With One Blade, Overturning Konoha!

"Hinata, what’s this?"

Hyūga Hinata, having snapped out of her daze and followed them out with the intention of seeing Hakken Yoru off, was completely bewildered.

Just looking at Hinata’s attire made it clear she was preparing for marriage.

"Father... Father..."

Hinata’s face turned crimson as she lowered her head. She had overheard everything her father had said.

"If it's Hakken..."

"Hinata is willing..."

This was a misunderstanding.

Hyūga Hizashi awkwardly glanced at Hakken.

How could he explain this?

It was likely that Hinata had overheard strange words while she was serving tea earlier.

"Hinata, about this matter..."

"Let's go."

But just as Hizashi was about to clarify and take his daughter back, Hakken interrupted him.

With one swift motion, he scooped the stunned girl into a princess carry and strode out of the Hyūga residence.

This...

What on earth was happening?

Hizashi opened his mouth, but in the end, he didn’t stop Hakken’s actions.

The shock of Lord Yagami’s sudden visit was already overwhelming enough.

The two events—this one and the earlier one—made the first seem insignificant.

Byakugan can be purified!

This was something Hizashi never could have imagined.

And the Byakugan... it was actually the bloodline passed down by the legendary Sage of the Six Paths' younger brother!

Hakken Yoru had no reason to deceive him, nor would he give him a useless, incompetent person.

Given his immense strength, Hakken could have easily forced Hizashi to abolish the Caged Bird system.

Yet, he chose not to. Instead, he reasoned with him: what would it mean if there were no rift between the branch family and the main house?

Konoha would protect every bloodline within the village!

This was where Hakken Yoru was fundamentally different from the Hokage before him.

It was his own conviction!

Hizashi ran his fingers over the scroll in his hand and swallowed nervously.

And when it came to purifying the Byakugan and the so-called powerful taijutsu, the earlier matters hardly seemed relevant.

For a clan to survive, strength in battle was the most important thing.

The Hyūga clan had always considered themselves Konoha’s top clan, but in reality, their role was mostly limited to reconnaissance. Aside from the Gentle Fist, their overall combat power wasn’t that strong.

And the Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack that Hakken Yoru had just mentioned—that was something the Hyūga clan’s ancient ancestor, Lord Tenin, had spoken of.

Was it being revived?

The glory that once belonged to the Hyūga clan...

As for why Hizashi didn’t stop Hinata from being carried away, the reason was simple.

Hakken Yoru was the most powerful ninja in Konoha, the undisputed top dog, and the de facto Fifth Hokage. For his daughter to marry such a person was an honor for Hinata and for the entire Hyūga clan.

The benefits the Hyūga clan would gain from aligning with someone like him were incalculable.

Of course, the most important point was that Hakken Yoru also possessed the Byakugan!

Under the overwhelming pressure of that single white-eyed glare, he felt an unprecedented sense of oppression—a bloodline suppression that towered above his own Byakugan!

In that instant, Hyūga Hizashi could even state with certainty that the other shared his clan's lineage!

Given this, whether for preserving the main house bloodline or fostering relations with Konoha’s Kenpachi, he had no reason to refuse.

Moreover, Hinata herself had no objections.

She had even donned the wedding kimono her mother had prepared for her.

Though the garment appeared somewhat large and not really suitable for someone of her age,

her eager gaze made it clear she showed no resistance.

"Father, why is that man carrying my sister away?"

Just then, Hanabi, a few years younger than Hinata, suddenly ran over and asked curiously.

"Your sister is being carried by your brother-in-law. Is there a problem with that?"

Rubbing Hanabi's hair, Hizashi smiled. "And Hanabi, remember that man."

"He is the benefactor of the Hyūga Clan!"

...

Another person had joined the Mitari household.

However, this little girl didn’t provoke any hostility from the original residents. Instead, her shy personality sparked the playful spirits of several women.

Bringing her home was one thing; for now, Hakken had no particular plans for Hinata.

Reclining in his chair with his eyes closed, he contemplated his next moves.

The pace of annexing small nations and minor ninja villages had slowed.

Yet, those more peculiar villages would steadily supply Konoha with promising recruits in the coming days.

Everything was proceeding methodically.

Naruto and Sasuke had graduated. Soon, Konoha would host the Chūnin Exams.

Minato had announced that this Chūnin Exam would invite all four major ninja villages to participate, with smaller villages also joining the festivities. The goal was to showcase the strength of Konoha’s new generation. That was the purpose of the Chūnin Exams—even in peaceful times, rivalries persisted, and flaunting military might was something every village did.

Unlike the original story, this Chūnin Exam would be of unprecedented scale.

Konoha had grown so powerful that it left other villages gasping for air. No village leader worth their salt would dare snub Konoha by refusing to participate.

