Ryun hung up the phone and then began to think. Coming back to life? It wasn't impossible. His own Samsara Eye, or the Rinne Tensei technique of the Rinnegan, could achieve it.
But why the Third Raikage? How did he come back to life? His heart was disintegrated. With the current technology level in the shinobi world, an artificial heart replacement was simply impossible. So, the Third Raikage's revival was...
Wait! Ryun's eyes lit up. A heart replacement, an organ. That meant something had replaced the Third Raikage's heart organ.
The only things capable of that, besides the mass-produced White Zetsu and that Tobi fellow in the future, was another being: Black Zetsu!
That's right, Black Zetsu! Thinking of it that way, everything made sense. Black Zetsu had possessed the Third Raikage!
The Third Raikage's body had now become a breeding ground for an Otsutsuki, and he himself had become a tool for Black Zetsu's plan to save his mother.
Ryun sucked in a cold breath. "Black Zetsu, Black Zetsu, as expected of you. As long as you aren't completely dead, even with just a breath left, you will work to realize your goal of saving your mother! Heh, truly admirable!"
He had to admit, Ryun felt a degree of admiration for Black Zetsu. To save his mother, waiting for thousands of years, lurking for decades, playing the subordinate, it really was tough for him!
After figuring this out, Ryun couldn't help but sneer coldly. "Third Raikage, I hope after this experience of death and rebirth, you can behave yourself!"
Then he returned to the drinking party, his expression adjusted to be gentle and composed. The Kiri-nin and Konoha-nin at the party saw this and relaxed, continuing to toast and drink.
Uchiha Izuna was somewhat curious. "Grandson, what news did you hear just now? It actually made you lose your composure like that."
Although Uchiha Madara didn't speak, he also looked at Ryun with full of curiosity, waiting for his answer.
Ryun smiled. "Someone pulled a, came back to life after dying. Isn't that worth paying attention to?"
"Back to life? Who?" Uchiha Madara couldn't help but ask, because this was truly shocking.
"The Third Raikage, A. I heard his heart was even disintegrated, yet he can still come back to life. Tsk tsk, speaking of which, Great Grandfather, if I'm not mistaken, it's Black Zetsu."
"That guy who claimed to be the manifestation of your will." Ryun's eyes held a smile as he looked at Uchiha Madara. Madara's mouth twitched.
"Stop making fun of your great grandfather! Anyway, how should we handle this matter? Do you have any ideas, Ryun?" Uchiha Madara quickly changed the subject.
A manifestation of his will? Like hell! He was so handsome, that black blob, a manifestation of his will? Ridiculous.
Mainly, back then, Madara hadn't become Hokage, had lost his brother, and learned about the Infinite Tsukuyomi, so he didn't think carefully about it.
Now, he had long since realized that everything about Black Zetsu was purposeful. It was never a manifestation of his will!
Ryun smiled. "Not for now. When the time comes, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, the cooperation between Black Zetsu and the Third Raikage doesn't pose an immediate threat to us."
Seeing this, Madara didn't ask further. Izuna fell into deep thought.
A cold light shone in Ryun's eyes. Black Zetsu, sooner or later, he would make him pay the price! Ryun drained his glass of wine in one gulp and looked at the moon.
Konoha Village
After Nara Luming learned about the scale and the entire process of this great shinobi war, he couldn't help but suck in a cold breath.
After not taking action for eight years, Ryun's power had actually grown to such an extent. He single-handedly annihilated nearly 8000 people and severely wounded the Third Raikage.
After receiving the news, he had his son, Nara Shikaku, handle the office affairs, while he went to inform the Hokage's wife and the entire village.
After eight years of training, the current Nara Shikaku was already fully capable of handling Nara Luming's work. But Luming, feeling sorry for his son and not wanting him to be so busy all day, had not retired and worked alongside his son.
Nara Luming came to the Hokage Uchiha Ryun's villa. Immediately, an Anbu appeared. "Halt."
Nara Luming nodded, then took out the battle report. "Please deliver this battle report to Lady Tsunade. Tell her Konoha has achieved a great victory, the Hokage is safe and sound, and is expected to return to the village tomorrow!"
The Anbu ninja nodded, his face showing joy. "Yes!"
Nara Luming nodded and left the villa. After he left, the Anbu ninja knocked on the door. "Lady Tsunade, a battle report! The Hokage has quelled the conflict, is safe and sound, and is expected to return to the village tomorrow!"
Hearing the voice, Tsunade slowly got up from the sofa and walked slowly to the door. She opened it. The Anbu ninja bowed, keeping his head down, and handed over the report with both hands.
"Thank you for your hard work," Tsunade said with a smile.
"It's no trouble, it's what an Anbu ninja should do!" After saying that, the Anbu ninja disappeared.
Tsunade closed the door and returned to the sofa, opening the envelope and reading it.
She wasn't just looking at how many people Ryun had killed or what achievements he had made. She was checking to see if Ryun had been injured in this battle, and if it was serious.
Seeing that Ryun was not injured and that his chakra reserves and ocular power had not been depleted, the corners of her mouth turned up in a sweet smile.
