444 The Shimura Has Ice Release

"After a few more years, you should be fully revived, so the moment your consciousness had just begun to take shape, I guided you into the Pure Land."

After telling Takeshi everything, the Sage of Six Paths fell silent.

He thought Takeshi would ask something about himself.

"Where's Isobu?"

But Takeshi cared far more about Isobu's whereabouts.

Because of his own choice, Isobu had faced the heavenly lightning together with him. Even though a Tailed Beast would most likely revive, he still worried whether something unexpected might happen in the middle.

"He hasn't revived yet… or rather, he might be waiting for you. I'm sorry. I do know that Tailed Beasts can revive, but I cannot control the exact time or conditions."

At least the Sage of Six Paths brought Takeshi a bit of good news.

"I am only a departed soul and cannot interfere with the world. Some things can only be explored by you living people."

I trust your nonsense—you just gave your two sons cheats.

Takeshi complained inwardly.

"In short, after this conversation ends, you'll have to live without a body for a few years. As for your consciousness, it may exist, but most of the time it should be in deep sleep."

The Sage drifted back in front of Takeshi.

"Of course, you can also choose to use your current chakra to shape a soul, completely abandoning everything outside, and live here in the Pure Land."

He left the choice in Takeshi's hands.

Faced with the Sage's question, Takeshi grinned and instantly made his choice: "Isn't it obvious? There's only one answer!"

...

Allied Year 19.

Land of Earth.

"Explosion—art truly is explosion, hmm!"

Having taken the Tsuchikage position from Ōnoki several years ago, Deidara began pushing the Land of Earth's Research Bureau to vigorously develop bomb technology from the moment he took office.

Thanks to his unique insight into explosions and his real combat experience, the Land of Earth's bomb technology rapidly advanced.

Afterwards, he even worked with the Land of Lightning's Research Bureau to combine guidance systems with bomb technology, successfully creating the first missile in the shinobi world.

Just now, he personally oversaw the fifth missile test of the month.

"Very good. We need to continue increasing the yield, keep boosting explosive power, and at the same time compress the size of the warhead…"

As Deidara lectured the researchers energetically, an inexplicable chill suddenly rose behind him.

"Well well, our bomb genius seems quite happy."

Kurotsuchi appeared behind Deidara with a child in her arms, her smiling face containing not even a trace of genuine warmth.

"Cough, um…"

Deidara tried to explain, but what greeted him was Kurotsuchi's long leg.

...

Land of Wind.

Compared to the other great nations rapidly advancing in technology, the Land of Wind—led by Pakura—focused entirely on developing its economy and infrastructure. Relying on its rich mineral resources, it exported goods to earn foreign currency, then invested all of it into public welfare.

As for the military, everything was left to Konoha.

Thus, the Land of Wind became the country with the lowest military expenditure among the Five Great Nations.

Pakura herself embraced a Buddhist-like lifestyle. Aside from contributing greatly during last year's battle against Ōtsutsuki Momoshiki, she spent most of her time in retired leisure.

Of course, she would occasionally entertain her Uchiha friend.

"It's been a long time since I last saw Hikari. I heard she went somewhere to train Sage Mode. Is that thing really worth training?"

Pakura reclined her office chair completely flat, lying in a very comfortable position with her legs propped on the desk.

She left all her work to her disciple.

...

Land of Lightning.

Although Dodai repeatedly submitted requests to the Ninja Committee to resign from the Raikage post and return power to the reformed Fourth Raikage, the council members—who had once betrayed the Fourth—refused. They allowed A to regain citizenship in the Land of Lightning, but when it came to power, they refused to yield an inch.

Once Dodai realized his wish to restore the Fourth Raikage to the throne was impossible, he shifted his focus to cultivating the next generation of leaders.

Soon, Darui—the outstanding member of the new generation—entered his sights. A few years ago, he successfully took the Raikage's position from Dodai and became the Sixth Raikage.

After taking office, just like Konoha, he vigorously promoted science and technology, making the Land of Lightning one of the most technologically advanced nations in the shinobi world.

