Simultaneous Time Travel: What Villain? I'm the Protagonist!

The news of the fall of Kirigakure swept across the entire ninja world like a hurricane.

Konoha Village, Hokage's office.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, dropped his pipe, scattering ash everywhere. He stared intently at the intelligence scroll presented by the Anbu, his fingers trembling slightly.

"Just one day, only one day," his voice was a little dry, "an elite force with tens of thousands of ninjas, wielding the Seven Great Ninja Swords, trained under the Blood Mist Policy, just like that..."

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado both looked equally grim. A stifling silence filled the meeting room.

"What's even more terrifying is that," the ANBU captain continued, kneeling on one knee, "according to intelligence from the front lines, over 70% of the Kirigakure ninja have chosen to surrender. And... after surrendering, they all began practicing a secret technique called visualization, bowing and worshipping before the golden statue of Hoshikage Morihito."

"A cult!" Koharu Utatane gritted her teeth. "This is blatant cult control!"

"But undeniably, the results are astonishing," Mitokado Homura said in a deep voice. "Our spies reported that the Kirigakure ninja who practiced visualization techniques generally increased their chakra levels by 20% to 30%, and their fighting spirit was exceptionally strong. What's even stranger is that they seem to be able to share intelligence in some way, and their teamwork is incredibly seamless."

Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly picked up the pipe, relit it, and took a deep drag.

"The Feathered Immortal Sect, the Visualization Method, the God of Feathered Ascension..." he muttered to himself, "What exactly is this Sheng Ren trying to do?"

"He wants to unify the ninja world," an old but authoritative voice came from the doorway.

Everyone turned their heads and saw Shimura Danzo walking in with a cane, his face more gloomy than ever before.

"Danzo, what do you mean by that?" Koharu Utatane asked.

"The meaning is simple." Danzo walked to the conference table and slammed a scroll on it. "This is the latest intelligence obtained by the Root Force. After conquering Kirigakure, Morihito did not carry out a large-scale massacre. Instead, he abolished the Blood Mist policy, released political prisoners, and restored the reputation of the purged families. At the same time, he promoted the Visualization Method throughout Kirigakure and established a completely new administrative system."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone present: "He doesn't want killing; he wants people's hearts, and people's hearts are the hardest thing to conquer."

After a long silence, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally spoke: "Notify the heads of all the major clans to hold an emergency meeting tomorrow. Also, send a note to the other three major nations, proposing a meeting of the Four Kage."

"Hiruzen, you mean to..." Mitokado Homura asked in surprise.

"Unite," Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a puff of smoke, "Faced with a threat of this level, the ninja world must unite."

"There's one more thing," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, looking at Danzo, "the visualization method."

Upon hearing this, Danzo nodded. As his partner of many years, he understood Hiruzen Sarutobi's meaning without even asking.

Iwagakure Village, Tsuchikage's Office.

Two Scales, Onoki, floated in mid-air, also holding an intelligence scroll in his hand. The oldest Kage in the ninja world had a furrowed brow at this moment.

"Father, what do you think?" Huang Tu asked curiously, standing to the side.

"Terrifying, absolutely terrifying." Onoki landed slowly, his tone grave. "This wasn't an ordinary military conquest. If Mori had simply used force to take Kirigakure, we could have united with other ninja villages and countered with strategy and numbers. But he used faith, ideals, and methods to make the enemy surrender willingly."

He looked out the window: "Did you see what the intelligence report said? Those Kirigakure ninja who surrendered weren't forced, but willingly. They believed that Mori was 'God,' and that visualization techniques could bring power and equality. This kind of conquest... is unsolvable."

"Then what should we do?" Huang Tu asked worriedly.

Onoki pondered for a moment: "Pass the word down to strengthen border defenses. Also, secretly investigate how many people in the village have been exposed to the visualization method. Remember, it's a secret investigation; don't alert them."

"You suspect that our village also has...?"

"It's not doubt, it's certain," Onoki interrupted him. "The visualization technique has been circulating in the ninja world for five years. Given its effectiveness, it's impossible that no one is secretly practicing it. What we need to do now is figure out the extent of its infiltration, and then... make further plans."

Kumogakure, Raikage's office.

The Fourth Raikage, A, smashed the desk with a single punch.

