At the Land of Water's daimyo residence, Naruto arrived uninvited.
"Let me introduce myself. I am Uzumaki Naruto, leader of Amegakure, and also the head of Akatsuki—the true organization of justice."
With Obito's return, the Shadow Akatsuki had become all but defunct. The "Bright Akatsuki," established to distinguish itself from the shadowy version, no longer had any reason to exist.
Akatsuki was simply Akatsuki—and Naruto was its leader.
"Uchiha Madara has already been repelled by me. All of you are safe now—your security is fully assured."
At these words, everyone present finally let out a collective sigh of relief.
Uesugi Kenwa smiled warmly. "Uzumaki Naruto, what reward do you desire? How about I appoint you as the Grand Ninja Commander and Protector of the Land of Water?"
"Hahaha..." Naruto only laughed, saying nothing.
A minister frowned. "For a ninja, that's an incredible honor!"
Naruto glanced around. "Excuse me, which one of you is Chibo Daichun?"
All eyes turned to the man in question.
"I—I am." After a long pause, Chibo Daichun stepped forward, nervous and uneasy.
Naruto strode over and grasped his hand, as if greeting a long-lost friend. "At last! Mr. Chibo, I've heard your name since I was six years old—everyone knew you were a shrewd and capable man!"
Chibo Daichun stammered, "Six years old? But I only entered government two years ago..."
Naruto grinned, "So you started your career at two? That's truly precocious! To be honest, I'd like to invite you to Amegakure as an honorary advisor!"
Chibo Daichun protested, "Please, don't joke. I serve the daimyo's office..."
At that moment, Uesugi Kenwa stroked his beard and said, "Daichun, compared to everyone else here, your experience is indeed lacking. This is your chance—go to Amegakure and gain some valuable experience."
"But—" Chibo Daichun tried to object.
"Relax," Uesugi Kenwa reassured him. "Your rank and salary as Second-Class Assistant Administrator will remain, and you'll get an extra stipend as Amegakure's external advisor. This is a rare opportunity!"
In truth, Uesugi Kenwa couldn't wait to get rid of Naruto, this walking disaster.
If Madara could wipe out the daimyo's personal guard, and Naruto could defeat Madara, then this seemingly harmless young man was even more dangerous.
As for Chibo Daichun, he was just a pawn in the daimyo's eyes—easily discarded. His reputation wasn't great, and who knew what connection he had to the troublemaker Chibo Kawa.
When in doubt, better to err on the side of caution. This was the perfect excuse to kick him out of the inner circle and avoid the hassle of a deeper investigation.
Such was the daimyo's philosophy: "govern by doing nothing."
If you can't solve a problem, eliminate the problem.
What else could Chibo Daichun say?
Naruto smiled. "Very well. As for the commission fee, Amegakure will send someone to negotiate with your office..."
This was Naruto's policy of energy conservation: never handle personally what could be delegated.
When it came to haggling, Kakuzu was far better suited than himself.
Before Uesugi Kenwa could reply, Naruto had already placed a hand on Chibo Daichun's shoulder.
With a whoosh, they vanished!
Uesugi Kenwa and his ministers were left stunned.
"Was that... the Fourth Hokage's Flying Thunder God Jutsu?"
"I heard he's the Fourth Hokage's illegitimate son..."
"Or maybe he's the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki?"
"With a technique like that, he can come and go as he pleases!"
"Ninja are just too dangerous..."
"We should shrink the space they have to operate in, as soon as possible!"
"But we can't act too hastily. This year, let's cut Kirigakure's budget a bit more..."
...
Naruto brought Chibo Daichun straight to Madara.
With a smile, Naruto introduced them. "Mr. Chibo Daichun, this is Uchiha Madara. Your cousin, Chibo Kawa, slaughtered an entire village under your name. He's been wanting to... 'thank' you properly."
Chibo Daichun was horrified. "You—you're in league with each other! This is a conspiracy! I'll report you both to the daimyo!"
Madara approached, scythe in hand.
Chibo Daichun shrank back. "What are you doing? Don't do anything rash! If something happens to me, you'll get nothing out of this!"
Naruto lounged with hands behind his head, unfazed. "Don't worry. Someone else will take your place—including collecting both of your salaries from the daimyo's office..."
