Hidden Mist Village.
Shigure returned to the Mizukage's office.
This trip to Kumogakure had taken only a single day to resolve.
After Shigure explained the details of his journey, the entire Hidden Mist Village erupted with excitement.
Because of Shigure's decisive actions, Kirigakure had gained a brand-new source of income—out of nowhere.
With this, the Village would be able to develop even more rapidly.
The elders spared no effort in praising him.
One of them stepped forward and patted Shigure on the shoulder.
"Shigure, the future of the Village rests on you!"
The elders clearly already knew that Mei Terumī was perfectly fine and merely resting at home.
As for the ninja and civilians who had once worried about Shigure serving as Acting Mizukage, all doubts vanished completely.
Now, the people of Kirigakure looked at him with nothing but admiration.
For Shigure, there were only two words left in their hearts—
Absolute respect.
One man had defeated the Fourth Raikage and the perfect Jinchūriki of the Eight-Tails.
Among the shinobi of Kumogakure, he had even been called the strongest Mizukage in history.
For the people of the Hidden Mist, this was a source of unparalleled pride.
Yet Shigure himself felt nothing toward these praises.
The moment he returned, he threw himself straight back into Village affairs.
"Construct three cross-sea bridges to connect the two islands closest to the Land of Water."
"Strengthen maritime control and vigorously develop new ports. I want the Hidden Mist Village to expand threefold."
"The Village is still too small. Fully open our ports to the entire shinobi world—any country, any village is welcome to trade."
"Establish scheduled flights connecting major nations."
Ao was momentarily stunned by the sheer scale of these orders.
However, given Shigure's prestige and the current circumstances, execution was the only correct choice.
There was no room for objection.
With the assistance of the Great Sage, Shigure processed all Village matters within a single morning.
By afternoon, he returned home.
He first enjoyed the warm afternoon tea prepared by Hinata.
Then, urged by Mei Terumī, he took a long bath.
After changing into fresh clothes, Mei Terumī joined him in the room, where the two continued developing ninjutsu together.
As night fell, Shigure went out alone for a walk.
At the same time, he reflected on his current life—
It was even better than he had imagined.
Reaching the coastline, Shigure stepped directly onto the surface of the sea.
Kuji followed silently behind him.
Soon, they arrived at Shigure's private training island.
Walking straight to its center, Shigure spoke inwardly.
'Great Sage, has the Eight-Tails' chakra been fully replenished?'
The greatest gain from this trip to Kumogakure wasn't new sea territory or diplomatic agreements.
It was the Eight-Tails' chakra.
Although he had absorbed only one percent at the time, the effects of his passive skill slot—
Combined with the Great Sage's ability to manipulate and convert Tailed Beast chakra—
Meant that within mere hours, the Eight-Tails' chakra had fully regenerated.
Shigure now possessed the complete chakra of the Eight-Tails.
Along with the One-Tail, Three-Tails, Six-Tails, and Seven-Tails, he now held the chakra of five Tailed Beasts simultaneously.
Five full Tailed Beasts.
And among them was the Eight-Tails—second only to the Nine-Tails.
Shigure's strength had ascended to an entirely new level.
[Great Sage: It is recommended that the host select suitable candidates to become Jinchūriki and transplant the actual Tailed Beasts into their bodies.]
With the existence of the food chain, Shigure could freely control and extract Tailed Beast chakra at any time.
There was no longer a need for the Three-Tails, Six-Tails, and Seven-Tails to remain within his body.
In the past, he might have worried about chakra reserves.
Now, that concern was completely unnecessary.
If possessing the chakra of five Tailed Beasts still wasn't enough—
Then whatever enemy awaited him would be terrifying beyond reason.
And in that case, worrying would change nothing.
'Hmm… that does make sense. I can consider choosing new Jinchūriki.'
At present, Kirigakure lacked truly high-end combat power.
Aside from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, there were few shinobi worth mentioning.
By using three Tailed Beasts to create three new Jinchūriki—and with Shigure's food chain suppressing them—
There would be no risk of rampage.
That would immediately add three Kage-level combatants to the Village.
As long as they mastered Tailed Beast chakra properly, reaching that level would be inevitable.
Please give flowers~
'Now that I possess the chakra of five Tailed Beasts… Great Sage, have you discovered anything new?'
[Great Sage: Fragmented Six Paths Power detected.]
Shigure froze.
'Six Paths Power?'
'So the sensation I felt when the Tailed Beasts merged… that was Six Paths Power?'
[Affirmative. Analysis indicates that acquiring the chakra of all nine Tailed Beasts will grant the host complete Six Paths Power.]
'Then what exactly does Six Paths Power do?'
[It enhances ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu, while simultaneously reinforcing physical defense.
Reaction speed, movement speed, cognitive processing, chakra reserves, and both physical and spiritual energy are all greatly increased.]
Shigure stared silently at the long list projected before him.
His breathing gradually grew heavier.
Shigure looked over the information once more.
In the end, it could be summed up in a single sentence—
An all-round improvement.
'So basically, it's a comprehensive enhancement, right?'
Sometimes, Shigure felt that the Great Sage was a little… excessive.
Something that could be explained in one sentence always had to be stretched into a long, complicated explanation.
[Not entirely. In addition, it can—under specific conditions—create matter from nothing and imbue it with vitality.]
"Create something out of nothing?"
Shigure froze.
This was no longer a simple enhancement.
This was bordering on divine authority.
Power of that level… was something only gods were said to possess.
But that raised an important question—
How was such power meant to be used?
[Based on analysis, the method of utilization may be derived from the Treasured Tools left behind by the Sage of Six Paths.]
The Treasured Tools of the Sage of Six Paths?
Shigure narrowed his eyes.
The Sage of Six Paths had indeed left behind several powerful ninja tools—
The Bashōsen, Benihisago, Kōkinjō, Shichiseiken…
But their exact locations were largely unknown.
If he wanted to fully understand and use Six Paths Power, he would need to dispatch people to investigate these relics.
While Shigure continued studying his incomplete Six Paths Power—
On the opposite side of the shinobi world…
Land of Wind — Hidden Sand Village
The inauguration ceremony of the Fifth Kazekage was underway.
Standing atop the platform, Gaara looked out at the gathered crowd, momentarily dazed.
He had never imagined that the villagers who once feared and hated him—
Would now raise their voices in support of him as Kazekage.
For a moment, Gaara's emotions became incredibly complicated.
At that very same time—
Two unfamiliar figures appeared at the outskirts of the Hidden Mist Village.
"So the new Kazekage is just a brat?" one of them scoffed.
"Trying to imitate the Hidden Mist Village, perhaps?"
Another voice followed, cold and disdainful.
"Hmph. Relying on a child to lead a village… that's nothing but courting death."
The mist around them stirred quietly.
And somewhere deep within Kirigakure—
Shigure's eyes slowly opened.
...
TN:
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