Akio's expression shifted several times in quick succession, his face a mix of disbelief and concern.
Seeing this, the rotund daimyo quickly dropped his mocking tone and asked in surprise,
"Ancestor… are you saying there really was some kind of goddess?"
Akio gave a small nod, then turned his gaze to the child who had finally stopped crying.
"Shu, did your father ever mention anything like that to you?"
Shu shook his head, then spoke for the first time, his voice firm despite his age.
"My father never told me… but he would never lie."
"A goddess… from a thousand years ago…" Akio murmured.
As the pieces came together, his thoughts drifted inexorably toward Kaguya. If the Land of Hi had truly offended her in the distant past and still managed to rebuild and survive until today, that alone was remarkable.
"This destruction… was it coincidence, or deliberate?" he thought grimly.
"If it was random, then this country was simply unlucky. But if it was intentional… then we're in serious trouble."
Akio paused and carefully checked the Black Zetsu sealing mark on his body. Nothing felt out of place.
"Did Black Zetsu prepare something before I sealed him away? Or did someone stumble onto the truth about Kaguya by accident?"
He exhaled slowly. "Either way, I need to prepare for the worst. Their goal might not stop at reviving Madara and becoming the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki. Kaguya herself may be the real objective."
A faint groan interrupted his thoughts.
Akio withdrew his medical chakra, and the unconscious samurai Daido slowly opened his eyes.
"Where am I…? You are… General Mifune? And Chōsuke…"
"Daido," Mifune said, stepping forward, "do you remember what happened?"
Akio listened quietly as Daido explained. His memories were fragmented, only that around noon the previous day, an overwhelming force descended from the sky. Buildings collapsed instantly. He managed to protect himself for a short while before being buried.
As for why he was in the Land of Hi, he had been hired by its daimyo to serve as Shu's bodyguard while the boy was sent as a political hostage to the neighboring country.
Akio sighed inwardly. Sure enough… Shu started crying again.
"This doesn't look like a treasure hunt," Akio concluded.
"It looks like an execution. If this really ties back to Kaguya… then why now? They've had the power to wipe out this country for years."
With so little information, Akio could only label the culprit as a possible contingency left behind by Black Zetsu.
After Mifune and Daido finished catching up, Daido formally bowed before Akio.
"Thank you for saving my life."
Akio nodded, then turned to Mifune.
"We're done here. Let's head back. I'll explain the Akatsuki, their strength and their goals on the way."
The neighboring country's daimyo hurriedly spoke up,
"Ancestor, our land isn't far, perhaps you could"
Akio waved him off.
"Focus on getting your people home. It's getting late. And forget about the goddess, this is beyond you."
The daimyo nodded rapidly, then turned to Mifune.
"But General… what if the attacker returns?"
Akio shook his head.
"Unlikely. And if they do… then you were just unlucky."
The daimyo's face turned pale.
Mifune frowned.
"If that organization truly continues destroying cities and nations"
"They probably won't," Akio replied calmly.
"But if they do, then the world will be forced to consolidate. Only the original Five Great Nations and the Land of Whirlpools will remain. Smaller states like yours, including the Land of Iron, would have to align with one of them to survive."
Mifune fell silent.
Akio sighed.
"For now, don't panic. Just prepare for the worst. Let's go."
On the return journey, they were joined by Daido, now a wandering samurai once more. Even though his employer was gone, he continued guarding Shu, true to the unspoken code samurai lived by.
Akio approved. Shu was the last heir of the Land of Hi. If the enemy returned, Daido's strength might buy a few precious seconds.
"Honestly," Akio muttered, "his name practically screams 'bodyguard.'"
Along the way, Akio thoroughly explained the Akatsuki, their members, and their objectives. He even mentioned Kaguya. If anyone else had said it, the samurai would've dismissed it as legend.
"So the Akatsuki are essentially a terrorist organization," Mifune summarized,
"whose ultimate goal is to revive Uchiha Madara, the Ten-Tails… and possibly that goddess, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya to end the world itself?"
"That's the short version," Akio confirmed.
The three samurai fell into deep thought.
After a long silence, Mifune spoke with resolve.
"Then no matter where they hide, we must eradicate them."
Daido hesitated.
"General… when I was traveling years ago, I heard of a group called Akatsuki operating in the Rain Country"
Akio nearly choked.
"Not them," he cut in quickly.
"That Akatsuki was founded by Yah—no, by Yahiko in the Rain Country. They seek peace, not destruction. They've already gained support from Iwagakure and Sunagakure. Before long, they may even approach the Land of Iron."
Akio explained Yahiko's vision of peace.
"The two organizations share a name, but their goals are opposites. One fights for peace. The other exists solely for war."
Mifune nodded slowly.
Akio blinked, realizing something.
"I may have unintentionally just acted as Yahiko's advocate. Normally, the Land of Iron would never involve itself in shinobi affairs, but with this 'Dark Akatsuki' looming, that might change."
Akio allowed himself a small smile.
"If the Land of Iron joins, Yahiko's plan gains real leverage. Ironically… this tragedy may have helped him more than anyone."
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