Rule the Land of Rain! Obtain Wood Release! Secretary Tsunade!

The rain had stopped.

Hanzo's headless corpse knelt in the mud, while Tobirama stood before it.

After a moment of silence across the battlefield, cheers erupted with enough force to overturn the heavens.

"We won!"

"Hanzo is dead! We won!"

The Konoha ninja went crazy.

Some threw their ninja tools into the sky. Some fell to their knees and wept. Even more looked toward the youth standing atop the ruins of the tower, their eyes burning with the fervor of believers beholding a True God.

"Lord Tobirama!"

"Lord Tobirama!"

No one knew who started it, but the shouts of thousands merged into a roaring torrent.

At that moment, neither the Hokage nor the Legendary Sannin meant anything to them.

Only Tobirama Uchiha was their sole faith.

Tobirama stood high above them, the wind whipping his clothes with a loud flutter.

He raised a hand and pressed it downward.

Swish!

The cheers of thousands ceased instantly. Their discipline was even stricter than that of a regular army.

That was prestige.

"Everyone."

Tobirama spoke.

"This victory was not mine alone."

"It was bought with the lives of those brothers lying in the mud, and fought for with the blood of every one of you!"

"Every single one of you is a hero!"

With those words, everyone's emotions ignited.

Many Konoha ninja had reddened eyes. Too many people had died in this war, and every one of them had been a friend, classmate, or family member to someone.

Now, Tobirama had mentioned them and immediately affirmed their status as heroes. It made those who had survived feel overwhelmed with emotion.

Then Tobirama's tone shifted. His scarlet eyes turned toward the remaining Rain Ninja huddled in the corner, trembling in fear.

"Rain Ninja, listen up."

"Hanzo is dead. The era that brought you war and suffering is over."

"Now, you have two choices."

Tobirama held up two fingers.

"First, pick up your weapons and fight to the death like men."

"Second, lay down your weapons. From today onward, you will be people of Konoha."

"Konoha will not discriminate against you or plunder you. Your families will be protected, your children will be able to attend school, and you will have the same right as Konoha's citizens to live under the sun!"

"I, Tobirama Uchiha, guarantee this in the name of the Uchiha Clan!"

As soon as his words fell—

Clang.

The first kunai fell to the ground.

Then came the second, the third...

The sound of weapons hitting the ground became one continuous chorus.

The Rain Ninja who had worn numb expressions and prepared to fight to the bitter end now covered their faces, knelt on the ground, and wailed uncontrollably.

They did not want war.

They only wanted to survive. They wanted enough food to eat.

What Hanzo could not give them, the youth before them had given them.

"I... surrender!"

"We surrender!"

A few diehard loyalists still tried to resist. The moment they shouted about avenging Lord Hanzo, their throats were slit by nearby companions or Konoha ninja.

The tide of events could not be stopped.

In just half a day—

Hanzo's flag was torn down from the tallest building in Amegakure, replaced by Konoha's Mark of Fire.

The Ninja World was shaken!

Those four words were no longer enough to describe the reactions of the major nations.

It was practically a magnitude-ten earthquake!

Land of Lightning, Kumogakure.

Bang!!

The Third Raikage's priceless desk was smashed to pieces with a single punch.

"What did you say?"

"The Land of Rain is gone?"

The Third Raikage's eyes widened. His chest heaved violently as Lightning Release Chakra crackled wildly across his body.

How long had the war even lasted?

Less than a year!

They had thought it would be a prolonged war, but Konoha had produced a monster and simply bulldozed through everything.

"Father! We can't wait any longer!"

Ai paced anxiously nearby. "Konoha swallowed the Land of Rain. Their resources, population, and territory will all skyrocket! If they finish digesting it, will Kumogakure still have any room to survive in the Ninja World?"

"We have to fight! Strike with the entire army before they've gained a firm foothold!"

The Third Raikage took a deep breath, his gaze turning as savage as a wolf's.

"Send the order!"

"Dodai will lead the troops. Gather every elite we have!"

"Target the Land of Fire border! Hit them hard! We cannot let Konoha feast alone!"

Land of Earth, Iwagakure.

Ōnoki floated in the air, his expression equally grim.

"Tobirama Uchiha..."

"It seems this old man still underestimated that brat."

"Not only did he kill Hanzo, he also annexed the Land of Rain... His boldness and strength are probably already close to Uchiha Madara's."

"Lord Tsuchikage, what should we do?" Akatsuchi asked from nearby.

"What should we do? What else? Deal with it!"

Ōnoki gritted his teeth. "Join forces with Sunagakure! And Kumogakure! This time, we must crush Konoha!"

"Tell Roshi and Han to stop hiding their strength. Get them both to the front lines!"

An emotion called "the fear" spread among the upper ranks of every major nation.

Konoha was too strong.

So strong that it had shattered the balance.

The original three-way war had instantly become a life-or-death battle where everyone ganged up on Konoha.

Amegakure, highest tower, leader's office.

This had once been the place where Hanzo issued his orders. Now, it had become Tobirama's temporary base.

Tobirama sat in a broad leather chair, his feet propped on the desk as he closed his eyes in comfort.

"System, settle the rewards."

