"For myself..."
"Got lucky to survive, did you?"
Hokuto couldn't believe what Mirai Uchiha had just confidently declared.
What did that mean?
Could it be...
Did the opponent actually intend to kill all the Star Shinobi?!
At this thought, Hokuto could no longer suppress his confusion and asked again, "Then who exactly are you?"
This time, Mirai Uchiha didn't hide anything. Instead, she revealed her identity directly.
"I am the founder of the Shen Nation you've heard about—the Emperor who elevated shinobi to the pinnacle of the ninja world. My name is Mirai Uchiha."
"What?!" Hokuto gasped in shock, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Emperor of Shen Nation?
Mirai Uchiha?
No way. How could such a legendary figure appear here like this?
Seeing Hokuto's stunned expression, Mirai Uchiha raised an eyebrow slightly. "You don't recognize me?"
Hokuto shook his head blankly. "Bee Country has always been cut off from the outside world. I've only heard about your deeds from Hoshizora Nikkichou."
Upon hearing the name Hoshizora, Mirai Uchiha turned her gaze toward the rooftop nearby.
"So you're Hoshizora?"
Under Hokuto's confused stare, a full-figured woman appeared before Mirai Uchiha.
"Your Imperial Majesty, you already knew I was there?"
Mirai Uchiha smiled slightly. "If I couldn't even detect such simple tailing, I wouldn't have made it this far."
Hoshizora nodded at this.
Unlike other Star Shinobi, after realizing the dangers of the 'Star,' she had secretly left Bee Country with her husband, seeking ways to eliminate its negative effects.
It was precisely because of this that she learned about Mirai Uchiha and the Shen Nation.
But never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that Mirai Uchiha would suddenly appear in an isolated little country like Bee Country.
Pulling herself together, Hoshizora looked at Mirai Uchiha solemnly. "May I ask why you've come to Bee Country now?"
Mirai Uchiha replied indifferently, "Originally, nothing important. But now, there is."
Immediately connecting this reply with what Mirai Uchiha had said earlier—"Let Hokuto live"—Hoshizora hurriedly asked, "Are you planning to kill all the Star Shinobi?"
Mirai Uchiha casually nodded. "Exactly."
Her anxiety immediately spiked upon hearing this answer.
She quickly interjected, "Your Majesty, not all Star Shinobi are like Yotaka."
"Hoshizora Nikkichou said, 'They're merely deceived by Akaboshi. If it weren't for The Third Hoshikage being sidelined, the Star Shinobi would never have fallen so far.'"
Mirai Uchiha cast a glance at Hoshizora Nikkichou but remained silent.
Being forced into something—he might still find that interesting enough to investigate further. But being deceived?
That was nothing more than a feeble excuse for their greed.
Seeing that Mirai remained unmoved, Hoshizora's heart burned with anxiety, yet she could do absolutely nothing about it.
She clearly knew that although the man before her seemed harmless, he was in fact a ruthless killer.
The number of shinobi killed by him had likely already reached into the tens of thousands!
In comparison, what were mere dozens of Star Shinobi from Hoshigakure compared to that?
Hokuto was utterly stunned and speechless at this point.
She'd only heard from Hoshizora about Mirai Uchiha's creation of the Shen Nation and its related systems.
As for Mirai's many battles, she had no idea about the full extent of them.
Thus, upon witnessing how Mirai seemed capable of annihilating Hoshigakure with barely any effort, Hokuto couldn't help but feel uneasy.
"Lord Hoshizora," Hokuto hesitantly asked, "our village does have many powerful shinobi as well. Can this Emperor really defeat them all?"
Upon hearing Hokuto's question, Hoshizora murmured, "You aren't even a shinobi yourself yet—it's like a frog in a well trying to grasp the vastness of the sky. If you're lucky enough to become a jonin someday, standing before him would be like an ant gazing at the heavens."
Hokuto was shocked by Hoshizora's assessment.
By that logic, wouldn't all the shinobi in the village be doomed?
Thinking thus, Hokuto couldn't help but anxiously ask, "Lord Hoshizora, then what should we do?"
Although she deeply despised the villagers, Hokuto still didn't want everyone to die.
After all, there were still some fellow villagers who, like herself, refused to sink to the level of other Star Shinobi.
Mustering her courage, Hoshizora stepped forward and knelt before Mirai Uchiha. "Your Majesty Emperor, there truly are some shinobi in Hoshigakure, like Hokuto, who remain kind-hearted. They are innocent!"
"If you would spare them, I am willing to offer my life as guarantee."
Looking at Hoshizora's sincere expression, memories of events concerning Hoshigakure from the original story surfaced in Mirai's mind.
After considering for a moment, Mirai responded calmly, "Before I arrive at the Daimyo's Estate, how many people you can save depends entirely on your ability."
Upon hearing these words, Hoshizora became overjoyed.
After thanking Mirai, she gathered all her strength and sprinted toward the Daimyo's Estate.
There was still about a ten-minute sprint left to the estate—they still had hope!
———
Bee Country was covered with dense primeval forests everywhere, sparsely populated, and lacking developed specialty products or valuable resources. Because of this, it had always remained economically underdeveloped.
The so-called Daimyo's Estate was, in fact, nothing more than just a large wooden compound.
When Mirai Uchiha and Hokuto arrived, Hoshizora Nikkichou was standing protectively in front of two young boys, confronting a group of Star Shinobi.
The leader, Akaboshi, looked at Nikkichou with lustful eyes.
He coldly said, "Hoshizora Nikkichou, you and Hotarubi have betrayed the village. How dare you show up here again."
"Surrender now, or we'll kill you."
After hearing Akaboshi's words, anger appeared on Nikkichou's face.
This bastard was the reason Hoshigakure now faced destruction!
"Akaboshi, you despicable man who has committed countless evils! Not only did you sideline The Third Hoshikage, but also led our people astray..."
"You deserve to die!"
Upon hearing Nikkichou's accusation, Akaboshi couldn't help but sneer. He turned his head to look at the people behind him.
"Are you really saying it's me who led everyone astray?"
"Do you really think returning to how we lived before—hidden away in remote mountain valleys and living in poverty—was the right path?"
"We've suffered for so long, can't we finally enjoy ourselves?"
"What do you all want? This kind of life, or the old way?"
At his words, the Star Shinobi shouted loudly, "We will follow Lord Akaboshi to the death!"
Seeing the fanatic gleam in the eyes of the Star Shinobi, Nikkichou knew there was no saving them anymore.
What she needed to do now was protect these two children behind her.
Ou and Sanren.
Like Hokuto, they were all good-hearted kids.
In ten minutes, that was all she could manage…
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