Mufasa came to find the ever-serious Nagato once again.
Previously, Nagato had signed a business deal and a land lease agreement with him. But something about it still didn't sit right with Mufasa.
He wasn't going to waste this opportunity.
The Land of Rain had great strategic value—positioned right between powerful nations, full of untapped potential. If Nagato wasn't going to take advantage of it, then Mufasa would.
Since the agreement, Amegakure's isolation had begun to crack. More traders and merchants passed between the Lands of Wind and Rain, and the village was beginning to see economic growth.
Still, Nagato remained rigid, focused on his vision, not giving much support to the growing commerce.
This irritated the capitalist heart of Mufasa.
"How can you just ignore this chance?" he muttered.
"I'll teach you, step by step."
Konoha and Iwagakure had already taken action, using the extended railway and roadways.
But Amegakure remained passive.
"This red-head," Mufasa said coldly. "He's ignoring me on purpose."
So, he returned to Nagato again, this time with even more presence.
And a full entourage.
He summoned Gaara, and Sasuke led a battalion of elite ninja.
Meanwhile, the Kamen Riders patrolled the newly built railways of the Wind River route, enforcing their justice on wheels.
Mufasa's army arrived at the Land of Rain's border.
Nagato got the message.
He called for a meeting of the Akatsuki.
It wasn't an ordinary gathering—he activated the Magic Lantern Body Technique, channeling chakra through the Rinnegan to summon the phantom-like presences of the Akatsuki members. Holographic figures flickered to life in the dark chamber, glowing with vivid chakra threads.
Pain's voice echoed through the chamber.
"Itachi, Kisame. Update on the Six-Tails."
Utakata, the rogue ninja from the Hidden Mist and host of the Six-Tails, had been their latest target.
A lone figure who liked to rest against trees and blow bubbles, Utakata was formidable—especially when combining his bubble-style jutsu with the corrosive power of the Six-Tails.
Itachi's voice was calm but raspy.
"Captured. En route now."
Though the illusion masked appearances, Kisame could tell Itachi was in pain. Blood had dripped from his eyes during the fight.
Pain nodded. "Good."
He turned to Kakuzu and Hidan.
"Four-Tails?"
Old Man Roshi, the Four-Tails host, had once been slammed to the ground by Mufasa's technique.
After another heated argument with Onoki, Roshi had left Iwa on his own.
Big mistake.
Hidan chuckled darkly. "He was tough, but we got him. Barely."
In truth, Roshi had nearly torn him in half.
If not for Hidan's cursed immortality, he'd be long gone.
Pain allowed a small breath of relief.
"Akatsuki still moves forward."
Then his tone shifted.
"Mufasa has returned. Again. With an army."
The last time he came, the entire organization had to lay low afterward. And now he was back.
"What is he planning?"
Zetsu whispered from the shadows.
"Why don't we just take him out?"
Black Zetsu was nervous. Mufasa's industrial advancements—railroads, vehicles, even tech from other worlds—confused him.
Even as an ancient being from Kaguya's time, this new era Mufasa was shaping felt alien.
Tobi frowned. "Too risky."
"Especially his Cruel Sun Technique. It's a problem."
"If we engage, we might lose more than we gain."
Obito glanced around silently. Zetsu noticed and quickly shut up.
Pain concluded, "No major moves yet. Focus on gathering the rest of the Tailed Beasts."
"The One-Tail is still with Sand. And as for the Kazekage—well, Mufasa thinks money solves everything."
"Maybe he'll try to buy a Jinchuriki next."
"But just in case... return to base. If he makes a move, we'll strike together."
Nagato's patience had worn thin.
"I've been too lenient," he muttered. "If Mufasa has plans, I'll drag the whole Akatsuki into battle."
The illusion faded.
All members began making their way to Amegakure.
Meanwhile, Mufasa received the intel.
Inside his wind-swept war tent, he sat calmly.
"So Akatsuki wants to fight me?" he said.
Across from him stood Uchiha Itachi and Kisame, sent as envoys.
Itachi's voice was steady. "Pain believes that if you overstep again, we'll retaliate."
