Inside the Konoha Jōnin Council Room…

The long council table was packed with Konoha's most powerful and influential figures. The atmosphere was leaden, almost suffocating.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at the head, his face more gaunt than usual. At his sides were the familiar elders: Utatane Koharu, Homura Mitokado, and Danzo Shimura, seated like a shadow at the edge of the fire.

Along the flanks sat the leaders of the major clans—Nara Shikaku, ever the tactician, and Hyuga Hiashi, stern and composed. A scattering of elite Jōnin completed the circle, all bearing expressions of tightly-restrained alarm.

Hiruzen's voice broke the heavy silence.

"The information is accurate. The object is real—and accelerating. A planet-sized celestial body, originally harmless in trajectory, is now set to collide with our world in 43 days."

He paused, letting the weight of his words land.

"According to our findings, this course alteration was caused by an individual—Uchiha Gen. After awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, he used a visual technique powerful enough to distort the trajectory of a celestial body."

Gasps and hushed muttering rippled through the room.

Koharu leaned forward, brow furrowed. "So… the world is ending, and we owe it to a forgotten Uchiha?"

Hiruzen nodded grimly. "I've decided to call for a Five Kage Summit. I'll deliver this information in person."

Homura exchanged glances with Koharu. They gave a stiff nod. Even they could not argue — too much was at stake for careless dispatches and unverified rumors.

Shikaku finally spoke, fingers steepled beneath his chin. "And… the body? Gen's Sharingan?"

Before Hiruzen could reply, Danzo's voice cut through the room like a blade.

"Gone. His body self-destructed. No remains. No eyes."

The room went still. Every head turned toward Danzo.

Suspicion thickened the air.

Everyone knew of Danzo's obsession with the Sharingan — it was no secret. For Uchiha Gen to suddenly self-destruct and leave nothing behind was too convenient.

Hiashi's eyes narrowed, and Shikaku silently studied Danzo's face. Even Koharu and Homura shifted uncomfortably.

But Danzo remained unfazed, arms crossed and expression unreadable — no denial, no clarification.

He didn't need to explain himself.

The silence tightened.

Then Hiruzen changed the subject with a weary sigh. "Hiashi. The Hyuga received advanced sensory information on this object. Do you have anything further to add?"

Hiashi straightened. "Our Byakugan detected no natural origin. The asteroid's original path wasn't heading toward the continent — someone altered its gravitational route using a space-time ocular technique."

Koharu tilted her head. "If visual prowess caused this… then can it also reverse it?"

That idea struck the room with force. All eyes turned toward Hiruzen, then slowly toward Danzo.

Hiashi exhaled slowly. "Only the Mangekyō Sharingan would have such power. And unfortunately… Gen may have been the last."

Shikaku added quietly, "Even if such power still exists… would its user be willing to help?"

Silence again.

Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his temples, his heart growing increasingly anxious and helpless.

The instigator of this disaster was originally an Uchiha clan member almost completely overlooked by everyone.

But it was precisely such an inconspicuous person who, silently and without warning, brought such a huge crisis to the Ninja World.

If only he had known this earlier...

He shouldn't have indulged Danzo and the others back then...

Then Danzo's voice came low and cold.

"If no Uchiha remains, we must stop fantasizing and face reality. There may be other means—other forces in the world. We should consider weaponizing Jinchūriki, or developing jutsu capable of planetary-scale disruption."

Hiruzen shot him a glance. "Weaponizing tailed beasts? That path led to the last few Ninja Wars."

Danzo didn't blink. "And Konoha won those wars."

Shikaku shook his head. "Even if we could divert the asteroid, replicating that kind of ocular power… would be nearly impossible. We don't have the time or the chakra infrastructure to gamble on theory."

Hiashi glanced down, visibly troubled, He wondered if the strength of his relatives on the moon could achieve this.

Hiruzen finally stood, the weight of age in his eyes but a fire still flickering beneath.

"Then we prepare for both outcomes. Begin scientific and tactical evaluations on the asteroid. Strengthen our defenses. We convene the Five Kage Summit immediately."

Shikaku nodded. "Preparations for underground shelter construction are already underway. But the other villages have begun questioning our sudden mobilization. They suspect deception."

"Which is why," Hiruzen said, "we must manage the truth carefully. The world will panic if told too soon, but if told too late—"

Danzo stood as well, cutting him off.

"—Then we miss our chance. The truth is meaningless without leverage. Konoha must emerge from this disaster stronger, not weaker. Our leadership must remain intact."

His voice was firm, unwavering — almost triumphant.

"When the world falls, Konoha must rise. And rebuild it in our image."

The room stiffened.

Even for Danzo, the ambition in his tone was unsettling. It wasn't just pragmatic. It was hungry.

As soon as he uttered these words, everyone present felt a jolt in their hearts, as if they had returned to the Ninja World War era.

Danzo's tone was so aggressive that it even created an illusion...

It was too overbearing...

It was as if he was ready to provoke another Ninja World War.

Shikaku gave a subtle glance to Hiashi, whose brow furrowed further. Koharu sat in grim silence. Homura shifted uncomfortably.

Only Hiruzen Sarutobi felt that something was wrong...

He had known Danzo for decades; he knew the old man's temper and personality inside and out. Although Danzo was ambitious, he wouldn't usually be this insane for such a long time...

What was going on? Did Danzo just suddenly lose it?

At this moment, Danzo's heart was exceptionally resolute, brimming with confidence.

He coldly swept his gaze across the people in the room; in his eyes, they were nothing more than short-sighted insects.

They simply could not understand that the current disaster was actually a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Konoha to rise again and dominate the Ninja World. Chaos is simply a ladder to success

Only after the catastrophe could Konoha truly reach its peak and truly achieve a second great revival!

Later, in the Depths of Root Headquarters…

Danzo descended into the dim, sterile corridors of Root. His personal guards parted silently at his presence.

A masked subordinate approached, kneeling.

"Lord Danzo. Orochimaru has arrived. He requests audience."

Danzo's lips curled into a faint, grim smile.

"So the snake returns, as expected. Let him in."

Soon, the chamber doors opened with a hiss.

Orochimaru entered, his presence slithering into the room like a poisonous fog. His pale face was half-shrouded, but the grin remained unmistakable.

"Danzo-sama," Orochimaru said, voice smooth as silk, "I must say… the end of the world has brought you to life again."

Danzo's eyes narrowed. "I didn't summon you for pleasantries. Speak your business."

Orochimaru's smile only widened.

"Business, then. I came to offer you something you'll need when the sky falls — knowledge. Forbidden knowledge."

Danzo's eyes sharpened.

"So you're here to barter."

"Barter?" Orochimaru's chuckle was dry. "No. I'm here to collaborate. After all… you and I both know. In a world reborn from ashes, the old rules mean nothing."

And deep beneath Konoha, two monsters stood in silent agreement.