"How does it feel?"
"…Strange."
Juzo Biwa lowered his gaze, studying his translucent form, then the lifeless body beneath his feet. The shock gradually faded.
"No weight. No warmth. No pain… but I'm not fading either. My thoughts… are clear."
He looked back at Anlan.
"Then what is this? I didn't go to the Pure Land? Or… is this your power?"
"Temporary manifestation."
Anlan's answer was simple.
"Maintained by your bond with your body, your blade, and my technique."
"You exist between persistence and dissipation. Once I withdraw my chakra, you'll return to where you belong."
"Or vanish entirely."
He stepped forward slightly.
"So—choose."
"Choose…?"
Juzo's soul trembled.
"I can let you rest now."
"That's one path."
Anlan pointed toward the massive blade nearby—
Kubikiribocho.
"Or I can anchor your soul into this weapon."
"You'll continue to exist—aware, observing… but bound."
"No precedent. Unknown risks."
Silence followed.
Juzo didn't fear consequences.
Death again meant little.
But—
Did he have regrets?
Battles.
Betrayal.
Choices.
And that final moment—
When he accepted death.
"…What was the result of the war?"
Anlan smiled faintly.
"A complete victory."
"Third Mizukage is dead. Genji surrendered. Mei Terumi captured."
"The Three-Tails Isobu and Six-Tails Saiken are now ours."
"Three thousand troops reduced to eight hundred kneeling survivors."
Juzo froze.
That wasn't defeat.
That was annihilation.
"…I want to see."
His voice hardened.
"I want to see what becomes of the Hidden Mist."
"What your world becomes."
He dropped to one knee.
"Let me continue… like this."
"Wise."
Anlan formed hand seals.
The summoning array surged.
Chakra condensed—
Compressing the soul into a sphere.
The blade trembled violently.
Then—
The soul flowed into it.
No resistance.
No explosion.
Just—
Fusion.
The blade quieted.
But something had changed.
It now carried—
Presence.
Anlan exhaled slowly.
"Report."
A ripple passed through the sword.
Then—
Juzo's figure emerged again, more solid than before.
"All stable."
"Move."
Juzo drifted outward—
Five meters—
Then stopped abruptly.
An invisible boundary.
"I'm… being pulled back."
"Five meters is the limit."
"Expected."
Anlan nodded.
"The blade is your anchor."
"Your source."
"You and it—are now one system."
Further tests followed:
No physical attack capability No illusion-type influence Can pass through walls (at cost of energy)
"Acceptable."
Next—
Fuguki Suikazan.
Unlike Juzo—
He didn't hesitate.
His regret was heavier.
His choice immediate.
He merged into—
Samehada.
Success again.
Anlan observed silently.
Two successful cases.
The pattern was clear:
Stable soul → success Fragmented / chaotic soul → failure
His thoughts drifted briefly—
"If this were like Bleach…"
"A Zanpakuto…"
"…could I bypass Bankai entirely?"
He shook it off.
Focus returned.
"You two adapt."
"I'll assign you soon."
"Yes, my lord."
Both voices echoed together.
…
Later—upper level.
Anlan returned to his chambers.
The door opened.
Warm light.
Food aroma.
In one corner—
Agumon was devouring a mountain of meat.
"Anlan! You're back!"
Nearby—
Da Ju Cat snapped awake.
"Finally! You're late!"
Food was brought.
Warm.
Prepared.
From Mikoto Uchiha.
Anlan sat.
Ate.
Listened to Agumon complain about hunger.
Ordered a night canteen to be added.
Small things.
Normal things.
After everything—
War.
Death.
Experimentation.
This felt…
Almost peaceful.
Yet—
In the bedroom—
Mikoto slept.
Peaceful.
Trusting.
And somewhere in his mind—
A flicker.
Guilt.
Brief.
Faint.
Gone.
"I'm a Shogun now…"
"One wife only… would be strange."
…
Night passed.
Morning came.
Soft light.
Mikoto teased him awake with her hair.
Warm laughter.
A kiss.
Routine.
Calm.
…
Later—
Anlan entered his inner space.
Before the ancient gate.
Chakra flowed.
The gate responded.
A white orb emerged.
[Item: C4 Plastic Explosive]
From CrossFire.
Anlan stared.
Then sighed.
"…This is worse than paper bombs."
Then—
A thought appeared.
Slow.
Curious.
"Can I… pull out a virus next?"
"Like… bio-weapons?"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Now—
That—
Would be interesting.