Orochimaru's idea was, in theory, indeed feasible.
After all, "Impure World Reincarnation" was essentially a summoning technique, the only difference being that what it summoned was not ninja beasts, but the souls of the dead.
But the premise was that the so-called Void Realm truly existed.
So… did the Void Realm exist?
"When Orochimaru finds the Space-Time Rift, at that moment, the so-called Void Realm will naturally become real."
In the Land of Rain, Arata smiled faintly, already able to guess Orochimaru's reaction after reading the scroll.
The Void Real" was fake. The Hollow was also fake.
But the Space-Time Rift that connected to another space truly existed, and the idea that souls could grow stronger by devouring one another was, in theory, also feasible.
To make his lie more convincing, Arata had spent this time frequently sneaking into the Hyuga clan's ancestral library, flipping through neglected ancient texts and legends.
In those records, he found accounts of the "Nomadic People", the remnants of an ancient civilization from the original movie Clash! The Phantom Underground Ruins.
That civilization had used the powerful Stone of Gelel to build an empire, and possessed a Space-Time Hole that connected to an independent dimension.
So the only thing Arata needed to do was, when Orochimaru found the ruins of that civilization, to seize the space connected to the Space-Time Rift and turn it into his own "Void Realm."
As for Orochimaru's later research into souls devouring souls to grow stronger, it would naturally be converted by Arata into the rules of the world using points.
At that time, souls that died with obsession and resentment would no longer enter the Pure Land. Instead, they would follow their instincts to devour other souls and be born into this world as a Hollow.
This was also the part Orochimaru hadn't seen. Once the Hollow was artificially cultivated and the passage opened, the Hollow would "escape" the Void Realm and appear in the ninja world.
The entire ninja world would fall into fear and turmoil, and his lie would, at that moment, become reality.
"Although the idea of manifesting intangible 'rules' has existed in my mind for a long time, this is the first time I've truly put it into practice."
"However, when the system responded before, it said [Insufficient Points], not [Unable to Manifest], which means manifesting 'rules' is indeed feasible."
Aarata's eyes flickered slightly as he thought, "Although it will cost a huge amount of points, if it really works, the returns will likely be beyond my imagination."
Because the target of this lie would not only be all the ninjas of the world, but also the Sage of Six Paths and even Otsutsuki Isshiki hiding in the shadows.
It could even be said—
He was deceiving the entire world.
[Ding!]
[Your lie has been judged as [Obscuring the Truth][Substitution Trick][Mirage]. Orochimaru has experienced an extremely intense emotional fluctuation, reaching the level of [Doubting the World]. You have gained 2000 Reality Points.]
[Remaining Reality Points: 12194]
As expected.
Hearing the system notification in his mind, Arata further confirmed his plan.
Just Orochimaru alone had contributed two thousand points.
Sure enough, only by shattering their worldview and then reconstructing it with lies could such massive gains be obtained.
"I hope dear Lord Orochimaru works a little faster. With his talent, as long as he dares to act, developing a technique where souls devour souls to grow stronger shouldn't be difficult."
Arata silently "blessed" Orochimaru, once again marveling at how useful this "tool" was.
If he had to do everything himself, who knew how many points and effort it would take? Now, it was enough to let Orochimaru handle it.
"Even after I nearly got him killed, he still repays me with kindness and holds no grudges. Lord Orochimaru really is a good person."
Arata sighed inwardly. However, Orochimaru would need time, and he himself needed to accumulate points before he could manifest the "rules" in one decisive move.
For now, he could only set those thoughts aside and sit on the bed, looking out the window.
From here, he could see the towering structure in the distance, piercing through the rain clouds, the massive tower symbolizing the absolute authority of Amegakure, like a tombstone overlooking this land soaked in tears and bound by steel.
Kakashi had already sent word back to the village. Once Sarutobi Hiruzen approved, they would head to Amegakure to meet Hanzo and propose an alliance.
Given Sarutobi's personality, there was no reason for him to refuse. And considering Hanzo's precarious internal and external situation, he likely wouldn't refuse either.
It had to be admitted, this was a solution beneficial to both sides.
The Land of Rain would become a buffer for the Land of Fire against the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth, while the Land of Fire would provide supplies such as food and weapons.
But…
"Will the people of the Land of Rain and the ninjas of Amegakure willingly become cannon fodder for Konoha?"
"Will Nagato and Uchiha Obito allow the Land of Rain, something already in their grasp, to become a vassal and sacrifice of the great nations?"
"And will I allow it?"
Arata smiled, his shadow writhing beneath his feet.
A black robe wrapped around him, and his figure disappeared from the room, leaving only a shadow clone behind.
....
Amegakure, atop the tower.
Hanzo sat cross-legged by the window, quietly watching the rain outside.
The Land of Rain, a country soaked in cold rainfall, wedged between the great nations of Fire, Wind, and Earth. Throughout history, it had been ravaged by their wars, its land turned into a battlefield, its people displaced.
It had no bright sunlight, no fertile land, only endless dampness, cold steel, and a pain buried deep in the heart, washed by rain yet never fading.
It was a microcosm of the ninja world's cruelty, a wound of war that never healed, a breeding ground where ideals twisted under despair. The unending rain seemed like the silent weeping of the nation, the tears of countless lost lives.
It washed away bloodstains, but not hatred.
"Ideals?"
Hanzo recalled the young man named Yahiko and the "ideals" and "peace" he spoke of.
Hadn't the younger Hanzo once had ideals? Hadn't he once longed for peace?
In youth, one believes nothing is impossible.
With time, one realizes that human strength has its limits.
Now, he was the leader of Amegakure, the hero of the Land of Rain, bearing the lives of thousands upon his shoulders. He could not gamble, dared not gamble, and could not afford to lose.
At this thought, the cloudiness in Hanzo's eyes gradually turned firm.
Knock, knock.
At that moment, a knock sounded at the door.
"Come in," Hanzo said calmly, his thoughts interrupted.
A Rain ninja rushed in anxiously. "B-Bad news, Lord Hanzo-"
"Silence!" Hanzo's voice sank. "Why the panic? I'm not dead yet. The sky isn't falling!"
"Y-Yes." The ninja swallowed and steadied himself. "Lord Hanzo, people from Konoha have arrived. They request an audience with you."
"Konoha?" Hanzo's brows furrowed immediately, unease rising in his heart.
'So soon?'