---
That very day, the Allied Shinobi Forces held a grand celebration right where the final battle had taken place. All food, drinks, supplies, and utensils were provided jointly by the Five Great Nations. Naruto's clones were dispatched across the world to handle transport.
Along the way, Naruto also acted as a courier, delivering handwritten letters from each Kage to their homeland's caretakers. With that, the news of victory spread like wildfire across all lands.
Ninjas feasted, sang, danced, and embraced the joy of victory. Village affiliations no longer mattered first came a toast, then laughter. Everyone had fought together and faced death side by side. Arm in arm, sharing stories, the bond between them was that of true comrades.
"Cheers!" The Five Kage sat together at one table, raising their cups as they discussed the future.
Notably, Gaara was drinking juice. He might be the Kazekage, but he was still underage. In the ninja world, it's fine for minors to kill but drinking is off-limits.
"Is it time to begin the plan?" Yagura asked.
Minato nodded. "Yes. Forming a union benefits everyone, doesn't it?"
"Indeed," Gaara agreed. "The Land of Wind has always been barren. We lack many resources, but we do have plenty of mineral deposits. In the past, we feared strengthening other nations' militaries, so we withheld trade. But if we truly unite, mutual exchange should become much easier."
"Unlike the fragile alliances of the past, this unity is built on real trust," added the Raikage.
Ōnoki said, "That was already agreed upon at our last meeting. The only uncertainty now is how things go with the feudal lords."
Minato smiled. "They were more than satisfied with our results. I doubt there will be any problems."
---
Elsewhere, in the floating city of Aincrad, a feat of Konoha's technology, the feudal lords held a more private discussion.
"Who would've thought Konoha had a flying city? Aincrad, was it? Though the name is a bit strange," the feudal lord of the Land of Wind said, eyes full of envy.
"Hehe, I was shocked the first time I saw it too. The Fourth Hokage is truly exceptional," the Land of Fire's lord replied, hiding her smile behind a delicate fan.
"I was going to praise our own leaders, but compared to that young man, we still fall short," said the Land of Earth's feudal lord.
"Even from the reports we just received, it's clear. I may not understand ninjutsu, but the fact that he united the strongest ninjas from every village and earned their respect speaks volumes," the Land of Water's lord added. He still found Yagura a bit intimidating, but even he had to admit Minato's excellence.
The Raikage's feudal lord cut to the chase: "So it sounds like you're all ready to agree to the unification plan?"
"Why not?" said the Wind Country's lord. "This is a rare opportunity. After so many wars, surely we've learned that peace is the best way to prosper."
"Agreed."
In truth, the Kage had already communicated with their feudal lords beforehand. This was merely the formality.
With official business settled, the conversation shifted toward more lighthearted matters.
The Fire Daimyo perked up. "Since the war is over and we're safe now… why not ask them to take us on a tour in the flying city?"
The Wind Daimyo clapped his hands. "Good idea! I've heard the Hidden Cloud has a turtle the size of an island!"
"I've never seen it either," the Lightning Daimyo admitted. "Might as well take the chance."
"We could even make them tourist destinations!" the Fire Daimyo suggested. "Aincrad and the Turtle Island could be luxury resorts!"
"Too sneaky you two already have attractions. We'll need to plan something of our own!"
The lords quickly dispatched a message to the Five Kage and set off on their leisurely journey.
---
Three years later – At the gates of Konoha
Tenten sat at a tiny booth doodling black sealing runes on slips of paper. She lazily passed them through a small window marked with the sign: "Flying Thunder Ticket Office."
A dark-haired man rang the tiny bell. "One round-trip Flying Thunder ticket from Konoha South Gate to Iwagakure West Gate. Five passengers. One cart."
"Coming right up," Tenten said dully, speaking in a rehearsed tone. But the voice made her pause. "Wait a sec… Neji?!"
Looking up, she saw Neji standing before her. Delighted, she asked, "What are you doing here?"
