringed with dark circles. His bloodshot eyes betrayed his exhaustion.
"Ahem! Ahem!"
The Third Kazekage quickly coughed twice and changed the subject:
"You brat!"
"If you hadn't disappeared for so many years..."
"I wouldn't have had to work myself to the bone!"
"This time, no matter what you say, you're not running away again. I'm passing the title of Kazekage to you tomorrow!"
Despite his apparent fatigue, the Third Kazekage's energy was unwavering.
"Heh..."
"I agree!"
"Once you take over as Kazekage, Sōmi, it'll be time for me to retire as well..."
"This old body of mine..."
"Deserves a peaceful life at last..."
Ebizō, seated nearby and sipping tea, chimed in with a cheerful laugh.
"To think..."
"So much has changed in the shinobi world while we were away..."
"Sasori, you and your friend managed to destroy Konohagakure with just the two of you..."
Across from Ebizō sat a red-haired man with a serene gaze, who looked at Sasori with a mixture of admiration and warmth before turning his attention to Sōmi.
"As long as our family is together, that's all that matters..."
Beside Sasori sat a gentle, elegant woman with long, dark brown hair. She held Sasori's hand tightly, savoring the warmth of her son's touch.
"Father... Mother..."
"But Grandma..."
Sasori's eyes glimmered with emotion. After all these years, the promise he and Sōmi had made as children had finally been fulfilled.
Though Sasori now appeared to be a man in his twenties, he felt like a child again in the presence of his parents. The warmth of familial love welled up within him, soothing the arid wasteland of his heart.
"Sigh..."
"It was her choice..."
Ebizō's gaze grew melancholic. Though he had witnessed countless deaths in his lifetime, the loss of his sister still filled him with sorrow.
"Enough, enough!"
"From now on, Sunagakure will never again see the tragedy of shinobi torn apart by war!"
"We will unify the shinobi world and usher in an era of everlasting peace!"
"Every family will live in harmony and happiness!"
The Third Kazekage, sensing the somber mood, quickly shifted the topic.
Though Sasori's parents were Kage Level shinobi, their strength seemed insignificant compared to Sōmi's overwhelming power. In this new era, individual numbers no longer mattered.
Perhaps only someone like Sōmi could dominate the shinobi world and bring about true peace.
"Sōmi..."
"What should we do about the other nations' shinobi villages and civilians?"
After a moment of hesitation, the Third Kazekage asked with a serious expression.
"Sensei..."
"Do you truly believe force will win their loyalty?"
"Their cultures and ideologies differ from ours. Even if we suppress them temporarily with power, if we cannot truly 'assimilate' them through shared beliefs, they will eventually become a threat to our nation's stability..."
"And with the existence of 'Edo Tensei labor,' we no longer need low-level workers..."
Though Sōmi was pouring tea for Ebizō, his words were chilling to the core.
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