In previous tournaments, the so-called "strongest" warriors were interested, but not nearly as much as they were now.
Back then, they knew the Sun God Seal was powerful, they knew the Sun God Kingdom was strong, and they knew Hyuga Hitoshi himself was extraordinary. But they lacked a real understanding of what that meant. Maybe if they had never faced Hyuga Hitoshi directly, they still wouldn't have understood the full extent of his power.
But when the Sun God Star suddenly appeared right next to Earth, they finally realized the vast gap between humans and gods. A human is just a human—reaching the level of a god is impossible. The sheer shock of someone bringing an entire planet back with ease was something that some people might need a lifetime to process.
The impact of the Sun God Star became most obvious as the tournament's registration deadline approached—there was an explosive surge in participants.
There is a world of difference between a mere human trying to claim the title of a god and an actual god bestowing their mark upon others. The shinobi tournament was the closest they had ever been to a god, and no one wanted to miss this chance. Even if they could only catch a glimpse of the Sun God, that alone would be enough for them.
Finally, as registration closed and the official trials were about to begin, shinobi from all over Ushiuma started gathering in Konohagakure, causing a massive population spike across the entire Land of Fire.
The Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Fugaku, was both exhausted and delighted. On one hand, he was so busy that he was practically running in circles. On the other, the huge influx of people brought in an overwhelming amount of money. However, being a responsible leader, Fugaku made sure to hand over most of the profits from the tournament to the Sun God Kingdom, saying it was only right to contribute as part of the kingdom's forces.
His sense of duty deeply shocked Uchiha Itachi, who had recently returned to the Uchiha clan and Konohagakure. But with his desire to turn over a new leaf, he didn't have much time to dwell on it. After rejoining the police force, he quickly took on security duties under Shisui's command, leading a busy but fulfilling life.
"Work hard and earn enough contribution points as soon as you can. Then you can revive your brother Asuma and finally ask him about what really happened back then."
At the entrance of Konohagakure, Uchiha Shisui, now the vice-captain of the police force, patted Itachi on the shoulder and grinned encouragingly.
Shisui was a genuinely kind person who cared about both the village and the Uchiha clan. Unlike Itachi, he had never wavered in his loyalty. But that didn't mean he would push Itachi away for having taken the wrong path before.
The world worked in mysterious ways. After everything, these two, who were once teacher and student, had once again become close colleagues. Though, if he had to choose, Shisui still preferred chatting with Kakashi rather than Itachi.
"I was foolish before. From now on, I'll be counting on you, Shisui."
Itachi bowed sincerely to Shisui.
Returning to Konohagakure had given him time to reflect. After a deep conversation with his father, he finally understood the man's true thoughts.
Ambition?
Yes, his father had it. But with the Hyuga clan acting as a natural check on the Uchiha, the Uchiha clan would never cross the line and do something reckless. His father's greatest achievement was knowing when to submit. And as his father's son, Itachi was now figuring out how to follow in his footsteps. At the very least, he intended to keep the "Uchiha Black-Haired Beauty" plan going strong.
Most importantly, he had learned that when something wasn't clear, he should ask instead of making blind assumptions. After everything he had been through, Uchiha Itachi had finally come to understand the importance of communication.
"No need to stress. Our job isn't that complicated."
Shisui spoke casually.
The tournament was about to start, and shinobi from all over Ushiuma were gathering in Konohagakure. Even though the Fifth Hokage had ordered the Sun God construction team to work overtime and build a massive stadium outside the village, it was still barely enough to house all the participants. A second stadium was already being built.
With so many people in one place, it should have been a recipe for chaos. Normally, large crowds meant rising tensions and potential fights.
But oddly enough, the opposite happened.
The usual hostility between rival factions seemed to fade. When people saw each other, they would nod in acknowledgment. Even former enemies would simply scoff and walk away instead of picking a fight.
And whenever a hot-tempered warrior was about to start something, a glance at the enormous planet floating next to Earth was enough to make them hesitate and calm down.
So, as more and more people arrived, something unexpected happened—Konohagakure's security situation actually improved. And once the Sun God Kingdom's elite guards, led by the Ushiuma captain, officially took their positions, the atmosphere became so harmonious that it left many in a daze.
