Chapter 185
"Then goodbye!" Naruto and his group waved to Zixu and the others. The Flame Cloud Elevator appeared under their feet, and Naruto jumped down first.
"Oh, it's really as soft as cotton," he muttered, feeling the gentle cushion below. Even though he was falling, the usual sense of weightlessness was almost gone.
Sasuke, curious, also reached out and grabbed the Flame Cloud. "It's warm... but not hot. Just the right warmth."
Zixu stood watching and only left once he was sure they had descended safely.
Their current goal was to mobilize all forces to annihilate the Akatsuki. Ideally, they'd uncover the cause of the system's mutation in the process. And then there was Orochimaru—an ongoing threat. It was simply safer to eliminate him outright.
"It's time for the Hundred Teaching Organization to play its part," Zixu muttered, gathering his former comrades—those who once worked closely with him.
The celebration had just ended. Spirits were high. Even the usually cold-hearted Zabuza was quietly sipping sake under the moonlight.
"This kind of life isn't so bad, huh?" Zixu opened casually, gauging the group's mood. Everyone could tell he had something more serious to say.
"If there's something you need to say, just spit it out," Gaara said calmly, voicing what they were all thinking.
"Alright, then I won't beat around the bush. Our diplomatic relations with other nations have greatly improved. That opens up new opportunities," Zixu explained, snapping his fingers. A projector orb activated, casting an image of the world map.
Each village's position was displayed. At the center, a floating plate had been added—it was clearly the restored Land of Whirlpools.