The flickering torchlight cast elongated shadows across the encrypted maps of star patterns and missing-nin reports. Hiruzen sat at the head of the table, pipe smoke curling like phantom serpents, while Danzo leaned against the wall—his single visible eye sharp as a kunai. Before them, Kaji and Orochimaru stood beside a projected seal matrix humming with forbidden energy.
Kaji (tossing a blackened scroll onto the table): "We've been farmed like cattle, Hokage-sama. Chakra was never ours—it's a leash."
Danzo's grip tightened on his cane. "Explain. Quickly."
Orochimaru (activating a hologram of Kaguya's statue): "Meet our true adversaries. The Ōtsutsuki Clan—celestial parasites who seed worlds with chakra, nurture conflict, and reap the energy of dying civilizations."
The hologram shifted to show planets cracking like eggs under a giant's fist.
Kaji: "Every tailed beast, every kekkei genkai—their technology. The Uchiha and Senju? Byproducts of their experiments. Even the Sage of Six Paths was just a failed rebellion."
Hiruzen's pipe froze mid-drag.
---------------
Orochimaru (tapping the pulsating core): "This converts chakra into magic—an energy source they can't trace or control. No more feeding the gods. No more cycles of war for their harvest."
Danzo (snarling): "You propose to rewrite every shinobi's energy system overnight? ''hmm''
Kaji (smirking): "Which is why you'll announce a 'village-wide chakra control drill.' Seven days of 'training'—while the Nexus does the real work in the background."
Hiruzen (rubbing his temples): "And the ANBU's role?"
Orochimaru: "Monitor 'progress.' Grade citizens on adaptation speed. The faster they embrace magic, the higher their clearance for… future projects."
A beat. Danzo's eye narrowed.
Danzo: "…My operatives have flagged anomalies. Ruins with star-fanged murals. Missing-nin speaking in tongues about 'white-eyed gods.'"
Kaji and Orochimaru exchanged glances. Got him.
As the meeting dissolved, the Nexus core pulsed brighter—its light swallowing the room's shadows whole.
------------
The Hokage Tower, Grand Assembly Hall – One Day After Nexus Activation
The air hummed with anticipation as every major clan head, elite jōnin, and key figures of Konoha gathered in the grand hall. The Nexus had been active for less than a day, yet already, whispers of change spread through the village. Some shinobi had woken up with strange new abilities—sparks of fire forming without hand signs, water bending to their will with a thought.
At the center of the room stood Kaji and Orochimaru, their presence commanding silence. Behind them, a massive projection of the "Magic Rank System" shimmered in the air.
Hiruzen sat at the head of the assembly, pipe in hand, watching with keen interest. Danzo lingered in the shadows, his single visible eye sharp with calculation.
The New Hierarchy: Beyond Kage-Level
Kaji stepped forward, his voice steady and firm.
"Yesterday, Konoha took its first step into a new era. Chakra, as we know it, is no longer the peak of power. Magic is superior—more versatile, more potent, and most importantly, untraceable by the forces that seek to control us."
He gestured to the projection, revealing the new ranking system:
Basic Magic User (Genin-level)
Intermediate Magic User (Chūnin to Jōnin-level)
Advanced Magic User (Elite Jōnin to Low Kage-level)
Super Kage (Current Kage-level, but now obsolete)
Planetary Level (Capable of destroying continents)
Galactic Level (Able to shatter moons, alter celestial bodies)
Cosmic Level (Beyond comprehension)
"Orochimaru and I have already reached Planetary Level," Kaji announced.
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
"You mean… you could destroy a country?" asked Shikaku Nara, eyes narrowed in thought.
"With minimal effort," Orochimaru confirmed, smirking. "But power without control is meaningless. That's why we've prepared training regimens for all of you."
The Magic Training System: From Basics to Absolute Mastery
Kaji raised his hand, and a series of floating texts appeared—"Konoha's Magic Combat Doctrine."
1. Basic Magic (Foundation Training)
Energy Sensing – Learning to feel magic in the environment.
Elemental Manipulation (No Hand Signs Needed) – Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Lightning—controlled by will alone.
Magic Reinforcement – Strengthening the body beyond chakra enhancement.
"For those used to hand signs, they will still work—but they are now optional," Kaji explained. "A ninjutsu that once required twelve seals can now be cast with a thought."
2. Intermediate Magic (Tactical Application)
Spell Weaving – Combining elements seamlessly (e.g., creating a storm of flaming ice).
Barrier Magic – Shields that nullify chakra-based attacks effortlessly.
Spatial Warping – Short-distance teleportation without the need for seals.
"At this stage, a single magic-user can defeat a squad of chakra-based shinobi," Orochimaru added. "Their techniques will be useless against you."
3. Advanced Magic (Strategic Dominance)
Arcane Jutsu – Spells that rewrite local reality (e.g., reversing gravity in a battlefield).
Soul Magic – Affecting the mind and spirit directly (no genjutsu resistance can block it).
Regeneration Beyond Tsunade's Abilities – Healing from near-fatal wounds in seconds.
"This is where the true gap forms," Kaji said. "A single Advanced Magic user could dismantle an entire Hidden Village."
4. Planetary Level & Beyond (Godhood)
Terraforming – Reshaping landscapes at will.
Meteor Summoning – Calling down celestial bodies as weapons.
Existence Erasure – Removing targets from reality itself.
"Orochimaru and I have tested these limits," Kaji stated. "A fight between two Planetary-level beings would look like a natural disaster to outsiders."
--------
''Why Magic Dominates Chakra....''
Orochimaru took over, his voice smooth but carrying an edge of finality.
"Chakra is a borrowed power—one that the Ōtsutsuki can track, manipulate, and even drain. Magic is ours. It does not rely on their systems. A fireball cast with magic cannot be absorbed by a Rinnegan. A barrier erected with magic cannot be broken by a Tailed Beast Bomb."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in.
"In a direct confrontation, a well-trained magic user will always defeat a chakra user of equal skill. That is not arrogance—it is fact."
-----
Kaji clapped his hands together, and the projection shifted to a schedule.
"Starting today, every shinobi in Konoha will undergo magic adaptation training. The ANBU will oversee progress and assign classifications. Those who excel will be fast-tracked into specialized roles."
There were no complaints. No jokes. No skepticism.
The Hyūga, known for their pride in the Byakugan, simply nodded. The Uchiha, masters of the Sharingan, saw the potential for greater power. Even the Aburame, whose insects thrived on chakra, understood that evolution was necessary.
----
The Third Hokage stood, his presence still commanding despite his age. The room fell silent.
"Konoha was founded on the belief that progress comes through unity and innovation. Today, we take the greatest leap in shinobi history. We are no longer bound by the limits of chakra. No longer prey to unseen gods."
He looked at each clan head, his gaze firm.
"Train. Adapt. Grow stronger. The world will soon learn that Konoha does not follow the rules—we rewrite them."
A thunderous applause erupted. The shinobi of Konoha didn't just accept this new power—they craved it.
The age of magic had begun.
And Konoha would lead the way.