Especially in aerial technology—he even surpassed the Land of Fire.

"Since the Ōtsutsuki clan is an enemy from beyond the heavens, then we'll take the fight to the skies and show those arrogant beings the power of the shinobi world."

After the battle with Momoshiki, Darui increased the Research Bureau's budget, hoping to create weapons capable of traveling beyond the earth as soon as possible.

...

Land of Water.

The Land of Water was still under the leadership of the Fourth Mizukage Yagura. Even though he already had grandchildren, his appearance hadn't changed much, and his height had not significantly increased either.

However, age made it harder for him to handle daily affairs. Watching the other Kage of his generation gradually step down, he too began considering abdication.

"Kisame would be pretty good… but he's not young either. Not sure he'd want the job. Terumi Mei… a pity, she married into Konoha. Sigh, can't let that crazy girl Ringo Ameyuri become Mizukage, right?"

Scratching his head in frustration, Yagura mentally reviewed the talents of the Land of Water one by one.

"Mangetsu is still receiving treatment in the Land of Fire… His younger brother Suigetsu—no, not him. Zabuza… Zabuza, do you want to be Mizukage?"

Yagura directly asked Zabuza not far away.

"Ha? Why don't you go ask that Kisame guy."

Zabuza rolled his eyes, hoisted his executioner's blade onto his shoulder, and walked over to Yagura.

"Kisame and Meru are living all lovey-dovey. You're the only one left alone. If you don't become Mizukage, then who will?"

"Who told you that only single people can become Kage?! And what's so good about getting married anyway? Look at that genius ninja Hatake Kakashi—after getting married he's become all weak and pathetic. As the Sixth Hokage, he can actually fight that guy called Urashiki to a draw!"

"No, the Sixth Hokage fights anyone to a draw—wait, no, that's off-topic. If you don't want to be Mizukage, forget it. I'll think again…"

...

Land of Fire.

"Shisui-san, I heard you were once one of the strongest ninjas in the Land of Fire. But why is it that after the Third Shinobi World War, you never showed any more brilliant achievements, and even the Hokage's seat ended up in the hands of today's Seventh Hokage?"

A white-haired child with pure, wide eyes blinked as he sat in Shisui's lap and asked.

"That's of course because the Seventh is Fugaku-sama's son—sigh, Sejum, can you stop asking these kinds of questions?"

Shisui almost blurted out what he truly felt.

What, you're asking why I vanished after the Third War?

Nonsense. If you were sent to Root to work as an electrician, you wouldn't leave any footprints behind either.

And honestly, this life has been pretty comfortable—no need to worry about the village's or the clan's internal grudges, no need to constantly mediate between clansmen.

Speaking of which, now in Konoha, even the idea of a "village" has basically disappeared.

Konohamaru, who once ran around the village with snot dripping down his face making trouble everywhere, is now a reliable jōnin.

"Jiraiya-sama, the wiring in your house has been repaired. Please take your child back."

Seeing that Sejum still wanted to cling to him, Shisui hurriedly called over this child's legal father.

"Haha, as expected, your craftsmanship is still the best, Shisui."

Jiraiya smiled as he took the child from Shisui's arms.

This little one named Sejum was adopted from an orphanage. At Jiraiya's age, he really shouldn't be finding trouble for himself by raising a kid. But when he heard from the orphanage director Urushi that this child actually possessed Ice Release, he adopted him on a strange impulse.

Thanks to this kid, Jiraiya's beautiful retired life of drinking and gambling with Tsunade was destroyed completely, replaced with the everyday chaos of rice, firewood, cooking oil, and vinegar.

Luckily, Kushina and Tsunade would often come to help, and even his biological son in the genetic sense, Mitsuki, would drop by occasionally.

Only after Mitsuki reached adulthood did Jiraiya learn the truth from Orochimaru.

Learning that he somehow had a son despite never having gotten married nearly shattered Jiraiya on the spot.

