Chapter 336: Yagura – "Kirigakure Chose the Right Side"
"Tsukuyomi Space will collapse in 30 minutes. All units, advance at full strength. Secure the frontlines of each nation and absorb the small countries between Yuki no Kuni and Ame no Kuni."
"The Sage Arts unit stationed in Oni no Kuni is to commence operations immediately. Coordinate with Uchiya Shinji's backup plan and seize the territories Fire Country took from Wind Country."
"Former Wind Country shinobi, follow up and reclaim your homeland."
After relaying orders to various divisions, Hyuga Fuji finally contacted Yagura.
"Yagura, on the Iwa front, Kirigakure will be the first to awaken. I don't need to tell you what to do, do I?"
"Understood."
Inside the virtual space, Yagura watched the one-sided battle unfold and joked, "Do you have a collection obsession? I spotted the Seven Ninja Swordsmen here—you revived them all?"
"Minato and I were the ones who killed them."
"…."
Kill them, then bring them back as undead labor?
Now that's efficiency.
Yagura sighed, "How about sending the former Kirigakure shinobi over to me? They'd adapt quickly to our new tactics."
Especially the Second Mizukage's summon—the Clam Genjutsu technique.
If he remembered correctly, the Second Mizukage's giant clam could apply illusions to other ninjas.
With Kirigakure's new tactical strategies, this could create unexpected advantages.
Fuji immediately saw through Yagura's intentions but didn't refuse.
"Ask them yourself. If they're willing to fight in the Kirigakure sector, I won't stop them."
"Good." Yagura was pleased, but then a thought crossed his mind, and he frowned.
"With this war, our combined territories will double, covering nearly half the ninja world. Can you hold all of it?"
Kirigakure didn't worry about this.
Their navy was unmatched, ensuring no enemy could breach Water Country's defenses. They only had to secure the Iwa front.
But Yuki no Kuni was expanding too fast.
Could they really defend it all?
"No problem." Fuji replied calmly.
He hadn't even brought back the Moon's puppet army yet.
Before, their energy source was a concern since the Tenseigan's power wasn't infinite.
But now, with the Alaya Project in motion, countless mental spheres had been deployed across the ninja world.
Fuji had an abundance of chakra to spare.
Even if each person contributed just one ten-thousandth of Kakashi's chakra output every few weeks, the combined energy was enough to keep tens of thousands of puppets operational indefinitely.
A 100,000-strong puppet army would be more than enough to secure their expanded borders.
"If you say so, then fine."
Originally, Yagura had planned to show off Kirigakure's strength, but hearing this, he dropped the subject.
Instead, he asked, "Are you using this event to win public support?"
Fuji smirked.
"Who defeated Akatsuki's Tsukuyomi? Leaders who fail to protect their people don't deserve loyalty."
"…I knew it."
Yagura rolled his eyes, but deep down, he felt relieved.
If Fuji hadn't had absolute control over this war, Kirigakure might have been on the losing side.
A nation's military exists to protect its people—if they failed at that, the consequences for their leaders would be terrifying.
Fortunately, Kirigakure had backed the right side.
---
"Lord Fuji, we've located Konan and Otsutsuki Shinichi."
Fuji snapped out of his thoughts as a White Zetsu emerged from the ground beside him. He nodded.
"Follow them. When the time is right, stage your deaths convincingly. Your replacement bodies are already prepared."
If they were going to stage a deception, they had to do it properly.
"Understood!"
The White Zetsu disappeared underground.
Fuji turned away and stepped through a suddenly appearing space portal, returning to Ideal City.
The moment he reappeared, Senju Tobirama spoke up.
"Are you sure about letting White Zetsu and Nagato meet?"
There were only a handful of people in the world Fuji had to stay cautious of, and Tobirama knew that Fuji was laying a trap.
But was this really necessary?
White Zetsu wasn't particularly strong, just annoyingly hard to restrain with current technology.
But with Fuji's level of control, if he truly wanted to capture White Zetsu, he would have done so already.
"White Zetsu has something I need. If someone infiltrates, it actually reassures me more."
Fuji shook his head and changed the subject.
"Now that you've revealed yourself, are you heading to the battlefield?"
Tobirama hesitated.
"Forget it. Hardly anyone saw me, and this war will end soon. I don't want you using me as some 'peace ambassador' to negotiate with Tsunade."
He rolled his eyes.
This war had seen Kirigakure crush Iwa, while Akatsuki's interference stalled Konoha, indirectly helping both Snow Country and Kirigakure.
With the Dream World still trapping thousands of ninja, they had gained a massive advantage.
By the time their enemies woke up, Fuji's forces would have already secured victory.
The only challenge now was stabilizing their newly acquired territories.
Tobirama glanced toward Hashirama, who was "playfully arguing" with Uchiha Madara in the distance.
"I'll handle guarding Madara. But what about your teacher… aren't you going to do something about him?"
He gestured toward Heaven's Spear.
At the moment, Orochimaru was standing atop the celestial structure, studying its design.
Clearly, he found Fuji's recent power surge very intriguing.
Fuji gave him a completely indifferent look.
"Let him be."
"He can go wherever he wants. No need to stop him. When the time comes, he'll settle down on his own."
Tobirama's expression darkened.
"You're way too sentimental about him. But what about my brother? Is he just going to follow Orochimaru around like a bodyguard forever?"
Fuji gave him a nonchalant glance.
"That's his choice, isn't it? I don't see Orochimaru forcing him."
"…That's not the point!" Tobirama protested.
If Tobirama had a personal ranking of the people he disliked most, it would go something like this:
1. Uchiha Madara – The bastard responsible for his brother's death.
2. Hyuga Fuji – The younger punk who disrespected him constantly and ruined his plans multiple times.
3. Orochimaru – The "mini bastard" who raised the "big bastard".
And now Fuji wanted his big brother to play bodyguard for his least favorite student?!
No. Absolutely not.
"Hashirama does whatever he wants. You think you can stop him?" Fuji chuckled and walked off toward Tamamo and Uchiha Hikari, leaving Tobirama standing there, frozen.
Can I stop Hashirama from doing what he wants?
Tobirama seriously thought about it for two seconds…
And then realized the painful truth—
No. He never could.
From the Tailed Beasts to the village system… From working with Madara to collaborating with the Uchiha…
Every single time, his brother ignored him and did whatever the hell he wanted.
Every single time, Tobirama was the one cleaning up the mess.
And every time, Hashirama just laughed and said:
"I understand, Tobirama! Next time, I'll definitely… do it again!"
Tobirama sighed in pure resignation.
Fine. Let him do what he wants.
As he walked away, his silhouette looked unusually bleak.