He actually said… that I'd gone crazy."
Naruto blinked in confusion.
"Gone crazy?"
"Yeah. So later, I even had Ino examine me. My brain was perfectly normal."
"In short, Akira left. He refused to cooperate."
Shikamaru took a deep drag from his cigarette and steadied himself.
"Maybe my words that day weren't very friendly. But I believe that level of 'humiliation' should be something anyone who truly knows the future and cares about the ninja world could endure."
"Uchiha Akira—either he lacks the responsibility and resolve a ninja devoted to world peace should have…"
"Or he was guilty and afraid."
"Reality has proven it's the latter."
Naruto didn't think Shikamaru's test or judgment was unreasonable.
After the Fourth War, even Sasuke—whose merits rivaled his own—had first gone to prison before redeeming himself through service.
A ninja had to accept that responsibility.
"After that, Uchiha Akira disappeared completely."
"Considering everything he's done, I concluded he's just an opportunist of the peaceful era—a dangerous element who longs for war to profit from chaos."
"People like that are everywhere. Your time as Hokage is precious. I didn't think he was worth troubling you over."
"But I never expected he'd target Madara's remains so boldly."
"Mm…"
After hearing everything, Naruto felt deeply disappointed.
I even wanted to introduce him to Sasuke… to let him know he still had clan members.
Who knew he'd be this kind of person…
What a letdown.
He changed the subject.
"None of that matters now. The real question is—what does Akira want with Madara's body?"
Shikamaru considered.
"Two possibilities."
"First, he plans to perform Edo Tensei himself. That's unlikely. After the war, all related scrolls were destroyed. Very few people know the technique."
"Unless he's connected to them…"
"Kabuto is possible. The other one… I'll reserve judgment."
Naruto nodded.
"Orochimaru… yeah, that is suspicious."
"The second possibility is more likely," Shikamaru continued.
"He's using his underground connections to profit from it. Madara's remains would cause a sensation in the black market."
"But either way, his plan shouldn't work."
"Because Sasuke personally placed a seal on that coffin. Once it's opened, the remains will be destroyed."
With that, Shikamaru stubbed out his cigarette and began picking up the scattered documents.
Naruto called the captain back in.
There was something he needed to confirm urgently.
"Did you see Akira's eyes? Were they ordinary Sharingan, or Mangekyō?"
"Ordinary Sharingan!"
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely! They weren't like Lord Sasuke's with special patterns. Just three tomoe!"
Naruto thought silently.
With ordinary Sharingan…
Breaking through the barrier.
Defeating an elite squad without injury…
Conservatively speaking, he's at least as strong as Sasuke after finishing Orochimaru's training.
Shikamaru added,
"We've also been lax over the years. If that squad had been equipped with the latest scientific ninja tool scrolls, he wouldn't have stood a chance."
"One thing is strange, though."
"How did he know where Madara's body was stored?"
Naruto replied thoughtfully,
"The Sharingan can manipulate minds and extract information. If he tried, it wouldn't be hard."
"The deed is done. Now we focus on solving it…"
"Caw!"
A sharp cry suddenly pierced the night sky outside.
Naruto stood and looked out the window.
"That's Sasuke's messenger hawk…"
Shikamaru was surprised.
"Sasuke hasn't contacted us like this in years. It must be important."
He turned to the captain.
"You can go rest. Tell everyone not to blame themselves. This incident is a wake-up call."
After the captain left, Naruto opened the scroll.
As he read, his expression darkened.
"What happened?" Shikamaru asked.
"It says…"
"What?! A Mangekyō user ambushed Sasuke after staking him out?"
"Yeah. He calls himself Uchiha Shin. And… he's a child."
Naruto set the scroll down.
"This is urgent. Akira's matter will have to wait."
"Shikamaru, tell the Barrier Team to change codes and have the Sensory Division increase vigilance."
"Should we issue a wanted notice for Akira?" Shikamaru asked.
Naruto thought for a moment.
"Not yet. This is too sensitive. We'll handle it internally first."
"And organize Akira's information. I'll show it to Sasuke when I get the chance."
12:32 AM.
In Madara's mind, the vision froze on a ruined Konoha.
Boruto and Kawaki, bodies covered in markings, stood facing each other atop the shattered Hokage Rock.
"The age of shinobi is over."
The food on the table had long gone cold.
Madara stared at Akira.
"Explain."
Akira replied,
"I once had the ability to foresee parts of the future through dreams."
"What you saw in the genjutsu was simply me projecting what I had already foreseen."
This explanation had been prepared long ago.
His identity as a transmigrator could never be revealed.
"Precognition" was the only viable excuse.
Moreover, when Akira arrived in this world, Boruto hadn't ended yet.
He didn't know everything that would happen.
So he deliberately added the word "once."
Leaving himself room to maneuver.
Precognition…
Madara didn't scoff like Shikamaru had.
After witnessing Akira's power—even time reversal—foreseeing the future wasn't absurd.
Still, he wouldn't believe it easily.
"How do you prove those visions are real?"
"Because I once foresaw the Fourth War," Akira replied.
"And it happened exactly as in my dreams. The course, the details—none differed."
"Of course, those futures were based on my non-interference. Once I intervene, outcomes change."
"Empty words," Madara snapped.
"How do I know that wasn't just your high-level genjutsu?"
Madara's stubbornness now wasn't mere doubt.
It was refusal.
He could accept Momoshiki.
Kinshiki.
Urashiki.
Even someone like Isshiki.
What he couldn't accept…
Was seeing Naruto and Sasuke—
The two peerless youths who once suppressed his Six Paths peak—
Reduced to that miserable state.
Their inaction lowered his own legacy.
"How simple," Akira replied calmly.
"If what you saw comes true, doesn't that prove it?"
He glanced at his watch.
12:58 AM.
"This afternoon, the battle between Naruto, Sasuke, and Uchiha Shin will unfold exactly as shown."
"Why don't we go witness it ourselves?"
...
1:06 AM.
Their night-long discussion ended.
They agreed to observe the battle later that day.
Akira entered the inner space nurtured by Umotoryu.
A long white corridor stretched ahead.
Doors lined both sides.
He stopped before one and pushed it open.
Inside was a small tatami room.
About four and a half mats in size.
At its center, on a ritual platform, stood a frozen coffin.
Akira thawed it.
Opened the lid.
And gazed at Madara's remains.
"It's time…"
"To prepare the materials…"
"For awakening the Rinnegan."