Mufasa shrugged. "All this over a little economic expansion?"
Then he glanced at Itachi. "Your eyes... something's wrong."
Itachi lowered his gaze. His right eye looked dull and tired.
"I don't have much time left," he said quietly.
Mufasa smiled.
"The Mangekyo's toll, huh? Easy fix."
He stood and patted his chest.
"I'll get you new eyes—bright, clear, healthy. Leave it to me."
Mangekyo Sharingan? That's an easy fix.
Looking after the his own people came naturally to Mufasa.
Uchiha Itachi and Kisame exchanged surprised glances.
"Are you sure, my lord?" Itachi asked again, voice uncertain.
Mufasa nodded with a grin. "Of course. Do I look like the type to bluff?"
He leaned back casually. "Didn't I promise to help you last time? Don't worry, I've got this."
Itachi, who had long buried his emotions under layers of tragedy—genocide, betrayal, years of undercover torment—found himself genuinely moved.
Kazekage-sama… he's really something else.
Kisame, never one to miss an opportunity, stepped forward. "My lord, about that Samehada you promised to return to me…?"
Mufasa scratched his head. "Ah… right, that slipped my mind. The Samehada. Yeah, yeah—I'll have it brought here."
Elsewhere, Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Eye surgery on a Mangekyō Sharingan?" he whispered, clutching his scalpel like a kid with a new toy.
He and Kabuto immediately prepped the med gear and rushed to Mufasa's war camp. Along with them came a chibi-sized version of Samehada—looking less like a monstrous sword and more like a shark plushie with scales.
When Kisame received it, his face softened. He cradled the baby-version blade like a proud parent.
"He's still young," Mufasa joked. "Feed him chakra and he'll grow."
Kisame looked like he might cry. "Thank you, my lord. I'll raise him well."
In the tent, Orochimaru finished prepping the surgery bay, practically vibrating with anticipation.
Then Sasuke stepped in.
Itachi turned. The moment his eyes met his brother's, he froze.
"You awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan?!"
Mufasa motioned Sasuke forward.
Itachi frowned. "That's not possible. The Mangekyō only awakens through… trauma. Did something happen to Karin?"
Sasuke stood cool and calm. "No. Just happened a while ago."
Itachi's brain raced. How could he unlock it without loss? Did something happen that he missed?
Mufasa chuckled. "You've got it wrong, Itachi."
"Sasuke awakened his Mangekyō without any sacrifice."
Sasuke nodded, "It was thanks to the Kazekage."
Itachi stared, stunned. "How?"
Mufasa stood up proudly. "You, Itachi, are known for your illusion mastery. But what if we took that a step further?"
"What if we created illusions so real, so personal… they felt like actual loss?"
Itachi's eyes widened.
"You mean… inducing the trauma artificially?"
"Exactly," Mufasa said. "A perfect simulation, designed based on someone's memories. Strong enough to trigger the emotional response needed to evolve the eye."
Itachi's mind reeled. "If that's true… the Uchiha Clan could've avoided all the bloodshed… all the pain…"
His voice broke, tears spilling down his face.
"So many died. I did all that… for nothing?"
Mufasa gently shook his head. "Not for nothing. You carried your clan's burden. But now we know another way."
Itachi wiped his face. "But… is it stable?"
"Not completely," Mufasa admitted. "Human minds are unpredictable. Over time, people might start detecting inconsistencies in the illusion. Their subconscious might rebel, breaking immersion."
"Which means the emotions won't feel real," Itachi murmured.
"Right," Mufasa replied. "That's why you need skilled storytellers—writers who can build realistic scripts tailored to the individual."
He sighed. "But in a world where everyone's too busy fighting, who has time to write good fiction?"
Itachi and Sasuke both nodded solemnly.
In their world, peace was rare. Reading, watching films, or enjoying stories was a distant luxury.
Mufasa continued, "So cherish the novelists, the dreamers. Without them, we lose more than we know."
He stood tall.
"Alright, let's move on. It's time to fix those Mangekyō side effects."