Naruto: Did i Just Get Reincarnated as Gojo?

Urgent Document No. 9 from the Kumogakure Co-Prosperity Alliance Propaganda Department, Year 51 of Kumogakure: Notice on the Alliance's Countermeasures Against Konoha's Provocative Actions

[Completely Unfounded! Upon investigation, the intelligence about Konoha launching a special military operation is a rumor! Relevant outsourced intelligence personnel have been arrested, and we will strengthen the training of our intelligence department personnel.]

Kumogakure Alliance Document No. 10

[After a second review and confirmation, member villages of the Kumogakure Co-Prosperity Alliance—Kusagakure and Takigakure—have indeed been attacked by Konoha. To prevent further turmoil in the ninja world and to exercise the Alliance's leading role in maintaining peace, Kumogakure will set an example by exercising restraint and will not directly take actions such as ninja confrontation. Member villages should refer to Kumogakure's response measures.]

Kumogakure Alliance Document No. 11

[Konoha has violated the Ninja World Convention by taking special military actions against Kusagakure and Takigakure. Such hegemonic acts are outrageous. The Alliance should have acted immediately upon receiving intelligence, but now it's too late. The fall of Kusagakure and Takigakure to Konoha is a fact. All parties should continue to exercise restraint, strengthen defenses, and avoid causing greater harm to the Alliance's interests.]

[The Kumogakure Alliance is the most powerful military force in the ninja world, capable of protecting all allied nations, with over ten thousand ninjas in a state of high alert... ]

[However, we should reflect on this and establish a more responsive mobile ninja force to protect our member countries, to face any sudden black-tailed beast incidents in the ninja world. Let us take this as a lesson, work together, and join hands to build the best Kumogakure Alliance in the entire ninja world.]

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Kumogakure reacted quickly.

To salvage their reputation after their member countries were attacked by Konoha, the three internal statements planned by Kumogakure were being methodically disseminated throughout the ninja world.

Small ninja villages that had not been invaded breathed a sigh of relief after reading the statements issued by the Alliance's Propaganda Department. Looking at the stirring words, even the weakest villages in remote areas couldn't help but puff out their chests at the thought of the Kumogakure Co-Prosperity Alliance's military and economic strength.

It was as if simply joining this alliance granted them the qualification to wrestle with the other hegemon of the ninja world.

As for the issue of Kusagakure and Takigakure being invaded... it was merely the result of Konoha defying the conventions of the ninja world and openly tearing up the peace treaty!

They were too foolish!

They wasted their only opportunity for a surprise attack on Kusagakure and Takigakure. If they had used it against Kumogakure itself, perhaps they could have dealt a significant blow to our Kumogakure Co-Prosperity Alliance.

But now, they're far from that!

Regarding Kusagakure and Takigakure after seeing such notices...

Setting aside Kusagakure for now—the forces in Kusagakure that were close to Kumogakure had been thoroughly purged by Konoha and Iwagakure.

For the time being, there was no capable person to represent Kusagakure in re-engaging with the Alliance. First, no one had learned the communication ninjutsu; second, no one dared to stir up trouble just after the Konoha-Iwagakure coalition had withdrawn from the village.

As for Takigakure...

Because there was no Kumogakure garrison, the Konoha team was led by Hyūga Hiashi of the Hyūga clan. The extent of the damage was not significant.

They merely symbolically helped Takigakure eliminate a group of pro-Kumogakure collaborators, and also captured Hidan—the mission target appointed by Advisor Gojo—after knocking him unconscious with the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, bringing him back to the village.

In a sense, this was not a special military operation against Takigakure but rather helped them solve internal troubles.

Traitors deserved to be eliminated, and Hidan was a notoriously bloodthirsty ninja in Takigakure. Even as Hyūga Hiashi's team left, villagers of Takigakure came out to see them off.

After the Alliance sent their notice, the few remaining neutral factions finally recognized reality.

All that talk about "rumors," "restraint," "setting an example"... A rotten orange is always rotten! It's a shame that Takigakure was so misguided into recognizing Kumogakure as their big brother, thinking it could lead their village to prosperity.

Thus, the spokespersons first elected by Takigakure neatly severed ties with Kumogakure, even presenting this internal Alliance notice as a treasure to Hyūga Hiashi.

Before leaving, they strongly expressed their admiration for Konoha. Taxes on the Konoha-Suna trade route, collaborative defense—Takigakure was willing to make concessions on all these, just hoping that Konoha would bring their village onto the new era's train of the ninja world.

