"Welcome aboard, everyone."
After returning to the Sand Federation, Pakura hosted a welcoming ceremony for Hyuga Mirai, Kushina Uzumaki, Sasori of the Red Sand, and Uchiha Tekka. She also officially issued their appointments under the title of Kazekage.
The banquet was sponsored by Elder Sanmo, so it didn't come out of the Federation's budget.
As previously discussed, thanks to their individual strength and abilities, all of them were appointed to high-ranking positions. Even Uchiha Mikoto became a squad leader within the Federation's Guard Unit.
The Federation Guard is different from the Konoha Military Police. The latter only oversees Konoha Village, while the former is responsible for the entire Federation's territory.
After annexing the Land of Wind, the Sand Federation became much larger than it was before, now comprising seventeen counties and sixty-one towns. Apart from border defense, all areas fall under the Guard's jurisdiction.
After tonight, Uchiha Tekka would return to being busy—expanding the force, setting up guard posts in each town, and so on. All internal matters of the Guard were entrusted to Mikoto. After assigning her a squad, he took the rest of the personnel with him.
Currently, the Uchiha clan in the Federation Guard has fewer than 200 shinobi. Although Tekka has authority to recruit, there's a severe manpower shortage across the entire Federation, making recruitment extremely difficult. Of the newest batch of ninja school graduates three months from now, only 20 will be assigned to the Guard.
That's already one-third of the total graduates. True mass enrollment will begin with Temari's cohort. It'll take three more years before they graduate over 200 students in one go. Other departments are also desperate for manpower, but only the Guard could claim such a large portion for now.
Though Tekka wanted 40 new recruits, he hadn't been in office long, and the Guard wasn't the only one requesting from the school, so he settled for 20 and left.
The banquet had a good atmosphere. Pakura was clever but not manipulative, and with No.18 controlling Elder Sanmo to lighten the mood, people like Kushina and Tekka didn't feel uneasy. Instead, they found Pakura quite likable and easy to get along with.
The only one feeling awkward was Sasori, as Chiyo and Ebizō were also present. He hated seeing that troublesome old woman. If Hyuga Mirai hadn't called him, he would've rather kept working on his puppets than attend this gathering.
The event was mainly for Pakura to meet the newcomers and soon wrapped up. Afterward, Uchiha Tekka, Mikoto, and Hyuga Mirai were asked to stay behind.
"I called you three because I have a question. You all lived in Konoha for a long time—do you know of any forbidden jutsu that can prevent injury or even bring someone back to life?"
Tekka and Mikoto looked startled, then shook their heads. "Lord Fifth, our Uchiha clan has never heard of such a jutsu. Konoha does have a Book of Forbidden Techniques, but based on what we know, there's nothing like that listed in it."
Though highly restricted, the book wasn't exactly a secret among Konoha jonin. Uchiha Kagami, having once served as the Second Hokage's bodyguard, knew a fair amount about it.
"I see," Pakura replied thoughtfully and then revealed the strange phenomenon they witnessed during Danzo's capture. If it wasn't Konoha crying wolf, then Danzo likely used some forbidden technique to escape.
Hyuga Mirai suddenly recalled that Orochimaru had left behind research materials when he fled Konoha—materials likely collected by Danzo's Root, which may have led to their understanding of the Sharingan and Senju powers.
"Lord Fifth, I know of a forbidden technique with such an effect. Tekka-kun is familiar with it, but he probably didn't expect Danzo to possess a Sharingan."
At Mirai's words, Tekka's expression changed as he remembered a long-rumored but never-seen Uchiha technique. "Mirai-kun, you mean Izanagi? But that requires a Sharingan to use. You mean Danzo actually—"
"Yes. That night in Konoha, I saw with my Byakugan that he had a Sharingan hidden under his bandages. This forbidden technique allows one to replace reality with illusion—it's essentially resurrection. If you suspect Danzo isn't dead, then he likely used Izanagi to escape."
Mirai explained calmly. He actually knew more about it than Tekka, as the latter had awakened his Mangekyo and was quickly pulled into war without time to study the Uchiha stone tablet. Later relocations caused the loss of many important clan records.
A regular Sharingan's Izanagi lasts about a minute, but with a Mangekyo, the duration is unknown. Madara had his eternal Mangekyo activate Izanagi only after being sealed by Hashirama. Danzo's Izanagi was probably much longer-lasting than the standard three-tomoe version.
"Izanagi… so such a technique actually exists..."
Pakura's anger flared upon learning this from Mirai. Danzo had not only deceived him with this jutsu but nearly cost many lives.
Hyuga Mirai added, "Lord Fifth, this is just our speculation. Konoha likely won't admit it. Even if Danzo escaped, he probably won't dare return to Konoha. But he was an advisor for years and has the backing of the Shimura clan. He might be wandering the ninja world. I'll have the Uzumaki Company keep an eye out, and you can also ask Elder Sanmo."
"I understand. Thank you, Mirai-kun," Pakura nodded. But like Tekka, he also sensed something oddly familiar about Mirai—his demeanor and behavior reminded him exactly of Keiko Sanki. Apart from their appearance, they could be the same person.
"Mirai-kun, never mind. It's nothing."
Pakura had originally planned to invite Hyuga Mirai to become Kazekage's advisor but felt that bringing it up now would be too abrupt.
After that, he let them go. Now he knew that Danzo might still be alive.
