Shigure stood on the dock, watching Tsunade's figure gradually disappear from sight.
With the successful signing of the treaty, the conflicts between Konoha and Sunagakure had been resolved. At the same time, relations between Konoha and the Hidden Mist Village had also been temporarily stabilized, avoiding any further escalation.
Now that Shigure served as Mizukage and Tsunade as Hokage, even though deep grudges seemed to exist between the villages on the surface, in truth, those so-called hatreds were merely frictions among the shinobi below them.
For the two leaders, such matters were insignificant.
Neither of them would act rashly or make foolish moves.
After Tsunade's departure, Gaara immediately dispatched people back to Sunagakure overnight to search for a suitable ninja to serve as Sasori's new body.
As for how they searched—or what kind of person they would ultimately choose—that had nothing to do with Shigure.
At present, his attention was focused on selecting suitable Jinchūriki within the Hidden Mist Village.
The first decision had already been made.
Haku was chosen as the Three-Tails' Jinchūriki.
Haku's strength was already considerable, and since the Three-Tails possessed Ice Release affinity, the compatibility between the two would be nearly perfect.
With the Three-Tails settled, the Jinchūriki for the Four-Tails, Six-Tails, and Seven-Tails still needed to be determined.
For the Four-Tails' Lava Release, Shigure believed it would be better to establish an entirely new Lava Release clan—rather than merely relying on a single Bloodline Limit user.
Storm Release and Scorch Release bloodlines could also be incorporated into this structure.
If successful, the Hidden Mist Village would effectively possess nearly all known Bloodline Limits, with the exception of Explosion Release, Magnet Release, and Wood Release.
Such an arrangement would also reduce hostility within the village, as fewer shinobi would be excluded or marginalized for lacking bloodline abilities.
Naturally, the Four-Tails' Lava Release would ultimately be inherited by a ninja with the Lava Release Bloodline Limit.
The Six-Tails, with its immense chakra reserves, could only be entrusted to the Hato Clan, who carried traces of Senju lineage.
As for the Seven-Tails, its ability to fly made it most suitable for the Kozuki Clan, whose members possessed Invisibility Release techniques.
The reason Shigure distributed the Tailed Beasts so freely was simple.
He no longer needed them.
The power of the Tailed Beasts was valuable, but even without them, Shigure's body already contained complete Tailed Beast chakra.
And not just one or two.
At present, Shigure possessed the chakra of the One-Tail, Three-Tails, Four-Tails, Six-Tails, Seven-Tails, and Eight-Tails.
Only the Two-Tails, Five-Tails, and Nine-Tails remained.
Soon enough, he would gather them all and obtain complete Six Paths power.
When that time came, Shigure would be able to develop even more terrifying abilities—powers that did not belong to this world, yet would manifest within it.
Distributing the Tailed Beasts also served another purpose.
If the Hidden Mist Village relied solely on Shigure, it would never truly become strong.
Only by cultivating powerful shinobi across the village could true strength be achieved.
While Shigure was immersed in these matters, several days passed in the blink of an eye.
Soon after, envoys from the Hidden Sand Village arrived.
They brought with them Sasori's new body.
However, the body itself surprised Shigure.
According to the Great Sage's analysis, this body possessed exceptional potential—it contained three different chakra natures simultaneously.
Of course, raw talent alone did not guarantee strength.
The original owner of the body was merely a chūnin, and his personal talent was unremarkable.
Yet the man's gaze was resolute.
Despite being perfectly healthy, he carried himself like someone who had already accepted death.
Clearly, he had been thoroughly indoctrinated by Sunagakure.
That, however, was none of Shigure's concern.
"Is this the one?" Shigure asked calmly.
"Have Sasori follow me."
He led Sasori and the Sand ninja into a secluded room and instructed the latter to lie down on the operating table.
On the opposite side, Sasori did the same.
Shigure raised his hand.
"ROOM."
His domain expanded instantly.
In one fluid motion, Shigure extracted Sasori's heart while simultaneously removing the Sand ninja's heart. The fresh heart still beat weakly, suspended within Shigure's spatial control.
Then, with a gentle thrust of his blade, he pierced it.
The heartbeat stopped.
The Sand ninja's body gradually went still.
Immediately afterward, Sasori's heart was transplanted into the body.
With the assistance of the Great Sage, the remaining steps were completed flawlessly.
Sasori slowly opened his eyes.
He felt his breath.
The light.
The faint currents of air brushing against his skin.
"It really worked…" he murmured.
Turning toward Shigure, Sasori's eyes were filled with reverence.
"Thank you, Mizukage."
Shigure sneered.
"There's no need for gratitude. Sunagakure paid a sufficient price. This was merely a transaction."
Both sides received what they wanted.
Even so, Sasori continued to express his thanks.
Shigure interrupted him calmly,
"Your new body has excellent potential. How far you go from here depends entirely on you, Sasori."
A trace of anticipation flickered in Shigure's eyes.
After all, Sasori had already been a genius even without a living body.
Now that he had regained one…
Shigure was genuinely curious to see what Sasori would become.
He must have many ideas.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so eager to reclaim his own body.
And Gaara… Gaara had dared to gamble.
He allowed such a powerful ninja to remain by his side—now with a new identity and a living body of his own.
Did he really not fear that his position as Kazekage might one day be threatened?
After Sasori left and reunited with Gaara, the people of Sunagakure moved swiftly.
They came like the wind—and departed just as fast—returning to the Land of Wind at the earliest possible moment.
Although the Hidden Sand Village had lost many things during this meeting, they ultimately preserved what mattered most: their village and its future.
The price they paid was painful, but in exchange, Sasori had regained his body.
With that, hope remained.
Soon, news of the Three Kage Summit ending peacefully spread throughout the Ninja World.
Countless villages breathed a sigh of relief.
Yet the outcome of the summit left every ninja village deeply shocked.
The greatest winner was undoubtedly the Hidden Mist Village.
Even more surprising—Konoha had chosen to endure.
Did this mean that the title of the strongest ninja village in the world had changed hands?
As for the battle between Shigure and Tsunade—the clash between Mizukage and Hokage—no one knew the details.
Only the final result spread like wildfire.
Tsunade had admitted defeat.
The Hokage of Konoha had not only survived an encounter with the Mizukage without being poisoned, but had voluntarily conceded.
Just how terrifying was Shigure's strength?
This question lingered in the minds of countless shinobi.
At this time, Shigure was preparing to continue selecting ninja to establish additional Bloodline Limit clans.
But then—unexpected visitors arrived by sea.
A group of people landed at the harbor and demanded an audience with him.
All of them came from the Land of Lightning.
"Ninja from the Hidden Cloud Village want to see me?"
Shigure found this rather interesting.
What was Hidden Cloud Village planning?
Why had they suddenly come to seek him out?
Inside the Mizukage's office, the answer became clear.
The one who came was Darui.
The future Fifth Raikage.
For the Raikage to send Darui personally to the Hidden Mist Village…
That could only mean one thing.
The Hidden Cloud Village had something extremely important to discuss.
(End of Chapter)
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