Naruto: I am Uchiha Shirou-Chapter 369: Naruto: I am Uchiha Shirou []

On the moon.

"So this is the moon!"

In this world, Hinata Hyuga had discovered this family secret. Now, as she arrived here through the passage to the moon, she rarely showed such a look of shock.

Shirou glanced back at the Earth of the Ninja World, floating in the darkness of space, and couldn't help but frown slightly. Although he hadn't seen anything unusual, he always had a vague sense that something was off.

When Shirou and his group of four appeared on the moon, the people within the Moon Palace immediately sensed their presence.

...

Inside the Moon Palace—a vast, empty, lifeless hall—Otsutsuki Toneri, born without eyes, sensed something and raised his head, his face showing a calm expression.

"I didn't expect the ninjas of the Earth to discover this place, but unfortunately, it's already too late. The fact that you stole the Gedo Statue proves that the world created by the Sage of Six Paths is a failure..."

With Obito summoning the Gedo Statue on the Ninja World's Earth, the mission of the Otsutsuki clan on the moon had begun.

Or rather, this Otsutsuki Toneri, following the will of his ancestors, intended to destroy the failed world created by the Sage of Six Paths.

...

Meanwhile, as Shirou and the others traveled to the moon, the Ninja World was in turmoil due to the terrifying Akatsuki organization.

Ninja World, the mysterious Akatsuki base.

"Damn it! Uchiha Shirou, I'm going to kill you! I'll make you regret ever being born!"

After leaving the Five Kage Summit, Uchiha Obito returned to base, roaring in rage as he crushed his mask in his hand.

"Zetsu! Start the Fourth Great Ninja War. I want to use the Gedo Statue. I want to use Edo Tensei to resurrect countless dead powerhouses of the ninja world. I want this flawed world to taste true pain..."

At this moment, Obito was like a defeated dog, smashing the rocks beneath him in his fury.

As the rocks kept shattering, Black Zetsu watched from afar, a look of contempt flashing in his eyes. What a failure.

He can't even handle this setback? It was just a genjutsu.

However, someone like Black Zetsu could never understand Rin's place in Obito's heart. Even if it was just an illusion, any insult was utterly intolerable.

"I understand, Obito. I'll collect the bodies of the dead powerhouses as quickly as possible."

Black Zetsu rasped, and at Obito's urgent desire to begin the final battle, he felt only excitement.

It was almost time! Whether it was Uchiha Madara or Obito, they were both just chess pieces to bring back his mother.

Hearing Black Zetsu's words, Obito slowly lifted his head, a crazed smile appearing on his twisted face.

"Heh heh, soon, with a hundred thousand White Zetsu plus the strongest from all the ninja villages, I'll wipe out Konoha. I'll make this corrupted, sinful world disappear completely!"

Obito's wild laughter echoed through the mysterious cave. In his eyes, anyone who insulted Rin was guilty of a heinous crime.

Behind the laughing Obito stood the grotesque Gedo Statue, below which was a dense crowd of White Zetsu clones.

...

As Obito and Black Zetsu secretly prepared for Akatsuki's final war, the entire Ninja World was shaken.

At the Five Kage Summit in the Land of Iron, Akatsuki had dared to attack directly.

The terrifying power of the Rinnegan and Akatsuki's ability to use Edo Tensei to summon the dead was shaking the very nerves of the ninja world.

Especially with the revelation that Akatsuki possessed a hundred thousand monster soldiers, each at least Chunin-level—the entire world was in shock.

The Five Great Ninja Villages announced the formation of the Allied Shinobi Forces, calling on all factions of the ninja world to join, since Akatsuki's plot threatened everyone.

Even the Five Great Villages were taking it seriously, so of course the smaller forces had to respond.

After all, in such turbulent times, anyone who didn't respond would be the first to be wiped out by the Five Great Villages, who might even shift the war to their lands and destroy them outright.

...

Konoha.

"Hokage-sama, based on current resources, the village has mobilized ten thousand ninjas... among them, Jonin..."

In the Hokage's office, Shizune respectfully reported information about the Allied Shinobi Forces, especially the number of Konoha participants.

Since returning from the Five Kage Summit, Tsunade's reputation as the Fifth Hokage had soared.

