Kuro: The "Shiina Sora" You Knew Never Existed from the Very Beginning!

In mid-air, looking at the Three-Tails, which was now under the control of the Mangekyō Sharingan and stood still in place, his mind stirred slightly.

The enormous creature, whose three massive tails were still frozen in mid-air, began to shrink rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The thick, grayish-brown carapace gradually disappeared into the re-emerging humanoid form, and the three mountain-like tails converged towards the center, eventually retracting entirely into the thin and stiff body.

The Three-Tails has disappeared.

The behemoth transformed back into Karatachi Yagura, its eyes closed, and plummeted straight down into the ruins below.

With a swift movement, he caught Yagura in mid-air and landed her steadily on the ground.

He glanced down at the Fourth Mizukage, who was still unconscious and pale-faced in his arms, and the coldness in his eyes softened slightly.

"Was it because you were controlled for too long, and after the control was lifted, your mind couldn't withstand the backlash, and you temporarily fainted?"

He muttered something to himself, then looked up, scanned the empty ruins around him, and fell into a brief moment of contemplation.

Did the Three-Tails seize control of Yagura's body while Obito after Obito's death and the Mangekyō Sharingan Sharingan's control was released?

Or was all of this actually part of Obito's plans?

Thinking of this, a cold glint flashed in Kou's eyes.

But he immediately shook his head very lightly, suppressing the thought from his mind again.

No. It shouldn't be possible.

"That guy is as dead as can be. Even if we release the Three-Tails, it won't change anything that's already destined to happen."

So... was it just an accident?

Kou silently drew his conclusion, then turned his gaze back to the empty ruins around him, and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief:

Fortunately, there were no casualties.

"The emergency alerts from Mist Village were really timely. Allocating a special fund to develop this system back then was definitely the right decision."

Thinking of this, Kou couldn't help but glance with a pang of heartache at the empty space behind him where the Mizukage Building and the Mizukage Aide Building had once stood:

"Thanks to Mei Terumi and the others for evacuating the crowd to a safe area so quickly, otherwise I would have had to deal with the Three-Tails while also protecting the villagers."

"At that point, it won't just be a matter of these few buildings."

"Wow, this is prime real estate in the center of the village. Rebuilding it will cost a fortune."

"... However, Mist Village isn't short of money these days."

After a moment of reflection, Kou turned his gaze away from the ruins and towards the direction where Kisame had been knocked away by the Three-Tails. He formed a hand Hand Seals and created a Shadow Clone, which sped off towards the cluster of high-rise buildings.

The original body stood alone amidst the ruins of the two buildings that once stood alongside the Mizukage and its Mizukage Aide, remaining silent for a long time.

It's unclear when exactly, but the Mizukage Building and the Mizukage Aide Building, these two tall buildings facing each other across the distance, have become the landmark buildings of this village, existing for a full nine years.

Nine years have passed, and this place has witnessed so much.

From his initial scene with Obito to his successful infiltration of the Reformist Faction faction under the identity of "Shiina Sora";

Through his Obito manipulations with Obito and his own genuine talent, he gradually secured his position as the leader of the Reformist Faction, winning the trust and support of everyone, including Mei Terumi.

Leading them through open and covert struggles against the "naturally evil Yagura brat," they transformed that barren "Village of the Bloody Mist" step by step into the prosperous and peaceful place it is today...

Nine years have passed.

"What a... unforgettable journey."

He gently placed his hand on his left chest, feeling the throbbing beneath the fabric, and murmured softly:

Even if all of this was built on lies and deception from the very beginning, I'm afraid I'll never forget it.

There was no dejection or guilt in his eyes, only a clear and relieved sense of peace that comes with the end of a long journey.

The Akatsuki has been defeated.

Obito is also dead.

Everything that had once suffocated him was gone.

Now, all he needs to do is retrieve Nagato's Rinnegan and use the Rinne Rebirth Technique to bring those who died unjustly back to the world of the living.

Then, they would take the resurrected Uchiha Clan to the Land of Rice, and try to change this shattered Ninja World...

His life, Uchiha Kuro's life, is about to enter a completely new phase.

"And Shiina Sora's life is almost... coming to an end."

He silently spoke to himself, suppressing all the bitterness and reluctance in his heart, and as always, revealed that gentle smile, turning to look behind him.

Mei Terumi and Kimimaro had already arrived before him.

