After regrouping with Feng at the agreed location outside Konoha, Akira and his party returned to Taoyuan.
"Welcome back, pillars of the house~"
At the entrance of the hidden gate, Konan stood waiting—her mood visibly bright.
"I just remembered I left clothes out to dry… gotta go."
Obito vanished into his Kamui space without hesitation.
Madara thought:
…Coward. Running already? I was hoping to watch the drama.
"Then I'll go check on Xue'er."
He left too.
Feng scratched his head:
Mom's shoulder's been hurting… and my sister's useless with chores…
"I'll head home first!"
"Uncle, Aunt Konan, Grandpa Kakuzu!"
He ran off.
Now—
only three remained.
The contrast was striking.
Konan looked radiant.
Beside her—
Kakuzu wore the face of a man who had just lost everything.
He stepped forward.
"Shadow… control your women."
Akira blinked.
"…That statement is problematic."
"I only have one woman—Guang."
Kakuzu snapped:
"Fine—then control the women circling you all day!"
"Especially your good sister… and her!"
Akira glanced at Konan, who remained completely calm.
He's complaining to my face… he's really pushed to the edge.
"What did they do?"
Kakuzu exploded like a wronged housewife:
"Your sister dragged her followers into my temple—"
"REMOVED my God of Wealth statue—"
"AND replaced it with something else!!"
"And THIS woman—"
He pointed at Konan, shaking.
"Not only didn't stop her—she told everyone Amaterasu is the embodiment of your will!"
"A SUN GODDESS!"
"People are lining up to worship!!"
…Ah.
Now it made sense.
Akira asked calmly:
"…Anything else?"
Kakuzu trembled harder.
"AND THEN—!"
"TO CREATE 'DIVINE MIRACLES'—"
"SHE STARTED THROWING MONEY INTO THE STREETS!!!"
"SEVEN HUNDRED MILLION RYŌ IN ONE DAY!!!"
"…I see."
Akira finally understood.
Konan turned her amber gaze toward Kakuzu.
"Amaterasu is a core part of the Shikigami Plan."
"With Shizuka's rituals, it can be nurtured."
"But true establishment requires faith."
"You should know that."
Kakuzu roared:
"I DO!"
"BUT WE DIDN'T THROW MONEY BACK THEN!!"
Konan replied calmly:
"That's because those were lower-tier spirits."
"This one is higher."
"Big investment, big return."
Kakuzu nearly fainted.
"BULLSH*T!"
"If you're spending—SPEND RIGHT!"
"It's a SUN GODDESS!!"
"WHY ARE YOU THROWING MONEY!?"
"GIVE THEM SUNLIGHT!!"
"…Huh."
Konan paused.
For once—
she hadn't considered that.
But she recovered instantly.
"The people were very happy carrying sacks of money."
"They praised Lord Shadow."
"Isn't that better than sunlight?"
Kakuzu stomped.
"OF COURSE THEY'RE HAPPY!!"
"You replaced finance with religion!!"
"Who's going to worship the God of Wealth now!?"
Konan replied coolly:
"Then don't remove it."
"Just worship Amaterasu instead."
Kakuzu:
…I can't win.
I can't beat her.
I can't even argue.
Internally, he cursed:
If I were Shadow, I'd use Kotoamatsukami on you…
Send you to the red-light district… make profit…
…No, your kids would be spendthrifts too.
…Better sterilize first.
In reality—
he could only fantasize.
After all—
he was the one under Kotoamatsukami.
Akira stepped in.
"Kakuzu, I'll cover the 700 million from my own funds."
Kakuzu's eyes lit up instantly.
"…Really?"
"Well… that's acceptable."
"…But this can't happen every time!"
Translation:
Discipline her.
Akira nodded gently.
"Konan, be careful with large-scale currency release."
"It can cause inflation."
Konan tilted her head.
"I see."
"I don't fully understand, but I'll be mindful."
"…Fine."
Kakuzu finally calmed down.
Konan stepped closer to Akira.
"Sorry for the expense."
Akira whispered back:
"No problem. Pocket change."
"Don't mind Kakuzu."
Konan nodded.
"I won't."
"Why would I argue with a dead man?"
Then—
Akira remembered something.
"Konan, I have someone for you to handle."
He released Tenten from time freeze.
She regained awareness—
looked around—
then dropped to her knees in worship.
"Master!"
Konan's eyes flickered in surprise.
Strange…
Akira rarely establishes master-slave hierarchy with Kotoamatsukami.
Akira explained:
"She was captured in a battle that shouldn't have existed."
"To me—she's only half a person."
Kakuzu looked her up and down.
Eyes shining.
"…Has she been with a man?"
Tenten frowned.
"That's private. I only answer my master."
Akira:
"Answer him."
"…No."
"I've never married. Never been with a man."
Kakuzu's eyes gleamed like gold.
"Perfect."
"Send her to the pleasure district."
"She'll be a top earner."
Akira asked:
"Any objections?"
Tenten bowed:
"If it's your will, Master, I accept."
"But my first time—"
"I want to give it to you."
Konan:
…Kotoamatsukami is terrifying.
Akira turned to her.
"Your thoughts?"
Konan understood instantly.
This wasn't random.
Akira was letting her decide Tenten's fate.
She knelt on one knee.
"Lord Shadow… I have a request."
"Restore her."
"Make her… human again."
"Just this once."
"I won't interfere again."
Akira nodded.
"…Alright."
He summoned Gu Huo Bird—
activated enhanced Kotoamatsukami.
"ZZZT—"
"It's done."
"Tenten. You're human again."
She bowed deeply.
"Lord Akira."
"You're now a shinobi of An'yin."
"Assist Konan."
"Understood!"
Akira helped Konan up.
Inside—
her thoughts drifted.
Naruto…
You never fulfilled your promise.
But I still held onto that bond.
Today… I used it.
I paid once—for you.
From now on…
We walk separate paths.
"No regrets."
Behind them—
Kakuzu sighed bitterly.
"…What a waste of a money tree."
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