Naruto: Sukuna's Jinchuriki, I am Uchiha

Chapter 81: Crossing Paths

Heijōkyō.

The capital of the Land of Fire.

This city was far more prosperous than Konoha, filled with gambling houses and brothels.

Only by leaving a shinobi village could one truly see how rare shinobi were.

Konoha was the center of military power in the Land of Fire, followed distantly by the Fire Temple. The gap between the two was immense.

Uchiha Kagami strolled the streets, draped in a loose black robe with Myōkyo at his waist. He wore no forehead protector, and his attire bore no clan crest—he looked every bit like a wandering swordsman.

In Kagami's eyes, this so-called bustling Heijōkyō was nothing special. Perhaps decades into the future, it might hold more appeal.

For now, it was just a fleeting novelty.

He rarely sought entertainment, partly because he didn't enjoy it and partly because this era offered little worth exploring.

"Heh, seeing these people reminds me of the Heian period," Sukuna mused within the Seal of the Dragon Vein, his fingers stroking his chin as though lost in nostalgia.

The sealed space, now illuminated by the dragon vein's energy, was far brighter than before. Sukuna sat atop a massive ox skull, his feet immersed in a crimson pool.

"That was an interesting time," Sukuna continued. "So many delicious morsels to savor…"

Kagami chuckled, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Finally willing to talk again? I thought the great King of Curses had decided to sulk himself to death. Didn't expect you to throw a tantrum like a spoiled child."

Ever since their last confrontation, Sukuna had been eerily silent, even during his brief "free time." Kagami had almost assumed the ancient curse was wallowing in defeat.

"Shut up, Uchiha Kagami," Sukuna growled, his tone venomous. "I know you won't release me, nor will you trust anything I say. I've come to terms with that."

Pausing, he sneered. "But could you, for once, speak like a normal person? Has no one ever told you how insufferable you are?"

Kagami smirked. "Apologies. Force of habit. Not planning to change it, though."

He glanced at a woman staggering toward him. Her appearance screamed of her trade—a courtesan looking for business.

"Young man, care for some fun?" she purred, swaying slightly as she approached.

Kagami smiled politely, shaking his head. "No money."

"You're so handsome; I won't charge you!"

"Thanks for the compliment, but I'm busy," he replied, quickening his pace.

Sukuna snorted. "Pathetic creatures like her—slay them, and you'd save yourself the trouble. You wield such immense power, yet you waste it."

"Didn't bother learning from your time in that high schooler's body, did you?" Kagami quipped.

"Not every problem needs a blade. Why kill her? To silence a patrol and then massacre your way to the Daimyō's palace? How tedious."

He sighed. "I've told you before—I despise meaningless slaughter."

"You're lecturing me now?" Sukuna's laughter was sharp and bitter. "That's rich coming from you. You even have the gall to comment on my faces?"

---

The Daimyō's Castle.

"Tobirama-dono… is it truly you?"

The Daimyō of the Land of Fire, Enshi Munefusa, was an elderly man with sagging skin, pale complexion, and sunken eyes—clearly unwell.

During Tobirama's tenure as Hokage, Enshi had only recently ascended to his position.

They had interacted several times, and Tobirama's wisdom and decisiveness had left a deep impression on the Daimyō.

Back then, Konoha never needed to send emissaries to request funds; every quarter, the Daimyō would personally send resources to the village.

Now, looking at the aged man before him, Tobirama was acutely aware of the passage of time.

He wasted no time with pleasantries.

"Munefusa, you're aware of the recent events in Konoha?"

"You don't need to know how I've returned. What I want to hear is your opinion on what's transpired."

If Kagami's coup had merely been a bid for power, Tobirama might have dismissed it as another political upheaval.

But Kagami's actions were far more severe.

He hadn't just seized control; he had decimated Konoha's clans, many of which had ties to the Senju. Entire families had been annihilated.

Even more disturbing, Kagami had installed Minato as a figurehead while placing the Uchiha above the village.

This went against everything Tobirama had fought for—merging clan and village identities into one cohesive entity.

For that reason, Tobirama's hatred for Kagami burned deeply.

The Daimyō sighed heavily, producing a letter.

"First Hokage-sama and my father envisioned the one-nation-one-village system as a partnership. I have always adhered to that ideal."

"But Kagami… his words reduce the Daimyō to a mere subordinate. It's outrageous!"

"Tobirama-dono, with you here, I implore you to—"

Suddenly, Tobirama's expression darkened, his sharp senses catching something alarming.

"He's here," he said grimly.

"Kagami has arrived. Grant him whatever he demands, Munefusa. Don't get yourself killed."

With that, Tobirama vanished.

---

Outside the Daimyō's Castle.

A trail of corpses littered the stone-paved path, their blood pooling in the cracks.

Kagami strolled past the carnage, his expression indifferent.

The last surviving bodyguard trembled violently, his voice breaking as he shouted:

"We… we were only doing our duty, protecting the Daimyō… You…"

His voice cracked into a desperate scream.

"Why?! Why must someone as powerful as you slaughter us all?!"

Without breaking stride, Kagami replied coolly, his voice devoid of emotion.

"What are you talking about?"

"The strong killing the weak… isn't that the natural order of things?"

As he walked away, the guard's body collapsed into a pile of shredded flesh.

---

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