Chapter 0095: The Transformation of Ordinary Citizens into Ninjas

At that moment, the space before Raikage Ai and his companions rippled, wavering like water. The undulating waves of space were almost beautiful, refracting light in strange patterns. Through them, the scenery appeared distorted and bizarre—peculiar and wondrous. Yet Raikage Ai and his group were alarmed, utterly uninterested in admiring the shimmering spatial waves.

What they needed now was someone to stay behind, to handle any sudden developments; only then could most of their group retreat safely. The newcomer who could stir such spatial ripples surely possessed space-time ninjutsu—at least Kage-level strength, and likely among the very best.

Whoever remained would face death.

Raikage Ai halted and shouted, “Don’t be afraid, everyone! Keep moving—I’ll cover the rear!”

“Raikage…” The others looked at him anxiously.

Raikage Ai laughed heartily, pointing at the worried faces. “What are those looks for? I’m stronger than any Kage—even if Orochimaru himself comes, I can escape!”

“What are you waiting for? Get out of here!” Raikage drove the group on.

“Ah!” Onoki let out a heavy sigh from the air, then flew back, sorrow etched in his expression.

Raikage Ai glanced at Onoki. “Tsuchikage, why are you back? Go now!”

Onoki shook his head, palms pressed together to activate his Bloodline Elimination—Dust Release—though he held it in check. With deep sadness, he said, “I may be old, but I haven’t lived enough yet. Still, I can’t bear to see others sacrifice themselves. Raikage, you go.”

Raikage Ai crackled with lightning, a super-Kage, like the thunder god incarnate.

“Tsuchikage, stop playing hero. I’m swift as lightning, I can fight and flee. What’s an old man like you doing here? Go!”

Just then—

“I’ll stay too,” Killer Bee declared.

Raikage Ai and Onoki looked over, displeased. Was the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki here to complicate matters?

Meeting Raikage Ai’s gaze, Killer Bee shook his hands and broke into a rap, “Brother… without me… Raikage’s not complete… my arms are strong… together we’ll chop the enemy’s head… yeah… oh!”

At that moment, space shattered—a portal appeared, and no one could leave anymore.

Raikage Ai suddenly smiled. “Very well, Tsuchikage. The three of us will slay the enemy and escape together.”

…

Space fractured. Orochimaru appeared, with Sasuke carrying Uchiha Itachi on his back. They had barely stepped out before Onoki’s Dust Release greeted them.

Sasuke was startled; he knew Onoki’s Dust Release could reduce people to atoms. But Orochimaru was unfazed. His eyes narrowed slightly, and Onoki’s Dust Release vanished mid-flight.

“What…?” Sasuke realized Orochimaru had shifted Onoki’s attack to another dimension.

At that moment, Raikage Ai flashed with lightning, moving in front of Onoki—not to protect him, but to signal him to stop.

Onoki was puzzled but chose to trust Raikage Ai. “What’s wrong?”

Raikage shook his head and said nothing, turning to Orochimaru. “Orochimaru, what do you want?”

Orochimaru looked at the Eight-Tails. “I need the Eight-Tails.”

Killer Bee drew his blade to attack, but Raikage Ai’s lightning flickered—he appeared before Killer Bee and knocked him unconscious with a punch.

Onoki stared, speechless. “You…”

Raikage Ai ignored Onoki, hoisting Killer Bee and addressing Orochimaru, “Can you spare his life?”

Orochimaru smiled coolly. “I only need him for genetic replication—not for his life.”

Raikage Ai handed Killer Bee to Sasuke, who, at Orochimaru’s signal, slung Killer Bee over his shoulder—one person on each side.

Orochimaru and Sasuke departed, returning to the war fortress.

…

After Orochimaru left, Onoki looked at Raikage Ai in confusion. “You…”

Just then—

“Pfft!” Raikage Ai suddenly spat blood, his lightning flickering erratically, his life force fading.

“Don’t fight against Orochimaru anymore… We’re not his match…” Raikage muttered weakly.

Onoki, startled, descended from the air, covering Raikage Ai with layers of earth to shield him from the chaotic lightning. Supporting Raikage, he asked, “How did you get injured?”

Raikage Ai managed a grim smile, clutching his chest. Only a thin layer of skin remained; inside, it was hollow.

He gripped his abdomen, tugged, and revealed an empty cavity.

Onoki’s pupils contracted. Within Raikage’s hollow abdomen, he sensed the power of Dust Release.

Raikage gave a bitter smile. “It’s the power of space. Orochimaru transferred your Dust Release into my body. Orochimaru… is too strong.”

“We… should surrender.” With these final words, Raikage Ai’s head slumped—he was dead.

Onoki embraced Raikage, letting the lightning strike him. He stared blankly at Raikage, tears streaming from his eyes…

…

Orochimaru returned to the war fortress. The meeting resumed, and no further incident occurred. Orochimaru presented the three methods of cultivation to the rulers and wealthy magnates of each nation.

As long as people followed the regimen of medicine and training, most could achieve some degree of success. Not all, of course—there would inevitably be differences in ability, just like at school, where everyone starts on equal footing, but some go on to elite universities while others do not.

Many factors played a role.

Regardless, the world order was changing. The era of universal ninjas was dawning!

…

More than half a month passed in a blur.

At the entrance of a small village, a child of six or seven sat on a large stone, gazing at the sky, watching the blue heavens and white clouds.

“Child, what are you doing out here?” his mother’s worried voice called from within the village.

The boy turned to see her running over, taking his hand and leading him back.

“Mom, I want to become… someone really, really powerful—a ninja!” he said, face alight with excitement, eyes sparkling.

His mother smiled. “If only you could become a great ninja.”

“Yes, yes!” the boy exclaimed. “Mom, send me to ninja school! I’ll study extra hard and become the best ninja!”

She stopped, crouched to his height, and ruffled his hair, smiling bitterly. “Child, ninjas are born. Commoners will always be commoners.”

The boy was confused. “But mom, the books say ninjas graduate from ninja school.”

She explained, “To be a ninja student, you must first have ninja blood.”

The boy was filled with frustration and disappointment. “It’s not fair! I’ll work really hard! I promise!”

She shook her head sadly. Ninjas could only be born that way; she could do nothing.

Just then—

“Sister, we can become ninjas too!” a man from the village shouted.

“That new leader of the ninja world—Orochimaru—he’s developed some training method. I don’t understand it, but I hear it lets us all become ninjas.”

“Really?” the mother was skeptical.

The man replied, “Why would I lie to you? Every village will have a medicine sales point soon. Ours will too. I just came from the neighboring village—they already have one.”

Excited, the mother pulled her child home. “Come on, let’s grab some money—I’ll take you to the next village!”

…

Scenes like this played out all over. The ninja training method entered every household as a commodity.

People’s lives would change dramatically.

Some grew fond of Orochimaru for this; others resented him. Whatever their feelings, the transformation of ordinary people into ninjas was underway.

That could not be stopped.

As for Orochimaru’s merits and faults, rights and wrongs—those would be left for future generations to judge.