Akira chewed on the richly seasoned fish, speaking in an even tone. "That bad, huh? Is it because the chakra Urashiki drained from him during the sea ambush never fully recovered?"
Mei Terumi shook her head lightly. "His chakra recovered. But his mindset didn't. He lost the sharpness and awareness a proper shinobi should have. In the end, those genin caught him off guard using the advantage of the ninja swords, and he ended up like this."
"Now he's lost both hands, the very tools needed for hand seals. His disciple, whom he poured all his hopes into, is dead. Chōjūrō has completely fallen apart. He can't carry the Mizukage's responsibilities anymore."
"The Mist is now facing a crisis with no successor. Morale is collapsing. It can no longer even uphold the name of a great shinobi village."
After finishing her drink in one gulp, Mei slumped forward onto the table. Her eyes shimmered with tears, her expression suddenly that of a helpless young girl.
"Akira… we've known each other for so long, and I've never asked you for anything. Can you help the Mist?"
Akira replied calmly, "It's not that I won't help you. The kind of relationship I value goes both ways—it's not about one side giving everything."
"The Mist belongs to Chōjūrō as long as he's still Mizukage. It's his village. Even you can't decide for it, Mei."
"The way things have turned out… it's simply the era phasing them out."
"And I'll be blunt—helping them wouldn't change much. When the Otsutsuki threat comes, they won't be able to contribute anything."
"It's not just the Mist either."
Akira's voice softened slightly.
"You think my Hidden Dark Village is powerful, right?"
"To put it simply, it's just a place I built for my people to live comfortably. A safe haven. You could even call it a small, personal world."
"When the real battles come, only a handful of people will actually be able to fight."
Mei lowered her gaze, tears still lingering. "I understand all that."
"But… that place is still my home."
"I know shinobi won't matter much in the future. But I hope that one day, they can find their place again. Do what they're meant to do. Shine in their own way."
"The moon lights up the night sky. Fireflies light up the grasslands."
"No matter how small… shinobi are still part of this world."
Ao listened silently, deeply moved. So the Mizukage… she had always carried such a fragile and emotional side. She had never shown it in front of others. She truly trusted Akira.
The moon lights the sky, fireflies light the fields.
Those words stirred something in Akira.
Everyone shining in their own world. That was perhaps the most dignified and beautiful ending for a shinobi—not blindly uniting everyone's strength only to burn themselves out.
Akira took a sip of his drink. "Mei… go back and take the Mizukage seat again."
Mei blinked in surprise. "Me? At my age?"
Akira picked at the fish between his teeth with a toothpick and smiled. "Tsunade was older than you when she became Hokage. Do you think you're inferior to her?"
Mei hesitated. "That's not it… I just hoped Chōjūrō would stand up again and take responsibility."
Akira chuckled. "There's no such thing as a burden called 'Mizukage.' When the sky falls, someone taller will hold it up. But even if you stand on a giant's shoulders, you need the courage not to fear heights. Some things just aren't worth forcing."
Mei let out a soft laugh. "You really are straightforward, Akira. That's what I admire most about you."
She drained her cup in one go. "Fine. I'll return as Mizukage. I'll stand on those shoulders and take a look at the view up there. If I fall one day, don't laugh at me."
Akira smiled faintly. "I won't."
He turned to the side. "Ao, from today on, stay in the Mist again. Just like before—stand by the Mizukage's side."
Ao was stunned. "What about Kara?"
"You're done there."
Akira raised two fingers. "From now on, I'm releasing you from Kotoamatsukami. Serve the Mizukage wholeheartedly."
Ao blinked in disbelief. "It's… undone? Why don't I feel any different?"
Akira only smiled.
Perhaps true charisma… was the real Kotoamatsukami.
"Boss, bill please. And pack two fresh mackerel."
"Coming right up!"
It would be nice to bring some back for the family.
But for now… Akira couldn't return home just yet.
It wasn't because of the radiation—something laughable under his power.
There was something more important to handle.
"The groundwork for Amado and Eida has already been laid. It just needs a little more time to ferment."
"And as for Isshiki… it's time to settle things."
To be honest, Akira hadn't expected that after the Ten-Tails devoured Code, it wouldn't immediately become a Divine Tree, but instead maximize its power as a Ten-Tails.
And Isshiki… having a method to fuse with the Ten-Tails like that.
In the original timeline, Naruto's Baryon Mode reduced him to only five minutes of life, leaving him no chance to use such a trump card.
From a long-term perspective, this wasn't entirely bad. The stronger the Ten-Tails, the more powerful the chakra fruit it would eventually produce.
But even so… Isshiki's current power was no joke.
Even Akira couldn't guarantee victory.
But whether he could win or not, he still had to fight.
If Isshiki died like this, the fused Ten-Tails would die with him.
Was he supposed to let Isshiki reincarnate through Kawaki instead? That would bring the Ten-Tails back—but then who would become the perfect sacrifice?
There was another uncertainty.
What exactly had Isshiki become now?
A humanoid Ten-Tails? Or something like Kaguya, capable of reverting into the Ten-Tails form?
This question mattered.
It determined whether the Ten-Tails could be cultivated into a Divine Tree, whether a chakra fruit could be produced, and ultimately, Akira's own future gains.
Still… from the fact that Hinata had been transformed into the Divine Tree being Tenka and entrusted to protect Kawaki, it seemed that she was now an independent existence, separate from Isshiki.
Her existence no longer depended on his life or state.
It was… fascinating.
The power of the Otsutsuki truly was beyond comprehension.
But it didn't matter.
The only way to understand it was through direct confrontation.
And if all else failed, there was still his final trump card.
…
Late at night, July 30th.
On a cold stone bed, Naruto Uzumaki slowly opened his eyes.
The person standing before him was—
Enjoyed these chapters? Access 60+ ahead avanced chapters and exclusive content by visiting my Patreon. https://patreon.com/WillOFD129?