"Mirai? What's wrong? You look troubled."
"Lord Hokage." Mirai sat down across from him. The title sounded respectful, but his tone was calm. "Madara Uchiha is still alive."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nearly dropped his pipe.
"What did you say?"
"Madara Uchiha is still alive," Mirai repeated. "He's hiding in the Mountain Graveyard near Takigakure, using the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to keep himself alive. I fought him, but he got away."
Hiruzen's mouth opened. It took him a long moment to close it.
He slowly set his pipe on the desk and tapped the surface twice. Shock gave way to a grave expression.
"You fought him... and won?"
"He ran in the end, so I'd call it half a win." Mirai shrugged.
Hiruzen fell silent for several seconds, then drew a deep breath. "Have you considered the consequences of this?"
"I have," Mirai said evenly. "The people of Takigakure saw the whole fight. Two giants hundreds of meters tall fought beside their village. Farmland was torn up, forests burned, and the villagers thought the world was ending.
"The Nine-Tails is easy to recognize. Everyone will know I was involved. I'd expect a diplomatic message in a few days."
Hiruzen rubbed his temples. "I knew it. Every time you go somewhere, I end up writing another stack of reports to clean up afterward."
"It doesn't matter. At most, they'll dare to ask whether it really happened. I doubt they'll say another word."
"That's true." Hiruzen sighed. Ever since he had transferred the Nine-Tails to Mirai Uzumaki, he had felt his responsibilities mounting—and slipping further out of his control.
Hiruzen waved a hand, letting the matter drop. "Fine. I'll handle this. Go take care of your own business."
Mirai stood. At the door, he paused. "Oh, and Lord Hokage."
"What now?"