"I thought you might plead for Obito, but this time you did well."
Hyuga Mirai said to Kushina with a smile. He could tell she had no intention of pleading for Obito, and he was pleased with her stance.
"I'm not an idiot. I know who really matters to me," Kushina muttered. She could feel Naruto's disdain for Obito, and considering that Obito had nearly killed her, pleading for him would have made her an outcast. Who would do something so foolish?
Hyuga Mirai nodded, then, noticing Kushina seemed to have some free time lately, added, "It seems you've gotten smarter, but your lazy streak hasn't changed. Soon, the Trade Association and other major cities will be implementing barriers."
"Ha! I just remembered something I need to handle. Goodbye!"
Sensing a slight warning, Kushina quickly used a Body Flicker Technique and left.
Hyuga Mirai shook his head, letting it go. As for the barrier sealing, he had better personnel ready for it.
After returning home and having a meal with Ayaka Uzumaki, complimenting her cooking, Hyuga Mirai maintained the balance between work and life.
He then went to the laboratory, formed the seals, and summoned all of Obito Uchiha's prepared Edo Tensei.
Bang, bang, bang.
Twenty-two coffins rose in the lab at once. Inside were famous strong shinobi from various villages—former Kage excluding Konoha, Jinchuriki, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, and others.
"Byakugan? From the Hyuga clan? What's going on? Last time, it controlled that masked person…"
"Dead? But the Edo Tensei binding remains. Tch, this technique invented by the Second Hokage is cruel—it denies even the dead their rest."
"Damn… wonder how the village… Bong… and my brother are doing now…"
Once restored to consciousness, Edo Tensei bodies couldn't control their tongues. The technique's main flaw was this link between mind and speech. Before refining it, Hyuga Mirai had wished to gag them all.
"Everyone, I have a question that determines whether you can free yourselves from Edo Tensei and return to the afterlife: who among you is skilled in sealing techniques?"
He asked firmly. All the Edo Tensei looked at him, but no one answered. After a pause, he continued, "If none of you answer, prepare to mine until the end of the world. Forget about undoing Edo Tensei."
A while later, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Killer B, raised his hand in a strange rap-like voice. "I know a bit~ yo!"
"Good. I promise you: if you assist the Federation for up to three years, your Edo Tensei will be lifted. During that time, you can hold concerts or release albums—the Federation will accommodate you, as long as you work sincerely."
Hyuga Mirai smiled at Killer B, offering the Federation's terms. Edo Tensei skilled in sealing could, in three years, establish city barriers in all major Federation cities. Music projects were trivial in comparison.
Turning to the others who remained stubborn, his tone cooled. "As for you, prepare to mine until all White Zetsu are gone."
These individuals had been high-ranking shinobi in life—Kage or elite Jounin—and their pride was enormous. But before Hyuga Mirai, even the proudest could be subdued.
The Second Tsuchikage's Dust Release was ideal for mining and downtime. The Second and Third Raikage's physiques meant they could clear an entire mine in five years without sleep; even cave collapses posed no issue. Stubborn Edo Tensei had no rights.
Other Edo Tensei were assigned tasks based on their former abilities. Unlike Killer B, they could not return to peace until White Zetsu was gone. Some were even death-row criminals.
All remaining Edo Tensei, except Killer B, were sealed back into coffins for transport in a few days.
"I'll arrange your path. Endure three years, and you'll be free. Afterward, whether you stay or return to the afterlife is your choice."
Hyuga Mirai then gave Killer B a new appearance and had him escorted away.
"Next… White Zetsu."
Hyuga Mirai extracted some power from the Gedo Statue. Hidden White Zetsu quickly sensed it. Most White Zetsu clones were flawed products of the Gedo Statue, familiar with its power. Though imperfect, they were under the original White Zetsu's control, with chakra, fusion, and sealing capabilities.
Used well, this force was more useful than captives. With the Gedo Statue and six Tailed Beasts' chakra, Hyuga Mirai could produce a massive White Zetsu army.
Soon, he saw a White Zetsu poke its head from underground. Spotting him, it quickly retreated, intending to escape.
But the ground around it instantly turned as hard as steel, propelling it upward.
Ryūchi Cave's Sage Technique: Inorganic Rebirth.
With his power, Hyuga Mirai could control the terrain for tens of kilometers, making it like an extension of his own body.
"Madara and Obito are dead. Bring your original and that Venus Flytrap here. From now on, all White Zetsu obey me."
The clone acknowledged, then went underground to deliver the message.
With Madara and Obito out of the picture and Akatsuki gone, White Zetsu had no choice but to submit to Hyuga Mirai.
Once allied, it could lead the Clones to capture the remaining shinobi coalition. However, Federation civil staff remained limited, and there were still captives.
Hyuga Mirai checked 18's schedule; his wedding was first, ready when the time came. Ayaka's initiative was increasing—rebuilding the Uzumaki Clan required population.
Other priorities: unifying the shinobi world and locating the Ten-Tails held by Jigen. The former required White Zetsu's cooperation to gather remaining coalition forces; the latter awaited reconnaissance from White Zetsu.
Staff shortages were notable: within a year, the Land of Fire, Land of Water, and Land of Rain joined the Federation. Schools graduated yearly, but civil training took three years before local assignments. Until then, ninja were converted into clerks.
Corruption was minimal with 18; with networked computers, anyone could report misconduct directly, prompting investigation. The reporting software was mandatory on Uzumaki Trade Association devices.
Federation mines faced another hard day of labor. Captured shinobi were gradually accustomed to work, but their desire for freedom grew stronger.
Meanwhile, Raikage A stood with Darui, preparing to contact Hiruzen Sarutobi and Onoki. Though the appointment time came, the person had not appeared.
"Lord Raikage, it's the fourth day; no Akatsuki members have come. Could something have happened?" Darui whispered.
A tense pause followed, and Raikage A responded, "Perhaps delayed. Are there updates on the Mizukage?"
"More Mist ninja went down tonight; I've asked a Konoha ninja to relay a message. Tomorrow, we should receive the Mizukage's communication."
Raikage A nodded with a grim expression. "Good. This is our only chance. Whatever the odds, we cannot let it slip."
As they proceeded, they noticed something unusual: the path was blocked, many gathered in the square, and mine guards surrounded them.
"Lord Raikage, something seems off," Darui warned quietly; Raikage A nodded.
Normally, miners worked in divided teams, but today everyone had been called together.
More people gathered in the square, capable of holding a large crowd.
"Since everyone is here, I'll make an announcement."
The mine overseer climbed the podium, using a loudspeaker. Four groups of a thousand each formed below, with Raikage, Tsuchikage, Mizukage, and Hiruzen at the center.
"Due to some individuals' continued misconduct, under collective punishment, ninja miners from the Hidden Cloud, Hidden Stone, and Konoha will have their sentences extended by five years!"
The unaware ninja below erupted in anger and shock.
(End of chapter)
=========================================================
DROP THEM POWER STONES PLEASE
SUPPORT ME ON P@TREON IF YOU'D LIKE ACCESS ON ADVANCED CHAPTERS, I HAVE FINISHED ALL THE CHAPTERS AND UPLOADED THEM THERE.
PAT REON . COM / TurdTranslations (Just remove the space).