Chiba's decision to establish the Dawn Alliance and openly oppose Akatsuki was never a spur-of-the-moment impulse. From the very beginning, it had been a calculated move, rooted in both foresight and necessity.
First and foremost, Akatsuki was destined to become a direct threat to Kirigakure. That much had already been proven by history. Years ago, the masked man,accompanied by Pain and Konan,had infiltrated Kirigakure in search of allies, ultimately using genjutsu to control the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi. That single act had intensified the era of the Bloody Mist, pushing Kirigakure into prolonged darkness and internal slaughter. From that moment on, it was clear that Akatsuki would never truly leave Kirigakure alone.
Among them, the mysterious masked man,Uchiha Obito,was undoubtedly the core driving force. More than that, during the night of the Uchiha clan's destruction, Chiba had directly shattered Obito's plans alongside Uchiha Itachi, stripping him of every Sharingan he had intended to seize. That loss alone was enough to make Obito harbor an unrelenting hatred toward him.
Given that reality, waiting passively for Akatsuki to strike was never an option.
Preemptive action had always been Chiba's preferred method.
Since Akatsuki intended to act against Kirigakure from the shadows, Chiba chose to do the opposite,he dragged everything into the light. By exposing Akatsuki's existence, structure, and members, he forced the Five Great Nations to confront the threat together. In doing so, he not only alleviated the immediate pressure on Kirigakure, but also created a powerful deterrent. As long as the entire shinobi world was watching, Akatsuki would not dare to move recklessly.
Of course, this strategy was not limited to Akatsuki alone.
For the Five Great Nations themselves, the same logic applied.
By placing Akatsuki at the center of attention, many of the long-standing frictions and hostilities between the major villages were temporarily eased. Suspicion was redirected outward, away from one another, and toward a common enemy. And for Kirigakure, this fragile balance offered something far more valuable than territory or resources.
Time.
Chiba had absolute confidence in Kirigakure's future rise. The village's foundation was already being rebuilt, its internal rot purged, and its strength steadily accumulating. All it truly needed was time,time to grow, to stabilize, and to surpass its former self.
The looming threat of Akatsuki provided the perfect equilibrium, forcing the Five Great Nations into a rare state of cautious coexistence.
With the Dawn Alliance established, Chiba naturally assumed the position of Alliance Leader. Under his proposal, the Five Great Nations would deploy their most outstanding young elites to directly confront Akatsuki, ensuring both efficiency and long-term unity.
Kirigakure was led by Kisame Hoshigaki, a former member of Akatsuki himself. Having Akatsuki's own once-insider turned against them was, without question, the most fitting choice.
Konohagakure appointed Kakashi Hatake as its representative.
Sunagakure selected Maki.
Iwagakure chose Kitsuchi.
And Kumogakure placed Darui at the forefront.
Each of them stood at the peak of their respective generation,figures already renowned for both strength and composure, carrying the future of their villages on their shoulders.
Afterward, the Five Kage Summit continued, with numerous additional details discussed and finalized. Agreements were refined, responsibilities clarified, and the framework of the Dawn Alliance gradually solidified.
By the time everything was said and done, the dust had largely settled.
Before the Five Kage Summit officially concluded, Ōnoki once again raised, in public, the proposal of forming an alliance with Kirigakure. This time, however, Chiba did not refuse. As a result, Iwagakure and Kirigakure formally entered into an alliance, with both great villages agreeing to deepen cooperation across all fronts. Beyond strategic military coordination, this partnership extended into economic collaboration, trade routes, and commercial exchanges, laying the foundation for a long-term, mutually reinforcing relationship.
The maneuver orchestrated jointly by Ōnoki and Chiba immediately set off alarm bells for Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Yondaime Raikage, and Rasa. Each of them sensed the shift in balance and the latent danger it posed to their own positions. Yet none of them could openly interfere,no nation had the authority to dictate another village's alliances.
Thus, a new structure quietly took shape among the Five Great Nations. On one side stood the currently most powerful Kumogakure, aligned with Konohagakure and Sunagakure. On the other stood the newly allied Kirigakure and Iwagakure. Together, these forces formed a precarious three-way balance, a tripod holding up the fragile order of the shinobi world.
Paradoxically, this configuration achieved a temporary peace and stability across the entire shinobi continent. For the Five Great Nations, that alone was not necessarily a bad outcome.
With that, the Five Kage Summit officially came to an end.
This summit marked a profound turning point for the shinobi world. First was the so-called Anti-Konoha Alliance proposed by Chiba, which allowed Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure to reap immense benefits while forcing Konohagakure to relinquish a significant portion of its leverage. Among them all, Kirigakure emerged as the single greatest beneficiary.
Not only did it receive a total of 1.3 billion ryō under the guise of "friendly compensation," but Chiba also secured a portion of Hashirama's cells, along with all of Orochimaru's accumulated research data. For Kirigakure's future growth,both in strength and influence,these were priceless assets, opportunities that could not be measured by money alone.