"Useless! Those useless ninja from Kirigakure!" he roared. "Ten thousand ninja, surrendering just like that? What about the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist? What about Yagura? Are they all dead?"

"Lord Raikage, please calm down," Secretary Mabui said calmly. "According to intelligence, Yagura was manipulated by the mastermind, and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist suffered a crushing defeat in the battle. Morihito's displayed strength... has already exceeded the scope of ordinary ninjas."

"Beyond the scope? How much beyond?" Ai sneered. "No matter how strong he is, he's still made of flesh and blood. I don't believe he can stop the Cloud Village's lightning army!"

"Lord Raikage," Mabui handed him a scroll, "this is a message from the front lines."

Ai took the scroll, and his pupils dilated upon reading it. "Yagura and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist attacked Hoshikage Morihito together. Morihito stood still and let them attack. A moment later, Morihito severely injured all eight of them with a single move..."

Ai's expression changed from anger to solemnity, and finally she became paler and paler.

"What...what kind of monster is this!" he muttered. Even with him and Bee joining forces, they could only rely on speed to hold their own, and they had no chance of winning.

"Therefore, Raikage-sama, I suggest we refrain from taking any drastic action for the time being," Mabui said. "Let's wait for the outcome of the Four Kage Summit before making a decision."

After a long silence, Ai finally nodded slowly.

Sunagakure Village, Kazekage's office.

The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, frowned as he looked at the intelligence report in his hand.

Sunagakure is the weakest of the five great ninja villages, lacking resources and with a weak national power. Facing the emerging power of the Ascension Sect, it faces the greatest pressure.

"Lord Kazekage?" Ma Ji stood to the side, his face full of worry.

Luo Sha did not answer immediately, but looked out the window at the barren desert.

Sunagakure was so poor that it struggled to even train its ninjas, and had to rely on selling missions and resources to barely survive.

Visualization techniques, a secret art that allows ordinary people to cultivate chakra, have a fatal attraction for the lower classes of Sunagakure.

"Maki, go and investigate secretly how many people in the village are practicing visualization techniques," Luo Sha said slowly. "Don't make a fuss, just investigate."

"You mean...?"

"If the tide cannot be turned," Luo Sha's voice was filled with deep weariness, "we must at least seize the initiative."

The Land of Rain, the base of the Akatsuki organization.

Nagato sat in his wheelchair. "Konoha proposed a meeting of the Four Kage, Iwagakure strengthened its defenses, Kumogakure remained inactive, and Sunagakure conducted a covert investigation..." He read the intelligence report in a low voice, a complex light flashing in his Rinnegan.

Konan stood behind him and asked softly, "Nagato, what do you think?"

"Shengren won, and he won even more decisively than we expected," Nagato said. "He accomplished in one day what we planned to do in ten years: to change the foundation of a ninja village's rule."

"Then we..."

"Our plan remains unchanged," Nagato interrupted her. "Only through empathy can we understand each other. Mori's actions are merely repeating the old path of the Ninja Sect—giving power but failing to eliminate the darkness in people's hearts."

He paused, then added, "However, we need to speed things up. Tell Kakuzu, Sasori, and the others to complete the funding accumulation as soon as possible. Also, Zetsu has been missing for the past few days; recall him. Mori's rise will make the major ninja villages more vigilant; we don't have much time left."

Konan nodded, then asked, "What about Madara? He's been completely out of contact since the battle in Konoha."

Nagato was silent for a moment: "Ignore him. If he still has value, he will naturally come back. If not... then let him fend for himself."

Obito Uchiha leaned against the wall, his chest wrapped in thick bandages, blood still seeping out. His mask was half shattered, revealing a hideous scar and a weary eye beneath.

"Cough cough..." He coughed, spitting out bloody saliva.

In the battle against Konoha, he suffered a crushing defeat. Kakashi noticed something amiss during the fight, causing a significant reduction in the power of Kamui. Even more terrifying was Shisui's Kotoamatsukami; had he not used Izanagi, he would have been finished.

Unfortunately, he had just escaped one danger only to fall into another. With his only remaining eye, Obito stared intently at the monk opposite him, his eyes filled with shock and confusion.

"Do you need my help?" Jigen asked with a smile when he noticed Obito looking at him.