Akatsuki Will Send a Congratulatory Gift to Uchiha Mirai

The Sarutobi Clan Compound.

Beside a hospital bed in a certain mansion, Utatane Koharu clutches the hand of the unconscious Sarutobi Hiruzen, her eyes red-rimmed.

Since falling into a coma during the Hokage election, Sarutobi Hiruzen has not regained consciousness.

They tried various methods, but Sarutobi Hiruzen still showed no signs of waking up.

Like a piece of dry, rotten wood, slowly decaying on the hospital bed.

"Hiruzen..."

Utatane Koharu, spoke in a hoarse voice.

She couldn't imagine what state their lineage would be in if Hiruzen were to leave as well.

Suddenly, Sarutobi Hiruzen's fingers trembled slightly.

Utatane Koharu, thinking it was just her imagination.

But the finger twitched again, this time with a greater movement.

"Hiruzen! Hiruzen! Are you awake?"

Utatane Koharu.

Sarutobi Hiruzen his eyelids, his cloudy, dim eyes unable to move, scanning his surroundings.

Where am I?

"Great! Hiruzen, you're finally awake!"

Utatane Koharu.

"This is Sarutobi Clan Compound. It's been three days already. I almost thought you wouldn't wake up."

"Three days!?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen his breath, immediately grabbed Utatane Koharu's arm, and stared intently into her eyes.

"Where is Tenzō? Where is Tenzō located?"

Utatane Koharu new room, had a somewhat complicated expression.

"Don't worry, Tenzō is fine. Uchiha Mirai just knocked away; he's alright and is currently recuperating."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression relaxed.

"That's good, that's good..."

"Tenzō, like the First, possesses Wood Release. As long as he's alright, perhaps he can..."

The sound stopped abruptly, and the light in Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes dimmed instantly.

Could they possibly defeat Uchiha Mirai?

Oh...

On the day of the Hokage election, Uchiha Mirai had already proven with his strength that Tenzō's Wood Release was nothing to him.

During the days he was in a coma, the image of Uchiha Mirai using a single finger to block Tenzō's Wood Release kept replaying in his mind like a nightmare.

Was his last hope so fragile in the face of Uchiha Mirai?

Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes were ashen, the last spark of hope in his heart extinguished.

Utatane Koharu looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen's haggard appearance with a hint of heartache in her eyes.

"Koharu..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke in a hoarse voice.

"I am here."

Give up.

"What?"

Utatane Koharu, was taken aback.

I said, let's give up!

"Why?"

Utatane Koharu, asked, puzzled.

"I just don't want to make any more pointless sacrifices..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed.

"He's too strong, just like Lord Hashirama back then. No, in some ways, he's even better than Hashirama and Madara were back then."

A long silence fell over the room.

Utatane Koharu, had her head down, seemingly lost in thought.

"Help me up, I want to go for a walk."

Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly spoke.

Tomb of the Shimura Clan.

A desolate cemetery, overgrown with tangled weeds, with hardly any place to step.

A familiar black-and-white photograph was pasted on the tombstone, the face solemn yet with a hint of a smile.

After Danzo that night, the Shimura Clan members went to great lengths to find a few hairs in the ravine.

Out of respect for the deceased, this tombstone was erected for Danzo.

No one has come here for a long time, and the grass on the grave is almost two meters high.

Sarutobi Hiruzen sat in front of the tombstone, clutching a bottle of sake. He gulped down a mouthful of sake, his eyes filled with sorrow.

"Danzo, I'm afraid I'll never be able to avenge you in this lifetime."

"You probably don't know this from down there, Uchiha Mirai has already become Hokage."

The black and white Danzo on the tombstone still bears that same faint smile.

"I know you're angry, but don't be angry yet."

"I've tried so hard to stop him, but you know, he's too strong."

"He killed you with just one move."

Glug!

Perhaps because he was talking about something sad, Sarutobi Hiruzen tilted his head back and downed several mouthfuls of strong liquor.

Danzo in the photo still has that same smiling expression.

"Tenzō was also defeated, in just one move. But he possesses Wood Release!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked puzzled, with a hint of indignation.

Why is Hashirama Senju's Wood Release so powerful?

Is Tenzō just a pile of shit?

"Danzo, was Tenzō truly your final gift? I found him at the Root Base, and I always held onto him as my last hope, but in the end..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen seemed to remember something.

"Oh, right, I forgot to tell you, I've already absorbed the Root. You shouldn't mind down there, right?"

Danzo:...

"Glug glug! Cough cough! Cough..."

After pouring out his sorrows, Sarutobi Hiruzen his head back and downed several more mouthfuls of strong liquor. This time he drank very quickly and choked, coughing violently.

Sarutobi Hiruzen wiped his lips and stared blankly into the distance at the cemetery.

The sun was setting over there, its rays painting the horizon a vibrant orange-red.

He gazed at the setting sun, his eyes appearing like glass in the scorching afterglow.

Suddenly, he let out a sneer.

"My era is over, how far can you go?"

In the dark and damp cave, a hideous Demonic Statue of the Outer Path spread its palms, with several illusory figures in Akatsuki cloak standing on its fingertips.

Deva Path Pain's Rinnegan, like ripples, exuded a faint pressure as he surveyed his surroundings.

"Uchiha Mirai has become Hokage, he poses an even greater threat to us."

Orochimaru's golden vertical pupils held a faint smile as he licked his lips with his long, thin tongue.

"I'd like to test the new Hokage's abilities."

He had been coveting Uchiha Mirai's body for a long time.

The Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan, plus that unknown Godzilla behemoth.

This body was practically tailor-made for him.

Perfect!

"Hey! Orochimaru, don't cut in line! The boss has already handed that guy over to me to deal with!"

Hidan shouted loudly, rolled up his sleeves, and looked ready to fight at the slightest provocation.

Orochimaru smiled without saying a word.

The voice of Deva Path Pain, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, was deep and resonant.

"Now that Uchiha Mirai Hokage, our Akatsuki naturally wants to send him a congratulatory gift."

"Hidan, I'm leaving this to you. Your abilities are a perfect counter to Uchiha Mirai. Don't let me down."

Deva Path Pain's Rinnegan were fixed on Hidan.

"Don't worry, Chief!"

Hidan's eyes were filled with fervor, as if he could no longer contain himself.

If only Uchiha Mirai and the Godzilla within him could be sacrificed.

The Jashin will be very satisfied!

"Very good, this time let the Akatsuki's oppression spread throughout the Ninja World."

Deva Path Pain's eyes held a faint smile.