"There aren't many left."
When Gen'yō's seemingly soliloquy whisper was transformed into a line of cold text through the analysis of the main brain " Amaterasu," it was marked on the strategic assessment report of the Three Great Shinobi Villages: Konoha, Sunagakure, Kirigakure.
In the command center of the flagship " Amaterasu," thousands of miles away, a trace of human emotion called "awe" appeared for the first time on Kakuzu's face, which was covered in stitches.
"The boss's methods are becoming more and more like those of a true god."
Kakuzu rapidly tapped on the virtual screen in front of him, processing massive amounts of war data, he couldn't help but sigh in amazement.
He has just accomplished an unprecedented feat.
Under Gen'yō's instructions, the Divine Kingdom Ministry of Finance, which he controlled, joined forces with major exchange bureaus in the underworld to launch a devastating "financial blitzkrieg" against the entire economic system of the Land of Lightning.
Through the war betting market they had previously opened, they absorbed nearly 60% of the liquid funds in the entire Shinobi World. Then, using this huge amount of money, they completely shorted the currency of the Land of Lightning, the " Lightning Currency," within just a few hours, and frantically acquired all valuable minerals, land, and real estate within its territory in a manner that was almost like robbery.
When the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning awoke from his jewel-encrusted bed, intending to use the national treasury to stabilize the financial markets, he discovered with despair that his country was already economically bankrupt.
All his wealth turned into a pile of worthless waste paper.
And all the territories and resources under his rule changed hands overnight.
"War is never just about fighting and killing."
The words that Gen'yō had once said to him echoed in Kakuzu's mind.
"The most skillful warfare is to utterly annihilate the enemy before they even have a chance to react."
"I want more than just a scorched earth destroyed by war."
"What I want is a complete new province that can immediately create value for my Divine Kingdom!"
Now Kakuzu finally understands the meaning of that sentence.
That's terrifying!
This kind of disruptive attack, which perfectly combines finance, war, and psychology, allowed him, an old monster who once only knew how to count money and kill, to experience for the first time what true "strategic planning" really meant.
"Reporting to my lord, the financial system of the Land of Lightning has completely collapsed. We have successfully acquired 93% of its real-world assets. The asset transfer across the entire territory is expected to be completed within twelve hours."
Kakuzu respectfully reported to Gen'yō, who was seated on the throne.
"Very good." Gen'yō nodded, showing no surprise at the outcome. "Pass down the order: all industries taken over by my Divine Kingdom must immediately resume production. All civilians of the Land of Lightning who are willing to submit will maintain their existing living standards, or even receive better ones."
"I want everyone to know—to submit to me is to live with more dignity than to follow their foolish name."
"Yes!" Kakuzu's heart skipped a beat.
Winning hearts and minds is paramount! The boss intends to completely undermine the will to resist of the people of the Land of Lightning while simultaneously undertaking military occupation!
Just then, another communication request came in.
Uchiha Fugaku's serious face appeared on the screen.
Behind him were Kakkō and explosions filling the sky.
" Gen'yō, the ' Fire God Legion ' has arrived at the outer perimeter of the ' Iron Wall Mountain ' fortress. The enemy garrison numbers approximately five thousand, stubbornly resisting due to the natural defenses. Should the War Puppet Legion ' launch a full-scale attack?"
Iron Wall Mountain is the first and most important line of defense in the heart of the Land of Lightning. It consists of three massive peaks, hollowed out to create countless fortifications, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack, and is known as the "fortress that will never fall."
"No need." Gen'yō's gaze swept over the three-dimensional model representing " Iron Wall Mountain " on the sand table, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
"It's just a small stone fortress; it's not worthy of Itachi's puppet army's attention."
He turned his gaze to Fugaku, a hint of expectation in his eyes.
"Father, do you remember what I told you before?"
"We Uchiha have suppressed our power for far too long. So long that the world has almost forgotten what other power lies within our eyes besides hatred and calamity."
"Today, right here, under the watchful eyes of the world, I want you to breach this so-called ' Iron Wall Mountain' in the most magnificent and awe-inspiring way."
"I'll show everyone—before absolute eye power, any defense is nothing but a joke."
Upon hearing this, Fugaku's heart skipped a beat!
He instantly understood what his son meant!