After all, being the supreme commander of the Allied Forces said it all.

Under Tsunade's leadership, Konoha had returned to its peak.

"Now the Land of Grass, the Land Snow... these small villages have also sent their ninja corps..."

Shizune's expression was grave as she described the situation of the other small villages in the ninja world.

The Five Great Villages joining forces against Akatsuki put immediate pressure on the smaller villages.

If they failed to contribute or tried to sit back and watch, they'd be the first to be purged by the big villages, accused of colluding with Akatsuki. Naturally, none of the small villages could ignore this, so they gritted their teeth and followed.

"Shizune, send word to the other four Great Villages: according to current intel, Akatsuki's base and the expected battlefield are near the border of the Land of Lightning—Kumogakure must not relax.

If anyone dares to hide their strength this time, Konoha won't hold back!"

At her desk, Tsunade declared decisively that Konoha had the confidence and strength to face Akatsuki.

If the other villages tried to preserve their forces and let Konoha take the brunt, Tsunade would not hesitate to flip the table and refuse to play along.

"Yes."

As Shizune finished her report, Jonin after Jonin entered and exited the office, each reporting on their tasks.

This time, Konoha was mobilizing a massive ninja army—it was a true war.

The deployment of various squads, led by Chunin, Jonin, and with logistics, medical support, and many other complex issues—the war machine of Konoha, and even the entire ninja world, was rumbling into action.

...

Iwagakure. freewebnoveℓ.com

"Grandpa, do we need to send so many ninjas this time?"

In the Tsuchikage's office, the usually lively Kurotsuchi wore a serious expression. The number of ninja being sent to the battlefield was overwhelming.

For the Five Great Villages, this was tantamount to starting a war.

The Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, also looked grave.

"Right now, the Five Great Villages represent the ninja world. If we start off the alliance with dirty tricks, what will the smaller villages think?

The so-called Allied Shinobi Forces would be a joke. This is something Konoha can do—but we cannot! After all, of the Nine Tailed Beasts, only Konoha still has the Nine-Tails. We've all lost ours!"

Onoki's grave tone made it clear.

Konoha's strength, and the fact they still had the Nine-Tails, meant they weren't afraid—but the others were.

If everyone harbored ulterior motives, and Akatsuki's mysterious power erupted, the first to suffer would be them.

No one was a child anymore. Ninja wars had been fought three times already. The carelessness of the First War led to the rise of Amegakure.

Ever since then, whenever war broke out, the first tactic of the big villages was to weaken the small ones.

Either by shifting the battlefield to their lands, or stirring up conflict—before the real fight, they'd already crushed the minor villages.

"Grandpa! Are you worried the ninja world will become a battleground between Akatsuki and Konoha?"

Kurotsuchi wasn't stupid. Hearing her grandfather's analysis, she looked shocked.

Onoki sighed helplessly and shook his head:

"After the Fourth Kazekage Rasa died, Sunagakure was left leaderless. If that happened to a small village, they'd have been targeted immediately. The Five Great Villages' greatest advantage is their Jinchuriki.

Jinchuriki is the ultimate weapon, a safeguard for each village. As long as they have a Jinchuriki, even a weakened village still has Kage-level deterrence."

At this point, Onoki looked at his village with a sour expression:

"Kurotsuchi, our Iwagakure may be stronger than Sunagakure, but who can say what the future holds? If we lose our Kage-level power, are we still one of the Five Great Villages? That's why we must reclaim our tailed beast in this war!"

This time, the Four Villages only wanted to reclaim their tailed beasts, while Konoha's purpose was clear: use the power of the ninja world to defeat Akatsuki and maintain their stability.

Thinking of this, Onoki couldn't help but show a sly smile.

"But it's also lucky that, thanks to the Third Hokage Hiruzen and Danzo, Konoha's bloodline ninja have almost died out under their decades of rule, and their military strength plummeted.

Even though they have Tsunade and Mangekyō now, that kind of loss can't be recovered in only a decade or so."

Kurotsuchi, seeing her grandfather's gloating relief, could only shake her head helplessly:

"Grandpa, what are you counting on?"

"Counting on?"

Onoki glared at his granddaughter.

