The Infinite Tsukuyomi had been lifted.
All the shinobi awoke from the genjutsu.
However, many of them wore expressions of loss and melancholy, as they had been immersed in that illusory world—many reluctant to leave their beautiful dreams behind.
It was so perfect...
They were the protagonists of their world.
Everything revolved around them.
The once aloof great figures treated them with respect and kindness. Their former, unbeatable enemies fell before their wit and power. The broken lives of the past were mended within the dream.
Of course...
There were exceptions.
For example, when Tenten awoke from the genjutsu, her face showed nothing but immense relief: "Wow, finally free from that genjutsu!"
"Tenten…"
Hyuga Neji also regained consciousness, blinking at her in disbelief. "You… you knew it was a genjutsu the whole time?"
"Of course it was!" Tenten puffed up her cheeks, clearly annoyed by how silly the illusion had been. "Everyone was way too out of character in there!"
However, a slight blush crept across her face—clearly, she had some fond memories of that dream: "But still, I did get the Sage of Six Paths' tools in there… Red Gourd, Bashōsen… they were way too strong…"
Her voice suddenly trailed off.
Tenten looked down at her hands—something felt off.
In her left hand was a sealing scroll. In her right, a cup of clear water.
That illusion had felt way too real...
Only now did she realize something was strange.
She stared at the water, then smiled and took a sip, sighing contentedly: "Well, lucky me—just woke up and already have a drink. Must've been thirsty while under the illusion…"
"Mind sharing a couple drinks?"
Rock Lee came over, supporting their teacher Might Guy.
"I could use a few," Guy muttered. Though he'd been healed by the power of the yang half of Six Paths chakra, he still looked weak and exhausted.
"I've got plenty!" Tenten nodded enthusiastically. Though her space-time abilities weren't strong, she used sealing scrolls to store all sorts of tools and supplies. She always had a lot of them on her.
This scroll…
Should be one that sealed water!
But when she opened it—
Her expression froze.
The symbols inside weren't for water.
They were the shapes of the Sage of Six Paths' legendary tools.
"Is this really mine…?" Tenten began flipping through the scroll, recognizing her own marking—but scratched her head. "When did I even seal these…?"
Still…
She didn't get much time to think.
Her teammates and others in the village were desperate for water. A crowd began to form around her.
"Where's the Hokage?"
Someone finally noticed something was off.
"The Tsuchikage is missing too!"
"The Kazekage's gone!"
"Anyone seen the Raikage?"
"The Mizukage is gone too!"
The battlefield erupted into chaos!
All five Kage had disappeared when the Infinite Tsukuyomi was undone. Each one a national leader—their absence couldn't be ignored.
But…
They were found soon enough.
In an open clearing on the battlefield, the five Kage stood in a line, while the most powerful being in the world, Shigen, sat calmly in front of them.
It looked…
Like they were in a very dangerous position.
Yet no one dared take a step forward.
Uchiha Madara stood nearby with the members of Akatsuki, arms crossed, casually guarding the perimeter. Just lifting his gaze was enough to freeze tens of thousands of shinobi in place.
Shigen sat at a small table. A scroll lay flat on the surface, and he was meticulously writing.
Everyone…
Had to wait until he finished.
Even the five Kage didn't dare move. Or perhaps more accurately, couldn't move—oppressed by the overwhelming force of chakra. They stood like statues, unable to resist, as the man at the desk dictated the future.
"Take a look at this."
Shigen handed the finished scroll toward them.
"What is it?"
Tsunade stepped forward and opened it. In an instant, her face changed.
It was—
A surrender declaration from the Five Great Nations.
"This is impossible!"
She instinctively wanted to protest, lifting her head to argue. "No one will accept—"
"…"
Shigen stared at her calmly. Like the little girl he once watched grow.
That silence—
Made her voice falter.
Tsunade lowered her head, speaking in a soft tone: "Just dissolving all nations in the shinobi world to create a single unified state… is hard enough for people to accept. The daimyo and nobles of the Great Nations will never agree…"
"Tsunade. This isn't a negotiation."
Shigen's voice was calm, almost like he was still teaching her lessons as a child: "What you need to do is accept the fate of the defeated. This agreement is the first step of my and Madara's experiment for eternal peace in the shinobi world."
"What's so unacceptable about it?" Madara snorted nearby, clearly overhearing. "We didn't dissolve your villages. We're even letting you keep your names. That's a generous gift."
"…"
Tsunade's mood sank further.
This agreement…
Would destroy many people's interests.
First, the feudal lords of all nations would be abolished. All their land and assets would be seized and redistributed by the new state.
Second—
The Five Great Shinobi Villages would lose most of their autonomy.
From now on, this one unified state would manage and direct the entire ninja world. The Five Villages would become purely militarized organizations. No more individual academies. No independent funding. All children of age would attend a unified ninja academy.
In other words—
Even though the Five Villages would still exist…
And retain some military power…
They would be entirely dependent on the new state for resources and manpower.
The only possible upside was that if this state truly endured, the ninja world might never see war again.
"Let's hope this peace experiment succeeds."
Shigen's gaze swept across the five Kage, his voice steady and calm: "If it fails… Madara and I will simply start the next one. After all—my life tends toward eternity…"