The Hyuga Shall Stand Above, In The Heavens!

A sudden loud sound burst out like thunder from a clear sky. 

After the Sun God Kingdom's strange and decisive victory in a war led by the great nations, everyone turned their attention toward it in shock. Now, they had no choice but to take the Sun God Kingdom's earlier declarations seriously. 

If those statements had been made by the Sun God Kingdom in the past, people would have dismissed them as nonsense. But now, they had to see the kingdom as a real contender and think carefully about the potential impact of those declarations. 

Although the number of ninja forces sent by the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind wasn't large, and this incident couldn't be compared to a full-scale ninja war, it was still a significant event. 

The key issue was that the Sun God Kingdom had *won*! 

And they didn't just win—they won cleanly and decisively. 

This was a first in the history of the ninja world and served as a wake-up call for the major nations. They now had to take the Sun God Kingdom seriously as a strategic threat. 

Winning a battle with fewer forces against a larger enemy had historical significance in the ninja world, offering a ray of hope to the many small nations struggling to survive between the great powers. 

The Sun God Alliance! 

If they joined this so-called Sun God Alliance, could the smaller nations finally earn respect when facing the major powers? Could they gain more of a voice in important matters? 

They were desperate to find out the answer. 

But one small battle wasn't enough to provide a clear answer. It was obvious that after the defeat of the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind's ninja forces, the major powers would retaliate. 

Only if the Sun God Kingdom could withstand that retaliation would it truly stabilize and qualify to face off against the great nations. 

The smaller nations didn't know if the Sun God Kingdom could withstand this coming counterattack. 

Still, that didn't stop them from trying to make friendly overtures. They saw a glimmer of hope for respect and fair treatment in the Sun God Kingdom—perhaps their only chance to reclaim dignity. 

So, while things seemed calm on the surface, the ninja world was actually full of hidden tensions. Many envoys from small nations secretly traveled to the Sun God Kingdom, expressing their willingness to offer support if needed, though they also asked for more time to think about formally joining the Sun God Alliance, hoping the Sun God Kingdom would understand. 

Hyuga Hitoshi, of course, understood their position. If the Sun God Kingdom failed to withstand the great powers' retaliation, everything would turn out to be a mere dream. These small nations, having suffered long under the oppression of the great nations, didn't want to get dragged into the mess, so their cautious attitude made sense. 

However, while Hyuga Hitoshi understood their reasoning, he also made it clear to these hesitant nations that joining the Sun God Alliance now was very different from joining after the Sun God Kingdom proved itself. The cost of joining now versus later would be entirely different. 

Helping in a time of need and offering assistance when things were already good were two completely different concepts. While the Sun God Kingdom's current situation wasn't exactly desperate, the idea still applied. Those with the courage to take a risk now would be rewarded as bold pioneers. In the future, the distinction would be like that between trusted inner allies and outsiders. 

For a while, the smaller nations that had received the Sun God Kingdom's response struggled with their decision. Very few had the courage to take a clear stance, though there were some exceptions. 

The ninja world continued to churn with hidden currents as everyone waited and watched. 

The great nations had yet to launch their counterattack, but everyone knew it was merely the calm before the storm. 

*Swoosh~* 

At the former border between the Land of River and the Land of Wind— 

 A graceful figure descended steadily, accompanied by scattered pieces of paper floating around her. The pieces gathered above her head, forming a flower that never withered. 

"How impressive." 

Konan, the White Tiger of Akatsuki, had arrived. Staring at the massive chasm before her, she wore the same shocked expression Samui once had. 

She had never witnessed the full destructive power Nagato could unleash, but even if he pushed himself to the limit, this was probably the best he could do, right? 

The endless ravine looked strikingly similar to the one in the Land of Fire, making it impossible not to overthink its origin.

Moreover, it didn't seem like the rumored ruler of the Sun God Kingdom was trying to hide anything. The ravine was right there, and there had been a similar one in what used to be the Land of Grass. 

With further investigation, figuring out who founded the so-called Sun God Kingdom wouldn't remain a secret. The main reason the news hadn't spread like wildfire yet was that Konohagakure remained silent, and even Kumogakure Village, which had clashed with the Hyuga Clan before, kept quiet. Once more information came out, identities couldn't stay hidden forever. 

However... 

The White Angel of Akatsuki, who was clearly not some defenseless kitten, blinked her beautiful eyes, smoothed her delicate face, and adjusted the paper flower on her head. With curiosity shining in her pale orange eyes, she took steps toward the Sun God Kingdom's territory. 

