The Tide of the Times

"Where am I? Why haven't I entered the Infinite Tsukuyomi? And there's nothing wrong with my memories?!"

In the pure white space, a Konoha Ninja spoke nervously. He looked around and found that the surrounding crowd was dense, and almost all of them were ninjas from Konohagakure.

"Are these ninjas... all covered in Sealing Array?"

The Konoha Ninja's expression was somewhat strange.

"I didn't expect there to be so many people... The Lord Hokage has repeatedly ordered that, except for some ninjas on reconnaissance missions, no one else is allowed to enter this Genjutsu..."

Unlike the first Infinite Tsukuyomi, where everyone was easily pulled in, this second Infinite Tsukuyomi has been changed so that only ninjas with Sealing Array can enter and exit. Even entering the Genjutsu space requires expending a certain amount of Chakra.

To prevent problems, the leaders of the Major Ninja Villages naturally forbid their ninjas from entering this illusionary space. At most, they would form small teams to explore the illusionary space in advance.

Unfortunately, it seems that there aren't many ninjas who truly obey orders from their superiors. This Konoha Ninja looked around and, with just a quick mental estimate, knew that at least a third of Konoha's ninjas had already entered this illusionary space.

"This is troublesome... We're bound to be discovered! No, with so many ninjas entering together, even if we are discovered, it won't be a big problem!"

The Konoha Ninja was initially a little nervous, but he quickly realized the problem of "the law does not punish the masses" and soon regained his composure.

Once the tension subsided, confusion and bewilderment arose. How did this illusionary space turn out like this? Wasn't it just meant to give people a perfect dream? Why did everyone from Konoha end up together?

Or are these people in the space real? Or are they just a derivative of Genjutsu?

Most of the Konoha Ninja exchanged glances and remained silent. Although they had many doubts and were suspicious of each other's authenticity, their professional habits as ninjas led them to observe more rather than actually communicate.

However, among these people, there were also ninjas who made different choices. Kakashi Hatake glanced around, his eyes not showing much doubt. When Obito Uchiha reported to Minato Namikaze, he did not hide it from his good brother.

Therefore, he had long been mentally prepared for the changes in the Genjutsu space, but the fact that the illusion would become a platform connecting everyone's consciousness was still somewhat unexpected.

"I wonder if we'll run into the person who petrified Minato and Obito here. Logically speaking, if he really wanted to do something, he would have entered this Genjutsu space himself!"

Kakashi Hatake finished pondering in his mind, he suddenly felt the light dim. He quickly looked up and saw a huge figure appear in the sky.

Then, the figure waved his hand, and countless tiny halos of light fell down, instantly filling the heads of all the ninjas below with a message.

After doing all this, the figure in the sky immediately disappeared without a trace, leaving only the original group of ninjas with their eyes closed, looking at the information in their minds.

The information wasn't long; the ninjas finished reading it in just a few minutes, and then everyone truly understood the purpose of this space.

The Chakra Network Space is maintained by collecting the Chakra of ninjas who enter it, and it possesses various functions based on the Chakra they submit.

The first type is the Dream World Space like the Infinite Tsukuyomi, which can only be used for two hours each day. You can spend about three years in that space. If you use it for a long time, there will be Anti-Addiction Mode to interrupt you.

The second function is to add each other as friends and communicate face-to-face. As long as two people are willing, they can communicate face-to-face in this Chakra Network Space, even if they are thousands of miles apart in real life. Everyone in this space has the ability to teleport instantly after knowing the coordinates.

The third type is the training mode. Within this Chakra space, one can train in any skill-based manner. However, abilities like physical conditioning or Chakra Nature Transformation cannot be trained; one can only practice Taijutsu techniques, simple Chakra form transformations, or learn some knowledge.

Even so, this space can allow a ninja's strength to take shape in a short time. You have to know that the time ratio between the two sides is that one hour is equivalent to more than a year.