"You are... Uchiha Kuro!!"

Mei Terumi looked at the black-haired young man who was giving her a gentle smile, her words full of surprise. She clearly hadn't expected to see this infamous guy again here, in this way.

She glanced at Yagura, who was lying unconscious beside her, then at Kotori's handsome face, and instantly understood everything. She coldly questioned him:

"The Three-Tails... was it you who released it?"

Before he could even open his mouth to answer, a white figure had already rapidly approached from his side.

In Kimimaro's palm, several white bone spurs, gleaming with a chilling light, had broken through the skin.

He bent slightly, holding the bone spur horizontally in front of him, ready to strike!

Looking at the white-haired youth before him, whose aura was already comparable to that of Benzi Doujin Rai, the smile on his lips not only did not diminish in the slightest, but instead became even more profound and gratified:

"Not bad, Kimimaro. It seems you've improved quite a bit during this time."

"With your current strength, you are undoubtedly the strongest fighter in Mist Village besides me and Mei Terumi."

I am proud of you.

Looking into Kimimaro's astonished eyes, he earnestly reminded him:

"However, while spiritual practice is important, one should still pay more attention to rest in daily life."

Although your bloodline disease has almost healed, you still need to take good care of yourself.

Otherwise, over the years, your body won't be able to handle it.

Kimimaro stared blankly at Kou, the bone spur in his palm instinctively retracting into his skin.

Although he was a complete stranger, his gentle smile and caring words felt strangely familiar.

I cannot be an enemy of this person, nor can I harbor even the slightest bit of hostility towards him.

It was as if the person standing in front of him at that moment was not a dangerous member of the Akatsuki, but... Lord Sora.

Almost instinctively, Kimimaro looked at Mei Terumi beside him with a bewildered gaze, trying to get even one instruction from her that would allow him to continue.

However, at this moment, Mei Terumi was staring blankly at Kotobuki in front of her, her eyes filled with the same deep daze as his.

In his few brief encounters with Uchiha Kuro, this man always maintained that carefree and extremely annoying demeanor.

He might be a reliable mercenary, a formidable enemy, but he would never be someone you could let your guard down and trust and rely on from the bottom of your heart.

But at this moment, the man standing in front of her, the slight curve of his lips as he spoke, the genuine satisfaction in his eyes when he looked at Kimimaro, all gave her an absurd yet inescapable sense of familiarity.

That feeling... exactly the same as "emptiness".

"How did the evacuation go? Everyone in Mist Village... should be alright, right?"

He looked up at Mei Terumi and asked softly.

"The evacuation operation went very smoothly; everyone is safe and sound, and no one was injured."

Mei Terumi reported to her superior almost subconsciously, but the next moment, she seemed to suddenly realize something, and her face immediately turned ugly.

"Really? That's good."

Listening to this answer that he already knew, he nodded slightly, gave Mei Terumi a thumbs up, and smiled, saying:

"You're as reliable as ever. Having you around really puts my mind at ease."

"Shut up!!!"

Mei Terumi suddenly took a step forward and roared at Koto, her emerald green eyes now filled with dense blood vessels.

"Where is Kong? You... what did you do to him?!"

"I've investigated your information. Besides controlling Tailed Beast, the Sharingan also has the ability to read other people's memories and obtain information!"

You've accessed empty memories and are imitating his way of speaking, haven't you?!

"What is your purpose in coming to Mist Village?"

She became increasingly agitated as she spoke, her reason almost completely consumed by her anger:

"Give me back the space...!!"

Looking at the unusually furious Mei Terumi before him, and then at the bewildered Kimimaro beside her, the smile on his lips gradually faded away.

He remained silent for a long while, and finally, with a deep, almost farewell-like look, he gave Mei Terumi one last look.

"Now that things have come to this, are you simply unwilling to believe it, or... simply unwilling to believe it?"

"Knowing me as you do, you should have already guessed it."

Mei Terumi did not answer, but her already pale face turned even paler upon hearing those words.

Kou sighed deeply and spoke slowly, as if he wanted to shatter the beautiful dream that he had built with his own hands over the past nine years!

"The Shiina Sora you all know never existed in the first place."

The knocking paused for a moment, and the gentleness in the voice finally faded away, leaving behind the last trace of warmth belonging to "Shiina Sora":

"From beginning to end, there has only been... Uchiha Kuro."