Next Bonus, 100PS!!
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Inside Mount Myōboku, White Zetsu, the mountain's frogs, and the upper ranks all gathered to celebrate the Shinobi world's hundredth anniversary.
"Warmly Celebrating the Shinobi World's 100th Anniversary!!!"
A banner waved above the crowd.
White Zetsu and the toads of Myōboku gathered together. Black Zetsu sat quietly by a stone bench. Fukasaku and Shima stood side by side, and the old Gamamaru crouched on a raised platform. The festive mood touched everyone, and the whole sacred mountain felt full of celebration.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Sharp sounds resounded through the air. Hundreds of lights shot up from every open space in Mount Myōboku, each wrapped in golden-red trails as they soared into the clouds like cranes taking flight.
Thick trails of fire crossed the sky, forming a glowing band above. Moments later, countless sparks burst high overhead.
Fireworks bloomed in every direction.
"Gamamaru, these new fireworks of yours are incredible," Black Zetsu said, looking up at the brilliant sky with genuine admiration.
Gamamaru, hunched with age, had white brows and whiskers hanging to his shoulders. His round eyes showed a gentle smile. "Just something I made to pass the time. If it makes today livelier, that's enough."
Fukasaku and Shima held hands and watched the fireworks burst across the sky.
"It really went by fast," Shima murmured. "In the blink of an eye, the Shinobi world has reached its hundredth year."
Fukasaku shrugged and watched the sparks fade. His voice sounded older. "Doesn't feel like much to me. I'm more surprised that Ninshū's collapse was already a full hundred years ago…"
"True. A hundred years is more than enough to change everything," Black Zetsu said with a quiet sigh.
When he only guarded graves on Mount Myōboku, the years felt slow and quiet. Now, as he sorted and recorded Shinobi history, he realized how much had changed in a century. The past was already sealed away.
..............
Laughter and fireworks filled Mount Myōboku.
Only in the rear mountain's great hall did Manji stand alone.
With his hands behind his back, he stood alone in the hall, watching the fireworks through the open doors. A cold stillness surrounded him, setting him apart from the noise outside.
He chose not to join the celebration. As he grew older, he enjoyed noise and crowds less and less.
Besides, none of those outside were his peers. If White-Brow, the White Snake, the Monkey King, Kaguya, Hagoromo, or the others from long ago were still alive, maybe he would have joined them.
"The Shinobi world's hundredth year…" Manji spoke softly, his voice faint as drifting clouds over the mountain.
To him, a hundred years passed in a flash. He had lived for centuries, so a mortal anniversary like this meant little to him.
The world below Mount Myōboku was very different.
The mortal world was trapped in endless war.
Warlords built up private armies. Small countries fought constantly. Samurai killed each other for land and resources. Refugees lost their homes, and bodies lined the roads. The chaos was as brutal as any warlord era Manji remembered. Ordinary people struggled through war, each day feeling endless.
While the world below suffered, Mount Myōboku celebrated.
But there was one bit of good news.
The Uchiha and Senju were leaving each other alone.
If those two clans joined the chaos too, their world-shattering ninjutsu would plunge the Shinobi world into total devastation with no room left for recovery.
The great war Uchiha Kitsune had launched years ago had inflicted catastrophic losses on both the Uchiha and Senju.
Those wounds ran deep in both clans, so neither wanted to start another war easily.
..............
Mount Myōboku. Historical Records Hall.
Bamboo slips and scrolls piled high. The smell of ink blended with the faint scent of sacred wood.
Black Zetsu held a wolf-hair brush and wrote neatly on the yellowed scroll. The ink spread smoothly as he recorded the major events of the Shinobi Calendar.
"Shinobi Year 100: Uchiha Kitsune dies."
"Shinobi Year 115: The shinobi clans remain locked in constant conflict, but the Senju and Uchiha have no war."
"Shinobi Year 130: War resumes between the Uchiha and the Senju."
"Shinobi Year 175: The Hatake clan head falls into Foxfall Cliff during battle. Between the cliff walls, he discovers sword marks left behind by a mysterious master and uses them to create Hatake swordsmanship."
"Shinobi Year 230: The Uchiha Clan welcomes its first female clan head."
He paused his writing when he heard light footsteps behind him. Fukasaku waddled into the records hall.
"Black Zetsu, writing Shinobi history is easier, isn't it? Another hundred years flew by. How about we switch again? You handle that mortal-world mess, and I go back to writing Shinobi history?"
Fukasaku grinned and teased him.
Black Zetsu set down his brush, turned, and laughed. "No way. Lately, the mortal warlords and small states have been fighting nonstop. Power changes hands faster than I can turn a page. Just sorting out their relationships gives me a headache. I'm not doing that again."
"Hahaha, I knew you wouldn't switch."
"By the way, did your application to train in Sage Arts get approved?"
Fukasaku walked to the desk, poured a cup of sage tea, and set it in front of Black Zetsu.
Black Zetsu picked up the cup and took a small sip. His voice was composed and accepting. "Not yet. But at this point, I don't think power matters that much."
"I can just live peacefully on Mount Myōboku. With the Grand Sage here, nobody can break in. This place is absolutely safe."
Fukasaku nodded, fully agreeing. "True. Mount Myōboku has always been a sanctuary."
After he spoke, Fukasaku's face lit up and his smile grew. "Black Zetsu, I actually have some good news."
"Oh? What good news?" Black Zetsu looked up, puzzled.
"Hehe! Take a look!"
Fukasaku waved his hand. A plain white sage robe with golden patterns was slowly laid over his body. The sleeves fluttered, giving him a dignified look.
Once he wore the robe, Fukasaku looked at Black Zetsu with a big smile. "The Sage position I applied for was approved by the Grand Sage. From now on, you'll have to call me Sage Fukasaku."
In Mount Myōboku, "Sage" was more than a title for strength. It was an official rank created during the reforms Manji made in his youth.
Only those personally tested by Grand Sage Manji, who met the standards for both skill and character, could become Sages. They wore the special white sage robe and helped lead Mount Myōboku.
Right now, there are only two Sages in Mount Myōboku. The first was the old Gamamaru. The second was the newly promoted Fukasaku.
Above Sage was the Grand Sage, a title held only by Manji. There was also one Grand Sage honored after death, White-Brow, a title Manji gave to recognize his achievements.
"Congratulations! A real promotion. That's worth celebrating!" Black Zetsu cupped his hands at once and sincerely congratulated Fukasaku.
Fukasaku smiled and waved it off. "Thanks. Now I hope Brother Black Zetsu gets promoted to Sage soon too, so we can work together properly."
Hearing this, Black Zetsu felt a small pang of loss.
In terms of seniority, he was from the same generation as Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo, far above Fukasaku. But his own strength was weak, and his origins were special. He had never had any real chance at a Sage position.
Seeing Fukasaku achieve his goal made him happy, but thinking about himself brought a bit of sadness.
Still, he was a leftover from the old era. Manji letting him live was already an act of kindness.
Just as Black Zetsu's mood dropped, hurried footsteps sounded outside the records hall.
"Senior Black Zetsu!! Senior Black Zetsu!!"
A white figure rushed in like a storm. The newcomer was a spiral-headed White Zetsu.
Tobi.
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