Moreover, Itachi had already briefed him on the Raikage of Kumogakure’s intentions.

Hmm, he wanted to wear Hakken Yoru down to death.

Upon hearing this news, Hakken nearly choked on his laughter.

Did you hear that?

A wants to let Hakken Yoru, the Shinigami, die of exhaustion!

Good heavens.

After the fusion of multiple energies within Hakken's body, his form had already undergone a complete metamorphosis. He didn’t know to what extent his lifespan had been extended, but being worn down to death by Kumogakure was absolutely impossible.

The Rikudō Sennin would die of old age because he wasn’t a true Ōtsutsuki Clan member. He was merely a counterfeit existence created by Kaguya using chakra. He sealed his own mother and split off nine Tailed Beasts—no wonder he wasn't immortal.

But even if his physical body perished, his soul still roamed between the Pure Land and the mortal world. Hakken had every reason to confidently declare that he could never truly die. Especially after absorbing the Golden Wheel Tenseigan from the moon, his physique underwent yet another leap in enhancement, and he successfully awakened the Tenseigan!

In the original story, Toneri Otsutsuki once stated his plan: to destroy the Ninja World using the moon, then, after everything settled, emerge from the Tenseigan Realm with Hinata. There, he would use the Tenseigan to restore Earth's environment and recreate everything from scratch! These were Toneri's exact words, and they revealed just how formidable the Tenseigan truly was. Of course, the true focus wasn’t the power of the Tenseigan itself. Hakken always felt that Toneri’s real goal was to create race after race with Hinata.

Heh.

Give me a girl, and I'll give you an entire nation. Can your kidneys handle that? Shaking his head, Hakken sighed softly. Ultimately, the power of the Tenseigan had already surpassed the Raikage’s imagination. The sheer monstrosity of “reviving the Earth” alone proved that relying on death was futile. Besides, Hakken was never Hashirama Senju, nor did he aspire to be him. He was simply himself.

After the Chūnin Exams, he would begin reshaping the Ninja World. By then, everything destined to emerge would come to light. The Chūnin Exams, huh. I wonder if Mr. Snake will show up this time.

Closing his eyes, Hakken leaned back in the recliner, quietly resting.

…

“Achoo!” A violent sneeze erupted in the dimly lit laboratory.

“Are you trying to die?!”

“Or do you want to feel pain?”

Before him, a red-haired man, his face dripping with snot, glared angrily.

“My mistake. I don’t usually catch colds. Someone must have cursed me just now,” Orochimaru awkwardly wiped his face.

“But Nagato-kun, in your current state, I wouldn’t recommend making me suffer. You should focus the last of your chakra on modifying the procedure.” Tapping Nagato, who was lying on the operating table, Orochimaru flashed a dangerously amused smile. An experimental subject with the Rinnegan! What a perfect test subject. Look at his hair—it's already returned to its vibrant red! Proof of how successful this experiment has been! His intense hatred for Konoha drove him onto my operating table. After five years, an ultimate monster has emerged! Add in his other two pawns... Hakken-kun, perhaps choosing to stand with Konoha in the end will be the last decision you make in this life.

He picked up the vial, drew out the last of the green liquid, and injected it into the other's body. The wails in the laboratory began once again.

“Can Orochimaru succeed?” Outside the lab, the masked Obito spoke in a low voice.

Black Zetsu, standing beside him, glanced at him slowly but offered no reply. Success or failure no longer mattered much to Black Zetsu. He had already made his decision. Once Orochimaru’s plan was complete, he would directly take control of the body to resurrect Madara using the Rinnegan.

The Eye of the Moon Plan had derailed! Only a handful remained in Akatsuki. The others had disappeared, and Nagato had no desire to rebuild the team. Only vengeance remained in his heart!

Black Zetsu looked around, his face blank with confusion. It was still the same Otogakure, yet this place had bizarrely aligned itself with Konoha. Even the Land of Rice Fields had become a vassal state of Konoha. Adhering to the principle that the most dangerous place is the safest, Orochimaru's experiments couldn’t be interrupted. So, he used ninjas transformed by White Zetsu to cover his tracks.

But periodically, Konoha agents would come to collect intelligence. To avoid suspicion, he had to cooperate fully—a major hassle.

He lifted his head to the sky. Night hadn’t fully fallen yet, but Black Zetsu stared intently at the sliver of the moon just peeking through. What the hell is going on?! Something must have gone wrong with his sealed mother. Could the Eye of the Moon Plan be jeopardized by the host’s condition? He had no answers. He knew nothing of what transpired on the moon!

Black Zetsu, the mourning son, burned with desperation. Charged with the mission to rescue his mother, he could only watch helplessly as everything spiraled out of control!

