Within the Sand Village,
The Sand shinobi were laughing at him...
Tetsuhiro hurriedly searched his memories. Why did the Land of Wind turn out like this? I remember it was because the God Tree drained this planet's life force. And there's a Dragon Vein here, too.
Could the Dragon Vein have been forced to absorb the life in this region to protect itself, triggering a chain reaction?
Looks like I'll have to subdue them by force first if I want to take this place. Having figured it out, Tetsuhiro smacked his fist into his palm and laughed.
"I understand now! How laughable that you were born here, yet don't understand the reason!"
Shamon, the guard beside Reto, couldn't stand Tetsuhiro's smug manner. He snapped, "What would an outsider like you know? This is a cursed land! We will never let you mock the people of the Land of Wind!"
Secret Technique-Thousand...
"Shamon! Let him finish." Reto, however, had picked up on something in Tetsuhiro's words and immediately stopped him.
"Hashirama, what do you think caused it?"
Tetsuhiro was surrounded by five hundred elite Sand shinobi, facing a demand for answers from the First Kazekage, Reto.
He explained his theory: the Sage of Six Paths had visited him in a dream, the God Tree had absorbed the world's life force, and the Dragon Vein was protecting itself.
"What nonsense are you spouting? Even I don't know what the Sage of Six Paths or the God Tree is, but you do? And he visited you in a dream? Utterly ridiculous!"
"System! Check the bond value between Reto and me!"
[Bond value between First Kazekage Reto and host-34%]
Good enough. If our bond is this high even though I'm an invader, he must see something in me.
Tetsuhiro told him, "We could see the Dragon Vein simply by going to the Country of Roran, but judging by your stance, you won't let me pass easily. In that case, there's nothing more to say. The victor rules!"
Black markings instantly spread around his eyes. He activated Sage Mode and pressed his palms together!
Sage Art-Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands!
"This is bad! Stop him!" Reto swiftly ordered his men to attack.
All sorts of Wind Release, Puppet Techniques, and Genjutsu flew toward Tetsuhiro.
Unfortunately, he had already seized the initiative. Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands blotted out the sky once more!
Despair instantly filled everyone's hearts, leaving them unable to move.
"Damn it!" Only Reto refused to give up. "Hashirama Senju! Don't think this will force us to submit! Sand shinobi, think of your loved ones! What future could they have under a man like him?"
Seeing Shamon and the others regain their fighting spirit, Tetsuhiro said, "You know how prosperous the Land of Fire is. Its Daimyo has now been executed, and a new age is coming. Happiness and well-being await you. I swear I can resolve the Land of Wind's plight!"
He then explained the institutions, laws, and structure of the Ten Thousand Worlds Ninja Nation before declaring, "Anyone who wants to end this suffering, follow me! Destroy the Daimyo and embrace the future!"
Then he commanded Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands to stride toward the Daimyo's Mansion.
"Stop right there! Who said you could leave?" Reto kept unleashing ninjutsu, but they had no effect on the great Buddha.
The puppeteers' attacks barely even scratched it, plunging him and Shamon into deep self-doubt...
They had no choice but to lead everyone after him, following him all the way to the Land of Wind's Daimyo City.
As soon as Tetsuhiro approached Daimyo City, a Magic Formation rose around it. Countless samurai rushed out, attempting to dash eggs against a rock.
"Onmyoji? Times have changed. Choose the wrong side, and you'll be swept away!"
Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands!
Countless wooden fists hammered toward the Magic Formation...
It held for only a moment before he shattered it. He controlled the fists, directing as much of the assault as possible solely at the Daimyo's Mansion.
Then countless talismans rose from the ground, actually holding back the thousand hands for a time.
Hashirama intensified his assault again, unleashing his full power. He finally broke through the defenses and utterly destroyed the Daimyo's Mansion. By tracing the spells, he also roughly pinpointed the area where the Onmyoji were hiding.
"Sorry, but to end this war as quickly as possible, I'll have to sacrifice you!"
Countless fists descended once more, reducing that location to nothing in an instant.
Only then did Reto and the others arrive.
"Damn it, we're too late! You damned Senju demon! I'll kill you!"
But Shamon stopped him. "Lord Kazekage, forgive me for daring to offer advice. Since things have come to this, we should first consider whether he truly can change the Land of Wind. Think of our descendants."
Before Reto could make up his mind, Tetsuhiro dispelled the great Buddha and walked toward them. His guards and the three hundred Senju had finally arrived as well.
