I became Hokage in Tokyo

Chapters 298 and 299: The Great Fire of Reiwa

"The whereabouts of Prince Akishino are...

"That concludes the account of what happened at Mount Fuji!"

In a tent by Lake Motosu, Uchiha Senmon was speaking eloquently to important figures from Tokyo in front of the camera, succinctly recounting the events that unfolded on Mount Fuji.

"Is that woman, who looks like an angel, Princess Kaguya? She certainly lives up to the legends' description of her beauty."

"Is this the time to talk about this? The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter doesn't describe Princess Kaguya as such a heartless and insane woman!"

"Even Abe no Seimei... and that ancient city that appeared only briefly, always gives me a sense of unreality and dreamlike feeling as if I am witnessing a myth or legend."

Some people sighed, and others couldn't help but look saddened upon hearing this.

Those present were all important figures whose every move could shake the region, and their average age was over fifty. They had witnessed many ups and downs in their decades of life experience, but each time the mysterious side revealed even a small part of the iceberg, they were deeply shocked.

"Satellite images and helicopters have captured many valuable images of Princess Kaguya's palace. I have arranged for historians and master architects to come up with some useful clues."

"Also, collect the fragments of those shattered puppets. If we can analyze them to find out the technology behind them, that would be wonderful."

"The Fourth Investigation Division is indeed full of talented people. Inspector Uchiha, you truly deserve the praise of the Superintendent General. Successfully rescuing His Highness the Prince is a great achievement."

Uchiha Senmon's face did not show much joy; instead, a hint of melancholy was evident between his brows.

"You esteemed guests are being overly optimistic. Isn't it too early to hold a victory celebration banquet now?"

Just then, a soft laugh rang out. Uchiha Senmon glanced to the side and said calmly:

"Mr. Yakushi Kabuto, it's not your turn to speak yet."

Inside the tent, Yakushi Kabuto, wearing round glasses and with his hands handcuffed, sat in a chair, flanked by several armed self-defense members.

"I'm just reminding you that the mark Princess Kaguya left on us is already taking effect, and we don't have much time left," Kabuto Yakushi said with a smile.

Uchiha Senmon stared silently at the blue mark on the back of his right hand. Indeed, the mark was glowing and radiating heat.

According to Kabuto Yakushi, the five of them each possess one of the five elements. By gathering the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, they can break the final seal of the five elements on Princess Kaguya.

Moreover, once Princess Kaguya has planted this mark on you, it won't matter if you hide at the ends of the earth.

"Shut up, you criminal who colluded with the Akatsuki to wreak havoc on humanity! You can't believe a single word you say!" someone shouted.

"I can't even be considered like-minded with Lady Tobi, or rather, the Akatsuki organization. We've only ever used each other, coming together for profit and dispersing when the profit was gone. Now that Princess Kaguya has been released, I've parted ways with the Akatsuki organization. I'm just kindly reminding you all of this," Kabuto Yakushi said with a gentle smile.

"If what you're saying is true, then we absolutely cannot let you go to Princess Kaguya's place. If Princess Kaguya regains her power, things will become even more troublesome."

"That's right. Anyway, Princess Kaguya is injured and on the run now, so she shouldn't be able to cause any more trouble."

It's short-sighted, a common problem among bureaucrats. They procrastinate and only take things seriously when things become urgent.

Princess Kaguya's hasty escape created the illusion in Tokyo that the situation had been resolved.

A cold glint flashed in Uchiha Senmon's eyes, while Yakushi Kabuto simply chuckled and said meaningfully:

"Whether or not we go to the Moon City is not a decision you nobles can make. Princess Kaguya is already summoning us."

"Even so, we have a way. As long as we kill you first, Princess Kaguya won't be able to gather the power of the five elements to break the seal!" A high-ranking official from the Ministry of Defense threatened, his words sounding fierce but his heart was filled with fear.

"How utterly foolish! What gave you the illusion that you could kill me? These handcuffs?"

Kabuto Yakushi gave a cold laugh, his hands turning a bluish-gray color like rock, and with a slight force, he snapped the handcuffs in two.

"I wore these handcuffs merely to show my willingness to negotiate peacefully, but now it seems that it has given some of you the illusion that you can take advantage of my kindness."

"Soldiers! Soldiers!"

"What are you doing? Don't make any sudden moves! Put your hands up!"

The self-defense members beside the pharmacist raised their guns and put their fingers on the triggers as if facing a formidable enemy.

Kabuto casually pushed up his glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, the lenses reflecting a cold light.

Just as the tense atmosphere inside the tent was about to explode, Uchiha Senmon pressed his hands down and said firmly:

"Calm down, everyone!"

Uchiha Senmon stared directly at the self-defense members and said in an unquestionable tone, "Put down your guns! That's an order!"