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the epic achievement: Kill Hanzo!]

[Congratulations to the host for completing the national achievement: Destroy a Nation (Annex the Land of Rain)!]

[Calculating rewards... Critical hit triggered!]

[Rewards obtained:]

1. Sage Body (perfect grade, 100% fusion rate)!

2. Kekkei Genkai · Wood Release (includes the complete set of ninjutsu such as Deep Forest Emergence, True Several Thousand Hands, and more)!

3. Sage Mode · Shikkotsu Forest/Ryūchi Cave/Mount Myoboku (three-in-one perfect Sage Mode, instant activation, no side effects)!

Boom!

An unimaginably immense surge of life force erupted within Tobirama's body.

If fusing with Healthy Itachi and Nine-Tails Chakra had turned his chakra reserves into an ocean—

Then this life force had directly turned him into an immortal body.

Every cell in his body cheered and divided.

All exhaustion was swept away.

The faint chill brought by using the Mangekyo was instantly neutralized by the warm Yang Release Chakra.

Yin and Yang became one!

Myriad Manifestations!

Tobirama suddenly opened his eyes.

In that instant, his aura changed.

It was no longer merely sharp. It now possessed a profound weight, a divinity that seemed capable of embracing all things.

He raised his hand.

A tender green sapling emerged from his palm and instantly grew into a sturdy wooden branch.

Wood Release!

"Hahahaha!"

Tobirama could not stop himself from laughing.

"That old bastard Hanzo called himself a Demigod, but he was really just a giant experience pack."

"Killing a fake god dropped gear fit for a True God!"

"This haul was insane! I hit the jackpot!"

Now, he was—

Susanoo in his left hand, True Several Thousand Hands in his right.

It was like forcibly stitching Uchiha Madara and Hashirama Senju together.

Forget the current Ninja World. Even if Uchiha Madara himself showed up, Tobirama would dare to test his strength against him.

"The current me..."

"Can probably truly be called the God of Shinobi."

Just as Tobirama immersed himself in the thrill of invincibility—

The office door was pushed open.

"What are you laughing about? I could hear that perverted laugh of yours from miles away."

Tsunade walked in.

She had changed out of her bloodstained combat uniform and into a simple gray turtleneck sweater, paired with fitted ninja trousers that outlined her breathtaking curves.

She held a thick stack of documents in her arms.

"How's the situation outside?"

Tobirama withdrew his Wood Release and looked at her with a smile.

"What else could it be?"

Tsunade threw the documents onto the desk, slumped gracelessly onto the sofa, and rubbed her temples.

"Jiraiya and Orochimaru went to wipe out the disobedient Rain Ninja resistance forces around the area."

"They killed some and captured some."

"Now all of Amegakure is a complete mess. Supplies, wounded placement, prisoner management... it's all been dumped on my head."

Tsunade's face was full of resentment.

"You're obviously the supreme commander, but I'm the one doing all the dirty, exhausting work."

"I came here to fight, not to be an accountant!"

Seeing her lazy appearance, mixed with a hint of coquettish complaint, something stirred in Tobirama's heart.

He stood and walked behind Tsunade.

His slender fingers rested on her temples and gently massaged them.

The pressure was perfect, and there was even a trace of Yang Release Chakra in it. It felt so good that Tsunade could not help letting out a soft moan.

"Mmm... A little more to the left... Yes, right there..."

"Feels good, doesn't it?"

Tobirama leaned close to her ear and chuckled softly.

"Teacher Tsunade, capable people should do more work."

"I'm still young, after all, and lack experience. I need you to keep a handle on the bigger picture."

"Besides..."

Tobirama's fingers slid down her cheek and lightly pinched her collagen-filled face.

"Your current position is my personal assistant."

"In other words..."

"You're my secretary."

"From today onward, Teacher Tsunade..."

Tobirama deliberately drew out his final words, his tone carrying a trace of teasing:

"A secretary takes care of things when there's work, and when there isn't... ahem."

Tsunade's eyes flew open, and her face instantly flushed to the tips of her ears.

She slapped Tobirama's hand away and shot him an annoyed glare.

"You little brat! What the hell is going through that head of yours?!"

"A secretary?"

"Believe it or not, I'll tear this whole office down with one punch!"

Though her words were fierce, there wasn't a trace of killing intent in her eyes—only coy reproach.

"Go ahead and tear it down."

Tobirama took the opportunity to grab her hand and kiss it against his lips.

"If you tear it down, we'll just move somewhere else."

"After all, the entire Land of Rain belongs to us now."

"You can work wherever you want."

Tsunade pulled her hand back, her heart racing.

This brat was getting more and more brazen.

He used to call her teacher, but now he was openly teasing her like she was his little wife.

The key was...

She didn't actually dislike it at all. She even felt a little... expectant?

"Hmph... smooth talker."

Tsunade haughtily turned her head away and picked up a document to hide her face, concealing her fluster.

"Get to work already!"

"Ōnoki and the Raikage are bound to make a move. We don't have much time."

Tobirama smiled at the sight of her crimson ears and sat back down in the large chair.

"Don't worry, my dear secretary."

"No matter who comes."

"I'll make sure they... never leave."