But if he was, he wouldn't dare return to Konoha. If Tsunade could hand him over to the Sand Federation once, she could do it again to the Hidden Cloud. Danzo didn't have another Mangekyo to cheat death—his future would be darker than Root itself. "The Darkness of the Ninja World" might as well be renamed "the Rat of the Ninja World."
Hyuga Mirai wasn't too concerned. He'd just report this to Tsunade and be done with it. He never had much conflict with Root—if anything, Danzo's actions had been more efficient than many tools.
Tomorrow, Hyuga Mirai would begin his post at the ninja academy. The curriculum overhaul had already been discussed by leadership, along with the founding of the Public Administration Institute. No.18 had already planned it all out—he'd just send a shadow clone.
From now on, only things like cultivating the God Tree, developing bloodline limit ninja tools, and eliminating Mount Myoboku, Ashura, and Indra's chakra needed his direct attention. Infrastructure projects like the ninja world's power grid or the naval blockade against the Land of Water could be left to No.18.
"Mirai-kun."
Not long after he left, Uchiha Mikoto came running after him.
"Lady Mikoto? Do you need something?"
Mirai was curious. Ever since he helped her awaken her Mangekyo, they'd grown closer, but they hadn't seen each other recently due to her workload in the Guard. If she stopped him at night, it must be important.
"Um… it's a bit embarrassing, but that ninja tool Naruto uses, the one that can perform Adamantine Sealing Chains—did you develop it?"
Even in the dim light where streetlamps barely reached, Mikoto's embarrassment was written all over her face. After returning home yesterday, Sasuke had asked about the tool Naruto used. He hadn't asked for one outright, but the longing in his eyes didn't escape her.
After asking Kushina about it, Mikoto hesitated but eventually caught up to Mirai, embarrassed but determined—for Sasuke's sake.
Seeing her shy demeanor, Mirai smiled. "You mean the bloodline ninja tool? Naruto's is just the first version. Lady Mikoto, do you want one for Uchiha Sasuke?"
"This isn't the best place to talk. Why not come to my place?"
His home was next to Kushina's. Mikoto had been there twice. From inside, they could already hear Kushina scolding Naruto—without the same dangers as back in Konoha, she was even more focused on teaching him proper behavior. Her ultimate method: the Red-Hot Habanero's fists.
Listening to the noisy mother and son next door, Mikoto found life here far better than in the Uchiha residential complex. Though the others no longer gossiped about her and Sasuke, they remained distant. No one could ignore Itachi's crimes, nor could Mikoto reverse the clan's views.
Rather than living among the clan, Mikoto hoped Sasuke could spend more time with Naruto. That bright boy was perhaps the only one who could make Sasuke show different expressions—though most of the time, it was complaints about Naruto being loud or boastful.
If possible, she even considered moving here. Seeing some empty houses, she planned to ask Sasuke and Tekka later.
Once inside, Mirai grabbed two cans of tea. Normally Ayaka Uzumaki made tea, but with her away, Mirai had lowered his lifestyle standards. For him, luxury only applied to food—tea didn't count.
Mikoto instinctively tried to make tea but was stopped by Mirai. "No need to be formal—it's just a short chat."
"I want to give Sasuke a gift. Since I'm often busy with Guard work, I might overlook his safety… um, can I pay for it, Mirai-kun? Is that okay?"
Mikoto sat seiza-style at the table, nervously gripping the unopened tea can as she made her request.
"Bloodline ninja tools are developed from Kekkei Genkai research. They allow users to access the powers of bloodline limits. Naruto's Heavenly Lock bracelet, for example, channels Adamantine Sealing Chains—perfect for helping him control the Nine-Tails."
Mirai explained the tools, then continued:
"Lady Mikoto, currently I only have versions based on the Uzumaki, Byakugan, Sharingan, Ice Release, and Magnet Release bloodlines—none of which really suit Sasuke. Also, one tool costs about 1.5 billion ryo."
"1.5 billion?!"
Mikoto exclaimed in shock, quickly covering her mouth.
Even with all their savings from Konoha, the Uchiha family couldn't afford that. Unless she embezzled clan assets, there was no way. Right now, they had only around 10 million ryo—compensation from the Keiko Company. It was enough for daily life, but nowhere near enough for a ninja tool.
Even if she earned 10 million a year, Mikoto could never make that much in a lifetime.
But Kushina had told her: if you sincerely ask, it shouldn't be a problem.
What kind of sincerity did she mean? That kind of sincerity? Mikoto's mind painted an awkward scene and immediately shook her head, blushing. No way. If Kushina meant that, did it mean she already...?
Aside from that, Mikoto couldn't imagine what Kushina could've offered in exchange for such a huge amount—she'd been single for six or seven years...
Mirai continued, "I don't really care about the money. Lady Mikoto, how about letting Sasuke visit me often instead?"
That way, he could regularly use soul-based forbidden techniques to search for Indra's chakra within Sasuke.
But before he could finish, Mikoto suddenly shook her head. "No, not that—it's too soon for Sasuke—"
She paused, then asked, "Mirai-kun, you mean… you want Sasuke to come see you often?"
"Yes. We need to determine the best bloodline tool for him—testing is essential. Also, what did you mean by 'too fast' just now?"
Mirai had sensed something odd from the start and was genuinely curious.
"It's nothing. I misunderstood. Sorry, Mirai-kun."
Mikoto shook her head. What she had imagined moments ago was something she could never say aloud.
(End of Chapter)