The Raikage finally saw Darui and the others waiting for him.
But his pride as a Kage refused to let him meet their eyes.
He turned his head aside, his fists trembling, shame heavy upon his shoulders.
As a Kage, he had failed his village—and worse, forced them to pay for his mistakes.
He was the first, and likely the last, Kage in history to be captured.
The thought made him clench his teeth in frustration. For a moment, he even considered ending his own life to reclaim some shred of dignity—but his body was weak, the Sealing Technique still suppressing his power.
And more importantly, if he died now, Kumogakure would bear the brunt of the Umbrella Organization's retaliation.
That alone made him stay his hand.
He turned his gaze toward Uzumaki Naruto, eyes burning with hatred and unwillingness.
Naruto merely smiled—his expression calm, almost teasing—as if saying: "You're always welcome to send more money next time."
Uzumaki Naruto… just you wait. I'll repay this humiliation tenfold.
Darui noticed the change in his Raikage's expression and immediately turned to glare at Naruto.
Naruto chuckled.
"What? You look unhappy. I just sealed the Raikage's power temporarily—to prevent him from doing anything… excessive."
His tone was light, but the smile never reached his eyes.
Then he added with mock sincerity, "I'm sure you can already feel your strength returning, Raikage-sama. In about an hour, you'll be back to normal. I'm a businessman, after all. I always keep my word."
His words left the Kumogakure shinobi speechless. Even Yugito Nii, standing beside Darui, couldn't help but stare at him with curiosity.
There was something unusual about Naruto—an energy that was optimistic, vibrant, and strangely magnetic.
It was unlike any other Jinchūriki she had ever met.
Naruto noticed her gaze and grinned.
"What are you looking at, little wildcat? Thinking of joining the Umbrella Organization?"
Yugito's eyes flashed dangerously, and her lips curled into a snarl, but she said nothing.
Naruto simply laughed and clapped his hands.
"Bring out Killer B."
Moments later, the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki was brought forward, still bound but unharmed. At the same time, the remaining Kumogakure shinobi detained by Umbrella were released.
The exchange proceeded smoothly. As soon as Naruto received the ransom, he smiled in satisfaction.
The Raikage really is a good person, he thought. A man who keeps funding my research without even realizing it.
Before the Kumogakure shinobi's eyes, Naruto released the sealing formula on Killer B.
The chakra suppression faded like mist, and the Jinchūriki's breathing steadied once more.
"Raikage-sama, are you alright?" Darui asked anxiously, stepping forward.
"I'm fine," the Raikage replied curtly, his voice hard and cold.
"Let's go."
His strength was gradually returning, and though his steps were heavy, his pride forced him to move forward without looking back. Every second here was another blow to his dignity.
"Welcome back anytime, Raikage-sama!" Naruto called out cheerfully from behind.
The Raikage's foot faltered mid-step, and he barely stopped himself from turning around.
With a sharp snort, he continued walking, face grim.
The Kumogakure delegation followed behind in silence. Only Yugito lingered for a moment.
She turned back, a faint smile curving her lips, and mouthed the words:
We'll meet again.
Then she followed her comrades out.
Once the Kumogakure shinobi had departed, Naruto turned and led the members of Umbrella back toward the base.
As they moved, Uchiha Shisui approached.
"Leader, I've found the Sky Ninjas you asked about earlier. They've all been subdued and placed under control."
Naruto nodded slightly.
"Good. Then it's time."
Shisui glanced at him. "Are you really planning to begin the project now?"
"Yes," Naruto replied quietly. "We've already been exposed. Even the most secure underground base isn't truly safe anymore. It's time to start what I've been preparing."
He looked up toward the sky, his blue eyes reflecting the clouds drifting overhead.
"The Sky City Project."
As the name suggested, it was a plan to build a city floating high above the world—a fortress in the heavens, beyond the reach of spies, enemies, or even Black Zetsu himself.
A hidden realm in the sky that no one could infiltrate.
Of course, such an undertaking would demand tremendous resources. Energy was the greatest challenge.
Originally, Naruto had intended to use Chakra Reactors as the city's power source. But recently, he'd found inspiration for something greater.