Such enthusiasm and humility made Hyūga Hiashi, the invader, feel a bit embarrassed. He immediately stated that he would convey the intentions of Takigakure's spokesperson directly to Konoha's leadership.

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"Strongly Condemn Konoha's Hegemonic Actions, Calling on All Parties in the Ninja World to Exercise Restraint"

Kumogakure's statement was sent out to the ninja world as promised.

As soon as it was published, the ninja world was in an uproar!

From the Kage-level elites down to ordinary civilians, everyone was shocked by this news, comparable to a Tailed Beast Bomb explosion.

Symbolizing the two largest forces in the current ninja world, they were finally going to use Kusagakure as the battlefield for a hot war filled with Fire Release and explosive tags!

On one side was Kumogakure, representing the Kumogakure Co-Prosperity Alliance, uniting more than half of the ninja villages. On the other side was Konoha, which had held the hegemonic position in the ninja world for fifty years!

Just hearing the names of the participating sides and the battle reports from the front lines made people's blood boil! It would be worth it even if they died!

The Konoha News also published the situation inside the Hokage Building the next day:

[At 5 p.m. Konoha time on August 2nd, Kumogakure issued a final ultimatum to Konoha, demanding that Konoha provide assurances to stop the special military operation before 7 p.m. that evening. Otherwise, Kumogakure would declare war on Konoha.]

[According to later recollections by Konoha's Anbu squad leader Kakashi Hatake, when Advisor Gojo received the final ultimatum from Kumogakure, he sat silently without moving, then turned to everyone in the operations command center and said: "Even if we lose this special military operation, the First Hokage would still praise us; we defended Konoha's dignity and the Will of Fire."]

[After 5 p.m., member countries of the Kumogakure Co-Prosperity Alliance also issued similar ultimatums to Konoha, with a deadline of 7 p.m. that evening. Konoha ignored the ultimatum from Kumogakure and did not respond.]

[Thus, Kumogakure declared war on Konoha. While exercising restraint, Kumogakure called on member villages of the Co-Prosperity Alliance to implement a war strategy of "only providing military supplies to Kusagakure, not sending ninjas to intervene in the war, nor sending ninjas to attack Konoha's homeland," to avoid increasing the intensity of the ninja war.]

[Thus, the first local hot war since the Third Great Ninja War began! That night, Minato Namikaze, Gojo Kaigetsu, and other high-ranking officials moved their offices from the Hokage Building to a secret temporary operations command center to face any possible emergencies.]

To oppose half the ninja world with the strength of one village—what kind of heroic spirit is this?!

Regarding this issue, the ninja world didn't provide a specific description, but Gojo Kaigetsu couldn't help but marvel at the enthusiasm of Konoha's villagers.

After Kumogakure's declaration of war arrived, not only did Konoha not show panic, but instead became even more restless.

More and more young ninjas took to the streets, pressing their right fists to their left chests, shouting slogans like:

"Offer your heart to Konoha," "Swear to defend Konoha's glory to the death," and so on. These empty slogans continued from evening until late at night.

Even more shockingly, some shouted slogans like "Great Shadow Minato" and "Second Great Shadow Gojo."

People's emotions vary; Gojo Kaigetsu just felt it was noisy. Especially those Uchiha brats—not practicing ninjutsu properly but holding banners and shouting slogans all day—what are they doing?

He, Gojo Kaigetsu, was still cautiously focusing on cultural and economic fields, and they were already clamoring to beat up the entire ninja world and become the Great Shadow?

Isn't this a bit too extreme?

To avoid being swept up by this extreme patriotism, Gojo Kaigetsu had to issue his first order to the Anbu from his safe house—control! Curfew! Anbu ninjas began to intervene and clear the area!

The reason was simple: to prevent the Kumogakure Co-Prosperity Alliance from secretly dispatching troops to attack Konoha. To protect the lives and property of the villagers, at least tonight, everyone should stay at home and not go anywhere.

Wait until dawn; by then, the situation will be clear!

Minato Namikaze paced back and forth anxiously, hesitating whether to use the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport directly to the front lines. Gojo Kaigetsu, however, was sipping hot tea, showing no signs of impatience.

Why is that?

