Madara leaned over Akira's shoulder, arms folded, reading the message on the scroll.
Mr. Akira, the organization Kara has already set its sights on you. They have sent me to gather intelligence on you.
Kara has promised me promotion and ordered me to stake out your home on Yunmen Mountain.
The scientific ninja tool on my right eye contains a micro-camera. Through my vision, Kara will be able to observe everything you display.
The next move awaits your judgment.
Your loyal admirer, Ao.
Madara asked with interest,
"So… what's the story with this Ao?"
Akira ignited a small flame in his palm, burning both the scroll and the mechanical bird.
"That's a long story, Uncle Madara."
"Do you remember during the Fourth Great Ninja War, when you and Obito used the Ten-Tails to bombard the Allied Forces headquarters?"
Madara nodded.
Akira continued calmly.
"Ao should have been the only survivor of that bombardment."
"But he would also have suffered catastrophic injuries, becoming permanently crippled."
"Years later, Konoha's scientific ninja tools expert Katasuke Tōno would rebuild his body with prosthetic limbs."
"But because of the massive psychological gap he experienced, Ao would fall into darkness."
"He would eventually join Kara and die during an ambush against Konohamaru's squad."
Akira rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"That was the future I saw in a precognitive dream."
Madara smirked.
"So you interfered."
Akira nodded.
"Yes."
"When the headquarters was bombed, I appeared and saved four important people."
"Ao was one of them."
"After the war, those four individuals were listed as dead in their respective villages."
"Even though Ao deeply admired and respected me…"
"I still placed a Kotoamatsukami safeguard on him."
Madara raised an eyebrow.
"Because you were going to give him an important mission?"
"Exactly."
Akira's expression became more serious.
"The mission I gave Ao is not to track Isshiki."
Madara looked surprised.
"Not Isshiki?"
Akira shook his head.
"Isshiki is powerful, but Koji Kashin—Jiraiya's clone—and the scientist Amado already keep him in check."
"They are not my pawns, yet they still serve the same function."
"When Isshiki appears, I'll simply appear to deal with him."
"There's no need to plant a spy in Kara just for that."
Akira lowered his gaze.
"The real reason Ao must infiltrate Kara's inner circle…"
"…is to locate the artificial human created with Ōtsutsuki Shibai's cells."
Eida.
Madara's eyes narrowed.
Akira continued,
"She possesses the divine abilities Senrigan and Omnipotence."
"She is an existence even more dangerous than Isshiki."
"The Senrigan allows her to see anything that has ever happened in the world since her birth."
"Even this conversation between you and me could be observed by her."
"Fortunately, she is sealed inside a special container."
Madara crossed his arms thoughtfully.
"And Omnipotence?"
Akira's voice grew colder.
"It is said to be the power used by the strongest Ōtsutsuki god to create the world."
"A divine technique capable of turning thought into reality."
"You saw the future through my eyes."
"You know what happened."
Madara nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"That boy Kawaki complained to Eida about his desires."
"And because she loved him…"
"She activated Omnipotence."
"The world was rewritten."
"Boruto Uzumaki became the villain responsible for the disappearance of the Seventh Hokage."
"Kawaki became Naruto's beloved son."
"Everyone adored Kawaki."
"Everyone hunted Boruto."
"And Naruto himself…"
Madara paused.
"…was sealed away by Kawaki in another dimension under the pretense of love."
"Later, Sasuke would be caught in the chaos of the Ten-Tails uprising and turned into a grotesque divine tree."
Akira looked up at the dim moonlight above.
"I will never allow that farce to occur."
"Eida herself doesn't intend to destroy the world."
"She's simply a love-obsessed girl."
"But that makes her extremely unstable."
"If her emotions spiral out of control…"
"Omnipotence could reshape reality itself."
"One stray thought is enough."
"So the best solution…"
"…is to make sure she never leaves her container alive."
Madara nodded.
"So Ao's mission is to locate that container."
"Exactly."
"He must become one of Kara's core members to access that information."
"And now…"
Akira smiled faintly.
"…the opportunity I've been waiting fifteen years for has finally arrived."
Madara chuckled.
"So you'll play along and give Ao the promotion he wants."
Akira checked the time.
July 16th — 2:08 AM.
The Gedo Statue, still missing only the Nine-Tails, vanished behind him in a puff of smoke.
"Let Naruto sleep well tonight."
"He'll have plenty to deal with soon."
Yunmen Mountain
Akira chose to walk home instead of using space-time travel.
He even stopped by a nearby town's night market and bought groceries.
Bags of ingredients hung from both hands.
He had also changed out of his black cloak into a casual T-shirt.
Just like someone returning home from a long trip.
Passing through a dark acacia forest and climbing the stone steps—
Akira stopped at his house.
On the wooden corridor outside sat a man who had clearly been waiting a long time.
Akira spoke calmly.
"If I'm not mistaken… you're Ao of the Hidden Mist, the Byakugan user."
Ao raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"I should feel honored that you remember my name, Mr. Uchiha Akira."
Akira went straight to the point.
"A man whose name is carved on the Mist's memorial stone…"
"…what business brings you here?"
Ao slowly opened the heavy box beside him.
Inside was a large weapon.
He slung it up and pointed it directly at Akira.
"To be honest…"
"I just want to kill you."
"…or be killed by you."
Akira looked at the grocery bags in his hands.
"What a strange request."
"Could I at least put these down first?"
"These ingredients are for tonight's soup."
Ao grinned wickedly.
"No."
Then—
BRRRRRRRRT!
The scientific ninja tool Gatling gun roared to life, spewing hellish streams of bullets toward Akira.
Akira sighed lightly.
"I see. What a shame."
Ao…
You really did pick up the Gatling gun.
"Well then."
"I'm not the type to disappoint an audience."
"Let's perform a little puppet show."
Beneath his bangs—
Akira's Rinnegan flickered with dark light.
"Asura Path."
The battle began.
Enjoyed these chapters? Access advanced chapters and exclusive content by visiting my Patreon. https://patreon.com/WillOFD129?