Chapter 87: The Grand Event Begins

Chapter 87: The Grand Event Begins

Boom!

The ground shook violently.

Gigantic trees erupted from the earth, one after another, capturing the attention of everyone in the ninja world. In just a few minutes, these trees continued to grow, branching out, twisting, and intertwining to form a massive viewing platform several times larger than Konoha.

An enormous battle stage emerged before their very eyes. The previously chaotic crowd began to enter the stands in an orderly fashion.

Witnessing this spectacle, the ninja world was in an uproar.

"This! This is Wood Release!"

"Isn't that Naruto? Why is he using Wood Release!"

"What powerful Wood Release! To create such a viewing platform in just a few minutes, is he even human?"

"Could the First Hokage's Wood Release be this formidable?"

A group of Konoha ninjas exclaimed in astonishment.

"As expected of the mighty Naruto, his power is awe-inspiring," the Naruto in the ninja world exclaimed, his eyes shining with excitement as he imagined possessing such strength himself.

"Why can Naruto use Wood Release?" Ninja World Tsunade asked, her chest heaving and her face filled with disbelief.

"Didn't I tell you before?

The Uzumaki and Senju clans are one family.

Their body structures are similar.

With Naruto's strength, he can use Wood Release just by merging his chakra; it's not a difficult task."

Empire Tsunade replied nonchalantly.

"What about you? Can you use Wood Release?" Ninja World Tsunade asked, her eyes intense.

"Yes, but my Wood Release is far inferior to Naruto's. Otherwise, I would have done it myself," Empire Tsunade smiled.

"... "

Ninja World Tsunade remained silent.

"What's the matter? Are you envious? Do you want to learn?

After joining the Empire and taking the Divine Tree elixir to enhance your physique, you'll be able to use it as well," Empire Tsunade teased.

"Is that so..." Ninja World Tsunade murmured, her expression complex as Empire Tsunade led her into the sky.

They surveyed the massive viewing platform below, which could accommodate at least several hundred thousand people.

The central battle stage was ridiculously large, with a length and width of over a kilometer.

Empire Tsunade escorted her to the front row of the right-side viewing seats.

Nearby were familiar faces from the ninja world—Orochimaru, Sasuke, Kabuto Yakushi, and Kakashi.

"Tsunade-sama," Ninja World Kakashi greeted her with a smile and a wave.

Standing behind Ninja World Kakashi was the Empire's Hatake clan.

"Kakashi, how's life treating you here?" Ninja World Tsunade inquired.

"It's pretty good. For people like us who constantly face the possibility of war, this world is as close to paradise as it gets," Ninja World Kakashi replied.

"I see," Ninja World Tsunade nodded noncommittally, then turned her attention to Ninja World Orochimaru and the Empire's Orochimaru behind him. "That Orochimaru is bad news. Are you sure there won't be any trouble with the two of them together?"

As she spoke, she glanced at Empire Tsunade.

"The Emperor who leads such a powerful empire is an existence that no one can defy.

Tsunade... You've been in the Empire for over half a month now.

It seems like all you've done is eat, drink, and play.

How pathetic... Is this the current state of the Hokage of Konoha?"

Ninja World Orochimaru licked his lips and smiled sinisterly.

"Hmph! I'm here to observe and understand the people. As a Hokage, my perspective is different from that of a traitor like you," Ninja World Tsunade retorted coldly, turning her gaze toward Ninja World Sasuke.

"Hmph!"

Ninja World Sasuke responded with a haughty cold snort.

"Little Sasuke! How dare you speak to the leader of your village like that? It's extremely rude! Even if you were a missing-nin in the past, we'll all be on the same side once we join the Empire!"

Empire Mikoto gently patted Ninja World Sasuke on the head from behind.

"They haven't joined the Empire yet. Hmph! I hope they never do, so I can have my revenge!"

Ninja World Sasuke glared with hatred.

"Those were the deeds of some old fogies. Tsunade wasn't even in Konoha at the time, Little Sasuke. You have to be careful who you seek revenge on!" Empire Mikoto admonished.

"Hmph!"

Ninja World Sasuke continued to coldly hmph.

It seemed that he knew everything that had transpired.

Ninja World Tsunade thought to herself, then shifted her gaze away from Sasuke and toward the Empire's Hyuga clan in the distance.

Like the Hyugas of Konoha, they favored white robes.

Wait, one of them was dressed very differently.

Ninja World Tsunade scrutinized the person in question—a form-fitting black outfit that accentuated their excellent figure, with black hair flowing over their shoulders and a crescent moon earring adorning their ear.

Their face resembled Hinata from this world.

"She's quite different from the one in our world," Ninja World Tsunade muttered.

Empire Hinata turned her head slowly and offered a smiling nod.

Looking into her eyes, which shone like stars, Ninja World Tsunade instinctively frowned:

"Those eyes... They're dangerous..."

"The Rinnegan is the supreme eye. Weaklings who face it will feel instinctive fear and trepidation," Empire Neji, sitting next to Empire Hinata, remarked with a mocking smile as he noticed Ninja World Tsunade's stare.

"This guy..."

Ninja World Tsunade's expression turned hostile.

Indeed, this world's Neji was rather unlikeable, lacking the manners of his counterpart from her village.

She thought to herself.

After waiting a while longer, the stage suddenly echoed with stirring music.

Trees burst from the ground, releasing a shower of glowing pollen.

