Kasumi Shiko: "Like Hashirama Senju's True Several Thousand Hands or something."
Kasumi Shiko: "Then tell them: 'Gentlemen, I love peace. Whoever dares incite war becomes my enemy.'"
Kasumi Shiko: "Even if they don't want to be unified, at least while you're alive, it's impossible for them to wage war against other Hidden Villages, right?"
Kasumi Shiko: "The initial peace in the ninja world was because of Hashirama Senju's and Madara Uchiha's power, wasn't it?"
If he was merely pursuing simple peace, with Minato Namikaze's current strength, he could completely intimidate everyone. While he lived, she believed no Hidden Village would dare provoke him.
Ordinary Group Leader: "That's certainly a method. After all, Minato doesn't have to worry about lifespan anymore."
Ordinary Group Leader: "It's just that this can only prevent large-scale wars—like between Hidden Villages—but can't stop small-scale assassinations."
Ordinary Group Leader: "Infinite Tsukuyomi is more direct."
Lighthouse Richest Man: "To put it bluntly, what you want to do still depends on you. We're merely offering suggestions."
Lighthouse Richest Man: "Besides, you don't need to focus on the entire ninja world right now. Just developing Konoha properly would be enough."
Lighthouse Richest Man: "Those whose loyalty to you has already maxed out will cooperate with all your reforms of Konoha."
Golden Flash: "I'll make good use of this time."
Uchiha Dance King: "Your concerns are completely unnecessary."
Uchiha Dance King: "If Infinite Tsukuyomi operated as a genjutsu, it would inevitably fail due to chakra, time, mental energy, and a series of other reasons."
Uchiha Dance King: "But if it modifies memories and inputs loyalty commands, then—like Shisui Uchiha's Kotoamatsukami—it's a permanent modification."
Uchiha Dance King: "Even if they become stronger later, it's useless."
Uchiha Dance King: "Unless they themselves realize their memories have been tampered with."
Uchiha Dance King: "But even if they realize it, they can't recover their original memories. Their bodies still follow the commands given by Infinite Tsukuyomi."
At some point, the battle between Madara Uchiha and Marquis Voban had ended. Seeing Minato Namikaze's words, Madara spoke directly.
Ordinary Group Leader: "So Infinite Tsukuyomi equals Tsukuyomi plus Kotoamatsukami?"
Ordinary Group Leader: "Good heavens—I genuinely thought at first that Infinite Tsukuyomi was just a genjutsu that made everyone live in a false fantasy with no other purpose. I never imagined it had other abilities."
There was no helping it—the anime hadn't shown Infinite Tsukuyomi demonstrating abilities like this.
Uchiha Dance King: "Initially, I also thought Infinite Tsukuyomi's power was limited to that. But it's far more powerful than I believed."
Uchiha Dance King: "@Golden Flash, the path to peace is never merciful."
Uchiha Dance King: "Neither requiring lives lost nor wars fought, yet not wanting to be controlled by genjutsu—where in the world exists such a convenient thing?"
If Minato Namikaze hadn't consistently displayed such behavior, Madara would truly think him a hypocrite.
A Hokage—how could he be benevolent to this degree?
Look at the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. Look at his disciple, Hiruzen Sarutobi. Which of them didn't have eight hundred schemes in their hearts?
As for Hashirama—he was special.
Facts also proved that Hashirama's ideals could never bring peace to the ninja world.
Only in this matter did benevolence hold no meaning whatsoever.
Holy Lord: "Who won?"
Since Madara Uchiha had appeared, his battle with Marquis Voban had already concluded.
Though he already had the answer in his heart, he still had to ask.
Uchiha Dance King: "Me, of course."
Most Ancient Godslayer: "The abilities of the enhanced Tenseigan are indeed powerful."
Most Ancient Godslayer: "However, with just this level of gap, it won't take long before I can make it up."
Most Ancient Godslayer: "When that time comes, I'll return the favor."
A loss was a loss. Nothing more to say about it.
Moreover, this challenge itself had been to see just how powerful Madara Uchiha had become after enhancement.
Knowing the gap would better promote his own progress.
Progress... what a long-absent word.
Since becoming a Godslayer, he had never truly progressed.
No matter how many Heretic Gods he slew, no matter how many Authorities he obtained—he merely gained one more means of attack.
Uchiha Dance King: "Where did you get the idea that I went all out just now?"
Uchiha Dance King: "The gap between you and me now is far greater than you believe."
Uchiha Dance King: "@Fifth Division Captain, let me experience the power system of the Shinigami world. How about it?"
Fifth Division Captain: "I would be honored."
Aizen lightly adjusted his glasses, the corners of his lips curving into a faint smile.
The current Madara Uchiha had already surpassed him, reaching heights he could only look up to.
Even without battle, he deeply understood this fact.
But wasn't that more interesting?
If one's surroundings were filled only with weaklings—that would be the most tragic thing.
"Ding! Group member Uchiha Dance King has opened the Virtual Combat Arena."
"Ding! Group member Fifth Division Captain has entered the Virtual Combat Arena."
Time passed slowly.
Present-day Huaxia had essentially stabilized, forming a clear separation between cities and wilderness.
Through continuous battles, even mutant beasts with low intelligence instinctively would not approach human cities.
The mutant beasts within cities that should have been eliminated had mostly been eliminated. The rate of their appearance was far lower than during that initial period.
During this time, people had truly accepted the various crises and opportunities brought about by the Spiritual Energy Revival.
Human adaptability was strong. The despair and fear of the past had gradually been diluted. They had begun adapting to their current lives.
Work when it was time to work. Relax when it was time to relax.
Their lives seemed no different from the past.
Everyone thought such lives would continue this way. But reality and people's imaginations were always different.
Beyond Earth—countless deep dimensional rifts appeared out of nowhere. Magnificent, pure streams of spiritual energy surged forth from within them as though endless.
And the vast majority of these spiritual energy streams began flowing toward Earth.
The Second Spiritual Energy Tide had been Earth's spiritual energy tide. But at that time, Earth had not borne the full spiritual energy flow. Approximately thirty percent of the spiritual energy had been transmitted through dimensional rifts to other worlds.
It was precisely because of this spiritual energy's appearance that those worlds had undergone changes.
They had "awakened."
Their awakening brought brand-new vitality to those worlds.
Whether a final radiance before death, extremes reversing, or fusion and convergence—
The Spiritual Energy Revival appeared not only on Earth but in their worlds as well.
They had received Earth's "favor"—and naturally should return this favor.
Therefore, during their own Spiritual Energy Revivals, a portion of spiritual energy was returned to Earth by them in the form of reciprocal feedback.
(End of Chapter)