Konohagakure.
Inside the Hokage's office, Namikaze Minato sat quietly at his desk, just as he usually did. A few documents lay before him.
Before long, the office door swung open, and Mirai stepped inside.
Seeing him, Minato smiled and greeted, "Mirai, you're here."
Mirai gave a slight nod and said flatly, "Minato, what do you need?"
Minato pushed the documents forward with a serious expression.
"This is the latest intel on the Akatsuki. Based on our reports, humanoid figures have been spotted not only in the Lands of Earth, Lightning, Water, and Wind but even within the Land of Fire itself."
As he spoke, Minato unfurled a sealing scroll.
With a puff of smoke, a corpse appeared before them—a white, humanoid creature lying lifeless on the floor.
Minato's voice was grave. "These are the White Zetsu you mentioned. For reasons unknown, they've become increasingly active across the Shinobi World. We've captured several samples, but none have yielded useful information."
"Their ability to disguise themselves is exceptional. Even sensory ninja struggle to detect anything unusual up close. The only way to identify them is through interrogation and piecing together inconsistencies."
Mirai stepped forward, examining the White Zetsu corpse. A surge of chakra infused with natural energy flowed from his hand into the lifeless body.
In the next moment, several more White Zetsu sprouted from the corpse.
However, before they could fully form, their bodies twisted and deflated, withering away like punctured balloons, lifeless once more.
Minato's expression darkened. This corpse had already undergone thorough examination—yet there had still been something they missed.
Mirai turned to Minato and placed a hand on his shoulder.
A similar reaction occurred. Under the influence of natural energy, fragments of White Zetsu peeled away from Minato's body.
"These things..."
Seeing Minato's shock, Mirai spoke calmly. "They're incredibly difficult to detect. No matter how meticulous the search, some always slip through."
Minato frowned. "Then what should we do?"
Mirai waved a hand dismissively. "No need to worry. These White Zetsu pose no real threat. The fact that they're making moves now means their side has a plan in motion. We simply need to wait and observe."
Even with his abilities, finding Uchiha Obito and Zetsu's hiding place in such a vast world was no easy task. Their movements, however, provided valuable clues.
Hearing this, Minato's expression eased. Mirai was right—given the current strength of the Divine Kingdom, there was little reason to be concerned over minor disturbances.
Mirai glanced at Minato. "Anything else?"
Minato quickly responded, "Ōnoki sent over two children. He hopes they can stay in Konoha. Do you want to meet them?"
Mirai took the file from Minato's hand. The names stood out immediately.
Kurotsuchi. Deidara.
He hesitated for a moment. Kurotsuchi staying wouldn't be an issue, but Deidara...
Letting a problem child like him loose in Konoha didn't seem like a great idea.
Thinking it over, Mirai said, "I'll meet them first."
With that, he stepped into the air and vanished from the office.
Minato couldn't help but marvel at the display. No matter how many times he witnessed Mirai's mastery of space-time ninjutsu, it was still awe-inspiring.
...
"Oi, listen up—"
"Why the hell did the old man send us to Konoha? Do you really think these guys understand my art?"
A young man with a ponytail strolled down the street, a toothpick in his mouth, looking lazy and disinterested.
Beside him was a little girl, no more than four or five years old, her delicate features framed by dark hair.
Hearing his complaint, she responded, "Deidara, I suggest you don't cause trouble in Konoha. If your 'stuff' disrupts the village, you'll be arrested."
Deidara scowled. "Kurotsuchi, that's not just 'stuff'—it's art! Art, you hear me?! Hmm!"
"A fleeting explosion, the ultimate moment of radiance!"
"Boom!"
His eyes gleamed with excitement. "Isn't the most beautiful thing in this world the instant of an explosion? Hmm!"
Watching him rant, Kurotsuchi rolled her eyes. "I'm just saying—if you cause trouble, even Grandpa won't be able to save you. You do realize, right? Lord Mirai is the strongest ninja in the world."
Hearing that, Deidara's eyes lit up. If he could get the strongest ninja to acknowledge his art, wouldn't his name be legendary?
An idea formed in his mind, and he quickly reached for his pouch, pulling out a handful of clay.
"Explosive Clay—Giant Bird!"
A large white bird materialized, and Deidara leaped onto its back, soaring into the sky.
Kurotsuchi groaned. She knew exactly where this was going. Waving her hands frantically, she shouted,
"Deidara! Get down here!"
But Deidara ignored her, grinning as he looked down at the people below.
Lucky them. He would let them witness true art. Hmm!
His left hand devoured the clay, while his right molded intricate creatures—spiders, centipedes, birds—each one perfectly sculpted.
What better way to announce his arrival than with a stunning display?
Just as he was about to unleash his creations, a calm voice echoed in his ear.
"Flight is prohibited in Konoha."
An immense force suddenly pulled him downward, dragging both him and his clay bird toward the ground at alarming speed.
Deidara struggled, trying to counteract the force, but it was useless. The gravitational pull was overwhelming.
Worse yet, his chakra flow was completely disrupted, leaving him unable to react.
Just as he braced for impact, the force abruptly vanished, and he came to a halt—suspended less than a meter above the ground.
A man stepped forward from the crowd, his silver-white hair gleaming in the sunlight, his presence striking and imposing.
Before Deidara could get a good look at him, Kurotsuchi gasped and stammered in shock.
"L-Lord Mirai!"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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