Konan wasn't there to investigate any connection between the Sun God Kingdom and the Hyuga Clan. On the contrary, she came representing the Land of Rain, seeking cooperation with the Sun God Kingdom. 

This could be seen as a friendly gesture from the Akatsuki, though it might seem strange. Yet, upon reflection, it made sense. 

Nagato and Konan were different from Obito, who sought to destroy the world and refused to acknowledge it as it was. 

When they first formed the Akatsuki, their goal was to gain recognition from the great nations and bring peace to their homeland, so war wouldn't plague the world anymore. They had carried that belief forward to the present-day Akatsuki, though their methods had changed completely. 

In fact, according to Hitoshi's understanding, Nagato's ideology wasn't entirely wrong. Even if it was a bit flawed, it was still much better than naïve calls for mutual understanding. 

Nagato genuinely sought peace and put effort into achieving it. Even when he planned to destroy Konohagakure, it wasn't out of sheer malice but because of Tsunade's hypocritical words when she was Hokage. What she said was so ridiculous that to Nagato, it probably sounded like, "We great nations can use force to kill your parents, but you can't use force against Konohagakure." That logic was simply unacceptable to him. 

It would have been surprising if Nagato didn't get angry after hearing that. 

Unfortunately, no matter how determined a person is, they still can't resist being affected by Naruto's "Talk-no-Jutsu." One line—"I forgive you for killing my entire village, and I forgive you for killing my teacher"—pushed Nagato over the edge, leading him to give up and take his own life. 

The irony is, Naruto didn't even know at the time that Nagato could use the Rinne Rebirth. It's hard to imagine how the so-called hero of Konohagakure would have been treated had his persuasive speech failed, and he returned empty-handed. 

"I am a representative of the Land of Rain. Our leader of Amegakure is very interested in the Sun God Alliance's vision. Please inform your superiors." 

Without acting rashly, Konan paused before the shaded path ahead and gave a respectful bow, presenting herself as a visitor. 

This gesture showed her deep respect for the one who proposed this idea and for the Sun God Kingdom itself. 

There was no other reason. 

Seeing the Sun God Kingdom now, Konan couldn't help but fall into old memories. 

Those were days long gone, when she, Nagato, and Yahiko tried to gain recognition for the Land of Rain. They repeatedly negotiated with the great nations, hoping to solve conflicts through diplomacy and bring peace to their war-torn homeland. 

Unfortunately, they failed, and the Akatsuki changed completely.

Still, that didn't mean they denied their former selves. They simply realized they had taken the wrong path and thought their methods had been too soft.

Seeing the Sun God Kingdom fend off enemies, both Konan and Nagato genuinely felt happy for the people living there. Compared to the old Akatsuki, the Sun God Kingdom was clearly much stronger. They were eager to see what the future held for it, so much so that even Nagato agreed to let Konan come here and talk to its leader.

However, deep down, Nagato and Konan felt a complicated mix of emotions toward the Sun God Kingdom.

They hoped that the Sun God Kingdom would succeed, completely breaking the balance of the five great nations. They wanted to see the Sun God Kingdom gradually unite the smaller nations, making it so that the big nations wouldn't dare act recklessly toward them. To them, it felt like seeing what the original Akatsuki had once envisioned—a future where small nations stood together. They wanted to see what the Akatsuki could have become if it still existed.

On the other hand, the Sun God Kingdom's actions in uniting small nations conflicted with the current interests of the Akatsuki. If it were confirmed that the Sun God was really Hyuga, there would inevitably be a clash when it came time to collect the Tailed Beasts, especially since the Sun God Kingdom held the Two-Tails. At that point, they would likely become enemies.

Now, Nagato sending Konan over and specifically instructing her to provide appropriate help looked a lot like aiding a potential enemy. He even gave Konan the authority to act if the situation became urgent, saying that if the Sun God Kingdom was willing to pay, the Akatsuki could appear as mercenaries and offer support.

This conflicting mindset made Nagato feel torn. Deep down, however, he still believed that even if the Hyuga clan was behind the Sun God Kingdom, their actions of provoking the great nations would ultimately lead to failure.

Konan shared a similar view.

After all, Hyuga Hitoshi wasn't a god, and the so-called Sun God was just an illusion. Only Nagato, with his Rinnegan, was the true god. In fact, both she and Nagato had already pictured the scene where the Sun God Kingdom, after all its efforts, ended in complete failure and was destroyed.