In addition, there are other functions, such as being able to conduct Ninjutsu research here without regard to any danger or death, and being able to conduct virtual experiments to freely simulate the environment and instruments. Of course, many functions require more Chakra, so it can be said that Chakra has become a kind of currency here.

What shocked all the ninjas the most was that they could learn all the knowledge of the Ninja World within this Genjutsu space! You must know that Vegapunk once absorbed all the knowledge of a parallel Hokage Parallel World, and it can be said that he knew all the Ninjutsu in the entire Ninja World. And now, Vegapunk released these Ninjutsu without hesitation.

As long as you make enough contributions, you can freely exchange them for Ninjutsu. Even Secret Technique Ninjutsu as Impure World Reincarnation, Lightning Release Chakra Mode, and Kekkei Tōta Dust Release Tota can be exchanged from the Genjutsu space.

While ordinary Ninjutsu is fine, these advanced Secret Technique and forbidden techniques require individual research by the ninjas. Vegapunk can also use this to gather the wisdom of all ninjas and advance the entire Chakra training system.

Kakashi Hatake opened his eyes in shock, his face showing disbelief, his heart filled with panic and excitement.

"Is this real? So many advanced Ninjutsu, and all the common types of Five Elements Ninjutsu can be exchanged for at will, and you can even directly exchange for B-Rank Ninjutsu..."

"What kind of world does this Genjutsu space intend to transform it into!?"

Kakashi Hatake was still in shock, while the ordinary ninjas at this moment were not thinking about so much; they had almost entered a state of frenzy.

"Why does Dream World Space need Anti-Addiction Mode?! I just want to stay in that space forever!"

"The techniques I cultivated in the Genjutsu space can also be simultaneously brought into the real world? That's amazing! Doesn't that mean that one night of cultivation is almost equivalent to a year of cultivation?!"

"The Magnetic Release training method? The Ultra-Light-Weight Rock Technique? These are all secret techniques passed down in Major Ninja Villages! If I learn these Ninjutsu, I can become Jonin, and even make a name for myself in the Ninja World!"

"But what are Contribution Points? They must be based on personal research and insights into Ninjutsu, and cannot be completely replaced by Chakra?"

"It's alright! Even Ninjutsu like the Flying Thunder God Technique and the Spirit Transformation Technique don't require too many Contribution Points. Just an improved version of an A-rank Ninjutsu, or a B-rank Ninjutsu that you develop yourself, will suffice!"

"Ordinary A-rank Ninjutsu can be exchanged simply by improving some C-Rank Ninjutsu effects. This is much easier than us risking our lives doing missions in the ninja village to exchange for Ninjutsu!"

Looking at the now bustling Genjutsu space, Vegapunk, who was standing invisible in the air, nodded. "That's right, all the ninjas, roll up!"

"If you don't all work together, how can we advance civilization? How can we advance the research on Chakra and Ninjutsu? And how can I accumulate more research data?!"

The next day, when a large number of ninjas and ordinary people awoke from the Genjutsu space, they brought with them information that was enough to make the leaders of all the ninja villages feel like they were going to explode.

No, to be precise, it brought not only information, but also a powerful force that would terrify the leaders of all the ninja villages!

Unless they are ninjas who are completely obsessed with the Dream World Space, they have all learned and practiced some Ninjutsu. Although their physical Chakra have not changed, their combat power has at least doubled. Some ninjas with strong Chakra and some talent can even jump Chunin Genin and chunin to Special Jonin!

In the Training Ground, the Third Hokage smoked his pipe, watching Kakashi Hatake, who transformed into a streak of lightning, darting back and forth across the Training Ground, a serious expression on his face.

Kakashi's entire body emitted a faint blue flame. This was not a simple way of stimulating his body with Lightning Release Chakra, but a secret Ninjutsu from the Kumogakure — Lightning Release Chakra Mode!

This secret Ninjutsu has always been the lifeblood of the Kumogakure. Ordinary Kumogakure usually practice a truncated version. Only the successive Raikage of the Kumogakure can practice the full version, making it a secret among secrets. However, it has now appeared in the hands of Kakashi, a Konoha Ninja.

