Chapter 250: Well Said, Hokage!
"No! Rōshi!"
Just as Uchiha Hikari completed the final chakra extraction and neatly minced the ill-fated beastly pair, the Four-Tails and Rōshi, a mournful cry rang out from the sky.
Looking up, they saw…
"Who's that?"
Shiromo couldn't be sure and glanced at [Konan].
"That is Tsuchikage Ōnoki. During the Second Shinobi World War, he launched a lightning raid on Takigakure, and then…"
[Konan] began her explanation.
"After returning to the village, he trained diligently, restoring the chakra he had lost. The Second Tsuchikage praised him greatly, and he became known as 'Two Scales.'"
"However, after he turned into this form, his former lover Rōshi shifted his affections and began an affair with the Four-Tails."
"Ōnoki, though, did not mind. His love for Rōshi was so tolerant that it bordered on indulgence."
"He hoped to live happily together with Rōshi and the Four-Tails."
"To demonstrate his resolve, Ōnoki even went so far as to break his granddaughter Kurotsuchi's legs."
"But Rōshi remained unmoved, because the Four-Tails despised humans."
"Ōnoki constantly interfered in their life together, and unable to endure the harassment, Rōshi eventually left Iwagakure."
"..."
Shiromo had assumed Rōshi's earlier remark about Ōnoki being a white-haired loli was just talk.
He hadn't expected the Infinite Tsukuyomi world to be even more deranged than "Buff Man Paradise".
Because of contact with the Yin Maiden Water, Ōnoki had truly become white-haired… well, a male cross-dresser.
In the original world, Rōshi left due to his conflict with Ōnoki.
In this world, he left because he could not bear the crushing weight of Ōnoki's love.
"This is wonderful. Write it down."
In the audience stands, Tsunade was ecstatic, scribbling furiously as she recorded every detail.
This story pleased her immensely.
She had read portions of "Buff Man Paradise" before. The Raikage transplanting a purple bow and turning into a cold, ethereal beauty was still somewhat believable. (Believable how, exactly?)
But Ōnoki suddenly becoming a white-haired loli with no explanation at all? That was a glaring plot hole.
The Infinite Tsukuyomi world, truly worthy of being an automatically corrected reality, had perfectly patched this bug.
Moreover, Kakashi had always been too cautious to state names directly, resorting instead to vague hints.
She, however, had no such reservations.
This book would undoubtedly sell across the Five Great Nations, earning her a fortune.
"Give me back my Azī! Dust Release…"
Ōnoki, consumed by grief and fury, raised his hands. A translucent white cube formed between his palms.
"Ahhh"
His technique was abruptly interrupted.
It was as though he had been struck by countless blows in an instant, his body sent flying backward.
With a splash, he fell directly into the magma within the volcano.
"Three-pointer."
Shiromo clapped his hands lightly.
"Huh?"
Uchiha Hikari scratched her head.
Why hadn't Shiromo used his usual flanking heart-piercing attack this time?
Had he grown tired of repeating the same move?
"Grandfather! No!"
Another voice echoed from above.
Strangely, the cry carried not sorrow, but a trace of delight.
"I've heard of elders showing up after the younger ones get beaten. But how does it work the other way around?"
Shiromo stared at the wheelchair-bound Kurotsuchi descending from the sky.
Ōnoki and Kurotsuchi's appearance was hardly unexpected.
The Iwagakure ninja devoured earlier by the Four-Tails was most likely the contact person that Ōnoki had stationed here.
With the contact person gone, Ōnoki feared something had happened to his beloved Rōshi and rushed over using the Ultra-Lightweight Rock Technique.
Kurotsuchi, hampered by her injuries and lesser strength, had arrived slightly later.
"Please don't misunderstand! I'm not here for revenge!"
[Kurotsuchi] hurriedly shouted upon landing.
Then she guided her wheelchair down from the air.
Remarkably, this world's [Kurotsuchi] had donned a qipao even earlier than her real-world counterpart.
The style resembled Fubuki wearing Tatsumaki's outfit.
Fortunately, from below, the more mysterious regions remained hidden.
Though when she descended facing Shiromo and the others, her seated posture inevitably revealed more than intended.
"Honored heroes, thank you for eliminating a great menace for Iwagakure! You are truly paragons of benevolence and righteousness!"
With a thud, [Kurotsuchi] tumbled from her wheelchair and prostrated herself.
"You don't resent us for killing your grandfather?"
Uchiha Hikari asked, puzzled.
Why did everyone connected to Shiromo in the real world seem relatively normal?
(Tsunade: I strongly disagree.)
"I do not."
[Kurotsuchi] shook her head.
"Ōnoki did not deserve to be my grandfather. For his own selfish desires, he neglected the village's future, broke my legs, and severed ties with me."
"I had long wished for his death. Sadly, I lacked the strength."
"Today, thanks to you, Iwagakure has been freed of this disaster."
"Very well. Govern Iwagakure properly. We have other matters to attend to."
Shiromo patted [Kurotsuchi] on the shoulder and turned toward the Susanoo flight Hikari had prepared.
"Wait! Could you take me with you? I…"
Before she could finish, Susanoo had already vanished into the sky.
"Sob…"
[Kurotsuchi] knelt in disappointment, weeping softly.
But soon, her gaze hardened with resolve.
Not long afterward, emissaries from Konoha arrived, bearing Hokage Tsunade's proposal for the Five Great Villages to unite against the Akatsuki.
Having inherited the Tsuchikage position, [Kurotsuchi] agreed without hesitation.
After Shiromo's group eliminated the Five-Tails Jinchūriki Han, they moved toward their next objective.
The Land of Wind, Sunagakure.
Next would be the One-Tails, followed by Kirigakure's Three-Tails and Six-Tails.
However…
While crossing the desert, they encountered a true interception.
A formation of ninja blocked them midair.
Leading them was none other than wheelchair-bound [Kurotsuchi].
"So that's why she didn't appear when we dealt with the Five-Tails. She came here to regroup first."
Shiromo surveyed the gathered forces.
Several Kage stood beneath their hats.
From Kumogakure, the newly appointed Raikage [Karui], successor after the others had perished.
From Konoha, the surviving [Tsunade].
Kurotsuchi, from Iwagakure, was in a wheelchair and used a Light-weight Technique rock buff to help everyone take off.
From Sunagakure, [Temari], who had once assumed the Kazekage mantle.
And Kirigakure's Mizukage [Mei Terumi], seemingly unchanged.
Shiromo's group landed calmly.
The ninja alliance followed suit.
"Everyone… the fate of the shinobi world will be decided today."
[Hokage Tsunade] spoke.
Yet her gaze drifted involuntarily toward Shiromo.
She even swallowed.
Both Shiromo and Uchiha Hikari frowned.
Something felt… off.
"Well said, Hokage!"
[Kurotsuchi] clenched her fist, eyes blazing with excitement.
"I've long wanted to slice Uchiha Hikari apart, claim Shiromo for myself, and become his mount!"
(End of this chapter)