It felt like they were seeing the shinobi world for the first time.
This is the power of the Sun God's rule!
All ninjas who want to participate in the Grand Ninja Tournament will naturally save their anger and hostility for the battles ahead, instead of causing trouble in private and risking disqualification.
Their desire for the Sun God Seal has reached its peak, and they are eagerly anticipating the divine power that can shift entire planets.
However, organizing the tournament is a complex process. Besides categorizing participants effectively, battle schedules for different groups must be carefully arranged, ensuring both fairness and entertainment value. Because of this, the entire Sun God Kingdom has been operating at full speed, and those with the necessary skills for planning and coordination have become highly valued.
But it seems Fugaku couldn't resist his habit of flattery. During one of the meetings, he suddenly suggested that since this was the Grand Ninja Tournament, it should be an all-around competition. That meant female ninjas' unique charm should also be considered. He proposed incorporating the Sun God's personal maid selection contest into the tournament, merging both events into one.
After heated discussions, the proposal was approved. The former leader of the Sun God's maid squad—now the high priestess of the Sun God and the head of the Sun God Faith Group—Hyuga Natsu, became the chief organizer of the selection process. Thanks to Fugaku's "long black hair plan," Hyuga Hitoshi's maid squad had seen constant turnover, with new members replacing the old ones.
The first batch of maids had mostly moved on to greater achievements, with some even rising to higher positions. This opened a new path for female ninjas, inspiring them to work hard for a better future.
Once the maid selection—essentially a ninja beauty contest—was added to the Grand Ninja Tournament, female ninjas became more eager to participate than anyone had expected, creating an electrifying atmosphere.
"Sis, are you really sure about this?"
In an upscale guesthouse in Konoha, reserved for VIPs, Kankuro from the Sand Village was maintaining his puppet while glancing at his sister, Temari. She was looking in the mirror, her face slightly flushed, but she forced herself to stay calm.
"Yeah," Temari responded with a light cough, trying to sound composed in front of her younger brother. "Even though the tournament rules don't say you can't participate in the maid selection while competing in other events, I want to focus on preparing for the selection. I don't have the energy to divide my attention."
"Besides, Kazekage-sama said the Sun God remembers me. She thinks I have a good chance."
That was basically an unofficial guarantee!
And who was Kazekage-sama?
Even though she never mentioned it, everyone in the ninja world knew she was the Sun God's first consort. Back when he was just an ordinary clan leader in Konoha, she had already been by his side.
In both status and reputation, the Fifth Kazekage, Hyuga Sora, was deeply respected in the Sun God Kingdom. If she said Temari had a good chance, then Temari really had a good chance. Even if she wasn't officially chosen, she would likely still get in through the back door.
Unfair?
Heh, fairness has never truly existed in this world. Some people are born with everything others spend a lifetime chasing. Some men spend years chasing a woman they can never have, while others can afford to play around with them for fun. And sometimes, a random foot massage might let you experience what it's like to be rich for a few hundred bucks.
Besides, the maid squad is the Sun God's personal team. Whether someone gets in or not is entirely up to him. There's no need for fair competition here. Ensuring balance and fairness in the combat portion of the tournament is already a generous gift from the Sun God.
"Kazekage-sama is really good to us."
Hearing his sister's firm decision, Kankuro didn't try to talk her out of it. Everyone had the right to choose their own path. That was their freedom.
And honestly, if his sister joined the Sun God's maid squad and caught his eye, that would be great for Kankuro too. At the very least, when he applied for a position in the Second Research Division, even Sasori might show him some respect, right?
Yeah, this kind of natural favoritism is what people call "fairness."
"But…"
After some thought, Kankuro turned to look at Gaara, who was staring blankly at the wall. A complicated expression appeared on his face.
"Sis, about the way the Sun God Kingdom removes tailed beasts…"
He didn't finish his sentence, but Temari already knew what he wanted to say. She waved her hand, signaling that he didn't need to explain further.