Several stunningly dressed young women appeared out of thin air and began to dance gracefully.

Several ninjas performed hand seals, projecting virtual screens into the sky for all the spectators to see.

Empire Ino joined them on stage, singing and dancing:

"As the moon rises... the red lanterns ignite..."

As the song began, the entire venue erupted in excitement.

A group of young men were shouting at the top of their lungs:

"Ahhhh! Ino! I love you! I love you so much!"

"Look over here! Ino, she's looking this way! She's looking at me!"

"Wife! I love you! Let's have babies together!"

Watching this scene, Tsunade from the Ninja World sighed, "I already knew about Ino's profession in this world, but seeing it in person is still hard to believe.

Who would've thought she'd be so popular...

But with this, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio of this generation is no more."

"Who told you it's over?"

"Ino practices spiritual martial arts.

Becoming a celebrity and dancing and singing in front of people is also a form of cultivation.

Shh! Calm down and sense Ino's aura with your heart."

Empire Tsunade patted Ninja World Tsunade on the back.

"This is also considered cultivating martial arts?" Ninja World Tsunade asked, perplexed, but she still followed Empire Tsunade's instructions and calmed herself.

As she did so, everything around her gradually came to a standstill. Soon, all she could see was Ino Yamanaka, with her radiant white chakra swirling around her brain.

"I see... The path of martial arts is indeed diverse and ever-changing..." Ninja World Tsunade fell silent once more.

She wasn't particularly interested in such things. However, the Konoha ninjas watching the performance through the spacetime communication device were thoroughly engrossed.

Ino was beaming with pride, laughing boisterously, while Sakura was so annoyed that she felt like passing out.

Naruto Uzumaki scratched his head and said, "No matter what they think, I still find Sakura cuter..."

"Tsk! You have no taste, do you only like Sakura because of her broad forehead?"

"Naruto-kun..."

"Ohhh! This is what youth and passion are all about!"

"Let's burn it up!"

Ninja World Tsunade listened quietly, a smile appearing on her face.

It was good that everyone was enjoying themselves. At least... when the time came for their surrender, the resistance would be a little less intense.

The performance ended soon after.

A flash of golden light signaled the arrival of Empire Minato, dressed in a white tuxedo and holding a microphone, on the stage.

The women in the audience went wild once more, screaming and shouting just like the men had done earlier when Ino appeared:

"Husband! Husband! Minato husband!"

"I'll give birth to your monkey, Minato husband!"

"Look at me! Look at me, please!"

"Let me die! Let me die in front of you, Minato husband!"

Konoha, Ninja World.

Naruto Uzumaki's eyes sparkled, "As expected of Uncle Minato, he looks so cool in this outfit."

"The Fourth Hokage was always the most popular in Konoha. If it weren't for Kushina's early action, the other women in the village would probably be just as crazy about him," commented an elderly ninja.

"Why is the Fourth Hokage so handsome, but Naruto is so ordinary?" Ino's voice suddenly cut through the air.

Naruto Uzumaki's face twisted in annoyance, "Damn you, you uncultured woman! I just... I just haven't grown into my looks yet! Just you wait, I'll be as handsome as Uncle Minato one day."

Empire.

Ninja World Tsunade also couldn't help but sigh.

"Minato's popularity is truly terrifying."

"With his background, strength, and his son being a top-ranked expert in the Empire, not to mention his own good looks and warm personality, it's hard for him not to be popular," replied Empire Tsunade.

"But aren't you also ranked first on the beauty charts? Why are you still single if you're so popular?"

"If you ask that question, we won't be friends anymore..."

"Ladies and gentlemen, friends from all over the Empire, good day to you all! I am Empire Minato, the captain of the Imperial Guard and your host for this competition.

I believe that those of you who are here are aware of the rules of the competition.

However, I will still explain them again.

This competition is a rotational contest between the states.

Each state will face off in at least three rounds. The winning state will gain a point, and the losing state will lose a point. Finally, the state with the most points will be declared the winner.

I won't say much more, and now, let's invite the state governors to the stage."

As Empire Minato finished speaking, Empire Danzo, Oonoki, Orochimaru, and Tsunade each made their appearances one after the other. Ninja World Tsunade had met them all before, so she wasn't surprised.

However, soon enough, the final person to appear left her stunned, and she muttered, "Dan... Is it... him?"

Konoha, Ninja World.

A group of young ninjas didn't understand why their Hokage was acting this way.

It was only when an elderly ninja explained that they understood, "In our world, Dan used to be Tsunade's lover, but he died in the war, and that's why Tsunade has remained single ever since."

"War, always war... If only our world could be as strong and peaceful as the Empire.

Then, everyone could live on."

Naruto Uzumaki spoke with a complicated expression.

He thought of his own parents.

"I see." Empire Tsunade finally understood.

"So that's why you've remained unmarried all this time..."

"Dan..." Ninja World Tsunade whispered.

After the five state governors took their seats, they waved to the audience and then sat down in their specially designed seats.

"All five state governors have arrived, and the battle is about to begin.

According to the rules,

Governors Danzo and Orochimaru will each send one contestant to the stage."

At that moment, Empire Minato continued.

Ninja World Tsunade saw Empire Danzo operating his watch.

Soon, two figures appeared on the stage simultaneously.

"Is that their world's Kakashi? But who's the other one?" Ninja World Tsunade asked curiously, looking at the beautiful purple-haired middle-aged woman standing opposite Empire Kakashi.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end