The Dragon Vein.
The same ancient power that once distorted time and space itself.
If properly harnessed, it could serve as a limitless energy source.
Naruto estimated that the construction and operation of Sky City would require the support of a Tailed Beast to maintain balance.
But beasts like the Three-Tails, whose Chakra reserves were limited, wouldn't suffice.
Using the Nine-Tails was out of the question—not because it wasn't powerful enough, but because Naruto refused to treat Kurama as a mere energy source.
The fox had become more than that.
And Naruto… wasn't about to sacrifice his bond for power.
The immense power of the Dragon Veins had now entered Naruto's sights.
That ancient current of energy—purer and denser than even a Tailed Beast's Chakra—was enough to serve not only as a power source but also as the foundation for countless new possibilities.
"Can we really pull this off?"
Uchiha Shisui's tone held disbelief. The project sounded too fantastical, even for someone who had seen everything from the Mangekyō Sharingan to Edo Tensei.
Naruto smiled faintly.
"Shisui, you have to believe that human potential is limitless… and so is the power of technology."
He turned toward the horizon, where the snowy peaks glistened beneath the morning sun.
"We already have the foundation. The technology, the manpower, and now—thanks to that generous two billion ryō delivery—we have the resources. With all our prior preparations, building the first Sky City won't be a problem. Expansion can come later."
He paused for a moment, then added with conviction,
"You can't eat an elephant in one bite. The first Sky City doesn't need to be perfect—it just needs to exist."
Shisui blinked. "You don't plan to abandon the surface, do you?"
"Of course not," Naruto replied with a smirk.
"We'll still need to gather materials and maintain contact with the world below. What I want is a headquarters—an absolutely safe base of operations. Somewhere no one can touch."
He raised his hand, tracing invisible lines in the air as if drawing out blueprints only he could see.
"For the first phase, I'm envisioning a floating fortress capable of housing at least a hundred thousand people. It'll serve as both a city and a fortress in the sky. The construction deadline… one year."
Shisui's eyes widened.
"That urgent? I thought you were giving us at least three years."
Naruto's expression hardened.
"Time waits for no one. The Shinobi World might seem peaceful now, but beneath the surface, the storm is already brewing. Within two years, the Fourth Great Ninja War will break out. If we can't complete our preparations before then, we'll be swept away with the rest."
His voice carried a heavy determination that silenced Shisui completely.
Naruto's gaze grew distant, his thoughts stretching beyond the world before him.
"After that… I plan to unify the entire Ninja World—and then, turn my eyes toward the stars."
"Toward the… stars?" Shisui murmured.
"The Ōtsutsuki Clan," Naruto said quietly.
"They won't stop. They're not gods, Shisui. They're predators—cosmic harvesters who travel from world to world, planting the God Tree and consuming entire planets to achieve their so-called perfection."
He clenched his fist, his tone sharp as steel.
"If they're going to come for us anyway, I'd rather be the one to find them first."
The Six Paths… that's not the end.
It's just the beginning.
In his previous life's knowledge, the Ōtsutsuki Clan were an interstellar race—cold, methodical, and utterly beyond the comprehension of ordinary shinobi.
They sought to become perfect beings by devouring the life force of worlds.
But Naruto had a different vision.
He wanted to rise from the limited stage of the Ninja World—to step into the sea of stars as an equal, not as prey.
He wanted to transcend the mortal cycle of life and death.
"Even if you reach the level of the Sage of Six Paths," he said quietly, "you're still bound by mortality. What I seek isn't just eternal life. I want true immortality—to become something no one can kill, not even time itself."
His words hung in the air, heavy yet filled with burning conviction. Shisui could only stare at him, awed and uncertain whether his friend was a visionary or a madman.
Far away, deep within the sacred mountains of Mount Myōboku, an ancient presence stirred.
The Great Toad Sage—his eyes clouded with the weight of centuries—suddenly opened them.
A faint murmur escaped his lips, like wind whispering through time itself.
"Tell… Jiraiya… to return. There is something… I must tell him…"
His eyes, reflecting countless destinies, shone faintly with prophecy.
Something vast was coming—something even he could barely comprehend.
...
TN:
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