Perhaps only when the Sun God Kingdom was defeated would Hyuga Hitoshi share their ideals, making it the right time to recruit him. So, it made sense to help for now. At this moment, Konan had already started thinking of Hyuga Hitoshi and the Sun God Kingdom as future allies.

"Hmm, what title should we give that man when the time comes?"

Konan glanced at her White Tiger ring, already imagining what it would be like to have Hyuga Hitoshi join the Akatsuki and fight alongside them.

Yes. 

After members of the Hyuga clan responsible for receiving the small nation representatives appeared and guided Konan into the heart of the Sun God Kingdom, she fully understood the identity of the so-called Sun God. 

In fact, Hyuga Hitoshi hadn't been hiding anything. He never planned to secretly develop in the shadows and then shock the world later. 

There was no need. 

After undergoing a second bloodline purification and engraving the Sun God Seal, even without using the power of the seal, the clan members' physical abilities and combat skills were already comparable to ordinary jonin. And this was without even activating their Byakugan. 

When using the Byakugan and activating the Sun God Seal, those with average bloodline purity could easily perform at an elite jonin level using solar-based techniques. For those with a stronger bloodline, if Hyuga Hitoshi unlocked greater power, they could potentially reach Kage-level strength.

Given this power, why should Hyuga Hitoshi keep a low profile?

But while he didn't hide his strength, the small nation representatives who came to visit, after their initial shock, solemnly assured him that they wouldn't spread the news. Hyuga Hitoshi understood their reasoning—they didn't want to draw attention from the great nations. They were simply waiting to see if they could gain some benefits after the Hyuga clan was wiped out.

Of course, there were also representatives who genuinely wished for the Sun God Kingdom to endure. As for those, Hyuga Hitoshi didn't bother to dwell on their intentions.

At the moment, he was lazily leaning against the priestess, enjoying the dual service of Yugito and Samui while listening to the work reports from Maid Chief Natsu and Mabui. 

"The basic operation model and framework for the Sun God Kingdom have been drafted after discussion. We now have the early form of a national system, but we're still lacking detailed plans. Lord Hiashi hopes you can give a bit more guidance when submitting the next draft." 

With the initial setup of the Sun God Kingdom, there were capable people among both the Hyuga clan and the Otsutsuki clan on the moon. Hyuga Hitoshi believed that professional matters should be handled by professionals, while he would focus on overall direction. 

Since he had the Sun God Seal, loyalty from his subordinates wasn't a concern, so he could safely delegate tasks. After all, one person's thinking always has limits—discussing together leads to better development. 

"Also, Minister Orochimaru has submitted the second-generation new crop seeds. According to his report, the data shows that the second-generation seeds outperform the first-generation ones in every way. However, Orochimaru-sama suggested stopping further development for a third generation since the second generation is sufficient to meet the current needs of the Sun God Kingdom." 

Maid Chief Natsu hesitated before speaking again. 

"Minister Orochimaru means that when something becomes too easy to obtain, people won't value it. Plus, food should eventually be under state control, and too much abundance may not be a good thing." 

Hyuga Hitoshi understood this point. There were things they might not need to use but still had to keep available. 

Waving his hand, he signaled for Maid Chief Natsu to continue, then lazily snuggled further into the priestess's arms. 

"Additionally, it seems the major nations are considering cutting off trade with the Sun God Kingdom to weaken its economy. This won't be a problem in the short term, but in the long run, we'll have to address it. Lord Hizashi suggested that we simply eliminate the Five Great Nations so there won't be any opposition left, solving the problem at its root." 

Hizashi's boldness never fails to impress. 

Hitoshi twitched the corner of his mouth, too lazy to even respond. 

Given the current population of the Hyuga clan and the newly acquired land purchased from Fugaku, they were already nearing capacity. He needed time to digest this territory, sort out a proper development plan, and only then consider further expansion. 

Besides, what good was a broken, war-torn ninja world? 

The ninja world was a unique place, with many fascinating countries. 

He actually wanted to preserve the distinct character of each region and create a world full of different landscapes. That kind of world would be interesting. 

"I'll handle it." 

Economic sanctions were a joke without enough military power. Once the great nations failed in their counterattack, who would be sanctioning whom might turn out differently. 

Hyuga Natsu nodded. Since her master had already made his decision, she had no reason to worry. 

Flipping to the final page of the report, she continued, 

"Ushiuma has sent word. The clan members stationed near the Land of Water contacted him via the Sun God Seal. The Kaguya clan, which you told them to watch, is showing signs of restlessness and may soon take action against Kirigakure Village." 

