Suzumi Hokage got up from the chair and ended the recording. He knew he would shake up the world's politics, so he decided to lie low for some time. He needed a place with high security and low awareness. So he called Izak and Zhou and asked them to hand over Chiro's Alkanium Soul Beast Cage. He did not want to be completely alone, and he was aware that Chiro had some plans going on behind the scenes, so there was only one option. He would stay back and let the Crimson and the Ronin do his work for him.
Before staying back, he left a list of orders and missions that the teams should complete. He decided that boosting competitiveness between the two teams would be crucial for results. After completing his last preparations, he opened the Alkanium Soul Beast Cage. Suzumi cautioned Zhou to let him out after a month and trusted the cage with him since he considered Zhou one of his most loyal servants.
The cage door opened and Suzumi quickly got sucked inside. Once he was inside the cage, he looked around to see the four indestructible soul pillars all connected to one lock at the roof of the cage. The cage was big for sure, and it was a perfect haven for him. Suzumi also bet his odds to at least draw in a duel with Chiro since he managed to cut through the Taurus Wall with difficulty, but it was a feat no one had managed before.
Someone started to chuckle and laugh, and Suzumi got startled at it, then he looked behind to see none other than Chiro standing behind him.
"I guess I have been getting a lot of visitors of late," said Chiro.
Suzumi was cautious and ready to fight at any moment, and started to speak after a second of awkward silence, but decided to act calm.
"What visitors?" enquired Suzumi.
"People from the Soul Realm, you do know that they can just appear here, right? Since all the cages are connected to that one lock in the center of the Fifth Dimension," said Chiro.
"New information is always welcome," replied Suzumi with his signature cunning smile.
"It is quite boring here, isn't it? Shall we light the room up with a game?" asked Chiro.
"Fine, why not?" replied Suzumi.
"Let's ask each other a question at the same time," replied Chiro.
"Alright," agreed Suzumi.
"3" counted down both people in the room.
"2"
"1"
"Why did you end up here on purpose?" asked Chiro and Suzumi at the same time to each other.
"Great minds do think alike, don't they?" asked Suzumi.
"Yes, they do," replied Chiro.
"Now, regarding the question," said Suzumi.
"I guess you just have to wait and find out," replied Chiro.
"Then, the game was pointless, wasn't it?" asked Suzumi.
"No, it sparked something in here, didn't it?" hit back Chiro.
"You could say," said Suzumi, chuckling as he sat back down.
Chiro squinted his eyes before walking towards the seated Suzumi. Suzumi was not worried as Chiro could do nothing to him inside the cage, but then Chiro dragged him and made him stand up.
"Suzumi Hokage died, so I believe it's time you told me who you are," said Chiro seriously.
Suzumi chuckled before the laugh turned into a chaotic scream. Chiro squinted at him before holding himself back as his anger grew very quickly.
"You're quick to notice, aren't you?" said Suzumi.
"He died in my arms. Afterwards, I left the army, our friendship was a secret between the countries, therefore not even you could know, and his death itself was a secret that only Ninjaro and I knew, so whatever you did to manipulate that country…," said Chiro.
"Oh, I did know, why else would I want to seal you that quickly? I mean, there has to be a reason why Suzumi Hokage suddenly appeared after the war, shouldn't there be? So I made a broadcast and initiated a raid," explained Suzumi.
"You're also smarter than the idiot Suzumi I knew," replied Chiro.
"That's no way to respect the dead, is it now?" asked Suzumi.
"Shut up, Xeno, or should I say Anon? You're hiding your real name while using your son's name so no organisation could find you," asked Chiro with a smile growing on his face.
"Where did you find that information?" said Suzumi, trying to be calm as Chiro started to poke him about his past.
"The man from Northguard City, whose children and wife got massacred by Xu, and ever since vowed revenge on him," said Chiro.
Suzumi ran towards him and punched Chiro down to the ground. Chiro easily dodged and slapped him back, and made Suzumi fall onto his knees.
"That's why you were there in the burning house, you wanted to confirm your theory about Danso Narahara and Xu, and that's why you made a deal with Danso, so you would betray him at the highest point of his trust and kill everyone he knew and cared about," explained Chiro.
Suzumi got back up and cleaned himself, and started clapping after hearing Chiro's words.
"Accurate, now, how did you know all this?" asked Xeno.
"It's one of my abilities, Virgo Analyst," replied Chiro.
"So now you know why I am here with you?" asked Xeno.
"Of course, this is the main body of yours, and wherever your other avatar is, you know that I cannot do anything outside this cage, so you're free and you're controlling the outside world," replied Chiro.
"Bingo," said Suzumi.
"But you forgot one small detail," said Chiro.
"What is it?" asked Suzumi.
"I trust Danso Narahara, Emily Nobira, Tensei Nagashima, Haruki Takahashi, and Natsuki Himena to get back up from the depths of their lowest trench and fight back," said Chiro.
"Nice dreams may come true, who knows? We can only watch from here, can't we?" asked Suzumi.
Chiro grinned.
"Isn't that right, but there is one small piece of the puzzle I am missing," replied Chiro.
"How are you able to make carbon-copy fakes, avatars, heal yourself, and split your soul into objects with a single sorcery ability? Not even my Virgo Analyst told me what it is," said Chiro.
"So you figured out how I beat your Taurus wall, didn't you?" asked Suzumi.
"Yes, you put parts of your soul into the wall and controlled it, that's what I meant when I said 'Split your soul into objects'," said Chiro.
"What's the point of revealing the master plan when you can watch peacefully from here?" Suzumi revealed.
Suzumi then proceeded to punch Chiro in the head very hard, knocking Chiro out and making him fall asleep on the flat surface of the Alkanium Soul Cage.
Danso woke up quickly as his heart was beating very fast. He took a minute to calm down, and he looked around to see Natsuki also fast asleep on top of Karkous's back. It was nighttime time so he should've been out as Red Samurai, but he deemed the damage that the Raid caused to make criminals scared and not come out for a while. Along with that, he had to fulfil his side of the deal and help Xeno find out what happened to his family.
He decided not to think much of it and sent a message via a soul slime to Xeno stating that he would return to Akuza after three days, so after that, he would fulfil his side of the contract or deal. Danso lay down on the back of Karkous again and looked up at the shining stars and reached his hand out to grab them.
"I wonder what is going on with Chiro and the rest. I hope they are ok," thought Danso.
Danso put a few soul slimes as security for Kevin, Sasha, and the rest of the Battle Restaurant, and the soul slimes also helped with reconstruction. He knew that the Battle Restaurant would be fine since Nicole was there; he did not worry about any major accidents.
Natsuki woke up after some time and looked over at Danso as the breeze blew her black hair backwards.
"We are getting close to Rein, right?" asked Natsuki as she stared at the water below them.
"I don't know, I am not good at geography," said Danso.
"Well, we are since the water currents are starting to be flowing towards us instead of away, and the water is starting to look cleaner in a neon color than Akuza's," said Natsuki, grinning.
"Insane knowledge," said Danso, congratulating her.