After the God of the Sea returned to the Ninja World, Crocodile's emotions became unexpectedly complicated.
When he first regained consciousness and realized he had been controlled for so long and used as someone else's tool, he had been furious.
How could a proud Shichibukai, a man who had once dreamed of defeating Whitebeard, be reduced to a puppet?
But every time he recalled Ryūjin Uchiha's earth-shaking accomplishments, capturing the three Admirals, defeating the Yonko, killing the Five Elders, and destroying Mary Geoise, that anger slowly faded away.
He was the universally acknowledged God of the Seas.
Being a tool in the hands of someone like that was not entirely unacceptable.
Besides, Ryūjin had never mistreated him. He had only tasked him with gathering information, navigating the ship, and taking care of various minor matters.
In truth, countless people across the seas would have gladly fought for Crocodile's position.
And the benefits he had received were equally enormous.
As Ryūjin rose step by step to godhood, Crocodile, who had once been nothing more than a Shichibukai, had also become a legendary figure known throughout the world.
His fame now far surpassed what he had achieved as one of the Seven Warlords.
Now that Ryūjin was about to leave, even Crocodile found himself filled with conflicting emotions.
"My business here is finished. It's time for me to go."
Ryūjin nodded slightly.
After thinking for a moment, he took out several scrolls and handed them to Nami and Nico Robin.
"These scrolls contain a jutsu connected to my Kamui Dimension. If you ever find yourselves in danger, use a drop of your blood to activate it. The technique will automatically transport you into my Kamui Dimension."
"I also sealed several Lightning Release techniques inside them. Their power is enough to kill a Marine Admiral. Keep them for emergencies."
Since they shared a bond, leaving them with some means of protecting themselves before he departed was only natural.
Nami and Nico Robin accepted the scrolls quietly without saying a word.
As for Crocodile, Ryūjin gave him nothing.
Knowing his personality, even if Ryūjin offered him something, he would refuse it without hesitation.
Besides, as a Logia Devil Fruit user, Crocodile was already powerful enough and had little need for extra protection.
"Then everyone, until we meet again, if fate allows it."
Ryūjin waved at the group.
With a single thought, his figure vanished.
___
Konoha.
In the small courtyard of her residence, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya stood silently gazing at the sky.
Suddenly, her expression shifted ever so slightly.
She had sensed that another presence had appeared inside her Beginning Ball Dimension.
There was no need to guess who it was.
It could only be Ryūjin Uchiha.
Without hesitation, Kaguya brought him out of the dimension.
"Phew... after all this time, I'm finally back."
Ryūjin breathed deeply, taking in the familiar air of the Ninja World.
Meanwhile, Kaguya stared at him with unconcealed astonishment.
He was stronger.
Far stronger.
The pressure radiating from him was overwhelming, to the point of suffocation.
She could clearly feel that Ryūjin's power now vastly exceeded her own.
Even at her absolute peak, she would not have been a match for him.
"What is it, Kaguya? Why are you staring at me like that?"
Ryūjin noticed her gaze and smiled.
"You've become incredibly strong."
A trace of emotion finally appeared on Kaguya's usually expressionless face.
"Among those thirty-eight, where would I rank now?"
There was a hint of anticipation in Ryūjin's voice.
As he spoke, he released the chakra within his body.
Boom!
A terrifying wave of pressure erupted.
Kaguya's expression changed instantly.
Ryūjin was even stronger than she had imagined.
"So this... is your current power?"
She looked genuinely shocked.
"Among those thirty-eight people, you have no equal."
"What about the Ōtsutsuki Patriarch and the four elders?"
Ryūjin immediately asked.
Kaguya slowly shook her head.
"I've never seen them. Their true bodies have never appeared before the clan."
Ryūjin fell silent.
Even now, he felt that his strength was still insufficient.
At present, his power was roughly equivalent to fifteen peak Kaguyas combined.
With a single strike, he could destroy the planet beneath his feet.
He had already stepped into the realm of planetary destruction.
Still, his current level could only split the Earth apart or blast an enormous hole through it. He could not yet reduce an entire planet to dust with one attack.
He had merely crossed the threshold of the planetary level.
Considering that the Ōtsutsuki were an interstellar race, it was difficult to believe their patriarch would be weaker than him.
Otherwise, it would be absurd for the leader of such a civilization to be unable to surpass the limits of a single world.
"I still have a long way to go."
Ryūjin sighed inwardly.
"To be completely safe, I'll have to keep getting stronger."
Even so, the threat posed by the Ōtsutsuki Clan had already fallen to an all-time low.
Even if their patriarch surpassed him, someone of that status would not casually reveal themselves.
Swish!
Several figures suddenly appeared.
Leading them was Uchiha Fugaku, the current Sixth Hokage, accompanied by several ANBU operatives.
He had sensed Ryūjin's chakra the moment it was released.
"Lord Ryūjin! It really is you. You've returned!"
The moment Fugaku saw him, excitement filled his face.
More than a year had passed since Ryūjin left Konoha, and not a single piece of news had reached them.
It would have been a lie to say the village had not been worried.
After all, once they learned of the Ōtsutsuki threat, the hope of the entire Ninja World rested solely on Ryūjin's shoulders.
"We'll talk once we're back in the village."
Ryūjin nodded.
Soon after, he returned to the Uchiha compound.
The Hero's Return
"Lord Ryūjin has returned!"
The news spread across Konoha like a hurricane.
The entire village erupted with excitement.