Facing the wary gazes of the Sunagakure shinobi, Yamanaka Jinan stepped forward to report intelligence on the Land of Earth to Tetsuhiro.
"Lord Hokage swept through the Land of Earth's Daimyo City with overwhelming force. I believe he'll conquer them very soon."
Tetsuhiro smiled broadly. "Madara works fast. I can't let him leave me behind. Everyone from Sunagakure, come with me to Rōran and have a look."
He turned and instructed his subordinates, "I'll leave reassuring the people and maintaining order in the city to you. Notify the Ninja Nation to send people to govern this place, too."
Whoosh! With his instructions delivered, he set off at once.
The journey was smooth. Perhaps because the countries were allies, there were almost no traps along the border, only a single outpost.
As they drew closer, Tetsuhiro gradually sensed faint fluctuations in a powerful energy field around them.
Even he had to concentrate fully to sense it, so the others stood even less of a chance. No wonder Reto and his people knew nothing about the Dragon Vein despite living here.
With Reto and the others accompanying him, they entered the Country of Roran without difficulty. Following his senses, Tetsuhiro soon reached the lowest level of the Royal Palace...
As soon as he descended the steps, he saw the sealed Dragon Vein in the center of the platform.
It was pulsing faintly in a steady rhythm, as though calling to him.
"This is the Dragon Vein? To think I've never even heard of it. Could it truly be responsible?"
"What are you doing?" Tetsuhiro swiftly stopped Reto.
"Destroying it, of course! It's this accursed thing that made us suffer..."
"I shall forgive your ignorance for now. Queen of Roran, tell him yourself."
"Phew..." The queen breathed a sigh of relief at his words. Parting her red lips, she explained the whole story. "Here is what happened..."
Only then did the Sunagakure shinobi learn that the Dragon Vein was tied to the survival of the Land of Wind, and even the entire world. If they truly destroyed it, the consequences would be unimaginable!
"Now do you believe me? From what I can sense, I think that as long as we replenish the energy it needs, the Land of Wind will not only recover its landscape, but might even become richer in resources than Konoha. You might even be able to train faster!"
"What?!" Beyond their shock, everyone's eyes filled with greed.
"Natural energy would be best. It would help it recover faster." Tetsuhiro smiled faintly. "As it happens, I possess both a cultivation method for that energy and a sacred training ground."
"Then what are you waiting for? Hurry up and..."
Smack! Shamon slapped the man who had lost his head.
"You fool!" he barked. "His Majesty's person is beyond price! How dare you bark at him!"
"Your noble Majesty, my supreme king, may you live as long as the heavens! You are filled with greatness and compassion. Might you help your pitiful subjects?"
"Shamon, have you gone mad? You disgust me!"
Ignoring the furious Reto entirely, he quickly led his men in kneeling before Tetsuhiro. With their backsides raised high, they bowed in submission.
Tetsuhiro tilted his head, watching the scene at ease. It suddenly reminded him of the way Song Jiang knelt in the old Water Margin adaptation from his previous life.
So this is what it means to be an emperor. This is royal power. It feels amazing...
Though a little intoxicated by it, he hadn't forgotten the business at hand.
"Rise, all of you," he said mildly. "Do your jobs well. As long as you don't break the laws or rules, you have a bright future ahead.
"And the rest of you? Submit to me, or be buried here."
Reto still wanted to fight to the death, but his own subordinates surrounded him. "What are you doing? Rebelling?"
"Just as His Majesty said, times have changed, and we have new hope. So, Lord Kazekage, we're terribly sorry, but for the sake of the people of the Land of Wind, please stop resisting."
Reto froze on the spot. Memories flooded his mind-the people struggling to survive in the desert, clans fighting bitterly over food and water and keeping a stranglehold on both.
He stared blankly at Tetsuhiro. This man certainly had a strong reputation and good standing, but hearsay was no proof. He didn't know whether to trust his promises.
As though seeing his concerns, Tetsuhiro reassured him, "Only by living on can you witness the future."
Then he turned to the Queen of Roran. "Your Majesty, you should give this careful consideration as well. Under my protection, you and your people will live better lives."
"Your Majesty, as one of the hereditary guardians of the Dragon Vein, I am constantly torn between my people's survival and my duty to protect it. I will certainly consider your suggestion carefully..."
Just then, Yamanaka Jinan, who was responsible for communications, appeared at his side.
"Your Majesty! Urgent news! Lord Hokage successfully conquered the Land of Earth, but was ambushed along the way. Fortunately, the Deputy Hokage led a team to assist him, but Uchiha Izuna..."
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