Because the system—which seemed to have skipped many episodes and could be felt through the dimensional wall being ridiculed for its inconsistencies—was crazily feeding Gojo Kaigetsu notifications:

[Under your command, Konoha's blitzkrieg unit thwarted Kumogakure's plan to plant a "nail" in the western world of the ninja world. Prosperity +500]

[... The appearance of Susanoo shocked the Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, Ōnoki, leaving an indelible psychological shadow. Prosperity +100]

[... Fugaku Uchiha defeated and subdued Kumogakure's Two-Tails Jinchūriki, Yugito Nii, and brought her back to Konoha. Prosperity +300]

[... The Mangekyō Sharingan ocular power held by Fugaku Uchiha has further increased. Prosperity +50]

[... Rescued the surviving Uzumaki clan member, Momohime Uzumaki, winning her allegiance and having a profound impact on Konoha. Prosperity +50]

[...]

The massive number of prosperity notifications, like the sound of a payment app notifying account deposits, continuously disturbed Gojo Kaigetsu's nerves.

Annoying!

Having so much prosperity is the same feeling as having too much money; lying in the account, it's just a string of cold numbers.

—Can't spend it all, can't spend it all at all.

It even made Gojo Kaigetsu have a destructive desire to do something big, to let the prosperity decrease a bit.

This destructive desire has nothing to do with good or evil; it's like the deep-rooted flaws in human nature, always wanting to tear beautiful things apart, dragging the pure into darkness.

Fortunately, Gojo Kaigetsu still had his wits; such thoughts were just fleeting.

Because he was annoyed by the prosperity notifications, he simply skipped the later ability upgrades, just roughly glancing over—

Nothing more than reaching "Perfect Level," increasing the unlock degree of Mahoraga, and as for new abilities...

"Space-Time Ninjutsu: Dimensional Slash?"

That's interesting; find an opportunity to try it on a resilient ninja.

"But Fugaku... How did his ocular power increase again? Isn't that a bit strange?"

Gojo Kaigetsu showed a thoughtful expression.

This was the only thing he didn't understand. In theory, for the Mangekyō Sharingan's ocular power to increase, the quickest way is to transplant the Hashirama Cells or be stimulated by strong emotions again.

But in a place like Kusagakure, what is there that can stir such emotions?

It can't be that winning against a Jinchūriki for the first time excited him to the point of a breakthrough, right? Brother Fugaku isn't that impulsive.

Minato Namikaze, pacing back and forth, couldn't contain himself: "Kaigetsu-kun, do you think... will the blitzkrieg unit encounter any problems?"

"Will Kumogakure send out Jinchūriki to reinforce?"

"The Two-Tails and Eight-Tails of Kumogakure, unlike other villages' Tailed Beast powers, are standing forces that can be dispatched from the village to fight at any time."

From Minato's point of view, Kumogakure's military strength is indeed formidable. Although they may not have as many top-tier combatants as Konoha, they have two Jinchūriki who can be mobilized at any time.

And as for Jinchūriki, in the entire Konoha Village, how many ninjas can confront them head-on? Once they appear, even if Fugaku Uchiha can suppress them, the blitzkrieg unit may suffer significant casualties.

This is a very unfavorable situation for Konoha.

"Look at you, getting anxious again."

Compared to Minato's unease, Gojo Kaigetsu appeared completely calm.

One calm, one restless—the stark contrast was evident in the temporary operations command center.

Gojo Kaigetsu calmly began to speak, his voice echoing in the room:

"This is a 'trial'! A trial from the 'ninja world'! The growth of a ninja, the growth of a village... is about overcoming our own and our village's immature past..."

"Therefore, I have infinite confidence in the village passing the trial of the ninja world!"

Gojo Kaigetsu raised his index finger: "Tonight, Fugaku Uchiha will bring back unimaginable surprises!"

"Is... is that so..."

For a moment, Minato Namikaze, Shikaku Nara, and others in the operations command center were all stunned.

In this confusing moment, only Gojo Kaigetsu could serve as the village's stabilizing force, giving people confidence.

His words seemed to have a certain magic, calming Minato's anxious heart. Minato sat back in his seat, resting his chin on his hands, waiting quietly.

Finally—

The door of the temporary command room was knocked. Kakashi Hatake opened it, but the first news to reach Konoha was about Takigakure in the Land of Rivers.

"Hyūga Hiashi reporting mission success!"

Bang!

Hyūga Hiashi threw Hidan—who had been chattering incessantly along the way and now had his mouth sealed—onto the ground like tossing a dead dog.

He didn't kneel or lower himself; instead, he pressed his right fist to his chest in a disciplined manner.

To be honest, these new-era etiquettes proposed by Gojo Kaigetsu not only express the ninja's loyalty to the village but also maintain their dignity.

Even within the Hyūga clan, the elders of the main family were considering whether to have the branch family imitate it, and in the future, the branch family's slogan would be "Offer your heart to the main family."

