"You foolish boy."
"If I hadn't wanted the world to know, then no one in the world would ever have learned of the Martial Faction's existence."
"The Great Elder treated me with immense kindness. I won't allow anyone—even you—to speak carelessly about him."
"Finished eating?"
"If you are, hurry off to your Konoha job and stop being an eyesore."
Isamu had no interest in arguing any further with Senba.
By his estimate, after all these years, the Great Elder, Uchiha Shinyō, had long since passed away.
No matter who it was—even his own son—Isamu would not tolerate anyone disrespecting the dead.
"Yes, yes."
"Take your time eating."
"I'm leaving."
Senba gave a perfunctory reply, changed into his uniform, and headed for the Anbu headquarters.
Thus, the somewhat tense breakfast came to an end.
"Mikoto."
"Is the basement still there?"
After breakfast, Isamu decided it was finally time to begin the task he had postponed for far too long.
He couldn't wait any longer.
"The basement?"
"Yes, Father. It's still there."
"Senba stores most of his forbidden techniques and Ninjutsu scrolls inside."
"If you need it, I'll take you there."
"Good."
"Thank you."
"It's nothing."
"It's only a small matter."
The contrast between Isamu's treatment of Senba and his treatment of Mikoto couldn't have been greater.
Though both were family…
His attitude toward them was worlds apart.
Soon, Mikoto led him into the underground chamber.
The basement resembled a small library, its shelves packed with countless scrolls.
"Father."
"This is the place."
"May I ask… what are you planning to do?"
"I'm going into seclusion."
"I'm bringing someone back."
"It may take quite a while."
"While I'm inside, no one is to enter."
"No one."
"That includes Senba."
"Can you do that?"
"Of course."
"We rarely come down here anyway."
"I'll have guards posted outside."
"No one will disturb you."
"Good."
"That puts my mind at ease."
Isamu nodded.
At least, in his eyes, Mikoto was much more reliable than Senba.
"But Father…"
"How long is 'quite a while'?"
"Hmm…"
"It should be finished by tonight."
"If everything goes smoothly…"
"It may even be sooner."
Even Isamu couldn't be certain.
If Karura's soul hadn't already entered the cycle of reincarnation…
The process might not take long at all.
"So… about ten hours?"
"No problem."
"Leave everything to me."
With that, Mikoto left and stationed two trusted guards outside the basement entrance.
Once she was gone, Isamu quietly made a few preparations.
Then he sat cross-legged upon the stone bed and retrieved a porcelain bottle from his Kamui dimension.
Inside…
Was blood.
"The first step…"
"…is creating a vessel capable of housing a soul."
He uncorked the bottle.
More than half of the blood floated into the air.
Emerald-green life force enveloped it, compressing and reshaping it little by little.
His plan was simple.
Using his own immense life force together with Karura's bloodline…
He would create an entirely new body capable of receiving Karura's soul.
As more life force flowed into the blood…
It gradually transformed.
First into an embryo.
Then…
Into a tiny infant no larger than the palm of his hand.
At last, Isamu smiled.
"Success."
The entire process had taken five full hours.
Maintaining such delicate control over his life force wasn't easy.
Too much…
Or too little…
Would ruin everything.
There was only one sample of Karura's blood.
Failure wasn't an option.
Fortunately…
He had succeeded.
"Now…"
"All that's left is to accelerate her growth."
He activated his Rinnegan.
The Power of Time enveloped the infant while vast quantities of life force continued pouring into her body.
Her growth became visible to the naked eye.
Minutes passed.
The infant became a child.
Then a teenager.
Then…
In less than half an hour…
A beautiful young woman in her twenties stood before him.
Completely unclothed.
What normally required decades…
Isamu had accomplished within a single afternoon.
The woman inherited Karura's flawless bloodline.
Her beauty was breathtaking.
Looking at the life he had personally created…
A trace of hesitation appeared in Isamu's eyes.
He knew…
The life he had just brought into existence…
Would soon disappear.
Even he couldn't remain completely unmoved.
"Where… am I?"
"Who am I?"
"And…"
"Who are you?"
The young woman opened her eyes, looking around with innocent confusion before fixing her gaze on Isamu.
"The world is unfair."
"If you wish to gain something…"
"You must lose something else."
"For bringing you into this world…"
"I'm sorry."
He gently stroked her head.
Although guilt weighed upon him…
He had accepted this choice long ago.
To bring back Karura…
The woman who had waited faithfully for him for an entire millennium…
He had no alternative.
"Hmm?"
The woman tilted her head.
She couldn't understand what he meant.
"From this moment on…"
"You will become one with Karura."
"You'll continue living as her."
"I'm sorry…"
"…child."
Taking one final look at her, Isamu removed the remaining vial of blood and formed a sequence of hand seals.
Edo Tensei!
Dark sealing symbols spread across the floor.
The final portion of Karura's blood served as the medium.
The summoning ritual began.
"Ahhh!!"
Fragments of the Edo Tensei technique emerged from the ground, crawling across the woman's body.
She cried out in pain.
But only briefly.
Soon…
The screams ceased.
Standing there now…
Was Karura.
She wore flowing white robes.
Her appearance was exactly as Isamu remembered from a thousand years ago.
Unchanged.
Only two differences remained.
The familiar cracks of the Edo Tensei covered her skin.
And her eyes were pitch black.
"It worked…"
Isamu had complete confidence in the perfected Edo Tensei granted by the system.
The fact that Karura had answered the summoning meant only one thing.
She had truly believed him.
For an entire thousand years…
She had waited.
The thought filled Isamu with guilt.
Waiting a millennium required unimaginable faith.
Even he couldn't begin to comprehend how Karura had endured such loneliness.
Several moments later…
Karura slowly opened her eyes.
Looking around at the bookshelves and stone walls surrounding her, confusion filled her face.
"This looks like…"
"…a stone chamber."
"Where…"
"…am I?"