Under the mutual resonance of their chakra, the Ancient Whale's violent emotions finally began to stabilize. The massive creature exhaled a heavy, ragged breath, and tears welled in the corners of its eyes.
This display of grief and silent mourning resonated deeply with the local residents of the Land of Rivers; for a moment, the atmosphere turned somber and heavy.
To the locals, whether it was the Sand or the Leaf, all were outsiders—invaders who never truly cherished the land, but rather sought to plunder its riches.
Shiraishi understood their thoughts perfectly, but he wasn't one for empty platitudes. He didn't offer a grand explanation.
Instead, he channeled chakra into his palm, using a specialized Genjutsu to bridge his consciousness with that of the Ancient Whale.
A moment later, as they emerged from the mental link, the whale's gaze had softened significantly.
In that spiritual world, Shiraishi had shown the creature memories of its past with its parents, a brief moment of warmth, and his personal vow to protect this coastal city.
It was a compromise the whale could accept: it could not defeat this human, and it yearned to return to its home. Since this human offered a promise of sanctuary, it would choose to believe one more time.
With the battle over, a collective sigh of relief swept through the harbor. Shiraishi looked at the whale and manifested a unique summoning rune in his palm to finalize the contract they had agreed upon in the mental realm.
"This sea was always your home. The Leaf drove you away, but we will not. Stay here with us; this city belongs to everyone."
Having a pod of Ancient Whales as guardians would multiply the port's defensive capabilities several-fold. Subduing them was far more logical than driving them off.
The whales did not resist; despite their immense power, their nature was far simpler and more honest than that of humans. Once the chakra link confirmed Shiraishi's sincerity, the alliance was sealed.
The moment the contract was signed, the Summoning Interface in Shiraishi's glasses system updated with the Ancient Whale's full profile:
Attribute Detail
Grade: Purple
Abilities: Aqua Ring, Rain Dance, Thunder, Ice Beam, Water Spout
The skill Aqua Ring was particularly noteworthy; it allowed the creature to surround itself with a veil of water that constantly mended its wounds—a recovery process that would likely be even faster once Shiraishi mastered the secrets of the Hozuki clan's Hydrification Technique from Mangetsu's remains.
The port soon stabilized, and the pod retreated to their designated nesting grounds to the east.
"Sometimes, they are much simpler than humans," Shiraishi remarked as he returned to the docks. He found Maki and Kisame still facing off. "The trade is complete. Mr. Kisame, you are free to go."
I've been wanting to leave for hours... your girlfriend is the one who wouldn't let me! Kisame thought. Had it not been for Maki's relationship with Shiraishi, Kisame might have tried to force a breakthrough.
He gave a terrifying grin, took the Hiramekarei, and departed to deliver his report.
Watching him leave, Shiraishi turned to Maki. "I've booked tickets for the afternoon cruise to the Kingdom of Kusunoki. I think you'll like it."
He had reserved a suite on the most luxurious liner in the harbor. Maki's face flushed red, and she quickly grabbed the orange cat that had appeared out of nowhere, pretending to be busy playing with it.
While Shiraishi and Maki continued their journey, Akita Arakawa finally drew his last breath in the late months of Year 45.
Following his death, the new head of the house, Maru Arakawa, and the head of the Yamaji family, Ryoko Yamaji, prioritized visiting the Council of Elders over the Kazekage.
The Arakawa seat on the High Council was reserved for Maru, but major decisions were put on hold until Shiraishi's return.
Ryoko helped her cousin navigate the transition, feeling relieved that Arashi Arakawa had officially severed ties with the clan.
Without him as a rival claimant, the succession was smooth. Throughout the process, the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, was treated as a ghost—a figure with no authority.
Rasa's prestige had hit rock bottom. To compensate, he threw himself into his work, traveling to various mines to extract gold for the Daimyo.
In return, the Daimyo loosened the purse strings just enough for Rasa to fund secret bases under Baki's supervision, where they began training a new generation of orphans.
Rasa was not finished; he intended to build his own power base from scratch. Furthermore, Karura was pregnant with their second child.
Though the temple priests said this child wasn't suitable for the One-Tails, Rasa vowed to keep trying until he had a perfect Jinchuriki heir.
Ebizo watched these secret movements with indifference. The longer the time passed, the more the scales tipped toward Shiraishi. In his eyes, Rasa was merely a "transitional" Kazekage.
On the luxury cruise ship bound for Kusunoki, Shiraishi and Maki shared a private room. Shiraishi stepped out of the bath, his hair damp, finding Maki waiting with a blushing face.
Though they had lived together for a while, this was the first time they were truly alone in such an intimate setting.
Seeing her expression, a primal instinct stirred within Shiraishi. He gently took her hand and sat her down.
"Maki..."
"Yes?"
"Let's stay together forever."
His words were simple, devoid of the flowery prose of a poet, but they were enough. They had known each other's hearts for a long time.
For a moment, the room was filled with the scent of fragrance and the warmth of shared breath. As the old poem says:
Fragrant sweat dampens the jade-inlaid pins,
Spring stirs as the soft rain melts the balm.
After the bath, where the beloved's hands linger,
The cool spirit sinks into the purple grapes.
tonight marked a brand new beginning for them both.
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