Chapter 175: Descending Like a God
The Pure Land.
A vast, silvery-gray grassland where innumerable glowing flowers drifted gently across the meadows.
Calm and serene, unbelievably peaceful.
Until the sudden appearance of a razor-sharp black tower broke that tranquility.
Seated in that black tower, Sukuna resembled a meditating monk.
All around him, those drifting souls in the form of glowing flowers exuded an intense fragrance before ultimately being drawn into the maw on his abdomen.
His thoughts clashed; memories were parsed.
It was an extraordinarily bizarre experience, akin to feasting on a millennium's worth of ninja-world history.
Sukuna blocked out the clutter and immersed himself wholly in this gluttonous banquet.
…
Between life and death, the Sage of Six Paths and his brother Hamura gazed grimly toward the Pure Land.
"This is…our last resort…" Hamura muttered, his voice hoarse.
…
He resented his older brother for letting his children fight each other, but he still understood.
Long ago, Kaguya, to guard against the incoming threat of the main branch of the Ōtsutsuki Clan, intended for the ninja world to serve as a nursery.
Yet the Sage of Six Paths wasn't that ruthless. He devised a compromise.
He opened the Pure Land to gather the souls of all who died in the ninja world.
It wasn't coercive—examples like Hatake Sakumo, who never went to the Pure Land and simply waited, showed that. Similarly, a certain sinister, white-haired Senju had invented Edo Tensei, and the Pure Land didn't stop him.
As long as one's chakra was potent enough and one's will was resolute, they could pass on like Indra and Asura, reincarnating over and over.
The Sage of Six Paths had built this Pure Land as a resting place for the dead. In case of utter necessity, he might draw upon their strength.
He looked impassively at the flickering soul flame on his staff.
From the moment Kagami summoned the King of Hell (Enma), the Sage realized trouble loomed, so he hastily retrieved a few soul flames. Among them…
…was Uchiha Madara.
The Sage of Six Paths knew well Madara's designs, for without his own "all-permeating universal power" granting access, Madara wouldn't have obtained the Rinnegan.
His thoughts raced, and he spoke in a low tone. "Hamura, you take my Yang Release, find Asura's reincarnation—the one called Senju Hashirama."
"Tell him everything, including the Ōtsutsuki threat and Kagami's actions."
"It's become very obvious now…"
"Kagami wants another breakthrough in his evolution and intends to rear that demon god to a terrifying degree of power."
"His ability to see the future…maybe he can indeed handle the cosmic Ōtsutsuki, but that monster only exists because Kagami has purposely let it grow."
"And if that monster kills Kagami—we have to plan for that possibility…"
"Whatever the case, we need our own power if we're to stand a chance."
Hamura stared at him. "At long last you're acting, brother," he grunted coldly. "I almost thought these thousand years had drained you of all decisiveness."
The Sage's gaze grew somber. "I'm just…afraid of the unknown."
"Kagami has his dreams, but I can't gamble the entire ninja world on them."
Only the Sage of Six Paths fully grasped Kagami's ambitions—and recognized that Kagami's ninja world was still here as well. Both had plans to handle future calamities, one with more aggression, one with more caution.
…
The Land of Fire, Konohagakure.
Morning sunlight spread across the village, carrying a slight chill that was quickly dispelled by the deafening sound of gongs and drums.
An entourage moved out from the main gate. Leading the procession was a black-haired, red-eyed man of a slender build—Uchiha Genka (玄火).
After years of training, he, one of Kagami's first personal guards, had learned much about the secrets of the Mangekyō. Though he lacked the potential for a perfect Mangekyō, Kagami wouldn't force it on him. An ordinary Mangekyō was possible, but right now, his ocular power had nearly reached a critical point; with enough stimulation, he could awaken it.
He wore a fitted black battle outfit with a long silver sword strapped at his hip. The Uchiha following him dressed similarly.
Behind them, carriages carried local "lords" from various regions. Officially, these lords were "escorted," but in truth, they were being "herded."
Many younger Uchiha in the procession couldn't hide their excitement.
They knew…
The moment of Uchiha's absolute dominion had arrived at last!
Not only people like Tobirama had hoped Kagami would dominate the ninja world—plenty of Uchiha wished to see Kagami extend his rule. They didn't overthink matters of administration or economics. Their simpler minds believed that to rule was just a matter of having bigger fists.
In earlier times, they might've convened a clan meeting and butted heads with Fugaku. But now—nobody dared speak a single word if Kagami didn't.
…
Steady footsteps echoed like the resonance of power.
Within the crowd of onlookers, Naruto pressed down on Sasuke's shoulders for a better vantage, exclaiming excitedly, "So cool! I want to join the Uchiha police one day!"
Thwack!
Karin clobbered Naruto. "Stay away from Sasuke-kun!"
"And anyway, you're from the Uzumaki clan! You're supposed to carry on its name, so what's this about joining the Uchiha?!"
Her face blushed briefly, switching moods, and she sidled up to Sasuke with a sweet smile. "If anyone's joining the Uchiha clan, it's me, right, Sasuke-kun?"
Rolling his eyes at the two Uzumaki brats, Sasuke cast his gaze toward the procession's vanguard: Uchiha Genka.
He hardened his resolve.
Someday, I'll be the one in that position!
No—I'll stand higher still!
---
Konoha's main square was now arranged with a raised stage at its center, seats spread out in front.
The Uchiha herded all the local lords—officially "invited guests," but effectively captives—into their seats, dividing them plainly from the raised platform.
Seated on the platform was merely one long table with eight seats.
At the center sat Uchiha Kagami. At his left was Namikaze Minato, at his right, Hatake Sakumo.
Lined along the table's sides were Jiraiya, Kakashi, Nagato, Senju Hashirama, and Shisui.
Tap, tap.
Kagami lightly drummed his fingers on the table.
Tens of thousands of people in the square fell silent simultaneously, gazing up at the stage and awaiting that man's decree.
…
"First, I now bestow official titles of 'Kage' upon you all."
Kagami spoke slowly, in a manner brooking no dissent.
"Jiraiya—oversee the Land of Lightning as Cloud Kage."
"Shisui—oversee the Land of Earth as Rock Kage."
"Nagato—take Bird Country and whatever else you've annexed as Rain Kage."
"Hashirama—oversee the Land of Wind as Wood Kage."
"Kakashi—oversee the Land of Water as Mist Kage."
Everything had been negotiated in advance. Nobody would protest at this point. Specially made Kage hats were handed out by Uchiha Unkai to each newly titled Kage.
Below the stage, the gathered crowds held their breath, witnessing an event sure to be carved into the annals of ninja-world history.
"Among the seven Kage, the Hokage of the Land of Fire holds half a rank higher, with authority to intervene over the other six."
Continuing in a calm voice, Kagami spoke as though discussing nothing critical.
Glancing across them all, he paused at Nagato, then smiled wryly. "Of course, you're free to do whatever you please. Build doomsday weapons if you like, keep lurking in the ninja world waiting for old friends in the Pure Land—whatever."
"The strife isn't over… no, it will never end."
"I earnestly hope that when the final war's trumpet sounds at the end of this century, I'll still see you all standing."
"Lastly…"
"Choose your victor's rewards."
Kagami languidly crossed his legs, while the others sat upright and formal. The contrast suggested a godlike figure from the high heavens, prepared to fulfill the mortals' desires.
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