Neji raised a mission scroll. "An escort mission—or rather, a freight assignment. Thought I'd stop by and say hello."
Tenten handed over the sealing talisman the ticket and grinned. "Oh? Just happened to stop by?"
"More or less." Neji deflected her teasing and asked, "Getting bored again?"
"Ugh, yes." Tenten propped her chin in her hands. "Naruto's Flying Thunder Bus system's been running for two years now. I've been stuck doing the same job every day. He bailed after the first few months and never came back to help."
"Can't be helped. He's busy with the 'Move Mountains and Fill Seas' initiative. Once you finish training Konohamaru and the others, you'll get a break."
Tenten sighed. "Udon and Moegi are fine. But Konohamaru keeps throwing firecrackers and water balloons at the Third Hokage's statue using this jutsu…"
"Neji-san." A merchant waved, waiting to depart.
"Gotta go," Neji nodded. "Take care."
"Safe travels." Tenten waved without much enthusiasm.
Outside the gate, Neji and the merchant arrived at the teleportation circle. Five white-lined zones, like parking spots, were drawn on the ground each with a numbered seal.
Neji led the merchant's cart onto Circle #3. Injecting chakra into the talisman, the ticket lit up and Tenten's synthetic voice rang out:
"Travel route: Konoha South Gate to Iwagakure West Gate. Five passengers and one cart. Confirm position on Circle 3. Inject chakra again in three seconds to depart."
The merchant and his staff responded with calm familiarity. "Confirmed."
Neji injected chakra. The talisman shone and connected with the seal on the ground. The formation lit up, engulfed the cart and its passengers in white light and in the next instant, they reappeared at the Iwagakure terminal.
The merchant marvelled. "Amazing. Saves time and avoids danger. The Five Nations forming the United Shinobi Council was the best thing ever."
Neji smiled. Indeed, ever since that war, the world has changed drastically. The Five Great Nations had created a permanent council, with the Fourth Hokage as the chairman and the other four Kage as representatives. Talented officials from all over the world formed a secretariat dedicated to cooperation and development.
In these three years, borders blurred, joint development projects bloomed, and old fears faded. People are no longer worried about hoarding resources but about lacking the manpower to harvest them.
With progress like this, perhaps war would never return. Bloodline clans were no longer hunted. Neji touched his forehead. His Caged Bird Seal was gone, and he silently praised the Fourth Hokage as a leader unlike any before.
RUMBLE!
Just as they stepped away from the seal, the ground shook violently. Neji quickly restrained the startled horse and activated his Byakugan.
"Don't panic!" A nearby Iwagakure shinobi called out. "Mountain relocation operation underway apologies for the noise!"
"Mountain moving, huh…" Neji and the others looked toward a floating mountain in the distance and made a mental note to check it out sometime.
---
Ten Minutes Earlier – The Mountain Relocation Site
Present were Onoki's son Kitsuchi and granddaughter Kurotsuchi, Zabuza from the Mist, Kankuro from the Sand, and hired freelancers Naruto and Hinata.
Before them loomed a massive mountain. Several other peaks in the distance had already been sliced at their bases, surrounded by rubble and loose earth.
"This mountain has superior soil," Kitsuchi explained to Kankuro. "Hinata's geological analysis confirms it. Minimal gravel content. Perfect for Wind Country's desert. With Lord Orochimaru's White Zetsu Type III, you'll have a lush oasis in no time!"
Kankuro examined a soil sample. "It's good… but the price is steep. I can't allocate that much money right now."
"No problem." Kitsuchi was prepared. "We offer payment plans. Also, we need Sand minerals for our own factories. Let's barter. We'll throw in free delivery and slicing services."
"Hey! Kitsuchi-ossan, you're stealing my delivery business!" Naruto joked.
"Haha, just providing honest after-sales service. My delivery speed can't match yours."
In the end, Kankuro agreed. "Deal."
