Atop a mountain that pierced the sky, Natsuro now sat alone at its summit.
He gazed out over the nation that now belonged entirely to him, quietly reflecting on how swiftly time had passed.
It had already been two years since the Fourth Great Ninja War and the War of Unification.
He still remembered the shock and surprise when he announced the name of the new country. Unexpectedly, it was accepted by everyone, except the people of the Land of Fire.
After all, the other nations had already lost their original names. Many had assumed he would continue using "Land of Fire," but he had gone even further and discarded that name as well.
Because of that, everyone else felt a sense of equality, and thus, welcomed the new name.
The citizens of the Land of Fire, though slightly displeased, didn't dare speak up. At that time, his words were absolute. No one could question him.
And so, the name, rich in symbolic meaning for Natsuro, was officially established.
As Natsuro and Shikaku had anticipated, unrest inevitably followed in the first year.
After all, with the world order overturned overnight, there was no way things would remain the same.
It was during this time that the strategic value of ninja truly came into play. Their mobility and individual combat strength were pivotal in quelling the chaos.
Especially with top-tier powerhouses like Naruto and Jiraiya, both idealists in their own ways, they played an immense role during this period of unrest.
Moreover, because the unification had happened so rapidly, the turbulence didn't last long. Everything soon seemed to return to normal.
But… was it really the same?
Even after the unrest had been quelled, what had been achieved was merely superficial unity. The most important and most difficult part was cultural and ideological integration.
Natsuro had previously used Infinite Kotoamatsukami to imprint the concept of unification into everyone's minds.
But knowing something is not the same as understanding it. And understanding doesn't guarantee acceptance.
So unless he used strong-arm methods like Infinite Kotoamatsukami again, this ideological and cultural shift could never be achieved overnight. Not even with his unmatched power.
In fact, he never intended to accomplish it quickly, after all, his lifespan was long enough.
What he intended was to manage the country well, and ensure proper development and education for future generations. This way, though the process might take time...
It would at least be stable and lasting.
Natsuro wasn't particularly skilled at governance. Maybe he just found it interesting, or perhaps he simply wanted to leave a lasting mark in this world he now called home.
In practical terms, not much had changed for him. The only difference was that instead of managing a village, he now ran an entire country.
But thanks to the brilliant team around him: Shikaku, Shikamaru, Mabui and others, the pace of government operations was actually faster than expected.
The national strategy was simple: make the country better. Eliminate poverty, circulate goods and resources from all regions, and help areas with geographical disadvantages make the most of their strengths.
Things that were previously impossible due to the fragmented nature of the world were now easily handled through centralized planning.
So perhaps, things truly were improving.
Natsuro believed so, because he had both overt and covert channels for information.
In the shadows were Black Zetsu and Orochimaru. Orochimaru might be unreliable, but Black Zetsu had been transformed by Kotoamatsukami. And with Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, now with Umbreon, and still under his control, there was little reason to doubt him.
Of course, these reports were supplemented by open sources of information.
After peace was restored, Natsuro sent Jiraiya back into the world to do what he'd always done, travel. He brought Tsunade with him. With Jiraiya's vast knowledge, he could easily assess the real changes in each region.
At least based on Jiraiya's feedback, regions across the country were indeed improving, some faster than others of course.
These results left Jiraiya deeply moved. Perhaps Natsuro really was right. Though there had been a painful adjustment period, the positive results afterward were undeniable.
At Jiraiya's request, Nagato and Konan also joined the world-traveling effort.
Initially, Jiraiya was hesitant. He feared that if Nagato witnessed too much unrest, he might relapse into his old ways. Last time Nagato had been spared, but if he repeated himself, Natsuro might not show mercy again.
But after seeing the changes firsthand, Jiraiya understood. Though the world was still far from perfect, the visible, steady improvements were perhaps what they should've been striving for all along.
With this realization, Jiraiya thought of Nagato, Konan, and the late Yahiko, their ideals were once so pure, but yet now a bit naive. He made the decision to show them the world as it now was, hoping they might find new answers.
Though ironically, this squad of four Kage-level individuals, who wouldn't even flinch at a super-Kage opponent was always short on cash.
Natsuro didn't hesitate to approve Jiraiya's request. He believed the world needed more people like them.
Besides, what did Xia Li have to fear now? Who would dare rebel?
Most people in this world now understood a simple truth... defying him was equivalent to courting death. To many, Natsuro's strength was no different from that of a god.
Meanwhile, the Path of Natural Energy had made massive progress. No one could resist the allure of immortality. If there was one thing that encountered zero resistance after unification, it was training in the Path of Nature.
Just as he had predicted, once more people began practicing it, the old methods of Mount Myōboku were quickly abandoned.
A newer, safer, and more efficient way to cultivate the Path of Nature had been found.
Thus, the world entered a new era!
"Natsuro, you've come all the way out here again?" Ino appeared with Umbreon on her shoulder, using Flying Thunder God to teleport to his side.
Ino herself never mastered Flying Thunder God, but Umbreon could.
"Don't you think it's beautiful here?" Natsuro said as he looked down at the bright lights of the nation, veiled in clouds and mist.
"It is… but I doubt that's why you came all the way here," Ino said suspiciously, glancing at Natsuro.
Natsuro simply smiled and said nothing.
He and Ino had already been married for a year. At the same time, another couple had tied the knot, Kakashi and Shizune. The pair of late bloomers, after confirming their feelings, figured they were too old to wait any longer.
