Chapter 125: The Ninja World
Konohagakure's grand plaza.
The massive square, capable of holding hundreds of thousands, was teeming with people.
Akatsuki members, shinobi from the great nations, Senju Hashirama, and even the possessed body of Rōran's Kazekage, all waited with bated breath.
None expected the culprit to escape Uchiha Kagami's pursuit.
What intrigued them was the aftermath—what price would one pay for stealing a Sharingan?
If the punishment were simply death, it would hardly deter others.
After all, the Sharingan, regarded as the most coveted of kekkei genkai, held irresistible allure for many.
Suddenly, a streak of light appeared above the plaza.
It was Kagami, carrying a captive.
The captive was stripped of his high-collared coat, revealing a frail body wrapped in bandages.
A black rod pierced through his torn, grotesque mouth, rendering him unable to speak.
Those gathered in the plaza felt the weight of Kagami's gaze as his crimson Sharingan swept over them.
Even Nagato, wielder of the Rinnegan, instinctively averted his eyes.
Amidst the crowd, Orochimaru and a recently returned Jiraiya recognized the captive.
"Hiruko…" Kagami's cold voice rang out.
Turning to Orochimaru and Jiraiya, he continued, "You remember him, don't you?"
Jiraiya's eyes widened.
That name—Hiruko—resurfaced from his memory.
The once clean-cut boy, their comrade-in-training, had become an outcast, a fugitive.
Now, he was a shadow of his former self—disfigured, trembling in disgrace.
Kagami addressed the gathering, pointing toward a black cage at the edge of the plaza.
Inside, a skeletal figure was impaled by multiple rods.
"Shimura Danzo," Kagami stated.
"Some of you have heard of him. His soul remains trapped in that cage. If you get close, you can still hear his screams."
He turned back to Hiruko, his tone devoid of mercy.
"Once, another tried to claim the Sharingan. Now he rots in that cage."
"I don't care if you kill an Uchiha, even through trickery or treachery," Kagami declared.
"But I won't tolerate seeing the Sharingan desecrated by the likes of you."
He glanced down at Hiruko with cold disdain.
"Pity you're alone. No kin to share your guilt. So the burden falls solely on you."
The crowd watched as Hiruko's body was grotesquely bound by Kagami's black rods.
One by one, spectral remnants of his victims—shinobi with stolen kekkei genkai—were drawn from his form.
"Did you think this technique would elevate you?" Kagami mocked.
"Your crude experiments only served to delude you into thinking you were a genius. But you've always been nothing more than a pitiful imitator."
The black rods twisted, leaving Hiruko suspended in a dehumanizing posture next to Danzo's remains.
"From now on, you can keep him company."
Kagami's voice carried across the plaza, cold and commanding.
"To steal the Sharingan is to declare war against the Uchiha. And the consequence…"
"Is annihilation."
"Previously, I would simply kill the perpetrator. But now, let me clarify the new rules. If anyone takes a Sharingan—no matter who they are—"
"If they do it in the Land of Water, I will destroy the Land of Water."
"If they do it in the Land of Lightning, I will obliterate the Land of Lightning."
Kagami's faint smile sent chills down every spine.
"The Uchiha are the most exalted clan in this world. Remember your place."
He let his words settle before continuing.
"I had hoped to spare you this speech. But it seems some fools can't recognize their own limitations."
"If you disagree," Kagami said, his voice dropping to a dangerous low, "then attack me now. No need for any tournament—just come at me, all of you."
The plaza fell into a deafening silence.
Kagami hadn't raised his voice, nor unleashed any visible aura.
Yet the sheer weight of his presence stilled every heart and mind.
It wasn't just the less-experienced shinobi who froze. Even the strongest among them, those who knew the true depths of Kagami's power, could do nothing but stand in awe.
His undefeated record, his command over the Land of Fire, and the overwhelming force of his "Crescent Moon Slash"—all cemented his title as the new God of Shinobi.
Even the most battle-hardened warriors did a quick mental calculation.
They realized that, should they try to fight Kagami, the most likely outcome wasn't just their own death, but the complete obliteration of their forces.
Kagami looked at them, unflinching.
"I've given you a chance," he said.
"You chose not to rebel, so I'll consider you honored guests."
"As you know, I am a man of peace."
His tone was calm, almost gentle, as he continued.
"I've ended the chaos wrought by corrupt daimyō, and I've put an end to the Third Great Ninja War."
"This tournament? It's a chance for competition. For growth. To distribute resources more fairly, with less unnecessary bloodshed."
"Surely, you understand the lengths I've gone to."
And then Kagami smiled.
"In light of everyone's presence here, I've decided to increase the stakes. I'll add new prizes to the final rewards."
Suddenly, throughout the crowd—among the daimyō, their attendants, and various onlookers—individuals began to erupt into clouds of blood.
The daimyō of the Land of Earth, the Land of Lightning, and the Land of Water vanished in an instant.
Kagami's expression remained calm as he made his announcement.
"The territories of those three nations will now be added to the prize pool."
He paused, allowing the shock to ripple through the audience.
"This world belongs to the strong," he said with conviction.
"Let battle determine its destiny."
Some in the crowd felt a flicker of dissent at Kagami's words.
How could he justify such an order, such absolute authority?
But no one spoke out.
The demonstration of power—those brilliant, devastating slashes, the unwavering command—was too overwhelming.
Even the staunchest skeptics remained silent.
In that silence, Senju Tobirama, though always at odds with Kagami, found himself grudgingly impressed.
There was no denying it.
This man wasn't simply powerful—he was unstoppable.
A force of nature, reshaping the very foundations of the ninja world.
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