3:15 a.m., July 4th.
On the double bed, Kaori was already fast asleep.
Akira pulled out the towel, folded it neatly, and tucked it into the inner compartment of his travel bag.
After all, when traveling outside, one couldn't be too careless.
Wearing a bathrobe and wooden clogs, he held a glass of red wine and stepped onto the small balcony of the inn. Cool summer night air brushed his face as he savored the afterglow with his drink.
When he lowered his head, he saw a pale, bald head poking out from the flowerbed below, beside the cornflowers. A pair of light-brown glowing eyes stared up at him eagerly.
Akira placed the wineglass on the small wooden table, closed the sliding door, and gestured for the person below to come up.
The white head rose from the flowerbed, leaped lightly, and landed on the balcony railing.
With utmost respect, it said, "Lord Akira!"
Who else could it be but White Zetsu?
During the Fourth Great Ninja War, excluding A-Fei, Akira had rescued a total of two hundred White Zetsu.
Out of the hundred thousand, this number was insignificant, yet it was the limit of what Akira could do without affecting his own safety and operations.
After An'yin Village was established, he thawed one hundred and eight of them.
After applying Midoba-no-Betsu-Tenshin to ensure absolute loyalty, he divided them into two divisions: Inner Array and Outer Array, fifty-four in each.
Why split them into two divisions?
Because in the isolated environment of Peach Blossom Land, even the telepathic sensing ability between White Zetsu would fail.
To ensure absolute secrecy of this rear base, only two people could open the Gate of Peach Blossom Land:
Akira, the true master of An'yin.
And Konan, whom Akira had granted proxy authority.
No matter what happened, Konan would never leave Peach Blossom Land. That was her resolve.
There was no one left in the outside world worth her attachment.
The ones responsible for communication, reconnaissance, and mobility—the "legs"—were the White Zetsu.
But it was impossible to open the Gate every time information needed to be passed.
Thus, the two-division system was born.
Inner and Outer Arrays, modeled after Kara's structure.
Each Inner member was paired with an Outer member, forming a two-person unit.
One hundred and eight members formed fifty-four pairs, each assigned the same code number.
Partners maintained one-to-one communication.
When the Gate was closed, only paired partners could conduct single-line communication across it.
Akira achieved this through a "special method" only he could use.
And it had an irreversible restriction.
If an Outer member died outside, the paired Inner member in Peach Blossom Land would die as well.
Death itself was also a form of information transmission.
So far, none had perished.
As for the remaining White Zetsu, they were stored in the Doryu Time Zone as living sacrifices for Edo Tensei.
Many had been used over the years.
By the time Madara's Edo Tensei was completed, the remaining number was down to single digits.
The one before Akira was Inner Array No. 18.
His partner, Outer No. 18, was responsible for monitoring everything around Akira's home in the Land of Lightning.
It reported respectfully:
"Lord Akira! Message from Outer No. 18!
Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke are currently lying in ambush outside your home! They've been there for a long time!"
"Also, Uchiha Sasuke suspects your connection with Kumogakure and has gone to investigate! He should return soon!"
Akira nodded.
"I understand. Tell Outer No. 18 to prioritize safety and withdraw for now."
Inner No. 18 hesitated.
"Shall we stop monitoring?"
"There's no point," Akira replied calmly.
"They won't leave until I return. Tell him to rest."
"Yes, Lord Akira!"
Akira lifted his wineglass and gently swirled it.
"It must be Orochimaru's hidden line…
Besides making him hand over Edo Tensei and cell technology, I gave him another suggestion—
If anything sudden involves me, he should, at his discretion, guide the situation toward the outcome I want."
Akira drank the wine in one go.
"The outcome I want… is what benefits the overall situation of the ninja world."
"So, do you think Naruto and Sasuke coming to me now benefits the bigger picture?"
"Alright. I'll trust your judgment."
He returned to the room, left a note explaining the situation on the bedside table, pressing it down with a glass.