Whether ninja or civilian, everyone was overjoyed.
"That guy Ryūjin finally came back!"
Might Guy shouted excitedly.
To celebrate, he immediately decided to run five hundred laps.
"Finally... he's back."
Kurenai's eyes filled with emotion.
She wanted nothing more than to see him immediately, but she knew he would first return to the Uchiha compound and then attend official matters.
Reluctantly, she suppressed the urge.
Her guess proved correct.
While Ryūjin rested, Fugaku personally arranged a high-level meeting.
Half a day later, once Ryūjin had recovered, Fugaku escorted him to the Hokage Building.
Inside the central conference room sat the two advisors, Hyuga Hiashi, Nara Shikaku, and every other important figure in the village.
Without exception.
The moment Ryūjin entered, everyone rose to their feet.
"Lord Ryūjin!"
The greeting echoed throughout the room.
Ryūjin gave a slight nod before calmly taking the main seat.
Fugaku sat beside him in the vice seat.
"Tell me how the Ninja World has been this past year. Has anything happened?"
Ryūjin spoke first.
Fugaku answered immediately.
"The overall structure of the Ninja World has stabilized. Konoha has become the sole superpower, while Sunagakure, Kirigakure, Kumogakure, and Iwagakure exist under Konoha's authority."
"Over the past year, no wars have broken out. Konoha has developed rapidly, and many outstanding young talents have emerged."
...
Fugaku continued his report in detail, his expression filled with satisfaction.
Ryūjin was not surprised.
With Kaguya residing in Konoha, no village would dare challenge them.
Konoha had become untouchable, while the other four great villages, pressured by its overwhelming strength, chose cooperation over conflict.
The peace that Nagato and Obito once dreamed of had finally become reality through Ryūjin's hands.
Fugaku then handed over several compiled reports covering every aspect of Konoha's development.
Ryūjin glanced through them before casually setting them aside.
Everyone had their own role.
Managing the village was better left to those who specialized in it.
He had no interest in interfering.
"Over the past year, I gained quite a lot in another world."
"My strength has increased considerably, and the future threat posed by the Ōtsutsuki has mostly been resolved."
The entire conference room relaxed after hearing those words.
Many secretly let out a sigh of relief.
"But that still isn't enough."
Ryūjin's next sentence instantly wiped away their excitement.
"Our world isn't the only one in the universe."
"In the world I just came from, there are people capable of splitting islands apart with a single punch, freezing thousands of meters of ocean in an instant, and even dragons over a thousand meters long."
The room fell silent.
To these ninja, destroying part of a village with their full strength was already extraordinary.
Freezing an entire stretch of sea was beyond imagination.
"Surprised?"
Ryūjin looked around.
"But that world isn't even considered especially powerful."
"There are worlds where truly strong people can casually destroy entire planets."
"The Ōtsutsuki are indeed a threat, but they aren't the only one. They aren't the only race that travels the stars conquering worlds."
"So I won't remain in the Ninja World forever."
"I'll continue traveling between worlds and pursue even greater power."
His words struck everyone like thunder.
New Worlds Await
After leaving the Hokage Building, Ryūjin naturally went to meet Kurenai.
After more than a year apart, she had changed noticeably.
The timid girl she once was had matured into an elegant and charming woman.
The two walked through the village streets, quietly talking about everything that had happened during their separation.
The atmosphere was perfect.
Until it was completely ruined.
"Ryūjin! It's been over a year, and you're still overflowing with the power of youth!"
Might Guy suddenly appeared beside them.
"You too."
Ryūjin smiled helplessly.
Although Guy had destroyed the moment, he was still genuinely happy to see one of his old friends again.
In the days that followed, news of Ryūjin Uchiha's return spread throughout the entire Ninja World.
"Ryūjin Uchiha has appeared again!"
"After disappearing for more than a year, Ryūjin Uchiha has returned!"
The leaders of the Four Great Ninja Villages immediately issued the same order.
"Keep a low profile during this period."
"Especially when dealing with Konoha."
"Do not provoke them under any circumstances."
"That man is capable of anything."
Ryūjin himself had done absolutely nothing.
Simply returning to the Ninja World was enough to make the Four Great Villages feel as though they were walking across thin ice.
The psychological scars he had left behind were simply too deep.
While the entire world watched him closely, Ryūjin lived more quietly than ever.
Most days, he either remained at the Uchiha compound, spent time with Kurenai, or visited Konoha's top-secret research facility.
During his absence, the laboratory had never been abandoned.
Konoha continued pouring vast resources into maintaining it.
Orochimaru had spent the entire year searching for other inhabited worlds.
And he had achieved remarkable results.
"Lord Ryūjin."
Inside the laboratory, Orochimaru's voice carried unmistakable excitement.
"Within the past year, we've discovered eight additional living planets."
Ryūjin's eyes lit up.
"Really? Show me."
He immediately walked over to the massive machine.
Orochimaru activated one dimensional channel after another.
"Number 486... this is the world of Re:Zero."
"A giant of that size... this must be Attack on Titan."
After carefully examining each one, Ryūjin was thoroughly satisfied.
The newly discovered worlds were:
Ajin
Re:Zero
Attack on Titan
Jujutsu Kaisen
Fullmetal Alchemist
Dragon Ball
One-Punch Man
Akame ga Kill!
Combined with the previously discovered worlds of JOJO, Bleach, and Detective Conan, Ryūjin now had far more choices for his next destination.
===
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