Here it comes. 

This was the most important piece of information for Hyuga Hitoshi—it was finally time to take full control of Kirigakure Village! 

"The suspected reason is dissatisfaction within the Kaguya clan over Mizukage's increasingly brutal rule. However, Lord Ushiuma believes the Kaguya clan has little chance of winning and isn't sure whether they'll actually act." 

Hyuga Natsu tilted her head slightly, thinking it sounded a bit too far-fetched. 

How could a single clan possibly stand up against an entire ninja village? The Kaguya Clan wasn't the Hyuga Clan, so what made them so bold?

This was clearly a war they couldn't win. Even more surprising was that their movements were noticed all the way from the distant Sun God Kingdom. While the Byakugan gave them an advantage, it was hard to believe that Kirigakure Village wouldn't have noticed as well.

"Don't worry, they'll definitely act. That clan's temper is even worse than the Uchiha's," Hyuga Hitoshi said calmly.

Obito was probably completely unhinged by now. After losing to Hyuga Hitoshi, all he could do after recovering was use Kirigakure Village to lash out at the world, plunging it into chaos. Lately, there had been constant news about Kirigakure, with many elite ninjas and even the remaining Seven Swordsmen of the Mist choosing to defect and leave the village.

But the Kaguya Clan had a temper of their own. If Mizukage was hot-headed, they had to be even more so. They'd rather die in a rebellion than sit in a corner sulking. 

They just went for it—what if they actually succeeded? 

That crazy bunch didn't care whether they lived or died. If they had a chance to fight and didn't take it, they'd feel insulted. 

They lived by the motto, "Don't fear death. If you're not convinced, fight." That was their tradition.

Hyuga Natsu, born with the natural gift of a maid's body, didn't know why her master was paying attention to Kirigakure's affairs, but she diligently completed her tasks.

Finally, after finishing her report, she let out a breath and joined the group giving Hyuga Hitoshi a massage.

Meanwhile, Mabui blinked, pulled out another document, and continued her report. They all acted like secretaries, though their duties varied. Having undergone proper training, Mabui quickly adjusted to her role, secretly hoping Hitoshi-sama would give her a bit more personal attention during breaks. 

"As per your instructions, the Grace Bestowment Ceremony is fully prepared. However, may I confirm once more—are you sure you want me to announce the reward system exactly as you designed it?"

Glancing at another document in her hand, Mabui swallowed hard. The posture made her look just like when she had swallowed something else yesterday. Even so, she felt a chill down her spine.

"Confirmed." 

This was exactly what a secretary's job entailed. Hyuga Hitoshi didn't mind Mabui being cautious—it was a good thing. After all, he was now the ruler of the Sun God Kingdom and the first-generation Sun God, a symbol of faith for the people. The reward system he had devised was indeed hard for most people to understand and quite shocking.

"I understand." 

Mabui nodded, took a deep breath, and continued her report.

The Sun God Kingdom was still in its early stages of development. Since the population was small, there wasn't much to handle yet. Hyuga Hitoshi's current busyness was preparation for the future, when the Sun God Alliance would be fully formed, and the small nations would be absorbed into its territory.

Hyuga Hitoshi was never a saint. 

He offered protection to small nations willing to join the alliance, but they wouldn't actually enjoy the full benefits of the Sun God Kingdom. At best, they'd be able to buy high-quality food at lower prices. 

Calling it mutual assistance wasn't wrong, but in reality, the treatment exclusive to Sun God Kingdom citizens was what truly attracted people. Once the alliance was formed, Hyuga Hitoshi wouldn't even need to do much. The citizens of those small nations would be drawn to his land on their own, causing population declines in other countries, eventually leading to complete assimilation.

There's no such thing as a free lunch. Any so-called free benefit always comes with a hidden price tag; people just don't notice it. 

Still, no one could deny the benefits the Sun God Alliance would bring to the smaller nations. Once the Sun God Kingdom withstood the retaliation from the great nations, those smaller ones would scramble to join in hopes of gaining an equal voice with the great powers. The allure was irresistible.

Break time was over; it was time to get back to work. Mabui had just mentioned that everyone had almost gathered.

"Master, a representative from the Land of Rain has requested to meet with you. What do you think?" 

While heading toward the former bustling area of the Land of Demons, now the central square of the Sun God Kingdom, Head Maid Natsu received the message and quickly ran to Hyuga Hitoshi's side.