Then he bent over, gazing at Kaori's peaceful sleeping face, and gently kissed her soft lips.
"Mmm…" Kaori murmured in her sleep and turned over.
Her long, fair legs slipped out from under the blanket.
Akira smiled tenderly.
He took off his bathrobe and covered her legs with it.
Then he picked up the black Divine Robe from the hanger and put it on.
He glanced at his watch.
4:15 a.m.
"Feels like it's been a long time since I went out at night…"
—
Behind Peach Blossom Land, in the mountains.
Boom!
As Obito was suppressed beneath the Deity Gates, the two summoned champions recalled by Akira finally decided who was superior.
Looking at the man walking out from the remains of the Thousand-Handed Buddha, Obito sighed.
"To be able to suppress me with those fists all the way to my intangibility limit… You really deserve it. Even Hashirama couldn't have done that."
Madara said thoughtfully,
"The natural energy here is far denser than outside. That's why the regeneration of the Thousand Hands could keep up with the consumption.
In other words, I couldn't do this elsewhere.
So, Obito, you lost mainly because you can't use Sage Mode."
Obito was surprised.
He hadn't expected Madara, as the victor, to give him an excuse instead of flaunting superiority.
"Madara… you've really changed."
"Who hasn't? The only constant in this world is change."
Madara sat down in front of Obito.
"Naruto and Sasuke changed. The ninja world changed.
Even you and I—willing to use and be used for the same goal.
I saved your life. You paid it back.
We should've gone our separate ways.
Yet here we are again, because of Akira."
Obito laughed.
"Guess that's what they mean by 'enemies are bound to meet again.'"
"We were enemies.
From now on, we're comrades."
Madara formed seals, released the Deity Gates, and stood up, extending his hand.
Obito's eyes were complicated.
At that moment, he truly let go of his prejudice.
Madara…
For someone as proud as you to lower yourself and help a junior—
That took the same resolve as mine.
We once despaired at this world.
After countless trials, we found ourselves again.
But we were never truly redeemed.
Only oneself can do that.
Akira chose us.
And we chose Akira.
Because unlike us back then, he has washed away obsession and stubbornness through life's trials.
He is a truly mature powerhouse.
Obito said,
"Honestly, I still don't think we're compatible. But…"
"But what?" Madara asked.
"At least we still have a choice.
So many people died because of our past arrogance.
They never had one."
Madara fell silent.
Then he said firmly,
"So, whether to atone or to fulfill ourselves, we cannot slack off again."
He extended his hand further.
"Obito, help Akira together with me."
Obito grasped it.
Two cracked, scarred hands clasped tightly.
Their bond, forged at this moment, was firmer than ever before.
"Alright. From now on, we're partners."
"Looks like I came at the right time."
Akira landed before them with a smile.
Madara and Obito both turned and released their hands.
Madara folded his arms. Obito put his hands on his hips.
"First time I've seen you go out at this hour."
"Something urgent?"
"Yes. I need to head back."
Urgent…
There weren't many things in this world that could disrupt Akira's routine.
Madara narrowed his eyes.
"Naruto and Sasuke?"
Akira smiled.
"Yes. But they're waiting at my house, not here. Apparently, they've been camping there for almost a day."
Madara thought:
This conflict is coming faster than expected.
Obito asked, "Do you need us to step in?"
"No," Akira replied.
"Before the timing is right, words are useless. That's something I learned after hundreds of failures."
"So… you plan to fight," Madara said quietly.
"Yes. I'll handle it myself. You two just watch."
Madara thought:
You're serious…
Before coming here, I doubted you.
Now… maybe I shouldn't.
He smiled faintly.
"So we're just spectators?"
"Not quite," Akira said softly.
He glanced at his watch.
4:30 a.m.
"Since my rest is already ruined, I might as well.
After I send those two home…
We'll head to the Origin Ball Space, unseal the Demonic Statue—
And officially put our plan into motion."
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