Mizuge's once-crazed expression had long vanished. His legs flailed desperately as Mirai Uchiha's grip tightened around his neck.
No matter how hard he struggled, Mirai's right hand remained like an iron clamp, holding him high in midair.
"F-forgive me! Hero Water—I can give it to you!"
Gasping for breath, Mizuge choked out a desperate plea.
Mirai spoke coldly. "Forgiving you is God's task. My mission is simply to send you to meet Him."
Crack!
With a swift motion, Mirai snapped Mizuge's neck and tossed the lifeless body aside like a dead dog.
[Ding! Congratulations, Master! Successfully obtained reward: +1 Chakra!]
Mirai lifted his gaze and found the people of Takigakure staring at him in shock.
"You all seemed to have many doubts earlier," he said after a moment. "Now's your chance to ask."
But surprisingly, the villagers all remained silent.
At first, they had indeed wanted to question why Shibuki and Hidekazu decided on their own that Takigakure should submit to an outsider ninja. However, after witnessing Mirai's overwhelming display of power, the villagers quickly abandoned those thoughts.
Mizuge had been one of the few Jonin in Takigakure—extremely powerful.
After drinking the Hero Water, his strength had multiplied ten times over.
Yet even in that state, he had been effortlessly crushed like an ant by this young man.
For all their limited perspectives, they now clearly understood that this man was far beyond anyone they could possibly challenge.
"If there are no questions, I expect your full cooperation with the ninja world unification plan going forward."
"Anyone who dares oppose me will share only one fate."
After issuing his final warning, Mirai turned and followed Hidekazu deeper into the village.
Only after they left did the villagers finally breathe a sigh of relief.
That oppressive presence had been truly terrifying. No wonder he was hailed as a hero capable of uniting the Five Great Ninja Villages.
Perhaps submitting to such a powerful figure wasn't so hard to accept after all.
———
Inside the wooden hut.
Mirai sat cross-legged, sipping freshly brewed tea and allowing himself a slight smile of satisfaction.
Though the Land of Takigakure lay between both the Land of Earth and the Land of Fire, its territory—largely untouched ancient forests crisscrossed with rivers and cascading waterfalls—rarely suffered from war.
The hidden village behind the waterfall was especially serene.
In such conditions, the sweet mountain spring water and high-grade tea of the Land of Takigakure were regarded as among the finest in the ninja world.
Even he couldn't help but feel genuinely delighted.
Indeed, unifying the ninja world was a highly profitable endeavor. Once he unified the entire ninja world, all the finest things from every corner would belong to him for enjoyment.
After seeing Mirai Uchiha's expression, Hidekazu relaxed slightly and asked, "Lord Mirai, do you have anything else to command?"
Mirai Uchiha said calmly, "Explain the Hero Water to me."
Upon hearing this, Hidekazu immediately responded, "Hero Water is sacred water obtained from a giant tree at the center of Takigakure village. It can only be collected once every hundred years."
"Drinking it instantly multiplies a ninja's chakra tenfold!"
"However, the rapid chakra surge usually backlashes against the user. Once the effects wear off, the drinker suffers unbearable full-body pain."
"Repeated usage can even cost one's life."
"It serves as our last resort for protecting the village."
After listening to Hidekazu's explanation, Mirai Uchiha nodded. "Give me the Hero Water."
"Oh."
Looking at the half-filled bottle of Hero Water, Mirai Uchiha sensed a powerful aura of natural energy within it.
"So concentrated natural energy—absorbed by the great tree, then transformed into liquid directly absorbable by the human body..."
Combining the source and effects of the Hero Water, Mirai Uchiha formed a rough guess in his mind.
Direct absorption of natural energy usually placed tremendous stress on the body, causing most ninjas to die from bodily explosions.
However, after being absorbed and transformed by the giant tree, this wild natural energy became relatively milder liquid form. This allowed limited absorption by humans, thus rapidly enhancing the ninja's combat power within a short period.
It was similar to the cursed seal Orochimaru studied.
Only that the Hero Water was even gentler, placing less strain on the body.
"Not bad at all. I should let Orochimaru study it later."
Mirai Uchiha pondered silently in his mind.
Once he obtained the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and Shin's cells in the future, he could mass-produce Bai Zetsu or clones by combining Hashirama's cells with Mangekyo Sharingan.
If he also infused them with Hero Water, these artificial beings' chakra levels could reach astonishing heights.
By then, he would find Hikaku Uchiha and gain access to the [Infinite Chakra Generation] power of Bakusantsugi, enabling limitless chakra production.
As long as their numbers were vast enough, even mass-producing Six Paths-level warriors wouldn't be out of reach.
"Umm… Lord Mirai, shall I guide you to take a look at the giant tree?"
Hearing Hidekazu's words, Mirai Uchiha shook his head. "No need. I already have my own plans for this matter. Help me bring the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki here."
Upon hearing such a request, Hidekazu showed a hint of hesitation: "Lady Mirai, the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki is currently held in the holding cells, sealed with Binding talismans covering both his body and the room."
"The current Seven-Tails Jinchuriki was chosen hastily and is far from ideal. If we bring him here, the Seven-Tails might immediately go into a rampage."
That was exactly why they had absolutely no intention of using the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki—even as Takigakure faced destruction.
"Releasing the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki would only make Takigakure's situation worse."
Mirai Uchiha waved her hand confidently. "You just go ahead. The Seven-Tails won't rampage."
"How can you be so sure?"
Hidekazu opened his eyes wide in confusion.
Mirai Uchiha said calmly, "Because I'm here."
These four simple words exuded immense confidence.
For a moment, Hidekazu was awestruck by Mirai Uchiha's composure.
Seeing Mirai pick up her teacup again, Hidekazu didn't dare to ask anything else. He could only rise and head toward the underground prison where the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki was held.
Because I'm here?
How confident must someone be to say something like that?
But still...
Although Mirai Uchiha was undeniably powerful, the Seven-Tails was a Tailed Beast.
An immortal Tailed Beast—could it really fear a mortal, no matter how powerful?
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