The war had ended, and Konoha had emerged victorious. The world was about to enter a new era.
This news spread quickly across the globe, and it didn't take long for the entire world to know of this event.
The words "unbelievable" and "incredible" were overused to the extreme in the world by now.
Almost every country, almost every shinobi village, almost every person was stunned, completely shaken.
Konoha had won. Konoha had won again.
And this time, the entire world waged war against a single village, Konoha, and they all lost.
It was hard to comprehend, truly baffling.
But as the events of the war were recounted, as participants began to share their experiences, the people of this world slowly began to accept the truth: there were truly individuals in this world who possessed godlike power.
Power that was unmatched. Power that swept everything before it.
Mochizuki Hui, Uchiha Madara, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, Senju Nawaki.
These four individuals had become known as the gods of the world.
Many speculated whether the next era would be called the Era of the Gods, where these four deities would jointly govern the entire world.
No one knew what such an era would look like. What changes would it bring to their lives? What would the future hold?
If… if the world could become like Konoha, wouldn't that be wonderful?
Hearing tales of Konoha's prosperity and strength from others, many couldn't help but long for such a future.
And so, after the great war ended, the world fell silent.
Everyone was waiting.
But in this quiet world, there was also sadness.
The four great shinobi villages grieved deeply, for they had once again lost their leaders.
And this time, they were about to lose their villages as well.
The four great shinobi villages would cease to exist in the future.
This time was different from the last. After the previous great war, the people of the four villages still held onto hope for the future.
But this time, nearly all the shinobi of the four great villages had participated in the war and witnessed firsthand the godlike power of those four individuals.
In the face of such overwhelming strength, they couldn't muster even a shred of resistance.
They wanted to protect their villages, the places they had called home for so many years.
But deep down, they all knew. This time, their villages had no future. They were destined to become history.
Even so, the people themselves still had a future.
"Father…"
In Kumogakure, before the grave of the Third Raikage, A cried uncontrollably.
A burly man weeping like that was a testament to the depth of his sorrow, it was…unimaginable.
He wasn't going to become the Fourth Raikage, because Kumogakure no longer needed a Raikage.
After witnessing Konoha and the immense power of those four gods, the people of Kumogakure had completely lost hope.
They were quietly waiting for the arrival of the new era.
An era where the entire world would be united under one nation, one village.
A wasn't even his real name; it was merely the title passed down to all Raikage of Kumogakure.
But from now on, he decided to officially change his name to A.
Even if he couldn't become the Fourth Raikage, he wanted to carry on the name that symbolized the Raikage.
As for vengeance, the thought lingered in A's heart.
He was determined to do it.
Even though he had witnessed Hui's power, seen that godlike strength with his own eyes.
Even knowing that seeking revenge was like a moth flying into the flames.
He still chose to press forward without hesitation.
After crying his heart out, A embarked on his journey to seek revenge against Hui.
Unfortunately, he didn't even make it out of the village. He was intercepted, detained, and imprisoned by some of Kumogakure's shinobi.
Ironically, the one who led the group to capture him was his closest friend.
A was locked up, confined within a cell.
His best friend stood outside the cage, silently watching the dejected man within.
After a long while, his friend finally spoke.
"I know you want revenge. If this were in the past, I would've supported you without question.
"But now, it's different. This village no longer has a future. However, every single person living in this village still does."
"I cannot allow your personal hatred to ruin the future of everyone in this village. The person you wish to attack is the leader of all our futures," A's friend said firmly.
"Moreover, if you truly want revenge, shouldn't your targets be the Third Kazekage and the Third Mizukage? Lord Third Raikage died at their hands."
"I know you'll argue with me about this reasoning. Honestly, I'd argue with myself too if I could. But this is the only way I can convince myself."
"I hope you can understand my perspective, A. We're not young anymore. After Lord Third Raikage's death, it's our responsibility to ensure a better future for the people of this village."
With a sigh, he continued, "That's all I wanted to say. I'll keep you locked up here for three days. After that, no matter what choice you make, I won't stop you."
Having said his piece, A's friend left the cell, leaving A alone, slumped in defeat against the cold walls.
This scene was not unique to Kumogakure.
Even though many had witnessed the godlike power of Hui and the others and had abandoned their thoughts of revenge, there were still some whose hatred blinded them. These individuals insisted on seeking vengeance, even if it meant certain death.
However, the majority were stopped.
Those who managed to leave their villages were killed outside their borders.
Even the rare few who infiltrated Konoha were unable to find any trace of Hui.
In their desperation, some sought him out recklessly, only to be apprehended by Konoha's Anbu.
Their fates depended on their attitude.
Some were rehabilitated and eventually released without charges.
Others, who remained obstinate, ended up contributing to the advancement of human scientific research.
Meanwhile, people in other countries lingered in a state of uncertainty and anxiety. They yearned for a bright future but feared a worse one.
Until orders from Konoha arrived, this limbo of hope and fear consumed them.
As for Konoha? it was thrivingl, ively and jubilant as ever.
Konoha had once again triumphed in war, and this time, it was against the entire world.
Unlike before, there were no remaining enemies after their victory.
Now, no power on earth could pose a threat to Konoha.
With four godlike individuals in its ranks, Konoha had become an unshakable force.
The only thing people feared was the possibility of discord among those four individuals. A civil conflict between them could lead to utter chaos.
After all, many great strongholds throughout history had crumbled from within.
Would these four unparalleled powers one day clash over some irreconcilable difference? No one could say for sure.
What they didn't know, however, was that these four weren't equals.
Nawaki was undoubtedly the weakest.
He hadn't even reached the Six Paths level yet, his strength far inferior to the other three.
At the second tier were Kaguya and Madara.
Their powers were closely matched, making it difficult for either to decisively defeat the other. If they were to fight, it would undoubtedly result in a prolonged and grueling battle.
At the very top, though, stood Hui.
Neither Kaguya nor Madara, let alone Nawaki, could compare to him.
To Hui, they were no different from ordinary shinobi, as he could annihilate them effortlessly.
The only difference lay in how he chose to obliterate them.
Thus, the world's fears were, in reality, unfounded.
As long as Hui existed, the world would remain at peace. Neither Madara nor Kaguya would dare challenge him.
Furthermore, the shinobi world still had external enemies, the Ōtsutsuki clan in the starry skies and other alien races in the universe.
As long as external threats persisted, internal stability would prevail.
But the people of the world didn't know this, so their anxiety lingered.
While the rest of the world was steeped in apprehension, Konoha was hosting a meeting that would determine the future of all humanity.
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