"Take her to the square first, we'll talk about the rest later."

Hyuga Hitoshi, a member of the Akatsuki, wasn't surprised. The Sun God Kingdom's public philosophy was similar to that of the former Akatsuki, but their core was completely different.

Nagato planned to use the power of the Tailed Beasts to balance the major ninja villages. If you wanted to start a war, he'd first make you feel the pain of war. Holding nuclear weapons always made a strong statement.

The idea wasn't wrong, but he wasn't truly a god—he overestimated himself.

If anything, Hyuga Hitoshi was currently setting up a teaching moment, showing how a true god would lead the world.

Step by step.

Hyuga Hitoshi's figure finally appeared in the center of the square.

At that moment, the square was packed with people. In the front, gathered together, were the last batch of revived clan members. Among them were members of the Hyuga clan and those from the Otsutsuki clan who had been marked with the Sun God Seal, now unified under the name of the Sun God's subordinates.

Behind the square, the common citizens gathered by the Sun God Kingdom stood, unaware of Hyuga Hitoshi's intentions, but curious and full of reverence, eager to see the legendary "Daimyo" of the Sun God Kingdom.

In addition, several representatives from smaller nations were also present on one side of the square, including the White Tiger of the Akatsuki.

In fact, Konan's heart was shaken.

She had previously been to the Land of Demons and the Land of River, but the scene before her was completely different from what she had expected. The neat streets and the hardworking, content citizens farming brought a sense of order and peace.

If the atmosphere in the Land of Rain and the entire ninja world felt suffocating, here, everything was full of life, giving off a feeling of comfort and hope.

This was partly due to the complete removal of monsters, but more importantly, it was because the people were genuinely satisfied with their current way of life.

Having witnessed countless miracles, they weren't worried about the retaliation of the five great nations. This was a kind of confidence in their own country, in the Sun God Kingdom.

Konan looked on with a sense of confusion. She didn't know how Hyuga Hitoshi had managed to achieve all this.

Her initial impression of him, back in the Land of Rice Fields, was that he had been an annoying figure chasing her, and his violent methods in dealing with Sasori were over the top.

But now, her opinion of him had completely changed.

It wasn't just because of anything else—it was mainly because that man had destroyed Konohagakure when he left, which pleased her greatly.

After all, Konohagakure had been part of the invasion of the Land of Rain, and Nagato's parents had been killed by Konohagakure ninjas!

If Hyuga Hitoshi were still wearing the identity of a Konohagakure ninja, Konan wouldn't feel so positively about him, but now, things were different.

He was the one who gave her a sense of revenge!

"He's here!"

At that moment, a voice cried out from among the small nation representatives, and Konan looked up in response.

He was wearing the same familiar long robe, but this time, in addition to the Hyuga clan's emblem, there was also a golden, glowing eye. Konan, with her sharp eyes, could tell it was real gold trim, so this robe must be worth a lot.

He was dressed so formally, and with so many people gathered here. Was he about to announce something?

Konan silently watched the man walk up to the stage, then, in front of the enthusiastic crowd, he raised his hand and summoned a corpse!

From the clothes, it looked like the person was from the Hyuga clan. 

What was he planning to do?

Konan's beautiful eyes widened in shock as she witnessed the scene before her, but her surprise was only just beginning.

Golden and blue lights started shining from the man's pupils, and behind him, a faint image of a golden full moon appeared. A violent surge of chakra began to flow around him as he donned a new type of chakra cloak.

Revival Rebirth Technique! 

The latest version of the resurrection technique didn't even require a sacrifice to hold the soul. After all, Hyuga Hitoshi didn't need to trap the soul inside a vessel for control. He only needed the dead person's flesh to summon their soul directly, simplifying the process and greatly increasing his efficiency in reviving people.

With a familiar gesture, he firmly grasped the soul, reversed time on the body, and the golden wheel Tenseigan behind him unleashed an overwhelming aura that spread outward.

Suddenly, the dead clansman opened his eyes. 

He was brought back to life!

Konan, stunned, watched with her mouth slightly open, her face filled with disbelief. She even tried to find signs of weakness in Hyuga Hitoshi, but she was disappointed.

This was nothing like the Rinne Rebirth that Nagato had described to her! 

Controlling life and death, reshaping the land with a single strike, surrounded by fanatical followers and clansmen—this was more than enough to make the five great nations uneasy.

So, 

Between Nagato and Hyuga Hitoshi, 

Who was the real god?

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