Originally, they planned to marry immediately, but once they learned Natsuro had already scheduled his wedding, they decided to join in.
So now, Natsuro and Ino were a legally married couple. And as for… everything else? Well, let's just say everything that could and should be done had already been done.
However, Ino's belly still showed no signs of pregnancy, despite Natsuro not taking any precautions.
This had been troubling for Ino's mother, Inoichi's wife, who was already eager to become a grandmother.
But the issue wasn't so simple. He knew the reason, his life energy was far beyond what a normal person could withstand. Unless he actively suppressed or regulated it, conception was unlikely.
And if he had to manipulate it deliberately… well, that just felt awkward and unnatural.
So they left it to fate.
Maybe someday, Ino's body would adapt. Or perhaps, after further modification, her body would gain the capacity to bear his child. When that time came, the chances would increase.
One thing was certain, their child would be born with extraordinary talent in the Path of Nature. In fact, their starting point might very well be the finish line for most people.
Though he hadn't spent that much time, the meaning was clear.
Differences will always exist. Some things can never be equal, some people are simply born more gifted, while others are not. That's a reality that's difficult to change.
But this path was open to everyone. A lack of talent only meant slower progress in training, the theoretical ceiling was the same for all, including his future children. It's just that those without talent would likely never reach that ceiling.
"Natsuro! Naruto and Hinata, Sasuke and Sakura, Shikamaru and Temari… their weddings are coming up," Ino said as she walked to his side, sat down, and leaned against him.
"Yeah, I remember," Natsuro nodded.
"Natsuro… do you feel bored?" Ino suddenly asked.
"Why do you ask?" Natsuro fell silent for a moment before responding.
"Because I feel like nothing excites you anymore. Unifying the world used to seem like an interesting goal, but since you achieved it too easily, maybe it's left you a bit bored?" Ino sighed.
"A little," Natsuro admitted with a nod.
"And even though I can't sense your power, I know you're still growing stronger every day. But at this point, there's no one left in the world who can be your match," Ino continued, gently caressing his face.
She couldn't quite understand why he still pushed himself to become stronger when there were no enemies left.
Even though Natsuro had once said that the Ōtsutsuki clan might invade this world someday, Ino had asked him before and he had admitted that he wasn't really worried. At his current level, even the Ōtsutsuki were no longer a threat.
So, for someone already standing at the peak of power, Natsuro still trained with relentless effort, never pausing, not even for a day.
Just moments ago, when Ino arrived and saw him sitting alone at the mountaintop, she could sense his solitude. Not in a physical sense, but in his heart.
"It's cold at the top", perhaps that's what this feeling was.
Ino wanted to do something for him, but she felt powerless.
"Don't overthink it. You're already an exceptional and perfect wife," Natsuro said, gently brushing through her long hair with a smile. He could more or less guess what she was thinking.
"Natsuro, didn't you once say our child would be incredibly gifted?" Ino suddenly asked.
"I did. Why?" Natsuro looked at her.
Ino's eyes sparkled brightly as she stared at him and said, "How about… we work on that? Raise our child to be your rival someday?"
Originally, she had placed her hopes on Naruto and Sasuke. But gradually, she realized, they couldn't catch up to him anymore.
So instead of relying on others, why not place that hope in her and Natsuro's own "gifted" child?
Now, both Naruto and Sasuke were considered worthy of being Hokage.
Yes, when he set up the new governmental structure, he didn't eliminate the Kage title. He simply elevated it to a high-ranking position.
In the end, the Hokage seat was decided, as expected, through a battle between Naruto and Sasuke.
But this time, Sasuke emerged as the victor. After all, he now possessed a Three-Tomoe Rinnegan and was no slouch in ocular power. Like Naruto, he wielded the power of the Six Paths, and his Sage Mode was arguably better suited for battle.
Naruto had the Nine-Tails as a bonus, but at this level, Kurama's power was more of a luxury than a necessity.
So, in the end, Sasuke won and became Hokage, while Naruto became his right-hand man.
When he learned about their battle, he naturally went to watch—and even provided the venue, using Yomotsu Hirasaka to transport them to the dimension of Amenominaka for their duel.
The fight was spectacular, but Natsuro could clearly tell, even together, they still couldn't match Six Paths Madara. Their Six Paths powers had been split evenly, leaving them without any dominant edge. They were improving steadily, but it couldn't compare to the "cheat codes" Madara had used.
Still, he watched the entire match. He was a bit worried they'd go to the extreme like in the original story and destroy each other's arms.
Thankfully, that concern proved unfounded. The two weren't as extreme as they had been in the original timeline, once the winner was decided... they stopped.
"Creating a rival, huh? That doesn't sound like a bad idea," Natsuro murmured after hearing Ino's words. At first surprised, he then smiled.
"Heh... Natsuro..." Ino buried her face in Natsuro's chest. After a long pause, she spoke again.
"Hm?"
"If one day you truly find something that excites you again... go after it," Ino said softly. She didn't want to see him remain in this kind of 'lonely' state forever.
Natsuro didn't respond right away. He simply held Ino close and looked into the distance.
After a long moment, he finally spoke.
"Don't worry, I'll always be by your side."
Ino trembled slightly. She said nothing more, just buried herself deeper into Natsuro's arms. Nearby, Umbreon tilted its head curiously, watching the scene unfold.
In that moment, Natsuro sighed silently to himself.
Perhaps there were still many things he could do. But one day, even he might hit a limit.
And when that day came...
Natsuro's gaze toward the horizon grew resolute.
In his heart, a decision had already been made.
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