Fortunately, Orochimaru told him that he had merely extracted Jiraiya's cells and hadn't done anything else to him, which finally allowed Jiraiya's pounding heart to die quietly back down.

So why did you have to knock me out just to extract cells?

You made me spend years wondering if something inappropriate happened back then.

"Alright, Sejum, in a bit your brother Kamui and sister Kagura will come see you. Go wash your hands."

...

"Sigh, I didn't think there'd be someone else in this world as foolish as my little sister. The so-called 'Ōtsutsuki cause' is nothing but an empty illusion."

At this moment, Kamui spoke of was at the border of the Land of Fire, pursuing a follower of the Ōtsutsuki will.

This man was named Deepa. No one knew where he obtained his body-modification tech, but he had repeatedly stolen and plundered experimental materials within the Alliance's territory.

"So scary—the Konoha jōnin Shimura Kamui, huh? They say your father is the famous Fifth Hokage Shimura Takeshi. I wonder if that's true?"

Dodging Kamui's powerful kick, Deepa looked at the handsome man before him and spoke with a playful smile.

"Who knows. That irresponsible existence."

A gust of wind rushed from behind. Deepa immediately bent down, dodging a spinning kick.

The one who attacked was a woman similar in appearance to Kamui. Unlike Kamui, however, this woman possessed a pair of Byakugan.

"Byakugan Kagura, Sharingan Kamui… You two only obtained those powers because of Ōtsutsuki cells, didn't you?"

Compared to Kamui, Deepa feared Kagura far more.

She was unlike any ordinary Hyūga ninja. The woman before him possessed a physique closest to the Ōtsutsuki—her speed and strength were far beyond Kamui's.

"Hmph, even more pathetic than my useless brother."

Kagura launched another punch, sending Deepa flying.

"Aiya aiya, meeting these two siblings… looks like Deepa's happy days are over."

From afar, disguised in camouflage, En Oyashiro hid in the shadows, observing the fight and occasionally muttering pointless commentary.

The body-modification tech Deepa used had been leaked by him on Amado's instruction. The purpose was to draw the Alliance's attention, giving Amado the chance to act.

"Before reaching the Root, the ninja world must not have complete peace… hehehe~"

The undercurrents stirring in the ninja world had nothing to do with Uchiha Hikari.

After searching for Takeshi for years with no success, she, for some reason, decided to train in Sage Mode.

She chose the same path as Takeshi, but the time required was far longer.

She spent several years before finally returning to Ryūchi Cave to undergo the final step of training—and there, she unexpectedly encountered a Konoha ninja.

Mitarashi Anko.

The two didn't interact much. Most of what Uchiha Hikari knew about Anko came from Takeshi's stories.

But unlike Hikari, Anko didn't have great talent, so she had been training in Ryūchi Cave all these years.

That day, like always, Hikari was feeling the surging natural energy around her.

But for some reason, the energy that should have been flowing into her body suddenly surged wildly outward from the cave.

At first she didn't understand why. Then she seemed to realize something, jumped to her feet, and saw Anko showing the exact same expression.

"I swear you did that on purpose. I just finished forming my body, and you show up inside me."

Outside the cave, Takeshi—whose body was regenerating using natural energy—saw a familiar face within his consciousness.

"Coincidence."

"Don't deny it. You just can't bear to be away from me."

"Just a coincidence."

Hikari refused to admit she had been waiting for Takeshi. Seeing Takeshi still rambling endlessly, she simply turned her head away.

"Tch. Well… I'm still really glad to see you again, Hikari."

Seeing Hikari ignore him, Takeshi casually sat down cross-legged.

"Greeting me is fine and all, but take a look outside."

Hearing Takeshi's words, Hikari felt a wave of emotion, then reminded him to look outside.

"Outside? What about it?"

Although Takeshi had already sensed what was happening outside, he still acted stubborn.

But when he opened his eyes and saw those two familiar faces, countless words surged into his mind.

Yet in the end, everything condensed into a single short sentence:

"Yo. Long time no see, you two."