His eyes, burning with Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, burst forth with an unprecedentedly brilliant light!
"I see!"
Fugaku nodded heavily and cut off the communication.
Iron Wall Mountain Fortress, Supreme Command Tower.
A Kumogakure commander was observing the dark red army below the mountain through binoculars with a solemn expression.
"They've stopped. What are they doing? Do they think they can break through our Iron Wall Mountain with only five thousand men? What a pipe dream!"
"Don't let your guard down! These Uchiha ' Fire Release Ninjutsu is extremely unpredictable! Order all troops to activate Water Release barriers! Prepare to engage the enemy!"
Just as he was nervously deploying his troops, a sudden change occurred!
He saw the man at the very front of the Uchiha army below the mountain, a man dressed in a long black robe who looked like a god or demon, slowly raise his head.
Those eyes, burning with eerie black Greater Yang patterns, seemed to pierce through kilometers, meeting his gaze!
"What is that?!"
The commander felt as if his soul was being sucked into those eyes!
Then he heard the man slowly utter two words in a voice that seemed to come from the deepest hell, cold yet majestic.
" Tsukuyomi "
Buzz--
In an instant, the whole world turned blood red.
All the Cloud Village Kumogakure inside the Iron Wall Mountain Fortress who had seen Uchiha Fugaku's eyes through various surveillance devices, regardless of their location or whether they were Jonin or Genin —at this moment, their minds all went blank.
In the world of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan Tsukuyomi World, which had been "upgraded" by Gen'yō and amplified a hundredfold in power by Fugaku himself, they were experiencing a torture that lasted for seven days and seven nights without end.
Their spirits are being repeatedly tortured, torn apart, and reassembled in the most cruel ways.
In the real world, only one second has passed.
When Fugaku slowly lowered his hand and released Tsukuyomi, the Iron Wall Mountain Fortress, which was known as "never to fall," had become a dead city.
The five thousand defenders remained at their posts, maintaining their fighting posture.
But their faces all wore eerie smiles that were vacant, drooling, and as if their souls had been utterly destroyed.
Their spirits had died completely in that one second.
Fugaku watched all this indifferently, then slowly raised his hand and waved it forward.
"Forward, all troops!"
"Target: Kumogakure (Kumogakure )."
"Boom--"
The steel torrent of the " Fire God Legion " passed through the silent, eerie "dead city" without any resistance.
This scene was clearly presented to the world through a global live broadcast.
Everyone was terrified by Uchiha Fugaku's method of killing without leaving a trace, a method a hundred times more cruel than direct slaughter!
Is this the power of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan?!
Is this the true strength of the former head of the Uchiha Clan?!
Konoha Hokage's office in Hokage was deathly silent.
Hiruzen Sarutobi gazed at the face in the crystal ball—a face identical to the one in his memory, yet filled with an unfamiliar majesty—his heart was filled with endless bitterness and regret.
If he hadn't chosen to suppress the Uchiha, but instead trusted Fugaku, his former best friend—
How did Konoha end up in this dilemma?
"Well."
A long sigh echoed in the empty office.
And just then...
A Anbu Ninja suddenly appeared in the center of the office, knelt on one knee, and reported urgently:
" Lord Hokage! Urgent news has arrived from both Sunagakure and Kirigakure!"
" The Fourth Kazekage Rasa, and the Fifth Mizukage Mei Terumi, have publicly announced that they will accept the Uchiha Divine Kingdom's 'invitation' and depart for the ' Moon Palace '!"
"What?!"
Upon hearing this news, Hiruzen Sarutobi abruptly stood up from his seat, his face filled with disbelief!
They actually gave in like that?!
"Not only that," the Anbu Ninja swallowed hard, his voice trembling as he continued, "They also jointly sent you a letter urging you to surrender—no, a 'letter of advice'."
"I advise Konoha to recognize the situation, not to engage in futile resistance, and to send an envoy with them as soon as possible to express 'goodwill' to Uchiha Gen'yō."
"What else did they say?!" Jiraiya couldn't help but ask.
The Anbu Ninja raised his head, looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi with a complex expression, and said, word by word:
They said--
An old era has ended.
"And Uchiha Gen'yō is the only answer for this new era."
"If Konoha wants to continue to exist, then bowing down to him is the only option."
"My lord, what will you choose?"