Beyond that, Chiba established the Dawn Alliance and installed himself as its leader, uniting the forces of the Five Great Nations to counter the Akatsuki, which lurked in the shadows of the shinobi world. Finally, by forming an alliance with Ōnoki , Chiba solidified the three-way balance of power, ensuring that the world could enjoy a period of relative peace.
Through this series of calculated moves, Chiba obtained not only the wealth and resources Kirigakure desperately needed to grow, but also the most precious commodity of all,time. Everything unfolded precisely within his grasp.
Soon after, the Five Kage departed from the Land of Iron.
…
Chiba, too, left alongside Mei Terumi and Kisame Hoshigaki. Passing through the Land of Fire, he formally collected all the conditions promised during the Five Kage Summit. In addition to the 1.3 billion ryō, this included the Hashirama cells and Orochimaru's complete research archive.
Although Hiruzen Sarutobi was furious and deeply unwilling, he had no choice but to honor the agreement.
With everything secured, Chiba, Mei Terumi, and Kisame boarded a ship and began their return voyage to Kirigakure.
Mei Terumi smiled warmly. "Mizukage-sama, this can only be described as a complete victory. Not only did we obtain an enormous amount of funds, but we also acquired treasures like Hashirama's cells. Kirigakure's development will accelerate dramatically from here."
Chiba chuckled softly. "Gaining benefits without igniting another war,that's the ideal outcome. Kirigakure may have defeated Sunagakure, but if another large-scale war were to erupt now, we wouldn't be able to sustain it. A village that has only just begun to rise cannot afford such pressure."
He was stating an undeniable truth.
Before truly becoming Mizukage, Chiba had often imagined conquering rivals through relentless campaigns, sweeping aside enemies until the shinobi world was unified under a single banner. But after assuming the mantle of leadership, he finally grasped just how tangled and complex reality was. To wage a war required staggering manpower, finances, resources, logistics, and,most importantly,the unity of the people. Every step demanded immense effort. It was never as simple as he had once envisioned.
After returning to Kirigakure, Chiba immediately funneled the massive influx of funds into the village's expansion and development. In a remarkably short span of time, the scale of Kirigakure grew to five or six times its size from before Chiba became Mizukage. Once all new construction was fully completed, its total area would likely exceed its former size by more than tenfold.
Of course, such expansion required more than money alone,it demanded people.
Thanks to Chiba's favorable policies toward major clans, numerous shinobi families from across the Land of Water migrated to Kirigakure. Among them were the Kaguya Clan, the Tsuchigumo Clan, branches of the Yuki Clan, and others. The Uchiha Clan was also included.
Combined with Kirigakure's existing clans,the Hōzuki Clan, the Karatachi Clan, and others,the village entered a period of unprecedented prosperity.
At the same time, Chiba vigorously developed economic trade. Large-scale cooperation was established with the Land of Rainbows and the Land of Craftsmen, while commercial exchanges with Iwagakure flourished due to their alliance. With the Five Great Villages maintaining a surface-level peace after the summit, Kirigakure was able to grow at astonishing speed, unimpeded by sudden outbreaks of war.
The Ninja Academy expanded continuously, enrolling increasing numbers of children from the major clans. A new generation of Kirigakure shinobi was steadily being cultivated.
…
Yet beyond all these grand affairs, the area where Chiba invested the most effort and attention was the research of forbidden techniques.
At this point, Chiba possessed what could be called two of the greatest treasures in the entire Naruto world: the Sharingan and Hashirama's cells,the ultimate powers of the Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan.
These would become the cornerstone of both his own strength and Kirigakure's future might.
The first focus of Chiba's research was Hashirama's cells.
They were, after all, the foremost artifact in the Naruto world.
With them, Uchiha Obito could activate Kamui from his Mangekyō Sharingan almost without restraint. Shimura Danzō could seamlessly control an entire arm filled with Sharingan. With them, Uchiha Shisui's Kotoamatsukami saw its cooldown reduced from decades to mere minutes. Orochimaru used them to reinforce Edo Tensei bindings so powerful that even Senju Tobirama, its creator, could not break free. Yamato transformed from an unknown civilian into an elite jōnin capable of Wood Release. And Uchiha Madara,upon obtaining them,awakened the Rinnegan and gained the power of the Six Paths.
Yet it was precisely because Hashirama's cells were so powerful that transplantation and fusion carried immense risk.
To create a single Yamato, Konohagakure paid the price of more than sixty shinobi lives,a loss no village could ignore. Even someone as formidable as Shimura Danzō faced the danger of being devoured by Hashirama's cells whenever his chakra was depleted. And even Madara, godlike as he was, developed a face resembling Senju Hashirama on his chest after the fusion.
This was due to the terrifying vitality of Hashirama's cells,cells that remained active even after death.
They were both a divine boon and a devouring demon, the sharpest of double-edged swords.
What Chiba intended to do was blunt the blade,removing its lethal drawbacks while preserving its overwhelming benefits.
At this moment, Chiba possessed every conceivable advantage. He had the original Hashirama cells, Orochimaru's extensive research on them and on Wood Release, deep knowledge of the Naruto world itself, and the support of his own analytical system. No one was better suited for this research than he was.
