Words That Pierce the Heart

Yuhi Kurenai was worrying about how to withstand the aftermath of the explosion when Mirai's hand wrapped around her once more.

"Ah!"

Yuhi Kurenai let out a startled cry, clearly not expecting Mirai to suddenly do that.

"Wood Release—Absolute Defense!"

Wood burst from the ground, enveloping Mirai and Yuhi Kurenai.

The wood layered and coiled around them, forming a multilayered wooden defensive sphere.

This was a ninjutsu Mirai had come up with on a whim, inspired by Gaara.

"Mmm~"

Inside the wooden defensive sphere, Mirai deliberately controlled the space within, making himself and Yuhi Kurenai press completely against each other.

Taking advantage of the moment, Mirai directly kissed Yuhi Kurenai.

Crack...

The shockwave raged, slamming into the Four Violet Flames Formation.

The tremendous impact struck the Four Violet Flames Formation until it cracked.

Countless cracks spread across the barrier of the Four Violet Flames Formation.

"Quick, reinforce it with ninjutsu together!"

The Anbu ninja arrived and, seeing the Four Violet Flames Formation's barrier on the verge of collapse, split into four corners to help.

They injected their chakra into the bodies of the barrier's casters, and the previously tottering barrier immediately shone brightly.

The barrier that had been covered in cracks suddenly trembled, and the cracks began to mend.

In the end, when the explosion's shockwave had completely subsided, the Four Violet Flames Formation remained completely intact.

Within the barrier ninjutsu, smoke swirled.

Once everything had calmed down, everyone emerged from different places, covered in dust and dirt.

The most disheveled of them were Might Guy and Kakashi.

The three returned to their original spot. Seeing each other's appearance, they all gave bitter smiles of survival.

"Th-This is!"

Looking at the ruined wooden sphere, the bitter smile on Jiraiya's face changed once again into shock.

"Wood Release, like Yamato's!"

Kakashi frowned as he looked at the suddenly appearing Wood Release, thoroughly puzzled.

Clearly, even he had no idea where this Wood Release had come from.

Just as everyone stared at the wooden sphere formed by Wood Release in confusion, the wood on its surface began to move.

The wood trembled, then burrowed into the ground one piece after another.

Mirai and Yuhi Kurenai emerged from the wooden defensive sphere.

Seeing Yuhi Kurenai's flushed face and Mirai's smiling expression, everyone sensed something, but no one spoke.

Clearly, this was not something they were in a position to comment on.

"Was that Wood Release ninjutsu just now?"

"Where's the little panda? He should still be alive. Go check on him!"

Mirai did not answer Jiraiya. He simply took Yuhi Kurenai's hand and headed toward the barrier.

Jiraiya had wanted to question him further, but Mirai was already gone, so he could only head toward where Shukaku had been earlier.

After all, Shukaku's jinchuriki was still there.

If Shukaku went berserk again later, it would be another disaster.

"Mirai! How did it go?"

The moment Mirai pulled Yuhi Kurenai out of the barrier, he saw Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"It's all taken care of. I'm heading back first!"

Mirai took Yuhi Kurenai's hand and prepared to leave.

Seeing the way Mirai and Yuhi Kurenai looked, how could the worldly-wise Hiruzen Sarutobi fail to notice something was amiss?

His heart immediately sank as he angrily cursed his foolish son, Asuma.

The girlfriend he had pursued for so many years without winning over had been taken by Mirai just like that.

What had he even been doing all these years?

Though his heart felt cold, he could not say anything.

After all, this was a matter for the young people themselves. They had to resolve it on their own.

He turned away wistfully and walked toward the barrier.

After that, everything ended happily.

Gaara woke up, and the tailed beast within him was suppressed.

Amid the turmoil, the village had secured victory.

And Mirai's performance throughout the unrest had been witnessed by everyone, civilians and ninja alike.

Without realizing it, he had already become Konoha's hero.

Of course, Mirai knew nothing of this.

What Mirai knew even less was that, through this upheaval, Hiruzen Sarutobi had suddenly felt that he had grown old.

After handling all the matters at hand, he summoned Konoha's advisors, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, along with several high-ranking Konoha officials, to the Hokage's office.

Inside the office, Hiruzen Sarutobi made a startling decision.

He intended to pass the position of Hokage on to Uchiha Mirai.

As soon as this decision was announced, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane were the first to strongly oppose it.

Yet Hiruzen Sarutobi, as the Hokage, forcibly finalized the decision and did not permit the two of them to object.

Perhaps Hiruzen Sarutobi wavered when it came to certain matters.

But once he made up his mind about something, it was not easily changed.

And this was being carried out in secret.

Other than the upper ranks of Konoha, no one knew of this decision, including Danzo Shimura.

As for Mirai, he was striking while the iron was hot, pulling the still-dazed Yuhi Kurenai back to his home.

Then, with his half-pushing, half-coaxing, they began their first-ever flight of their lives.

(PS: It's not convenient to explain what "flying" means. You all know what it is.)

By the time Yuhi Kurenai came to her senses, the two had already begun another round of flying.

"Mirai, the Hokage wants you in the Hokage's office!"

After receiving the Hokage's orders, the purple-haired Anbu ninja Yugao Uzuki arrived outside Mirai's door.

Naturally, she knew what was happening inside, so she did not dare knock, much less call out.

With no other choice, she could only stand outside and listen to the sounds within until everything inside had completely quieted down before speaking.

With a creak, Mirai walked out.

Looking cheerfully at the blushing Yugao Uzuki, he teased, "Sorry to keep you waiting!"

Yugao Uzuki's face reddened even more. That bastard was doing it on purpose.

He knew I was outside, yet he still...

Though she knew, she would never admit it directly. Instead, she said, "I just got here too!"

"Oh?" Mirai gave her an amused look, then shut the door and left.

Yugao Uzuki gritted her teeth and followed after him.

The two headed toward the Hokage's office at an unhurried pace.

As soon as they arrived beneath the Hokage Building, Mirai spotted Shikamaru walking out, and Shikamaru spotted him as well.

"Mirai, what brings you to the Hokage Building?"

Seeing Shikamaru's puzzled expression, Mirai chuckled and casually said, "The Hokage called for me!"

"The Hokage called for you?"

Shikamaru became even more confused and asked, "What does the Hokage suddenly want with you? Don't tell me it's for a promotion?"

Mirai shrugged, patted Shikamaru on the shoulder, and said earnestly, "Maybe he wants me to become Hokage!"

Shikamaru froze. By the time he came back to his senses, Mirai had already entered the Hokage Building.

"This... that's not the kind of joke you make!"

Clearly, he had taken Mirai's words as a joke.

But he did not care much. In his view, Mirai probably did not know why he had been summoned to the Hokage Building either.

Just as Shikamaru was about to leave, someone happened to walk out of the Hokage Building—his father, Shikaku Nara.