"This is called gains and losses. If Konoha were like before the Second War, with Wood Release and Mangekyō, they'd be the real threat to the world. But now it's different!

To be blunt, if not for the sudden appearance of Wood Release and Mangekyō, in terms of military power, Iwa and Kumo would be number one. Konoha is only a bit stronger than Kiri and Suna!"

Onoki was not wrong. Militarily and economically, under the Third Hokage, Konoha had lost its position as the top village by the time Tsunade took over.

...

Sunagakure.

"Gaara, here's a letter from Konoha and the proposed deployment for the Allied Shinobi Forces."

Kankuro handed Gaara the letter and the details of Konoha's negotiations with Suna.

Ever since the Chunin Exam collapse three years ago, Suna had nearly become Konoha's subordinate.

Now, Gaara only cared about Naruto—Suna and Konoha were practically tied at the hip.

"Proceed as planned. The Allied Shinobi Forces must be formed. Akatsuki must be destroyed! And we must reclaim Shukaku!"

When Gaara mentioned the One-Tail, his expression was grave.

Only Suna knew how crucial Shukaku was—during hard times, having a tailed beast could keep them in the Five Villages, instead of being cast out.

If their Jinchuriki could fully control the beast's power, it would stabilize the village for decades.

"Yes."

Kankuro nodded calmly.

Three years ago, both Suna and Konoha were victims during the Chunin Exam collapse.

Also, the rising strength of Iwa and Kumo forced Konoha to let go of past grudges and maintain alliances.

Suna had lost the Fourth Kazekage and was left weak—an alliance with Konoha was a blessing.

Konoha, seeing the growing power of Iwa and Kumo, also wanted allies—they needed support if war broke out.

"Gaara, Temari is willing to personally lead a team to cooperate with Konoha's ninja."

"Very well, let Temari handle it."

Temari took on a major responsibility, deepening Suna's cooperation with Konoha. Gaara, as Kazekage, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Temari handled much of the village administration. If not for her lack of combat power, Gaara's position might have been hers.

...

Kirigakure.

"Mizukage-sama, do we need to ally with Konoha?"

"Can't you see? Forget Akatsuki for a moment—Kirigakure's decline is the same as Suna's!"

In her office, the Fifth Mizukage Mei Terumi bluntly tore away Kirigakure's last shreds of pride.

After years of the Bloody Mist policy, nearly all bloodline ninja were wiped out, leaving their military power at the bottom.

Of all the villages, Suna and Kiri were both at rock bottom.

"The era of the Bloody Mist is over. Now, Kirigakure needs to connect with the world, needs resources to flow!"

As a leader who came to power via coup, Mei Terumi's authority far exceeded Gaara's, who was still restricted by his village elders.

In Kiri, it was essentially a one-woman rule.

That's the difference between succession and seizing power.

...

Kumogakure.

"Damn it! I don't believe Konoha's Wood Release and Mangekyō don't have weaknesses! If they were that strong, Konoha wouldn't have stagnated for all these years!"

Fourth Raikage A raged, slamming his desk.

"Bee! And Akatsuki! Damn it, speed up the process—the Allied Shinobi Forces must be formed quickly, and Akatsuki destroyed!"

Akatsuki's hidden strength was terrifying—a hundred thousand White Zetsu, and eight of the nine tailed beasts already in their hands.

With such power, Akatsuki was now a direct threat to the Five Villages.

This war would be brutal, far worse than the previous three ninja wars.

The big villages knew that this battle would take a heavy toll, and at least twenty years to recover from.

As long as they reclaimed their tailed beasts, they could just focus on rebuilding—even if Konoha's Wood Release was strong, the others could outlast them.

"Raikage-sama, the ninja corps are all mobilized..."

As his subordinate reported, Raikage A roared and smashed through the wall.

Inside the office, Mabui held the orders, looking out the window over Kumogakure, her eyes calm.

"Samui, it's time to begin. The Fourth Raikage will lead most of our elites to the front.

Once the front lines become a quagmire, Kumogakure will return to its true master—Lord Shirou's Will of Fire will burn across the ninja world."

With Mabui's words echoing, the blonde, busty Samui nodded firmly.

"This is a village that belongs to us! The true Kumogakure!"