Kazemori Masaki clicked his tongue softly. After all this time, the secret of the Totsuka Blade had turned out to be hidden in a country that appeared in one of the original series' movies. He truly had not expected that.
Come to think of it, the Land of Demons held considerable significance for Masaki. It was there that he had found surviving Ninshu texts, making an immense contribution to the Ninshu Revival Movement. He had also run into a bit of trouble there and killed Kakuzu early, though the man could otherwise have lived another twenty years.
That really was an important place, Masaki thought.
"Are you certain?"
"Certain. I've investigated it repeatedly." Kagami Uchiha nodded. "But subduing the Totsuka Blade requires someone with the Mangekyō Sharingan. I'm afraid I'll have to go myself."
"You should. With something this important, going yourself is the only way to ensure it's safe," Masaki said. He hesitated briefly, then made up his mind. "I'll go with you. I'd like to see what this legendary Kusanagi Sword actually looks like."
"You're going too?" Kagami looked startled. "Is that all right? You're the Hokage. If you just leave the village like that..."
"I can use a Shadow Clone. With my strength, maintaining a single clone for the duration of the trip shouldn't be much of a problem. And ordinarily, I won't encounter any danger in the village, so keeping the clone active shouldn't pose much trouble either," Masaki said.
As a ninjutsu that divided chakra evenly, the Shadow Clone technique reduced the original's strength once used. The original's condition also often affected the clones' continued existence. Naruto Uzumaki had left only two Shadow Clones to absorb natural energy because maintaining two clones for that purpose during an intense battle was already his limit.
Even Naruto,