"Gods?"
The turbulent heavens made quite a few Iwagakure Ninja show traces of fear. In this era, there had long been no powerful individuals capable of stirring the winds and clouds through their own strength.
Thus, faced with Alucard and the others' overwhelming presence and their claim to be gods, they instinctively did not refute them.
If they were not gods, how could they possess such terrifying might?
This was no less than divine majesty, as oppressive as a prison!
Yet one person here was not so easily fooled.
Likewise past middle age and gray-haired, compared to Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had grown increasingly weak and indecisive, the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki remained vigorous in his old age, his spirit undiminished from his youth.
Most importantly, the young Ōnoki had personally witnessed the might of a god!
Though it had been the God of Shinobi.
Once bitten, twice shy. Thus, he did not panic, but calmly asked, "Then what do you want?"
Moryo was about to demand the Shrine Maiden, but Jashin gave him no such chance and immediately began his resounding proclamation. "We are the rulers of the world, the faith of all living things, immortal gods!"
Alucard continued, "This world has gone far too long without faith. The lofty Throne of Heaven has stood vacant for far too long as well. It is time to end this unbearable vacancy. From this day onward, we shall stand above the heavens!"
"Stand above the heavens? Rulers of the world? The faith of all living things? Immortal gods?"
The more Ōnoki listened, the more something felt wrong. Why did these so-called gods seem so different from the God of Shinobi of old?
Thus, he cautiously probed again, "You mean..."
"Of the Five Nations, we want ninety-nine!"
"This..."
Ōnoki's heart trembled.
So they had