Uchiha District
"When you reach a certain age, sometimes the body just… clocks out," Akio said quietly as he looked at the frail figure of Uchiha Kagami lying in bed. Then he turned and stepped outside.
It had only been nine months since he'd last seen Kagami. Back then, the old clan head had still possessed enough strength to consider detaining Orochimaru by force. Now he couldn't even sit up on his own. Every sentence required a long pause to catch his breath.
"Master… the former clan head…?" Obito asked softly, hope lingering in his voice. "Your medical ninjutsu is stronger than Rin's. There has to be something you can do, right?"
Akio shook his head.
"It wouldn't change the outcome. At best, it's the difference between tomorrow and the day after."
Obito froze. He sniffed hard, forcing himself to stay composed. He was Hokage now. Hokage didn't break down in front of everyone.
"Then… please," Obito said firmly.
Akio understood. Obito wanted that extra day.
But Akio didn't move.
Before obtaining his mental space, he would have done everything possible to prolong Kagami's life. Now… death wasn't an ending. It was a transition. Why make the man endure another day of suffering?
He didn't even ask Kagami what he wanted.
Better to go cleanly.
"There's no dignity in clinging to a single extra day," Akio murmured.
For the first time, he was seeing off a junior without heaviness in his chest. Kagami had impeccable timing, really.
"Elder Akio… is it truly…" Hiruzen said quietly.
"Don't be too upset," Akio replied gently. "You'll have your turn one day too."
Hiruzen blinked, unsure how to respond, then awkwardly retreated to reminisce with Koharu and Homura instead.
Night deepened.
Kagami's life force thinned to a fragile thread.
After a moment of thought, Akio turned to Fugaku.
"Make the arrangements. It's time."
Fugaku stiffened but nodded. "Understood."
Obito's face twisted. Don't cry. Don't cry.
Akio glanced at him, then immediately looked away. Don't laugh. Don't laugh.
When Fugaku returned with several Uchiha elders, Akio's face was already red from suppressing his expression.
"Let's go in."
Inside the room, Akio placed both palms on Kagami's chest, stabilizing him with medical chakra.
"You've got maybe thirty minutes," he said softly. "Say what you need to say."
Kagami inhaled deeply. The chakra steadied his breathing.
"Thank you, Elder Akio. I've already arranged for my eyes to be left to you after my death. You have my trust."
Akio nodded.
Kagami turned toward Hiruzen and the others, forcing a faint smile.
"Looks like I'll be heading ahead of you."
Hiruzen sighed. "If you meet Torifu or Danzo in the afterlife, tell them we'll be joining soon enough."
"I will"
"You probably won't," Akio cut in mildly.
Kagami paused, then shifted his gaze to the Uchiha gathered.
"Fugaku. Obito. Yunchu… the clan's future is in your hands."
"I'm not crying," Obito muttered.
Akio couldn't hold it in, he let out a short laugh before catching himself and rolling his eyes upward, pouring more of his consciousness into his mental space.
He began preparing Kagami's residence there.
He couldn't sit through the rest of the farewell without risking another inappropriate laugh. Not a shred of sorrow stirred in him.
At least he could avoid embarrassing himself.
Half an hour later.
Kagami finished his final words and exhaled slowly.
"Elder Akio… you may release your hands now."
Akio smiled faintly.
"Death isn't the end. Close your eyes and open them again—=, you might find something interesting."
He lifted his hands.
Without medical chakra sustaining him, Kagami's breathing stopped moments later.
His soul rose from his body, drifting upward.
Akio's spiritual force surged, reaching to draw it into his mental space
"…Hm?"
It didn't move.
"Clan Head!"
Obito finally broke. Tears streamed down his face.
The others began to sink into grief
Then everything went silent.
A piercing hum echoed directly inside their minds.
One by one, everyone collapsed.
Moments later, Obito, Fugaku, and Hiruzen struggled back to their feet. The rest remained unconscious.
"What just happened?!" Hiruzen demanded, disoriented.
He recognized the attack, pure spiritual pressure. And powerful. Possibly linked to Akio.
He grabbed Koharu and Homura. "Obito! Fugaku! Evacuate the wounded!"
The soul-piercing hum struck again.
They dropped a second time.
This time only Obito managed to stay barely conscious.
"Master! What's happening?!"
Akio stood in Sage Mode, cloak of natural energy draped around him, face grim.
"Obito. Warp them away. Far from me. Don't worry, unless they're too close, they'll be fine. Worst case, the whole village sleeps through the night."
Obito didn't hesitate. This wasn't the time for questions.
Once everyone vanished into Kamui's dimension, Akio's expression hardened.
"You stubborn old relic," he muttered. "Trying to steal from me?"
"I'm maxed out. You think I'm scared of you?"
A third wave of spiritual shock rippled outward.
Throughout Konoha
Not everyone passed out.
The Yamanaka clan, trained in mental techniques, felt the impact most severely. Only a handful remained conscious, and they almost wished they hadn't. The repeated spiritual pulses were agony.
Several distant jōnin retained awareness and began evacuating unconscious family members.
The Senju compound, farthest from the Uchiha district, suffered the least. Nawaki quickly assessed the situation and ordered defensive measures in case enemies tried to exploit the chaos.
Elsewhere
One minute earlier, at Kushina's home:
The first wave hit.
Minato reacted instantly. In one motion he grabbed Kushina and the baby and vanished.
He reappeared, scooped up Naruto, and vanished again.
Within seconds, the entire family stood on a barren hill miles outside Konoha.
Kushina, fully awake, held the baby tightly inside her night robe to keep her warm. She looked at Naruto, still sleeping like a log in Minato's arms then at her husband's serious expression.
"Sunshine… did you just have a nightmare?"
The spiritual waves continued every minute.
After half an hour, they finally ceased.
Inside the Mental Space
"Relax, Kagami," Akio said calmly.
Kagami clutched his head, grimacing. "Elder… what was that? Is this… the afterlife? Who was that? A psychopomp?"
Akio smiled.
"I only meant to pull you in. Didn't expect him to fight that hard over you."
He looked upward into the void.
"Well then… Sage of Six Paths," Akio called out lightly,
"Nice to see you."
"What do you think of my version of the afterlife?"
"Care to stay a while? I'm looking for someone to play king of the underworld."