"Lord Hiashi."

Minato Namikaze hurriedly stood up from his seat to greet him.

Gojo Kaigetsu waved his hand, having Hidan dragged away for future research.

"I have led my unit to complete the special military operation against Takigakure. All pro-Kumogakure Takigakure ninjas have been eliminated under my confirmation."

"According to post-battle statistics, our unit lost a total of seven genin, one chūnin seriously injured, and five lightly injured..."

Small ninja villages outside the Five Great Nations are also graded. Before Hidan rose to prominence, Takigakure could at most be considered a low-ranking small ninja village.

They had very few jōnin, not many chūnin, and a high proportion of genin.

They lacked expensive ninja tools like explosive tags; their reserves might not even match those of a Konoha patrol unit. Takigakure ninjas primarily used affordable and practical tools like kunai and shuriken.

For Konoha, the hegemon of the ninja world, to take action against such a weak, developing small village was a bit too easy.

Therefore, the dispatched ninjas were not all elite chūnin like the other "White Unit."

Even genin, as long as they had physical strength and courage, could participate in this patriotic military operation.

With the power currently possessed by Takigakure, it was impossible to effectively harm Konoha's chūnin or higher-level ninjas. Traps like explosive tags were ineffective if guarded against.

All in all, only seven genin died, which was a pretty acceptable number.

"Hmm... Give them a proper burial. Provide pensions to their relatives and families according to regulations. If they were orphans, transfer the pension to Konoha's orphanage. Also, have their names engraved on the Konoha Memorial Stone."

Minato ordered.

The village was already doing its utmost duty to these genin.

In some villages, genin were even less valuable than explosive tags; if they died, they died. The ninja academy could continuously provide new "mobile ninja tool users."

Not to mention pensions, memorial stones, and other respectful posthumous arrangements.

But in this special military operation, even genin from Konoha were given a quota of three explosive tags per person.

For genin, explosive tags are sometimes a trump card for survival, capable of killing enemies stronger than themselves.

Moreover, unused tags during the operation wouldn't be reclaimed post-battle, considered gifts from Konoha to its courageous ninjas. As for those who died without using their tags... Gojo Kaigetsu proposed providing "Memorial Explosive Tags" in various ninja tool shops.

Hearing this, Hyūga Hiashi couldn't help but feel a warm current in his heart, filled with respect.

He was an elite jōnin of Konoha and the head of the Hyūga clan. He shouldn't be able to empathize with lower-level genin. But such actions by the village leadership made him, as the head of a noble clan, feel respected.

[Ninjas are merely tools for completing tasks.]

This was an unspoken consensus among many ninjas. Only in a village like Konoha, bathed in the Will of Fire, was there a bit more human touch.

But that's all there was to it. The human touch existed, but if it came down to it, the priority of the mission was definitely higher.

Remember Konoha's White Fang...

But now, times have changed!

Although there was no concrete evidence, Hyūga Hiashi had reason to believe that under the Fourth Hokage's regime, the human touch in Konoha was more important than missions!

With such leadership, how could one not be proud, how could one not be loyal?

Charismatic leaders and outstanding subordinates have always been a two-way street.

"Yes! I guarantee to complete the mission!"

Hyūga Hiashi said passionately, his Byakugan eyes seeming to hide a ready-to-pounce lion.

Since the publication of "Military Ration Pills," a seed had been planted in his heart. Because of Minato's words, it broke through the boulder pressing on his heart.

Hyūga Hiashi made up his mind to lead the Hyūga clan to make a change!

It wasn't his personal desire for power or fame in the ninja history at work but—

The Hyūga clan had decayed to the point where a reform "from the main family to the branch family, from top to bottom" was necessary!

The Hyūga clan, which regarded themselves as Konoha's number one clan, had unknowingly fallen far behind the Uchiha.

Whether in the village's reputation or in the clan's atmosphere...

It's hard to imagine that a few months ago, the Hyūga clan's reputation in the village was stepping on the Uchiha clan, and the "unity" and "uniformity" within the clan were far superior to the Uchiha's extreme divisions.

If the same situation happened to the Uchiha, the victorious faction might brand the losers with the Caged Bird seal, binding their descendants as "slaves" for generations.

An earth-shattering change.

Hyūga Hiashi saw everything, anxious in his heart.

"The village already regards ninjas as people rather than tools. The ugly branch family system of the Hyūga clan should also end under my leadership!"

Hyūga Hiashi's eyes were full of determination.

The village's political climate determined whether the Hyūga clan could make significant moves.

