In the Land of Demons, Madara Uchiha was reviewing an endless pile of documents.
"Why did Menma suddenly come back to life again? And should I find a successor? This work feels like it'll never end no matter how much I do. Hashirama's living so carefree—why does thinking about it make me angrier?"
Madara Uchiha no longer possessed his former sharpness. He had begun to consider retirement and the matter of finding a successor, regretting agreeing so quickly in the first place.
With power centralized, there were still minor conflicts, but nothing like before. Moreover, as surveillance footage and other measures from the Land of Snow became widespread, crime rates had fallen considerably.
If Ōnoki, Raikage A, and the others had initially remained dissatisfied and resistant to this centralized governing system, then after witnessing the Shinobi World become a unified whole, they had become its defenders.
It was precisely because the situation had stabilized and improved that Madara Uchiha began considering a successor for the position of Chief Seat.
"Tobirama reported that Miroku from the Limited Tsukuyomi World is still the mastermind behind everything. But let Awen and the others deal with that."
At an experimental base within the Land of Rain, Menma's statement that there was still a mastermind behind it all made Awen's expression extremely colorful.
"Ziyi's mother... why..."
Awen stared at the ceiling, still unable to accept it.
"While I was in a soul state, I saw everything... and I know where she is hiding now!"
Menma remained as indifferent as ever.
"Where is she? I want to ask her why she did all this. She was the shrine maiden of the Land of Demons..." Awen asked. The respect he once held for Miroku had now become utter disgust, leaving him with a deep sense of betrayal.