“Anyway, we'll see how things go during the Chūnin Exams.”

After a pause, Black Zetsu spoke. Right now, they had no viable options.

Revive Madara Uchiha?

Obito's expression grew slightly uneasy as he touched his chest. He knew Madara had treated him as a pawn. His original intention hadn't been to use Rinnegan on Madara—he hadn't even wanted Madara revived at all. Having taken Madara's name, he had fully embraced the role. Nor did he want the world he created to have two rulers! One world didn't need two rulers!

But...

Even Madara couldn't control me!

Pinching the heart of his body, now filled with White Zetsu, Obito's three tomoe gently shifted. The seal Madara had placed on him vanished after being struck by Hakken Yoru's terrifying attack the first time! He was no pawn of Madara's!

Night fell.

In the courtyard of the Mitari household, the young ladies had all retired to their rooms for the night. Only Hakken Yoru and Yūgao remained, leaning close together as they watched the occasional shooting star streak across the sky.

Hakken yearned for simple, genuine happiness. This feeling couldn't be provided by the maids or the loli he'd brought back—it was a unique sensation only found beside Yūgao.

The girl who'd fallen beneath his blade in youth had grown up. Her soft purple hair still cascaded over Hakken's shoulder. A sealing mark now graced her forehead where none had existed before. She had mastered the Yin Seal. In truth, it would have been strange if she hadn't.

If Sakura could master Fūinjutsu in the original story, why couldn't Yūgao? Her talent wasn't lacking; she'd simply devoted herself entirely to the way of the sword. Becoming a swordswoman who followed Hakken—that was her dream. Hakken had promised to help her achieve it someday. So for now, her talent could be channeled elsewhere.

“Want to go take a bath?”

A shooting star streaked across the sky. Hakken lowered his head to gaze at the woman in his arms, his face gradually drawing near hers.

“As you wish.”

Shedding her girlish shyness, Yūgao's breath mingled intimately with Hakken's.

“Don't feel like it. Too lazy.”

He abruptly stood up, wrapping his arms around her waist as he led her toward the room. Their silhouettes slowly faded beneath the waning moon.

Not long after...

“Hey...”

The true sensation of hearts connecting. An experience uniquely his own, a taste unlike any other.

“You two lovebirds!”

The soundproofing in the Mitarashi household was mediocre. Tsunade, who'd been freeloading and crashing in the house, happened to be staying in the room next to Yūgao's. Covering her face with the quilt, the furious old woman muttered curses at the adjacent wall. Fresh chapters posted on novel⸺fire.net

But now she had no grounds to barge in and stop them. Besides... The car had already started and accelerated. Intervening now would only make her look awkward. Given that man's temper, he might just... swoosh.

She pulled her hand out from under the quilt and examined it. Ultimately, Tsunade seemed to sink into the same torment she'd felt after returning from the hot springs with Yūgao Uzuki and Yūgao Uzuki that day.

Self-control, you old hag!

After slapping herself hard across the face, Tsunade slammed her head against the adjacent wall and passed out. If only she couldn't hear it. The old woman just wanted a good night's sleep. As for where that hand was placed... well, that was another matter entirely.

“What was that sound?” Hakken asked, puzzled.

“It's Master next door...”

“Mmm...”

...

After the turmoil caused by the legendary figure, Konoha’s Kenpachi himself conducting the assessments, Konoha returned to its usual tranquility.

Yet, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Honorary Instructor of the Konoha Ninja Academy, could see that the students who had been personally rejected by Hakken Yoru as unqualified were not discouraged in their studies—they were striving even harder! Not a trace of despondency!

Hakken Yoru.

The Hokage who isn’t the Hokage!

This phrase had once been used to describe Minato and Hiruzen Sarutobi. Yet now, it was the most fitting description for that man.

Within the village, the atmosphere was serene and tranquil. But this calm was finally shattered when an invitation flew out of Konohagakure!

“The Chūnin Exams? The day has finally come.”

...

Kumogakure, Land of Lightning.

The one-armed Raikage slammed his fist on the table, snatching up the invitation with excitement!

Konohagakure had invited every known ninja village to participate in the largest Chūnin Exams in history!

All villages could bring their Genin to take the test; passing would grant them promotion to Chūnin!

The Chūnin Exams themselves held little inherent appeal.

Especially among the major ninja villages, competition was fierce—sometimes, simply sending an invitation didn’t guarantee attendance.

But this time was different.

Major villages responded immediately, with their Kage even pledging to attend the ceremony in Konoha in person!

Undoubtedly, these Chūnin Exams had captured immense attention.

Smaller villages lacked the courage to refuse, while larger ones sought to observe Konohagakure’s new generation perform—to gauge the landscape after that terrifying man’s demise.

The Ninja World stirred once more.