In barely a week, Chiba achieved his first breakthrough.
He named it Hashirama Cell Dilution Formula No. 1.
In essence, it was a simplified, safer version of Hashirama's cells,a "youth edition." By diluting the cells' terrifying vitality, their power became less dangerous and manageable for the vast majority of shinobi. If compatibility was confirmed, the dosage could then be gradually increased to unlock greater power.
Chiba tested it on himself first.
The first injection posed no risk whatsoever. Even by the tenth dose, he only began to feel slight pressure,yet the effect was already equivalent to a full Hashirama cell transplant. He fused with the power flawlessly.
This proved that his physique could fully accommodate Hashirama's cells.
As a result, Chiba's vitality and chakra reserves skyrocketed, and even his physical strength increased dramatically. He was confident that, if he continued down this path, awakening Wood Release would be only a matter of time.
Afterward, Chiba promoted Hashirama Cell Dilution Formula No. 1 throughout Kirigakure.
The first to receive it were mature, powerful shinobi. Naturally, due to differences in physique, bloodline, and strength, each person's level of compatibility varied.
Kisame Hoshigaki, for instance, already possessed monstrous chakra reserves. The formula did little to increase that aspect, but his vitality and raw strength improved immensely. Mei Terumi, on the other hand, experienced the opposite effect. After seven or eight doses, her chakra reserves surged. Her Boil Release and Lava Release,already formidable,saw their scale, range, and destructive power increase by nearly tenfold.
In one leap, Mei Terumi became an absolute powerhouse among Kage-level shinobi.
As the trials expanded, the vast majority of elite shinobi saw explosive growth in strength. Among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Mangetsu Hōzuki, Zabuza Momochi, and Ringo Ameyuri each received varying amounts, all achieving significant enhancements. Veteran figures such as Genji, Gonbee, and Nakichi also gained increased vitality and chakra.
The two jinchūriki, Utakata and Mūru, experienced not only massive boosts in power, but also vastly improved control over their Tailed Beasts,unsurprising, given that Senju Hashirama himself had been one of the greatest masters of tailed beast control.
Ao, Biwa, Yakura, and other elite shinobi also successfully fused with Hashirama's power.
Only after all of this did Chiba begin extending the trials to the younger generation.
Kimimaro Kaguya, Suigetsu Hōzuki, Hotaru of the Tsuchigumo Clan, Haku of the Yuki Clan, Chōjūrō, and many others,all received the blessing of Hashirama's cells.
Kirigakure's rise was no longer a matter of speculation. It had become an unstoppable reality.
Both potential and raw power had been raised by a significant margin.
For the time being, Chiba had not promoted the integration on a large scale among the major clans. On one hand, those clans still needed to prove their loyalty beyond doubt; on the other, many of them possessed their own unique kekkei genkai. Whether fusing Hashirama's cells with such bloodline abilities might trigger unforeseen mutations remained an open question,one that demanded far more thorough research before any reckless expansion could be considered.
Among all of them, the most sensitive issue was undoubtedly the Uchiha clan.
They had never been natives of the Land of Water to begin with. Even after joining Kirigakure, and despite the Mizukage showing them no discrimination whatsoever,while the village's civilians and shinobi alike coexisted with them peacefully,the reality was that too little time had passed. Absolute loyalty was not something anyone could confirm so easily.
The Uchiha themselves harbored no complaints over this decision.
Firstly, no other clan had received large-scale empowerment from Hashirama's cells either. Secondly, the Mizukage's caution,and Kirigakure's overall considerations,were entirely reasonable. If their positions were reversed, they knew they would have made the same choice.
Still.
There was one matter that genuinely piqued Chiba's curiosity.
That matter was Uchiha Sasuke.
As the reincarnation of Indra, if Sasuke were to fuse with the cells and chakra of the previous generation's Asura reincarnation, would that be enough to awaken the Rinnegan and step into the power of the Six Paths?
Chiba was inclined to believe it would not.
Firstly, the previous generation of Asura and Indra reincarnations differed fundamentally from the current one. Secondly, the power of those two reincarnations had already merged once before,culminating in the awakening of the Rinnegan within Uchiha Madara. Thirdly, even if such an outcome were theoretically possible, Sasuke's current strength was far too weak. Awakening the power of the Six Paths would inevitably require an exceedingly long span of time.
After all, even Madara,after obtaining Hashirama Senju's cells,had only awakened the Rinnegan when he was already old and standing on the brink of death. Compared to that, what chance did Uchiha Sasuke truly have?
Regardless.
The present-day Kirigakure could almost be described as a village where everyone was empowered by Hashirama's cells.
Its overall strength had risen to a level that was nothing short of unimaginable.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Each 50 Power Stones collected unlocks a new chapter! Your support not only helps the story continue but also allows us to create extra content for dedicated readers.
Additionally, exclusive content and bonus chapters are available on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ImmortalEmperor
Join now and help shape the future of the story while enjoying special rewards!