The already massive Shinsuusenju, now enhanced by the golden Nine-Tails chakra, transformed into a giant golden Buddha.
This sight not only shocked the numerous Mist ninjas but also left Tobirama Senju somewhat surprised by Naruto Uzumaki's mastery of Wood Style.
It was too strong.
Even though it hadn't attacked yet, the surging chakra aura from the golden Buddha was enough to make people afraid to approach. Ordinary ninjas didn't even dare to look at it directly.
Tobirama Senju snorted, a smile appearing on his face. "I thought I had already overestimated that little guy Naruto, but I didn't expect to have still underestimated his potential..."
With Konoha's Fifth Hokage possessing such strength, Tobirama could rest assured that Konoha had a worthy successor. It also helped that Naruto was a descendant of the Uzumaki clan.
If Sasuke Uchiha were the Hokage, Tobirama would do everything in his power to pull him down from that position—not only because of Sasuke's lineage but also because his face looked so much like Uchiha Izuna's.
Inside the Mist Village, the golden Buddha slammed down a palm.
The air seemed to compress in an instant, and the resulting explosion of air sent a group of Mist ninjas flying. This was just one of its strikes, yet it held such power.
Even if these Mist ninjas didn't understand the situation, they knew from the giant Buddha's size alone that the thousands of massive hands on its back were definitely not for decoration.
If a thousand giant hands came down at once, wouldn't it destroy the entire Mist Village? The same thought rose in every Mist ninja's heart. It was impossible to block.
Chojuro anxiously looked at his subordinates, whose faces were filled with terror, and shouted, "Everyone, form the hand seals! Water Release: Water Formation Pillar!"
But there was no time.
The golden Buddha's hand slammed down violently.
Chojuro looked up, staring blankly as the golden palms descended one by one. His eyes were dazed, as if he were seeing the impending doom of the Mist Village. The airflow from the falling palms had already scattered the Mist ninjas' formation. Everyone was fleeing in panic, hoping to escape.
An ANBU ninja grabbed Chojuro's arm and urged, "Lord Chojuro, let's escape quickly!"
"We can't escape!"
Chojuro shook his head, looking sorrowfully at the surrounding Mist ninjas. He knew that under such a powerful attack, no one present could possibly escape.
At this moment, he vaguely regretted not listening to Mei Terumi's instructions. Not only had he failed to save the Fifth Mizukage, but he had also led the entire village's ninjas into a deadly situation.
How could Konoha's young Hokage be so strong?
Chojuro had never witnessed the might of the original God of Shinobi, but he believed that Naruto Uzumaki, capable of using a strange and powerful jutsu like this golden Buddha, would undoubtedly become the new God of Shinobi.
Outside the Mist Village, the rogue ninja unit had once again moved far away. They didn't dare get too close, fearing they would be caught in the giant Buddha's attack. Even though they retreated quickly, the airflow stirred up by the descending palms still blew away some of the rogue ninjas who were closer to the village.
Zabuza Momochi's eyes tightened, revealing his terror and unease. "Is that guy, Naruto Uzumaki, trying to completely destroy the entire Mist Village?"
"Hmph, a bunch of wastes who aren't even good at Water Release. Is there any use in leaving them alive?" Tobirama Senju snorted disdainfully, but then added, "Naruto's attack has already been merciful. If that woman in the Mist Village doesn't surrender within ten seconds..."
The hands behind the golden Buddha continuously extended, slapping down one after another. The entire world fell silent, with only the sound of rushing air remaining.
Even an ordinary person could see it. After this attack, the entire Mist Village would be turned into an empty space and might even become the ninja world's second Valley of the End.
"We surrender!"
A sharp female voice suddenly rang in everyone's ears.
Mei Terumi shouted with all her might, "Enough! It's enough! Lord Hokage, we surrender, to be dealt with at your discretion! All Mist ninjas, in my name as the Fifth Mizukage of the Mist, I order you to lay down your weapons and surrender to the Fifth Hokage of Konoha!"
After speaking, she was already sobbing uncontrollably. Her large, bright eyes from their first meeting were now filled with tears, which streamed down her cheeks.
Seeing this, Yamato felt a pang of sadness and couldn't help but hand her a tissue. "Lady Mizukage, let me help you wipe that..."
"..."
Mei Terumi just shook her head and cried, ignoring his words.
Following Mei's announcement of surrender, the falling golden palms came to an abrupt halt, just a few meters from the ground.
Even though Naruto stopped in time, the airflow from the palms still turned the entire Mist Village into a ruin. Whether it was tall buildings or sturdy city walls, all were completely destroyed by the force of the air.
Clang...
The sound of a ninja sword falling to the ground was heard. The surviving Mist ninjas turned to see Chojuro, who had dropped his sword. With tears welling in his eyes, he said, "Everyone, obey Lord Mizukage's order and surrender to the Fifth Hokage of Konoha!"
"..."
A group of Mist ninjas looked at each other, then up at the golden palms still paused in the air, and each one dropped their weapons. A series of clanging sounds spread throughout the village.
Seeing that Naruto had conquered the entire Mist Village, Zabuza Momochi looked at Tobirama Senju and said, "Lord Second Hokage, what does Konoha plan to do with the Mist ninjas? Do you want to support me as the Sixth Mizukage, to be a loyal ally of Konoha?"
"Hmph, you may be ugly, but you sure dream beautifully!" Tobirama sneered at Zabuza and said in a deep voice, "From now on, there will be no more 'Mist Village'! All ninjas of the Land of Water must join Konoha and accept Konoha's judgment and settlement. Otherwise, they will all be dealt with as wandering ninja!"
"You... you really want to destroy the Mist Village?" Zabuza looked at him with disbelief. He had still held a sliver of hope that Konoha would treat the Mist Village the same as the Sand Village. On the way here, Zabuza had even fantasized that after Naruto conquered the Mist, he would take Mei Terumi back to Konoha as a hostage, allowing him, the rogue ninja, to take over.
"Idiot!" Tobirama cursed. Ignoring Zabuza's ugly expression, he said one sentence that made Zabuza not dare to move. "Konoha's First, Second, and Fifth Hokage are all in the Land of Water. Do you think we came here just to support a rogue ninja?"
With three of Konoha's Hokage present, it wouldn't be difficult to sink the entire Land of Water. How could they possibly let the Land of Water and the Mist Village go?
This news was no longer hidden. Soon, others learned of it as well.
Naruto waved his hand and dispelled the True Several Thousand Hands. He looked down at the still-sobbing Mei Terumi and said softly, "Lady Mizukage, go and tally the ninjas who died in this war. After three days, if there is a single ninja whose name I do not see on the roster, I will order the execution of everyone in the entire Mist Village!"
Since war had been used, a sharp attitude had to be maintained, putting pressure on the heads of all the Mist ninjas.
If even one Mist ninja refused to surrender to Konoha, he would kill all the ninjas in the Mist Village. This was also putting the executioner's blade into Mei Terumi's hands.
For the sake of the thousands of ninjas in her village, she wouldn't mind personally killing a few die-hards, would she?
-----
Bonus:
Zabuza Momochi: Damn it, three Hokage against one Land of Water. Is this what the number one ninja village in the world does? How shameless!
Tobirama Senju: Lived too long? Want to take a shortcut to the afterlife?
Zabuza Momochi: If you weren't going to make me a puppet ruler, why did you have me come to the Mist Village?
Tobirama Senju: Just to show you...
Zabuza Momochi: ...
Tobirama Senju: This is what happens when you get other ideas!
Zabuza Momochi: ...