"Safely removing a tailed beast is no big deal for the Sun God. He doesn't need to weaken the Sand Village by taking Shukaku away. After all, Kazekage-sama is his first consort—he wouldn't do something like that."
"Besides, even the Jinchuriki of the Four-Tails and Five-Tails, who died after having their beasts drained, were later revived by Oonoki after earning enough points, right? They lost their tailed beasts but got to live as normal people again. As Gaara's siblings, isn't that what we want for him?"
The ninja world's story had long since gone off the rails.
And the fate of the Sand Village's "Three Giants" had changed as well. After the first Grand Ninja Tournament, Rasa lost his title as Kazekage. Not only was he killed, but he was later revived using Edo Tensei and turned into a gold-mining machine for the Sand Village, working tirelessly in the desert and at sea. Over the years, he had accumulated a significant amount of wealth for the village.
Of course, even though Rasa was their father, and he had been used as a tool after death, none of them blamed the Sun God or the Fifth Kazekage. Their father had indeed made mistakes, and under Kazekage-sama's leadership, the village had flourished.
Unfortunately, before all that, Rasa had sealed Shukaku inside his youngest son, creating the "little panda." But after Pakura cleared out the corrupt higher-ups in the Sand Village, she helped pave the way for a new Kazekage. After taking over as the Fifth Kazekage, she took great care of Rasa's widow, Karura, and also reinforced Shukaku's seal multiple times.
During that process, Gaara gradually learned to control himself and his emotions.
But being a Jinchuriki meant dealing with constant judgment from others. Over the years, Gaara had been ostracized countless times. People never said it out loud, but their eyes always revealed what they really thought.
Fortunately, those days were finally coming to an end.
Not long ago, the Sun God issued a decree, summoning all Jinchuriki. He intended to use their tailed beasts for something.
Of course, after he was done, anyone who still wanted to be a Jinchuriki could have their tailed beast returned—if the beast agreed. They would even be bound together in a new way.
This new method wouldn't seal the tailed beast inside the host, nor would it restrict the beast's freedom. At the very least, the tailed beast could shrink down and stay by its host's side, roaming freely. It was a much more humane system.
And it wasn't just a theory—there were already living examples of this new Jinchuriki system.
For example.
"Corner!"
A loud voice suddenly came from downstairs. The moment Kankuro heard it, he and Temari both sighed and held their heads in frustration, while Gaara's eyes lit up, and he immediately grabbed his gourd and dashed out.
Alright.
Even though Shukaku and Kurama don't get along, some people are just born to be friends.
When Gaara, who was no longer as closed off, met Naruto, who had become extremely outgoing thanks to Kakashi's teachings, their friendship grew even stronger. And right now, Naruto was calling Gaara out to train his lower body.
Yes, after gathering information from various sources, he seemed to have figured out the secret to Sasuke and Kakashi-sensei's strength.
It was all about training their lower body!
In Konoha, in the Sun God Kingdom, and across the entire shinobi world, only men with incredibly strong lower body strength could truly rise to the top. Even Sasuke's useless older brother, who barely trained before giving up halfway, was still ridiculously strong. This opened a new path for Naruto.
"Let's go train our lower body!"
Downstairs, with a smaller, chubby fox perched on his shoulder, Naruto slapped his thigh and called out to Gaara.
"Kakashi-sensei said, 'Sharpening your blade right before battle may not make it sharper, but it still shines!' The tournament is coming up, so we absolutely have to stabilize our lower body! Maybe if I can do 10,000 squats in one go, I'll finally be able to beat Sasuke."
You're dreaming, kid. I don't even have the energy to burst your bubble. Do you even realize that you and that Sasuke guy aren't even in the same genetic league?
Kurama, who had just regained his freedom, twitched the corner of his mouth. He suddenly recalled the moment when he was inexplicably freed and wanted to let out a mighty roar to assert his presence. But then, that terrifying boy named Sasuke had simply glanced at him with calm eyes, and that alone sent shivers deep into his soul.
This just proves that tailed beasts can absolutely coexist peacefully with humans—especially when the human in question can suppress them with a single hand. In such cases, they become very understanding and even nuzzle your leg affectionately.
