Dragon Heritage, the Prime Minister's Residence.
The Deva Path, in his capacity as Prime Minister, scanned through the official reports submitted from all over the nation. When he came across intelligence regarding the Four-Village Allied Forces, his brow furrowed. War at this juncture was not good news for Dragon Heritage, which was in a state of much-needed reconstruction. However, he also understood that the conflict between the Four Great Shinobi Villages and the Akatsuki organization had reached its peak. The Fourth Shinobi World War was unavoidable, but he hadn't expected it to arrive so soon.
After a moment of thought, the Deva Path summoned an aide to inquire about the stockpile of war materials. Upon receiving a precise figure, he felt a slight sense of relief; the existing supplies could ensure that Dragon Heritage's commodity prices remained at a reasonable level during the Fourth Shinobi World War, at least for a short period. Moreover, he recalled that the Fourth Shinobi World War had only lasted for a very short time.
"Shi, investigate anyone engaging in price gouging. If they cross the line, execute them on the spot." Although relevant laws had already been promulgated, the Deva Path had no doubt about certain individuals' insatiable greed. Those people's noses for profit in such matters were even more terrifying than Dragon Heritage's ANBU intelligence network.
A figure emerged from nowhere in the spacious room, acknowledged the order with a sound, and then vanished. The Deva Path knew his command was already being carried out.
"Are you planning to participate in the Fourth Shinobi World War?" the Deva Path asked without looking up from his writing, his head still buried in his desk. Another figure had appeared in the room at some unknown point.
"What's coming will come; it can't be avoided. Are the subsequent reform plans ready?" Naruto gazed towards the Land of Water, his sight seemingly able to penetrate thick walls and cross vast lands to see the Ten-Tails dormant in the ocean. "Sasuke and the others ultimately didn't take that final step. They might be able to deal with the current Ten-Tails, but as soon as Nagato releases its restraints, the outcome won't deviate much from the original events."
" Are you planning to seal it using the Divine Planetary Devastation, like in the original events, or do you have another plan?" The Deva Path also put down his pen, rose, and leaned against his desk, likewise gazing towards the Land of Water. Nowadays, any shinobi with even slightly keen senses could vaguely detect the terrifying pressure emanating from the Land of Water. For the two of them, the Ten-Tails' aura was as conspicuous as a beacon in the dead of night.
"You know as well as I do that this Ten-Tails is completely imprinted by Otsutsuki Kaguya. Forcibly becoming its jinchuriki... even with my current strength, I couldn't resist Kaguya's internal assimilation," Naruto said, shaking his head. "The best method is still to reseal it using the Sun and Moon Seals from the Sage of Six Paths, like in the original story. But waiting for the Sage of Six Paths to grant the Sun and Moon Seals is too passive. I want to try and see if I can use my own mastery of Yin-Yang Release to forcibly split the revived Ten-Tails back into the nine Tailed Beasts and the Gedo Statue."
"I plan to annex the Land of Rain, the Land of Birds, and the Land of Tea across the sea in the next couple of days to expand Dragon Heritage's territory. Reform requires a relatively stable environment; during the Fourth Shinobi World War isn't suitable. Let's postpone it for a while," the Deva Path stated his thoughts. Due to his long tenure as Dragon Heritage's Prime Minister, his way of thinking had diverged from that of the main body. In the main body's view, forcibly implementing reforms through overwhelming military power was the quickest and easiest method. However, he felt this would cause a decline in Dragon Heritage's national strength and opted for a more moderate approach: a slow, top-down reform. Conveniently, after the Fourth Shinobi World War, the Five Great Nations would enter an ambiguous period, giving them ample time to implement changes.
"Proceed according to your method." Naruto nodded. One acts according to one's position; different roles inevitably lead to different ways of thinking. Both of them were crossing the river by feeling for stones; no one could guarantee their own way would definitely work. But Naruto was confident in his own strength. Even if Dragon Heritage were to fall apart during the reforms, he was sure he could tear everything down and start over.
"Should we be wary of Akatsuki dragging Dragon Heritage into the war?" The Deva Path pinched the bridge of his nose. Although Dragon Heritage's development was on the right track, its period of growth had been too short, its foundation was quite weak, and its reserve of mid-to-low-level talent was simply insufficient. Facing an invasion by White Zetsu, even individuals like them might have to take to the battlefield.
"In Akatsuki's view, Dragon Heritage is more suited for a decapitation strike. Their main forces will be deployed in the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning," Naruto reassured him, relaying the outcome of the Naraka Path's discussions with Black Zetsu. "The war has begun."
Before his voice had even faded, Naruto vanished from the spot.
The Deva Path gazed out the window. As the sun set, darkness began to paint the land, but everyone knew that dawn would surely come.
"Notify Zabuza. It's time to begin."
In northern Dragon Heritage, with the Undead Legion led by the Animal Path, Yomi, as the main force, and Zabuza, Haku, and others leading ANBU units via the Land of Grass to provide support from the rear, Dragon Heritage's war of annexation officially began.
Without Akatsuki's presence, Amegakure would certainly not see the rise of a second "demigod" like Hanzo of the Salamander. The Land of Rain had no ability to resist Dragon Heritage's invasion. Yomi's main legion steamrolled its way forward. By the time they reached Amegakure, Zabuza and his team had already decapitated all of Amegakure's remaining leadership, leaving only a few useful opportunists. The subsequent administrative teams quickly followed. In just a few short hours, the Land of Rain's leadership underwent a complete overhaul. Leaving behind a portion of the Undead Legion and other ninja to guard against any counterattacks from Amegakure remnants, the main force marched west again, towards the Land of Birds.
Compared to the Land of Rain, which still had Amegakure, the Land of Birds—practically a haven for bounty hunters—didn't even have a chance to struggle. Faced with Zabuza and his forces storming the Daimyo's mansion, the Land of Birds' Daimyo, along with all his ministers, directly surrendered.
The sun slowly rose in the east, signifying that the Land of Birds and the Land of Rain had officially been incorporated into Dragon Heritage's territory.
Land of Fire, Eastern Front, Command Post.
"Does that Naruto fellow even understand what he's doing?! The shinobi world is facing a moment of life and death, and he's actually thinking about expanding his territory!" Tsunade, serving as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, received the intelligence from Dragon Heritage and was instantly overcome with fury. The sturdy desk shattered into pieces in an instant.
"Heroes emerge in troubled times," commented the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, who, compared to her, was practically a living fossil of the hidden village era and appeared quite calm.
"Hero? Just a rogue hiding behind the Four Nations, waiting to reap the rewards of others' efforts," Tsunade sneered.
"You and I both understand that with the Land of Rivers replaced by the founding of Dragon Heritage, these events were bound to happen sooner or later. It's just that Namikaze Naruto's audacity still surprises me. Is doing this now really worth it?" Onoki couldn't figure it out. Even someone as strong as the "demigod" Hanzo of the Salamander wouldn't have dared to provoke all Five Great Nations simultaneously.