"Really good! It seems my husband remembered what I said! He's about to be a father, he can't be charging at the front like before!" Tsunade said with a smile, stroking her swollen belly.
She lifted her head and looked out the window. She really hoped her husband would come back soon. Being alone at home, although she had no worries about food or clothing, was still so boring.
Caixu Village
Late at night, Ryun summoned Uchiha Madara, Namikaze Minato, Uchiha Izuna, and Sarutobi Shinnosuke to discuss matters in his tent.
"Let's hear it. This time, how much war reparations should we demand." Ryun smiled as he looked at the others.
Uchiha Madara had no interest in these things. He didn't speak, but sat on a stool, propping his chin on his hand. He didn't like money. He had no interest in money. He never touched money!
Uchiha Izuna stroked his chin, thinking. "Compensation for the families of fallen shinobi, compensation for destroyed buildings in the villages under our jurisdiction, compensation for the families of deceased villagers, compensation for emotional distress... I estimate around two billion!"
As soon as the number two billion was mentioned, everyone present shuddered. Damn, that much money? Namikaze Minato and Sarutobi Shinnosuke had never seen that much in their lives!
Ryun shook his head. "Grandfather, you are still too kind. What can two billion do? Now Kumo's effective forces are nearly exhausted. They probably only have three or four thousand ninja left in the village. Even asking for another two billion wouldn't be a problem."
"If we don't make them bleed, they'll think Konoha is easy to bully." Ryun said calmly.
When it came to enemies, he didn't care about their village's economic situation or financial pressure. If you invaded, and you failed, then pay up!
No need for, your few pleas for mercy are no match for the compensation brought by real gold and silver!
"But, Ryun, have you considered whether they would even pay four billion? After all, they just fought a big war with Iwagakure and suffered heavy losses too." Uchiha Izuna frowned.
The two billion he asked for was already the limit, a limit that would make them hurt but not drive them to psychological collapse.
"They will pay. Otherwise, tomorrow, Kumogakure can disappear from the map of the shinobi world. Compared to death, what does money matter?" Ryun stood up, looked at his grandfather, and smiled.
Hearing this, Izuna's mouth twitched. Well now, who did this unscrupulous grandson of his take after? He wasn't like his big brother or himself at all.
The two younger ones, Namikaze Minato and Sarutobi Shinnosuke, were only here to learn. When Minato took over, they would need to consider these things too.
"Alright, this matter is settled. Tomorrow, Minato, Great Grandfather, and I will go to negotiate. Right at their doorstep. As for the camp here, Grandfather, I'll need you to strengthen the defenses!" Ryun said with a smile.
Uchiha Izuna said, "Don't worry, leave this place to me."
Ryun nodded. "Now, everyone go rest. Great Grandfather, Minato, wake up on time at 7:30 tomorrow morning. Let's aim to be there by 8, so they can enjoy their breakfast a little more."
"Are you sure we're not going to spoil their appetite?" Minato thought to himself, but he didn't mind. After all, whether Kumogakure was doing well or not, what did it have to do with Konoha?
Ever since Minato understood Ryun's deeper meaning, his personality had changed. It wasn't that all-loving nature anymore, but rather protecting his own village was enough. As for the life or death of other villages, it had nothing to do with him!
After Ryun finished speaking, everyone headed towards their own tents. After the war, the drinking party, and the victory celebration, everyone fell asleep quickly.
The next day, early morning
Ryun woke up on time and washed up. By the time he finished, Uchiha Madara and Namikaze Minato were already waiting for him outside the tent!
He opened the tent flap and looked over, finding Minato sparring hand-to-hand with Uchiha Madara. He couldn't help but bring a small stool from the tent and sat down to watch.
Uchiha Madara stood in place, looking at Namikaze Minato, a smile on his lips. "You make the first move."
Namikaze Minato nodded slightly, then threw a Flying Thunder God kunai at Uchiha Madara. Madara smiled, sidestepped, and caught the Flying Thunder God kunai.
As a result, Minato's figure vanished and appeared behind Uchiha Madara.
"Rasengan!" Wind attribute chakra began to gather and compress. A small blue sphere formed in Minato's hand, heading straight for Uchiha Madara's neck.
Uchiha Madara's Sharingan moved to the corner of his left eye, then the corner of his mouth turned up. He used a Body Flicker and appeared in the air above Minato, followed by a kick!
Bam! Minato used a Substitution Jutsu. His body turned into a wooden log, which was kicked away!
Minato's figure appeared not far away, sweating profusely. Just one second earlier, and he would have been kicked flying!
Uchiha Madara's Body Flicker was simply faster than his Flying Thunder God. If not for his sixth sense warning him of danger, making him instinctively use the Substitution Jutsu, he would have been kicked down by Madara just now.
"Very good intuition, kid. Your talent is indeed high!" Uchiha Madara's lips curled up, a look of fighting spirit in his eyes as he looked at Namikaze Minato.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📖 Like the story? Read 120 chapters ahead!
🔗 patreon.com/atomelectron
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━