Not only that, Kakashi casually waved his hand, and the original Chidori Ninjutsu suddenly condensed into one, the hissing sound like birdsong turned into a low buzzing sound, and on the Training Ground, several tough rock targets were instantly cut in half with just a light touch.

That's the S-Rank Ninjutsu, Chidori Raikiri, which is an evolution of the A-rank Ninjutsu Chidori!

Then, Kakashi's body suddenly crackled with lightning. The Lightning Flash that had been attached to his palm transformed into a beam of light, piercing through a huge wooden stake dozens of meters away with a hiss. With a sweeping motion, the wooden stake, which was three to five meters in diameter, was immediately cut in two.

By perfecting the transformations of Chidori to its ultimate form, another S-rank Ninjutsu was derived— Chidori Stream!

In the eyes of the Third Hokage, Kakashi has now leaped from a mediocre Jonin, whose strength was even somewhat strained due to his age, to the limit of Elite Jonin.

If it weren't for the limitations imposed by his physical development, which prevented him from developing the necessary physical attributes like strength, speed, physique, and Chakra reserves, Kakashi would already be a Kage-level Ninja!

Even if he isn't yet, in just two or three years, Kakashi will be around fifteen or sixteen years old and fully developed, will be able to reach the Kage Level. During this time, Kakashi won't even need to make any further progress in his training; as long as his body matures, that's enough.

All of this was simply because Kakashi entered Chakra Network Genjutsu space one night...

The Third Hokage frowned even more deeply, took a deep drag on his cigarette, and inwardly complained about how he had been stuck with such an unlucky era. Moreover, his chosen successor had turned to stone, and he didn't even know if he could recover.

However, by the time Kakashi stopped and stood before the Third Hokage, the Third Hokage had already regained his usual expression, smiling as he said, "You've improved quite quickly, Kakashi!"

Kakashi Hatake shook his head, his voice low and deep:

"That world is just too amazing, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to progress at this speed!"

"Lord Hokage, what should we do next?"

The Third Hokage sighed. Even though he didn't want to appear weak in front of the Konoha ninjas, he still felt somewhat powerless.

"For now, the only option is probably to lift the ban and give everyone the opportunity to enter that so-called Chakra Network Space."

"But..." Kakashi's expression turned grim. "This will definitely cause a lot of chaos! So many ninjas have become stronger through Genjutsu, what kind of impact will that have..."

"It's not just Konoha, Kakashi!"

The Third Hokage shook his head and explained his reasons for doing so:

"The Genjutsu space covers the entire world! Anyone in the world, except for Konoha, can enter this space, and everyone can draw power from it!"

"In other words, in the future, it's not just the ninjas from the Five Great Shinobi Villages; any blacksmith, farmer, or fisherman who looks like an ordinary person could potentially possess great strength!"

"If Konoha is unwilling to enter the Genjutsu space, then we will only fall behind in this competition and eventually be swallowed up by the tide of the times!"

Catching his breath and taking another drag of his cigarette, the Third Hokage continued, "Besides... even if I issue a ban now, what effect will it have?"

It should be noted that yesterday, before the Chakra Network Space had demonstrated its powerful functions and only possessed the ability to grant dreams, nearly a third of the Konoha Ninja disobeyed the Hokage's orders, secretly inscribed Sealing Array on their bodies, and then entered the Chakra Network Space.

Now that the Chakra Network has launched so many new features, its allure to everyone has increased several times over. It's easy to imagine how effective its current ban will be.

Moreover, if the Third Hokage continues to restrict his ninjas with prohibitions, those who disobey the prohibitions will grow stronger faster, while the more loyal ninjas will fall behind. As a result, the Third Hokage's control over Konoha will actually decrease.

Since that's the case, why not just open it up all at once? Firstly, it would align with the wishes of the lower-level ninjas, and secondly, it would allow us to legitimately organize a large number of ninjas to explore the Chakra Network world more thoroughly.