Mei Terumī quickly began reading the system explanation floating before her.
Only then did she realize—
She hadn't died yet.
Good.
Because if she were gone too, Kirigakure would truly collapse.
Technically speaking, she was a traitor.
But not to the village.
She had betrayed the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura—
For the sake of the village itself.
Yagura's Bloody Mist policies had driven away nearly all of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
Now only Chōjūrō remained.
And even he belonged to the younger generation.
Kirigakure could no longer even assemble the Seven Swordsmen properly.
The situation was dire.
Her goal?
Revive the village.
She had not officially taken the title of Fifth Mizukage yet.
But the system had already labeled her as such.
Which meant—
In the future, she would succeed.
The "Uchiha Visual Simp" Title
She was still irritated about that title.
Yes, the Uchiha were attractive.
Everyone knew that.
But she had buried herself in work since the age of sixteen.
No time for romance.
Missed the age for marriage.
Missed family life.
And once she truly became Mizukage?
Even less freedom.
Kirigakure was too broken to allow her the luxury of love.
She had long accepted the possibility of remaining single.
…Though watching her peers marry and raise children who called her "auntie" sometimes made her temper flare.
So she worked even harder.
And then—
While working—
A system notification appeared.
[Kirigakure rogue ninja detected.]
[Join "The Path of Uchiha Revival" to observe.]
She tested herself for genjutsu.
Her body was normal.
But her consciousness had been pulled here.
Now she stood inside a chatroom full of Uchiha legends.
Madara.
Shisui.
Fugaku.
And at the center—
Uchiha Kai.
The Real Shock
[Uchiha Face-Con]: …What is THAT behind Uchiha Kai?!
[Uchiha Fugaku]: …You can't move either?
[Uchiha Face-Con]: …To be honest, seeing Uchiha Kai makes me want to surrender.
Madara chuckled.
[Old Madara]: Surrendering is wisdom. The wise adapt.
[Old Madara]: Interested in joining the Uchiha clan?
[Uchiha Face-Con]: Don't say terrifying things so casually.
[Uchiha Face-Con]: I would never betray my village.
She meant it.
But—
Behind Uchiha Kai stood Peak Madara.
Rinnegan.
Purple ripple-patterned eyes.
If her research was correct—
Those were the legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths.
A puppet with the Rinnegan.
Modeled after Madara.
Thirty minutes would be enough to flatten Kirigakure.
No exaggeration.
Mei inhaled slowly.
[Uchiha Face-Con]: On second thought… the title is fine.
She surrendered strategically.
[Uchiha Face-Con]: I will immediately assume the position of Mizukage.
[Uchiha Face-Con]: Since Uchiha Kai has chosen Konoha, I will bring a peace treaty between Kirigakure and Konoha.
Just like that—
Kirigakure's future Kage-level leader chose diplomacy.
Madara watched quietly.
It was beneficial.
But also—
A little tragic.
If Hashirama had stood completely beside him back then—
If they had truly united—
Perhaps the Five Great Nations would look very different today.
Madara drifted briefly into nostalgia.
Back in the Land of Waves
After Kakashi woke up, everyone gathered at Tazuna's house.
No secrecy.
In fact, they intentionally spread the news.
The goal?
Lure Gatō.
Tazuna's grandson looked worried.
"Grandpa… are these Konoha ninja really okay?"
His father had been killed for opposing Gatō.
Now Tazuna had returned openly.
Wasn't that basically inviting death?
Tazuna's mouth twitched slightly.
His face was still half-paralyzed.
Seeing Peak Madara earlier had nearly given him a stroke.
Even Kakashi had collapsed.
What about an ordinary civilian?
He had almost died on the spot.
"You… don't… worry…"
He spoke slowly with difficulty.
"Konoha… ninja… strong…"
"Especially… the handsome Uchiha…"
"Handsome?" the boy muttered. "He looks gentle…"
Then—
BANG!
The door burst open.
Gatō arrived with his men.
Uchiha Kai stepped outside.
Behind him—
Peak Madara manifested again.
The air thickened.
Oppressive.
Divine.
Terrifying.
The grandson's face twisted.
"…!"
Tazuna panicked.
"I told you not to look!"
After Gatō was dealt with, Tazuna and his grandson both accompanied Uchiha Kai back toward Konoha.
For medical treatment.
Tazuna could accept being old and crooked-mouthed.
But the kid?
He was too young to suffer a stroke.
He nearly cried.
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