Kushina, always fiery-tempered, clenched her fists despite being pregnant.
"If she has the nerve, let her come out. I'll show her what it means to be unworthy!"
"Kushina, calm down."
Seeing her friend so riled up, Mikoto placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to soothe her. At the same time, she shot a glance at Kushina's stomach, subtly reminding her to think about the baby.
Kushina huffed, waving it off. "Tch, I've got an iron body! Didn't I just prove that?"
"Three minutes is proof?" Uchiha Shin rolled his eyes, not bothering to engage in her antics.
Even though it had only been three minutes, it was still an improvement.
Noticing Shin's unimpressed look, Kushina became even more agitated.
"What do you mean, three minutes? I only lasted one before. This is called progress! This is called—"
She launched into an incomprehensible rant, which oddly lightened the atmosphere.
Mei Terumi, running her fingers through her lush, wavy red hair, revealed a confident yet sultry smile.
"Master Uchiha Shin, I want to know more about your future plans."
With the war still raging, she was already thinking about sounding the horn of conquest, declaring his return to the entire ninja world.
Shin stroked her head lightly, his crimson eyes narrowing slightly.
"Plans? Right now, the priority is gathering the Nine Tailed Beasts. As for the villages and nations?" He scoffed. "They'll be dealt with when the time comes."
His voice carried an undeniable arrogance. The so-called 'Great Nations' and their armies were nothing more than obstacles he could crush at will. They were never a real threat. His true goal lay elsewhere—he needed a perfect vessel for Kaguya.
And in the process, he wouldn't mind taking Otsutsuki Isshiki off the board.
Tsunade nodded slightly, scanning the group. The women here were all formidable, their strengths polished under Shin's influence. Mikoto, Kushina, and herself stood out among them. Konan, having fully mastered her Paper Release Kekkei Genkai, was another top-tier combatant.
Selecting a team to accompany Shin was crucial.
"I'm in! My brother taught me Paper Release, and I've gotten damn good at it!" Konan declared, raising her hand enthusiastically.
Karura also stepped forward. Under Shin's training, she had spent months honing her Magnet Release, pushing her limits far beyond what she once thought possible. Though his guidance had mostly been mental, her raw talent had taken her far.
Loulan's Queen, Sasha, sat with her daughter, Sara, in her arms, looking wistfully at the others.
Though she had grown stronger under Shin's instruction, she lacked true battle experience. Her real battlefield, as she liked to say with a teasing smirk, lay in "other kinds of fights."
Sasha leaned in to whisper to Tsunade about the progress of the Loulan Arsenal, her mind already turning to how she could contribute in her own way.
"Mikoto, just take care of yourself. Kushina, Kanako—forget it."
Shin's words immediately shut down their enthusiasm.
Kushina pouted, crossing her arms. "Shin-kun, you sure didn't take care of me like this last night~"
"Ahem! Shut up."
Clearing his throat awkwardly, Shin flicked her forehead, making her yelp. She rubbed the spot, glaring at him in exaggerated betrayal.
He ignored her and turned to Konan. "Konan, you're in. Karura—you stay back."
"Huh?" Karura blinked in confusion, her hand instinctively going to her stomach.
Only now did she realize…
"…I'm pregnant?" she whispered, stunned.
The realization hit her all at once. She had chalked up her nausea and exhaustion to overexertion, but now, it made sense. A wave of emotions flooded her—surprise, then warmth.
She was going to be a mother.
She smiled softly, her hands gently cradling her belly. For all the chaos of war, this moment was hers to cherish.
Shin, meanwhile, remained unfazed. "I'll capture the Tailed Beasts myself. There's no need for all of you to volunteer."
After that, the group settled in for the night.
—
The next day, Shin used Kotoamatsukami to manipulate the wills of Konoha's highest authorities, securing complete control over the village.
Feeling refreshed, he flexed his right hand, a dark sigil glowing faintly on his arm.
Beside him, Kaguya Otsutsuki materialized, her regal presence exuding an otherworldly aura. Her pale, moon-like eyes were filled with restrained anticipation.
"I can't wait any longer." Her voice, usually emotionless, now carried a sharp edge of impatience.
"You'll have to," Shin countered. "We need all Nine Beasts and the God Tree to draw out Isshiki Otsutsuki."
Kaguya's expression darkened. "Isshiki… That bastard still lives?"
Shin nodded. "He survived your attack. Karma saved him."
Kaguya's fingers twitched, her face twisted in cold fury. She had once tried to eliminate Isshiki with a surprise attack, using her All-Killing Ash Bones. But he had survived, escaping through Karma.
She knew their conflict could only end with one of them dead.
Shin, however, had his sights set on something far greater.
Isshiki had possession of the genetic material of Otsutsuki Shibai—the progenitor of all Otsutsuki powers.
The scientist Amado, working within Kara, had used that genetic material to create powerful clones—each gifted with absurd abilities.
Abilities like sensory omnipotence, intent reflection, and clairvoyance.
Shin's fingers twitched in excitement. If he could acquire Shibai's genes and absorb them…
The power he would gain would be beyond divine.
Suppressing the hunger clawing at his chest, Shin refocused. First, he needed Black Zetsu.
Tracking down the Tailed Beasts one by one was tedious. Black Zetsu, however, had centuries of knowledge and would have intelligence on their locations.
More importantly, Shin wanted to see if Zetsu had any leads on Kara.
"If I want Zetsu, I have to go through Akatsuki first."
After Nagato's death, Shin had assumed Akatsuki would crumble. But not only had it survived—it had grown stronger.
There was no way Zetsu wasn't involved in that.
Lucky for him, he had left a trace of Iron Sand on Yahiko long ago. At the time, he had considered it a useless precaution.
Turns out, it was paying off now.
Closing his eyes, Shin focused.
A faint sensation tugged at the back of his mind—Yahiko's location.
Grinning, Shin turned toward the distant mountains.
"The Land of Fields, huh? Well then…"
Without another word, he vanished in a flicker of motion, shadows trailing in his wake.
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