Now, the chakra of the One-Tail through the Eight-Tails was already in Shigure's grasp.
At the same time, he possessed a portion of Tailed Beast chakra within his body—chakra that, when combined, essentially belonged to the Ten-Tails.
But that still wasn't enough.
With the Rinnegan awakened, Shigure could summon the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path at any time.
Since he already possessed such favorable conditions…
Why not resurrect the true Ten-Tails?
If he could fully revive the Ten-Tails, control it, and become its jinchūriki, then in a twisted sense, he would be solving the ninja world's greatest problem.
Without the other Tailed Beasts scattered across the nations—without these "walking weapons"—there would be nothing left to fight over.
Only the Ten-Tails would remain.
Shigure's logic was simple.
If all the "nuclear weapons" disappeared, war would lose its foundation.
And if he became the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki, his third ability—currently incomplete—might finally be perfected.
Everything required power.
Absolute power.
"Mizukage-sama!"
After finishing his discussion with Sasuke, who had gone to prepare for departure, Shigure returned to the Mizukage's office.
From the window, he looked out over the restored Kirigakure.
The village no longer bore the scars of chaos. Mist drifted peacefully between the buildings.
Outside the Mizukage Building, many villagers had gathered. Some came to express gratitude for resurrected family members. Others thanked him for saving their wives and children.
In their eyes, Shigure was no longer merely the Mizukage.
He was their savior.
A knock sounded at the door.
Hisashi entered.
Shigure turned slightly. "Well? What news?"
Hisashi nodded.
"Konoha has responded. They welcome Mizukage-sama's visit and have agreed to your request. The meeting location has been set at the Valley of the End, outside Konoha."
Shigure gave a small nod.
"Good."
"Then begin preparations."
Hisashi hesitated.
"Mizukage-sama… are you really bringing all Seven Ninja Swordsmen this time?"
He clearly feared a repeat of the previous assault on the village.
Shigure smiled faintly.
"Relax. No one dares to attack Kirigakure now."
"And even if they did, I could return immediately."
"Besides," he continued, "the Sealing Team has mastered the Barrier Guard Technique, correct?"
Hisashi nodded.
"Yes. After the Uzumaki clan survivors joined the Sealing Team, the barrier formation has been fully completed."
"It can now be maintained for at least three hours."
Three hours.
More than enough.
With the barrier in place, Kirigakure would be temporarily secured.
The Barrier Guard Technique—refined through Shigure's own deductions and enhanced with his unique abilities—possessed astonishing defensive power.
For the first time, he could leave the village without worrying about his rear.
"Then prepare for departure," Shigure said.
Hisashi bowed and withdrew.
Before the door fully closed, it opened again.
Terumī Mei stepped inside.
"Shigure… are you really not going to return the Tailed Beasts?"
Shigure nodded without hesitation.
"Correct. Why would I?"
"I seized them from the Akatsuki. They are mine."
Terumī frowned slightly.
"But won't this provoke another great ninja war?"
Shigure stepped closer, lifting her chin lightly with his fingers.
"Don't worry."
"Even if a war begins… Kirigakure will be the one standing at the end."
"How is your compatibility with Gyūki?"
At this, Mei's expression steadied.
"No problem. The Eight-Tails is very cooperative. There's no sign of resistance."
Of course there wasn't.
Gyūki had already been integrated into Shigure's power hierarchy.
Resistance was meaningless.
That's right—
Terumī Mei was now the jinchūriki of the Eight-Tails.
As the most capable and balanced shinobi in the village, she was the natural choice.
As for the Two-Tails—
It had been entrusted to a young kunoichi with the Scorch Release kekkei genkai.
Her name was Akatani Kuren.
Only fifteen years old, with striking red hair.
Though her Scorch Release talent was not extraordinary, her control over Fire Release was exceptional.
Under Shigure's selection, she became the jinchūriki of the Two-Tails.
And her compatibility…
Was progressing smoothly.
As for the final jinchūriki candidate, Shigure did not deliberately create a clan with Magnet Release through his "food chain" ability.
Instead, he chose a shinobi from Kirigakure who possessed exceptional chakra control.
A thirty-five-year-old veteran ninja.
Through Shigure's influence, the man had inherited advanced puppet techniques. Combined with Magnet Release, the result would be formidable battlefield control.
Thus, he became the jinchūriki of the One-Tail.
Puppetry plus Magnet Release—
A terrifying combination.
The current jinchūriki lineup of Kirigakure was as follows:
One-Tail — Rasa
Two-Tails — Akatani Ruri
Three-Tails — Yuki Haku
Four-Tails — Akayama Hiroshi
Five-Tails — Han
Six-Tails — Yuki Yūgao
Seven-Tails — Kōgetsu Kage
Eight-Tails — Terumī Mei
Eight jinchūriki.
Eight strategic weapons.
Shigure looked forward to the day when they fully synchronized with their respective Tailed Beasts. When that time came, Kirigakure would establish its own Tailed Beast Corps.
An organization comparable to the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
Kirigakure was growing stronger by the day.
Soon, Shigure would no longer need to personally handle every matter. Even diplomatic visits could be delegated to clan heads of kekkei genkai families.
After all, under his leadership, every clan patriarch had already reached elite jōnin level—and some were brushing against Kage-tier strength.
That was precisely why his personal visit to Konoha caused such a stir.
No village would casually host the Mizukage in person.
Especially not this Mizukage.
This time, Shigure would not only bring the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
He would also bring the Ninja Swordsmen Reserve Corps—fifty elite Mist shinobi.
Enough to apply pressure.
Enough to demonstrate strength.
But not enough to signal open war.
After all, he wasn't bringing the jinchūriki.
If he truly intended to destroy Konoha, the battlefield would look very different.
Now, everyone in the ninja world knew—
Shigure controlled eight Tailed Beasts.
He was no longer merely the Mizukage.
He was the most heavyweight figure in the entire shinobi world.
If he was going to Konoha, there would naturally be proper ceremony.
Meanwhile, Sasuke contacted Team Taka and instructed Suigetsu and the others to head toward Konoha in advance.
They would arrive in three days.
The delay was intentional.
Konoha needed time to prepare the meeting site.
And Shigure needed time as well.
He coordinated with the Great Sage, refining calculations and deriving new techniques in conjunction with his evolving abilities.
If he was going to meet Konoha's elite—
He might as well leave them speechless.
Danzō was dead, but many in Konoha had silently condoned past actions.
Shigure had no intention of letting them remain comfortable.
Konoha.
After listening to Kakashi's report, Naruto froze.
"Shigure is coming to Konoha?"
"What is he doing here at a time like this?"
Kakashi exhaled slowly.
"There are two possibilities."
"First—Shigure controls eight Tailed Beasts. The only one he doesn't possess… is the Nine-Tails."
Naruto's hand instinctively tightened.
"And the second?" he asked.
Kakashi's gaze turned serious.
"Shigure may be coming for something else."
"The title of the strongest ninja village."
"He may want Konoha's acknowledgment—recognition that Kirigakure now stands above all others."
"To become the new hegemon of the ninja world."
Whether it was for Kurama…
Or for supremacy…
Naruto found he didn't truly care about either.
Only one thought occupied his mind.
Shigure had resurrected the First Hokage through Impure World Reincarnation.
If that was possible—
Could he…
Bring back his parents as well?
(End of Chapter)
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