[In a quiet corner of the corridor, Kagura stood alone. The night breeze stirred his blue hair, but it could not dispel the chill and turmoil in his heart.]
[He slowly lowered his head. His hands clenched of their own accord, his nails digging deep into his palms, yet he felt no pain.]
[That scar and Shizumi's words bound him like heavy chains.]
[Which path was he supposed to take? Should he protect the peace Kirigakure had now, or was he unable to escape the dark "destiny" in his blood?]
The Canopy Screen's vision ended there.
With the vision over, the air in the Mizukage Office felt heavier than ever.
Mei Terumi had watched the future Ao, battered and broken, face Myotismon's offer to restore his body. When he chose to stand with Kirigakure without a moment's hesitation, her tightly pressed lips finally relaxed, even curving into a smile of approval.
"Ao," she said gently, looking at her subordinate's weathered but resolute face, "that's just like you. No matter how desperate things get, your first choice is always to remain loyal to the village."
"That strength of character truly makes you worthy of being called a Kirigakure elder. You set the best possible example for the younger generation."
Ao lowered his head slightly. Relief flashed through his one eye, and the tension in him quietly eased.
The future revealed by the Canopy Screen was full of unknowns. What he had feared most was seeing his future self make a disastrous choice that harmed Kirigakure or betrayed his convictions.
Now, at least on the question that mattered most, his future self had disappointed neither him nor the Mizukage standing before him.
His expression remained stern as he replied in a low voice, "Protecting Kirigakure is my duty."
Mei nodded with satisfaction,