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Chapter 304 - Chapter 304: Bubbles

The Uchiha Clan.

In the courtyard, Mirai walked leisurely toward Tsunade, Kurenai Yuhi, and the others.

Seeing the group before him, dressed in luxurious and elegant attire, Mirai nodded in satisfaction.

Clothes make the man, after all.

Now that they had shed their plain shinobi outfits, Tsunade and the others looked even more stunning than before.

Keeping so many beautiful women in his home—just looking at them every day was a pleasure in itself.

Tsunade was the first to speak. "Mirai, why did you stay in Sunagakure for so long this time?"

Mirai smiled. "There were some matters in Sunagakure that required my personal attention."

"Sigh… Always busy."

Watching Mirai's exaggerated expression, Rin Nohara covered her mouth and chuckled, stepping behind him to massage his shoulders.

Mirai closed his eyes, thoroughly enjoying it. "Rin, you really know how to take care of me."

At that, Kurenai stepped forward. "Mirai, let me massage your legs."

Konan knelt beside him, offering a plate of fruit. "Mirai, open up~"

Shizune, Mikoto, Sara, and the others all gathered around as well.

Surrounded by their delicate fragrances, Mirai let out a contented sigh.

This was the life a man was meant to enjoy.

After a short rest, he gestured to the women around him before standing up and stretching.

"I'll be leaving for a while soon."

The group was visibly shocked. "You just got back, and you're leaving already?"

Mirai sighed. "I only need the Four-Tails and the Six-Tails to complete the set of all nine tailed beasts."

"The Six-Tails' Jinchūriki has been missing for years. We've searched for a long time but haven't found him, so I've decided to look for him myself."

Hearing his explanation, a look of concern appeared on their faces.

The future of the entire shinobi world rested on this man's shoulders. It must have been a heavy burden to bear…

Tsunade, usually the strong and commanding type, stepped forward and took Mirai's hand.

"Mirai, do what you need to do."

"I'll stay in Konoha and take care of everything here for you."

"No matter how long it takes, we'll all be here waiting for you."

Tsunade's words warmed Mirai's heart.

This was the kind of woman who truly understood him.

Seeing their affectionate gazes, Mirai made up his mind.

A team-building retreat was in order—

A proper one!

———

A week later, Uchiha Mirai set off toward the south.

His first target was the Six-Tails' Jinchūriki.

According to Ōnoki's intel, the Four-Tails' Jinchūriki, Rōshi, had slipped away from Iwagakure during Mirai's attack on the village.

Tracking teams later discovered traces of Rōshi's battle at a volcano in the Land of Birds.

Judging by the drastic terrain changes, he had likely fought in full-tailed beast form.

After that, he disappeared completely.

Mirai speculated that the Four-Tails had most likely fallen into the hands of either Uchiha Obito or Nagato.

So, it was more efficient to track down the Six-Tails first, then deal with Nagato and take both the Four-Tails and the Gedo Statue in one go.

At that point, he could revive the Ten-Tails and become its Jinchūriki.

Using the tailed beasts' ability to sense each other, Mirai traveled southward, reaching the southernmost part of the Land of Fire.

This was a desolate region, covered in vast, untamed forests filled with venomous insects and ferocious beasts—completely unsuitable for human habitation.

Hovering in midair, Mirai expanded his perception to the maximum.

In his mind, everything within a several-hundred-mile radius became clear.

After a moment, he slowly opened his eyes. "No, he's not here."

Perched on his shoulder, the chibi version of Kurama closed its eyes and focused.

"Mirai, he's to the east."

Mirai nodded and changed course, heading eastward.

———

The Land of Craftsmen.

(T/N: As far as I know, there is no such land, but in the anime we had the Takumi Village. This village is only in the anime, and is located in the Land of Rivers. Takumi is known for the skill in crafting weapons, many of which are sold to ninja villages around the world. So I think that's what it's about, but the location has been changed.)

An island nation in the southern seas of the shinobi world.

The Land of Craftsmen had no shinobi village and wasn't particularly large. Yet, despite being isolated, it was famous across the world.

The reason? Its long-standing tradition of weapon forging.

It was said that six of the Seven Ninja Swords of the Mist had been crafted by artisans from this very land.

In front of a modest weapons shop, a man with shoulder-length hair and bangs covering one eye stood silently, watching the blacksmith at work inside.

The smith wiped his forehead and spoke. "Heh! Now this is a first."

"I've made countless weapons in my lifetime, but this is the first time someone's asked me to forge a blowpipe for blowing bubbles."

"If it weren't me, no one else would take on a job like this."

The man, Utakata, remained expressionless, as if he hadn't heard a word.

Unfazed, the blacksmith continued, "So tell me, why come all the way here to have a weapon made?"

"You could find something like this in plenty of other countries."

Utakata replied flatly, "I have no fixed home. Anywhere is the same to me."

Before the blacksmith could respond, a girl with curly blonde hair ran up excitedly.

"Master, I'm back!"

Utakata frowned. "Don't call me that. I never agreed to take you as a disciple."

The girl grinned, unfazed by his coldness. "Just take me in already! We both carry secrets we can't share with others, and that's why we're together."

Hearing her casual words, Utakata's frown deepened. "Hotaru, be careful what you say."

Realizing her slip, Hotaru glanced nervously at the blacksmith before falling silent.

"Relax," the blacksmith said, sipping water before resuming his work. "I've got no interest in other people's secrets."

By the time the sun began to set, the blacksmith finally finished the unusual blowpipe and handed it to Utakata.

"Try it out."

Utakata placed it to his lips, blowing a stream of iridescent bubbles into the air.

Watching the display, the old blacksmith raised an eyebrow. "You a magician or something?"

Ignoring him, Utakata tossed a bag of coins onto the counter, then quickly pulled Hotaru away.

Seeing his urgency, Hotaru couldn't help but ask, "Utakata-sensei, aren't you being too cautious?"

"No one here knows who we are."

Utakata kept walking without looking back. "The reason I've remained hidden this long is because I'm always cautious."

"Never forget—people like us, once discovered, will be hunted endlessly."

"We can't stay in the Land of Craftsmen any longer."

Hotaru looked skeptical. "Is it really that serious?"

"Even if we were found, your strength should be more than enough to handle it."

Just as Utakata was about to respond, a shadow descended from the sky.

Boom!

Like a cannonball, the figure slammed into the ground with tremendous force.

"Finally found you, Six-Tails!"

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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