After all, just being able to appear outside in a smaller form was already satisfying enough for them. They even received specially formulated tailed beast food as regular supplies from the Sun God Kingdom's research department. At the very least, Kurama was quite content with his current life—so much so that he didn't even hesitate when agreeing to merge with the other tailed beasts to form the Ten-Tails.
And the truth was, when your strength reached a certain level, even if you openly declared your plan to collect all the tailed beasts and explained exactly what you were going to do with them, people would still obediently hand them over and cooperate fully.
Because everyone knew that the survival of the shinobi world depended entirely on Hyuga Hitoshi's will. In this situation, whatever he wanted to do with the tailed beasts, they had no power to resist. Their only option was to comply.
Of course, Hyuga Hitoshi didn't issue this command for no reason. He had long been working on the concept of a "Limited Tsukuyomi." He planned to use the power of the Infinite Tsukuyomi to edit certain scripts, categorize the dreams within it, and integrate them into the Limited Tsukuyomi.
This way, the Limited Tsukuyomi would feel even more real. He would then use it as a test, forcing the participants of the shinobi world tournament to face their true selves.
That being said, after absorbing the Chakra Fruit, both Hyuga Hitoshi and Kaguya—who had completely recovered with the help of the Sun God Seal—could release the Infinite Tsukuyomi at will. There was no need to collect the tailed beasts at all. But he still went through with it.
One reason was to observe how the shinobi world would react to his actions. Another was to use this move to provoke those troublemakers who were participating in the tournament. Lastly, he was simply curious.
He wanted to compare the Ten-Tails on Earth to the one on the Sun God Star. He wanted to see the differences between them, observe how each transformed into a God Tree, and analyze how they absorbed planetary energy.
This was crucial for his and Orochimaru's newly established research project on sustainable Chakra Fruit cultivation. It was a key experiment. And if necessary, he would even force Otsutsuki Isshiki to hand over the Ten-Tails embryo he had hidden in a different dimension for further study.
He firmly believed that Isshiki, who had just surrendered and pledged loyalty to the Sun God Guard, would have the awareness and dedication to comply.
For now, though, there was no need to rush. The experiments on the Sun God Star were progressing well, and Orochimaru excitedly sent him reports on the results every day.
The way she threw herself into the research, with a white lab coat and an intense drive, made Hyuga Hitoshi feel uneasy. In a fit of frustration, he took in the three divine princesses of Ryuchi Cave—Tianxin, Ichikishima, and Tagitsu—as his new divine consorts. It took him several days of indulging himself like Xu Xian before he could get that disturbing image out of his mind.
As the shinobi world tournament approached, the atmosphere continued to heat up.
Everyone was busy with their own preparations—some training relentlessly to compete in the tournament, while others worked on their appearance to join the maid squad.
Amidst all this chaos, the five Kage—the most powerful figures in the shinobi world, second only to the Sun God Kingdom—gathered in Konoha's massive conference room.
However, this time, the meeting wasn't called by Fugaku. He didn't even have the authority to do so.
Once everyone had assembled, they respectfully looked up at Konan, who was dressed in the distinctive uniform of the Sun God Alliance's secretary corps. She was the White Tiger Consort of the Sun God.
"There are two matters to discuss."
Konan showed no hesitation. She glanced at the documents in her hands, then calmly sat in the main seat and raised two fingers.
"First, after the shinobi world tournament, the Sun God Kingdom will lead the way in establishing a new training system for the entire shinobi world. The power ranking system for shinobi will also be restructured. You all should prepare in advance."
"Second, regarding our common enemy—the force that has been in an eternal struggle against Earth—it has now fully emerged. It is confirmed that the Sun God Star you've seen was taken back from that faction by His Majesty the Sun God. However, that is not the reason for Earth's conflict with them.
In reality, they have had their eyes on the shinobi world for over a thousand years. Here is the detailed information about them."
As her assistant distributed the documents, Konan met the shocked gazes of the five Kage and spoke slowly.
"From this moment on, all of you must fully cooperate with His Majesty the Sun God's new training system. Strengthen yourselves. Protect our home.
And then, follow His Majesty to witness the true nature of the universe."