Kaiyuan Year 5, July 1.
The sky was clear and bright that day, and pillars of light soared into the heavens from the capitals of Imperial Star's five major provinces at the same time.
The five Dimensional Gates officially opened.
Each gate stood a hundred zhang tall, its entire surface flowing with intertwined dark-blue and golden Radiance.
Runes along their edges slithered like living things. Looking inside, one could see rotating nebulae, with no way to tell what distant world lay beyond.
The governors of each province stood on the platforms before the gates, with fully prepared assault teams behind them.
The capital of the Province of Fire—Konoha City.
At Nara Shikaku's command, more than a hundred figures led by the Ino-Shika-Cho clans, along with many of Konoha's shinobi clans, vanished into the gate of light.
The capital of the Province of Water—Kirigakure City.
Karatachi Yagura stood at the forefront, flanked by the elites of the Minazuki Clan, Kaguya Clan, and Hozuki Clan. The governor drew his blade and pointed forward, and the battle-ready shinobi clans filed into the gate.
Among them, the Kaguya Clan possessed the most imposing momentum. No fewer than eight experts had awakened the Shikotsumyaku!
The capital of the Province of Wind—Sunagakure City.
Behind Pakura stood elite shinobi from Sunagakure City and warriors from the Empire's desert tribes. Yashamaru and Kakuzu, whom the Oniwaban had hired at great expense, led them inside.
The capital of the Province of Lightning—Kumogakure City.
Hanzo of the Salamander stood atop Ibuse's back, with the province's handpicked brave warriors at his side. They charged boldly into the gate of light.
The capital of the Province of Earth—Iwagakure City.
Namikaze Minato stood at the very front of the group, his golden hair gleaming beneath the sunlight. Behind him were members of the