After landing—
What greeted Jigen was not the orderly village beneath the Hokage Rock.
But ruins.
A vast construction site spread across what used to be Konoha.
Heavy vehicles bearing the Denki Corporation logo rumbled along newly cleared roads, transporting steel and building materials.
Since developing the Lightning Train, Denki Company had expanded rapidly—branching into multiple industries with advanced engineering technology. Now, under approval from the Fire Daimyō, Enjiro City, reconstruction of Konoha had been entrusted to its president, Denki Ban.
A former Konoha ninja turned business magnate—
A legend in his own right.
But none of that mattered to Jigen.
He simply walked forward.
—
Workers in helmets and uniforms moved busily across the site.
Jigen stopped briefly before a newly paved road marked "No Entry."
Then casually stepped off it—
Continuing along an unfinished dirt path.
Looking around.
"…Did I come to the wrong place?"
"The spatial coordinates are correct."
"So… Konoha has fallen this far."
—
Not far ahead—
A construction truck was unloading steel beams.
Suddenly—
"CLANG!"
The cable snapped.
Steel beams scattered chaotically.
One massive beam hurtled straight toward a worker.
"AAAAAH!!"
The man collapsed in terror.
Frozen.
Waiting for death.
—
A hand reached out.
"THUD!"
Jigen caught the beam mid-air.
Effortlessly.
The other end slammed into the ground, cracking the earth.
The worker opened his eyes—
Shaking.
"…Y-you…"
Jigen gently set the beam aside.
"Are you hurt?"
"N-no… I'm fine… just… just scared…"
The worker grabbed his hand, nearly in tears.
"You saved my life!"
"I've got a family… I can't die here…"
"How can I ever repay you?!"
Jigen smiled faintly.
"No need."
"Just a small favor."
"…May I ask you something?"
"Of course! Anything!"
Jigen asked calmly:
"Was Konoha originally here?"
"Yes! This is Konoha!"
"…But it was destroyed."
"Attacked… wiped out…"
"Do you know by whom?"
The worker shook his head.
"No idea."
"We're just civilians."
"We don't care about ninja wars… just our jobs."
"I see."
"Then—where are the Konoha shinobi now?"
The worker hesitated.
Then looked him up and down.
"…Who are you?"
Jigen answered smoothly:
"A monk from a nearby temple."
"A relative's child was staying here."
"I came to take him back."
"…I see."
The worker glanced around—
Then leaned in.
Lowering his voice.
"Thirty kilometers north."
"Mount Sunview."
"The orphanage there."
"That's where they're hiding."
"…Don't tell anyone."
Jigen inclined his head.
"Understood."
Then added gently:
"Be careful next time."
"You're someone's pillar of support."
"…Take care of yourself."
"…Thank you… truly…"
The worker watched him leave—
Eyes slightly wet.
Such a good person…
—
The noise of construction faded.
Jigen rose into the air.
Turning back—
Looking down at the ruins.
His eyes darkened.
"…To reduce Konoha to this…"
"…Uchiha Akira."
"…You're more interesting than I thought."
He already knew—
Akira had come here.
Koji and Delta had been forced to retreat because of him.
But now—
Seeing it with his own eyes—
A question surfaced.
—
Koji said they clashed briefly.
Yet said nothing afterward.
Amado showed us that footage…
And Koji remained silent.
—
Why?
Did he not know?
Or… did he choose not to say?
—
That mattered.
Because—
Too many things didn't add up.
Kawaki's escape.
The airship incident.
Everything—
Felt… orchestrated.
—
Jigen's gaze shifted northward.
Toward the mountains.
"…An orphanage."
"…How fitting."
His smile was faint.
Cold.
"By the end of today…"
"There will be many more orphans in this world."
And then—
He vanished into the night.
The calamity—
Was moving closer.
Enjoyed these chapters? Access advanced chapters and exclusive content by visiting my Patreon. https://patreon.com/WillOFD129?