The Hyūga clan is like a microcosm of the ninja village. The so-called clan head is just a spokesperson elected by the clan elders. If one really wants to touch the clan's foundational branch family system, the resistance faced will be immense.

Its difficulty is far beyond the factional struggles of the Uchiha.

According to Hyūga Hiashi's understanding, without today's conversation confirming that the village's political landscape had been completely renewed, he wouldn't dare to act on the Hyūga clan's chronic ailment.

If it were the Third Hokage...

If he tried to act on the branch family system, the clan elders would unite to petition the village. For the sake of stability, the Third Hokage might have to personally come to appease his desire for reform.

He would also send Anbu to monitor branch family ninjas to prevent extreme situations.

Beyond five steps, the shuriken is swift; within five steps, the Caged Bird seal is accurate and fast!

Within a five-step range, just activating the curse mark can instantly incapacitate a branch family jōnin.

The Hyūga branch family is a component of military power, and the Byakugan's importance in ninja wars makes it a part that absolutely cannot have issues!

All along, the main family's elders have used this to firmly grasp the village. As long as they treat the branch family ninjas as "hostages," the village cannot interfere with the main family's decisions.

After all, if the branch family ninjas are already lost, they can't afford to lose main family members.

But now, the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze and Advisor Gojo made Hyūga Hiashi see the possibility of mutual destruction!

Yes, mutual destruction was the method Hyūga Hiashi thought of! Either the main family wipes out the branch family, and then he requests the Fourth Hokage and Advisor Gojo to eliminate the main family's hardliners!

If these two leaders, who regard ninjas as people and can empathize, perhaps it can really be done!

Use this to force the main family's elders to abolish the Caged Bird system.

"Each of you, shouting that the branch family system is the clan's foundation, more important than life. When the knife is really at your throat, can you still say such sanctimonious words?"

Hyūga Hiashi straightened his back, sneering in his heart.

"Hizashi... I said I would abolish the branch family system."

Gojo Kaigetsu seemed to sense something. When he saw Hiashi's passionate and expectant eyes, he was startled.

"Hey buddy, what's with that look? Hyūga Hiashi isn't that kind of person... right?"

[Hyūga Hiashi is determined to make the Hyūga clan change. Prosperity +50]

Hmm?

Make the Hyūga clan change?

Gojo Kaigetsu was momentarily stunned, then realized, revealing a smile of mutual understanding. If it's the kind of change he thought...

Byakugan, pure Byakugan, a massive amount of pure Byakugan... Is Sharingan x Byakugan the ultimate answer? High-quality troops with clean backgrounds and absolute loyalty... Make the Hyūga clan owe an unrepayable debt of gratitude...

Mangekyō Sharingan x Pure Byakugan x Nine-Tails, Two-Tails, Three-Tails Chakra x Hashirama cells x White Zetsu cells x Wood Release—blending all currently mastered resources like a hodgepodge—can we create a monster?

From the moment he matched wavelengths with Hyūga Hiashi, the ideas in Gojo Kaigetsu's mind burst out wildly, like a fountain.

He couldn't wait to let Orochimaru, who had been transferred to the underground secret laboratory, experiment on these ideas one by one.

Byakugan! He must make the Hyūga clan owe him a favor!

Of course, he couldn't propose this proactively. Just like in a romantic battle, the one who speaks first loses; the one who acts later has the bargaining power.

"Don't let me down, Hyūga Hiashi."

"As an advisor, I really want to have another close friend."

The good news brought by Hyūga Hiashi was like a shot of adrenaline, invigorating everyone in the temporary operations command center, changing the previous tense atmosphere.

Even Minato, who had been worried about the front lines, smiled more.

At this moment, a double blessing—

The messenger Kakashi Hatake knelt on one knee, reporting to the assembled village leaders:

"Report! The White Unit led by Jōnin Fugaku Uchiha has returned to the village!"

Whoosh—!

All the high-level officials of Konoha stood up; Minato Namikaze stared intently at his disciple, as if wanting to glean reassuring information from his expression.

Finally, he couldn't hold back his tension:

"What's the situation?"

"It seems... even better than before they left. The White Unit doesn't appear to have suffered significant casualties, and the mission target, Momohime Uzumaki, was also successfully brought back."

"And..." Kakashi paused, his expression a bit dazed.

"And what?"

Kakashi came back to his senses: "Lord Fugaku has brought back Kumogakure's Two-Tails Jinchūriki to the village."

"Quickly, invite them! No, we'll go over—to the Hokage Building!"

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