Kurotsuchi cracked her knuckles. "Ready when you are!"
"Be safe!" Kitsuchi smacked her head. "Hinata-san, please confirm the perimeter."
Hinata activated her Byakugan. "No civilians, no rare wildlife. All clear."
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"
A thin white beam sliced the mountain's base. Rocks tumbled, rumbling as a thick slab was separated cleanly.
"Nice work. Now go deliver it."
"On it!" Kurotsuchi cast Light-Weight Boulder Jutsu, picked up the entire mountain, and flew toward the Wind Country.
---
Naruto helped clean up rubble from a blast site in Rain Country. Using Orochimaru's specially made mechanical devices containing cloned Rinnegan, he performed Chibaku Tensei to lift the debris into the sky and turn it into a massive satellite-like boulder.
Just for fun, he tossed the fully sealed, brain-dead Black Zetsu into the core and added hundreds of sealing formulas, combining physical and chakra-based containment. Good luck plotting from inside that.
When the mountain-sized rock was ready, he teleported it to the ocean reclamation site.
"Done. Want me to send you back, Zabuza?"
"Nah, I bought a ticket. White and I are heading to the Land of Snow tonight."
Naruto smiled and waved as he watched him leave.
Three years had passed. The house wasn't as lively anymore.
Kimimaro often went to Nadeshiko Village, whispering with Shizuka about some secret plan. Haku and Zabuza travelled together, exploring the world. Karin took charge of rebuilding the Land of Grass—her first act: reforming its laws and throwing every corrupt official into forced labour.
That night, she cried in Kushina's arms… and went back to work the next day full of fire.
Naruto had no doubt she wasn't just venting petty revenge. Probably.
---
"Let's go, Hinata."
"Mm." Hinata suggested, "Let's stroll around the Rain Country. We haven't explored much."
"Sounds good."
Under a shared umbrella, they walked slowly through rainy streets—no destination, just quiet steps, listening to raindrops patter on the canopy. Though they had known each other for years, every little brush of contact still made their hearts flutter.
After a while, Hinata pointed ahead. "Naruto-kun, isn't that someone familiar?"
Naruto spotted the woman with blue hair. He called out cautiously, "Konan-nee?"
Konan turned from her shopping and smiled. "It's you two. Out on a date?"
"Yup," Naruto replied without hesitation. Hinata smiled softly.
"Why not come to my home? You helped us so much in Konoha—I'd love to return the favour."
"Would it be okay?" Hinata asked quietly.
"Of course. We don't get many guests. We'd love to have you."
The two exchanged a glance. "Then we'd be honoured."
"Wonderful." Konan packed up her groceries and led them home.
---
They arrived at a humble place Konan shared with Nagato.
"I'm back—and I brought guests!"
"Sorry to intrude." ×2
Nagato's voice came from inside. "Welcome back. It's been a while."
Inside, Konan flipped over a wooden plaque on the wall—from a frog engraving to a red side with her name beneath it. Nagato and Yahiko were nearby. Across from them was Jiraiya's plaque.
Noticing Hinata's curious gaze, Konan explained, "Jiraiya-sensei taught us this code. Flip it to red when you're home, frog side when you leave—it means, 'I'll be back soon.'"
"How fun," Hinata said, examining it closely. Jiraiya and Yahiko were still on the frog side. Konan and Nagato's were red.
"We had to work hard cleaning this place up after coming back. No matter how messy it was… it's still our home."
Yahiko's plaque had originally been red. He died in an ambush before he could flip it. Konan must've changed it during the cleanup… that must've been painful.
They sat, drank tea, and talked about Nagato's recovery. The two seemed to be doing well.
After a pause, Naruto looked at Nagato's closed eyes. "You know… if you went to Orochimaru, he could probably clone you a new pair of eyes."
Nagato smiled. "These past few years without sight have allowed me to see many things. Still… it's time I took care of Konan instead."
Konan gently poured more tea for him, her expression radiant.
---