Akira dashed forward and caught Boruto—still in Momoshiki's form—as he fell. "You were trying to warn me about someone just now, weren't you? But for some reason… you couldn't say their name."
There was no response.
In Akira's arms, the one asleep was already Boruto.
"Rest well," he said quietly—to both Boruto and Momoshiki.
"My lord." Outer Path White Zetsu No.14 emerged behind him.
"Take Boruto back."
"As you command." The White Zetsu took Boruto and sank into the ground.
Akira lifted his gaze, looking at Kawaki, who sat collapsed on the ground… then walked toward him.
What to do with Kawaki next would determine the direction of everything to come.
Eliminating Isshiki and the Kara threat was inevitable—it was the internal stabilization step of his plan. And for the next step—facing the external threats—he needed the Ten-Tails juvenile raised by Isshiki.
He would nurture it into a Divine Tree and harvest a chakra fruit. That was essential if he wanted to challenge the higher-ranking Ōtsutsuki beyond the stars.
To cultivate a chakra fruit, two things were critical.
A sacrifice… and fertile ground.
The sacrifice—what he often referred to as "tree fertilizer"—was an Ōtsutsuki used to feed the Ten-Tails, allowing it to transform into the Divine Tree.
According to Amado in the original timeline, the quality of the chakra fruit depended largely on the Divine Tree, and the quality of the tree depended on the sacrifice used during the Ten-Tails stage.
A young and healthy Ōtsutsuki would produce a vigorous Divine Tree, which, combined with fertile land, would yield a high-quality chakra fruit.
An old or weakened Ōtsutsuki, however, would produce an inferior tree—possibly one that couldn't bear fruit at all.
Back then, Kaguya's Ten-Tails had been fed with Isshiki's near-dead half-body.
That resulted in a subpar Divine Tree. It was only due to the fertile land that a chakra fruit was still produced—and even then, it was merely average.
Yet even that average fruit created the peak form of Kaguya.
Akira's goal was clear.
If he was going to do it… he would create the highest-quality fruit possible.
So far, he had three "fertilizers" stored in his time-space freeze.
Kinshiki, Momoshiki, and Urashiki.
Kinshiki had been frozen nearly uninjured—but he wasn't exactly young.
Momoshiki and Urashiki were young, but both were severely wounded—unhealthy, by Amado's standards.
Strictly speaking, none of them—including Isshiki—were ideal sacrifices.
But in Akira's plan… they were just side dishes.
The main course had to be a young, healthy Ōtsutsuki.
And Kawaki… was the perfect candidate.
Maybe, as Naruto believed, Kawaki wasn't inherently bad. Maybe with proper guidance, he could return to the right path.
But Akira had no intention of giving him that chance.
Kawaki was destined to become fertilizer.
However… that moment would only come when Kawaki fully transformed into an Ōtsutsuki.
So how to achieve that?
Freezing him wouldn't work.
Bringing him into the Peach Paradise wouldn't work either—he would only bring endless trouble.
Akira wasn't that naive.
As he walked, his eyes flicked upward.
He wasn't blind—the Kara surveillance drone hovering high above was clearly visible to him.
From Konoha's intel via Yugao, Jigen had already retreated.
Even though I suppressed some of Kawaki's Kāma causality with Danmetsu Shanti, preventing Jigen from directly opening a portal to him…
If Jigen knows Kawaki's exact location, he can still reach him via coordinates.
And yet… he hasn't appeared.
That means he's patient. Calculating.
Akira analyzed calmly.
There are only three reasons he returned to base.
One—he suspects a traitor and won't act rashly.
Two—he wants to observe my true strength.
Three—he wants to determine my stance based on how I treat Kawaki.
He knows I've been an enemy of Konoha before… so he's unsure whether I'm his ally or enemy.
But one thing is certain.
If I try to harm Kawaki… he will appear immediately.
Even if it means sacrificing Jigen and fighting me as Isshiki.
He has no other choice.
But… now is not the right time to face Isshiki.
That was another reason Akira couldn't act against Kawaki yet.
He stopped in front of him.
"Hey! Uchiha Akira is about to act on the vessel! Jigen, are we just going to watch!?"
"Not yet. Let's wait," Jigen replied calmly, though his entire body was tense.
Kashin Koji noticed everything—the tight grip on the chair, the bead of sweat on Jigen's face.
He's wary of Akira… more than I expected.
And… I think he's already starting to suspect something. I need to prepare an escape.
Koji exchanged a glance with Amado. A silent agreement formed.
Everything would depend on Akira's next move.
On the screen, Akira raised his hand—
Crack!
A fracture appeared on Jigen's armrest. He was already halfway to standing.
But then—
Akira simply placed his hand on Kawaki's head and smiled.
"Not hurt, are you?"
Jigen froze.
Everyone in Kara was stunned.
"W-what are you doing…?" Kawaki's scalp tingled. He instinctively tried to retreat—but his body wouldn't respond.
Akira smiled warmly. "Kawaki, did you think I was going to kill you? Do I look that violent to you?"
Kawaki trembled. "Y-you're not… but what you did to Konoha—!"
Akira shrugged. "Be reasonable. I acted because Konoha had something I wanted. And I didn't massacre anyone, did I? The Seventh Hokage you admire—he didn't die by my hand."
"Tell me… do you still want to return to him?"
"The Seventh Hokage… isn't he already—"
"He's alive. And Konoha hasn't been wiped out."
"…Really!?" Kawaki's eyes widened.
"What would I gain from lying?"
Tears streamed down Kawaki's face.
Thank god…
"But even so… I… I can't…"
Because I'd only bring danger back to him…
Akira cut him off by opening a portal.
"Step through. The person you want to see is on the other side."
"You have ten seconds."
"Ten."
"Nine."
"Eight."
Kawaki's mind spiraled.
If I go back… will he still accept me?
Will Kara attack again?
I… I…
"Three."
"Two."
I… still want to go back.
Seventh Hokage… Father…
"One."
Kawaki stepped forward.
And crossed through the portal.
It closed.
The conflict between you and Naruto… and Kawaki himself…
These are seeds you planted.
Now you must face the consequences.
Endure it.
Whether you lose everything… or awaken in time…
That's up to you.
Akira turned and walked away. Above him, the drone had already vanished into the clouds.
The gate to the Peach Paradise closed behind him.
He had already mastered Indra's Soul Transfer Technique.
"The storm of the ninja world is coming. It's time… to properly handle Kaguya's artificial body, revive the Ten-Tails, and become its jinchūriki…"
...
Mount Yōyō.
A heavy silence blanketed the land.
Sakura Haruno had turned her life force into nourishment… sustaining the great tree of Konoha.
Her once vibrant pink hair had faded into a winter-white pallor.
At that moment, Naruto and Sasuke's hearts had begun beating again.
But they had not awakened.
Within a tranquil inner world—
Before them appeared an old man.
"Time flows like smoke… Naruto, Sasuke… we meet again."
Both raised their heads.
Standing before them was—
The Sage of Six Paths.
Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo.
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