Sorry, Captain Yamato—your double salary is about to become triple. From now on, you'll have another identity: Chibo Daichun, advisor to the Land of Water's daimyo and Amegakure's external consultant.
Slash, slash, slash...!
Madara dispatched Chibo Daichun with his scythe and a touch of Amaterasu—a physical and spiritual send-off.
With that settled, Madara sheathed his weapon and glanced at Naruto. "Until we meet again..."
Whoosh!
A black spatial portal opened in front of him. Madara stepped through and vanished without a trace.
Naruto murmured thoughtfully, "The spatial portal unique to the Six-Tomoe Rinnegan... It took Sasuke over a year to master this ability, but Madara has done it in just a few days..."
[Note: The spatial portal used by Sasuke in the Boruto era is not Yomotsu Hirasaka. Yomotsu Hirasaka is a space-time dōjutsu requiring the simultaneous power of the Byakugan and dual Six-Tomoe Rinnegan, or the Rinne Sharingan. The single Six-Tomoe Rinnegan portal is just a degraded version of Yomotsu Hirasaka. Please note the distinction.]
The business was finished, but Naruto didn't leave right away. He was waiting for someone.
Ten minutes later, a blue silhouette came rushing from afar.
It was Mizukage Terumī Mei, flanked by her ANBU.
Swish! She landed in front of Naruto.
Her beautiful eyes, framed by flowing hair, regarded Naruto. "If you're here, I take it everything's been resolved."
An ANBU asked in surprise, "Mizukage-sama, who is he?"
Terumī Mei instructed, "Don't breathe a word about this to anyone!"
The ANBU bowed. "Understood!"
Naruto said, "So it was you who suggested the daimyo commission me, wasn't it?"
Terumī Mei smiled slyly. "When you got the news, you messaged me right away—wasn't that exactly what you wanted me to do? Or did I misunderstand? You didn't really expect a helpless woman like me to confront someone that dangerous, did you? You're not that inconsiderate, are you~?"
The ANBU exchanged glances, shock written all over their faces.
Is this really the Mizukage we know?
Naruto just turned away, saying nothing.
"This incident is a concentrated display of the Land of Water's corrupt power and the decay of its ninja. They were simply unlucky—they provoked someone they shouldn't have..."
He clenched his fists.
"Those who kill and burn wear golden belts; those who build bridges and repair roads leave no corpses behind."
"Who knows how many similar cases lurk in the shadows..."
"As Mizukage, don't you bear some responsibility for failing to notice? Maybe look for the cause within yourself. If there's a next time, no matter the reward, I won't step in again. Goodbye."
Swish!
Naruto vanished into the moonlit wasteland.
"A man who walks in darkness, yet still holds justice in his heart... That back of his is truly something to long for..."
Terumī Mei murmured, glancing over her shoulder. "Later, bring me the list of all those who, since the Bloody Mist era, have left Kirigakure's jurisdiction but still claim to be legitimate ninja..."
...
The moon, a cold and silent temple.
A silver-haired man in white robes, empty eye sockets turned toward the blue planet in the starry sky.
He could not see, but he could feel.
"Hinata, princess of the Byakugan, has awakened the Tenseigan before me. Great ancestor, please tell me—how should I fulfill your will and bring an end to the world created by the Sage of Six Paths?"
"Lost, are you, Toneri...?"
A mysterious black shadow appeared behind Ōtsutsuki Toneri!
Toneri tensed. "Huh? To approach me so silently—who are you?"
"Like your ancestor Hamura, I am a child of Kaguya. Strictly speaking... I'm your uncle."
Who would have thought that, after vanishing since the Shinigawa incident, Black Zetsu would travel countless miles to find Ōtsutsuki Toneri?
Toneri asked, "What do you want with me?"
Black Zetsu replied, "I can help you awaken the Tenseigan you've dreamed of, and help you fulfill Hamura's will—to destroy the world created by the Sage of Six Paths!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
The story isn't over...
🤔 Want to know what happens next to the characters?
🤫 Eager to explore the untold secrets of this world?
✍️ Ready to read more of my wildest stories?
✨patreon.com/DarkGolds