According to the report from the Fifth Division of the Public Security Bureau regarding the Mermaid Festival in Kohama City, Kabuto Yakushi is a superhuman skilled in using earth-attribute defensive and medical spells. He can even catch a cannon shot fired by the demonized Suzuki Kimie with his bare hands, and ordinary firearms have little effect on him.

Although he was a level below Hyuga Shrine Maiden and Uchiha Itachi, it would be a piece of cake for Kabuto Yakushi to single-handedly destroy the entire camp.

Given the threat posed by Princess Kaguya, it would be unwise to provoke her now.

Regarding this matter, I believe...

Uchiha Senmon composed himself, turned to face the camera, and was about to say something.

"Boom!"

A tremendous tremor suddenly came from the direction of Mount Fuji. Everyone inside the tent felt as if the ground beneath their feet was being churned up by a raging storm, and some even lost their balance and fell to the ground in a sorry state.

"earthquake?!"

Uchiha Senmon, disregarding everything else, led the way out of the tent, facing Mount Fuji, his expression changed.

The entire Mount Fuji was shaking violently, and thick smoke billowed into the sky from the crater. Amid the smoke and volcanic ash, spews of molten lava occasionally splashed out.

This was not the strange phenomenon of demons running rampant when the seal on Mount Fuji was broken, but rather a genuine eruption of Mount Fuji!

Everyone was stunned. Even the bigwigs in Tokyo witnessed the spectacular eruption of Mount Fuji through satellites.

"How is that possible? Every year, several monitoring agencies keep an eye on Mount Fuji, saying it's impossible for it to erupt within the next fifty years!"

"Even yokai and Princess Kaguya have come out of Mount Fuji, what's impossible now!"

For a moment, Uchiha Senmon was also captivated by the sight. After calming down a bit, an ominous premonition suddenly surfaced in his mind.

Princess Kaguya had just escaped from Mount Fuji when it erupted. Was this really just a coincidence?

Or did Princess Kaguya escape from the seal, causing changes in the geological structure of Mount Fuji or something else, leading to a volcanic eruption?

"It's Princess Kaguya causing trouble, venting her anger."

Just then, the Hyuga Shrine Maiden, who had been staying outside the tent and lingering around Lake Motosu, quietly walked over.

But why was Princess Kaguya able to control the eruption of Mount Fuji?

Uchiha Senmon's eyes flashed, and he was about to ask a question when Hyuga Shrine Maiden spoke calmly, as if she had foreseen it:

"Having stolen the power of Princess Konohanasakuya and gained immortality by consuming the elixir of life, Princess Kaguya is practically a god. If she is allowed to act so recklessly, the eruption of Mount Fuji will surpass the largest eruption in history, the Great Eruption of the Zhenguan Era."

According to Japanese historical records, in the sixth year of the Zhenguan era: It is said in Suruga Province that a great fire broke out at Mount Asama, the 3rd rank of the Fuji District. The fire was extremely intense, burning a mountain about one or two li in circumference, with flames reaching a height of about twenty zhang. The fire was accompanied by a thunderous sound and three earthquakes. The fire lasted for more than ten days, and the fire did not go out. Scorched rocks collapsed, sand and stones rained down, and thick smoke and clouds made it impossible for people to approach. To the northwest of the great mountain was the Motoshimizu Sea. The rocks burned by the fire flowed into the sea, a distance of about thirty li, a width of about three or four li, and a height of about two or three zhang. The fire then belonged to Kai Province.

The Great Eruption of Fire during the Jōkan era filled in and disappeared the sea of ​​trees on the northern slopes of Mount Fuji, but it also created Lake Shoji and Lake Sai, which still exist today. The Aokigahara Forest is also one of the creations of the Great Eruption of Fire during the Jōkan era.

"We must reseal Princess Kaguya as soon as possible."

The Hyuga Shrine Maiden opened her eyes slightly, purple light swirling around them, her face filled with divine holiness.

Uchiha Senmon frowned and immediately reported Hyuga Shrine Maiden's words to his superiors.

A profound and indescribable silence fell over Tokyo.

Although rumors circulate on online forums around the world about the devastating effects of a Mount Fuji eruption, such as sinking Japan or harming the global climate, these are unrealistic.

After all, Mount Fuji has a documented eruption record of eighteen times. If it truly possessed such power, Japanese civilization would have been destroyed long ago.

Mount Fuji is just the most famous of Japan's many volcanoes, and no matter how much it erupts, it can never surpass the scale of Mount Tonga. The real mastermind is the supervolcano Aira Crater, hidden beneath Sakurajima volcano and encompassing the entire Kagoshima Bay, which is little known.

However, even so, the negative consequences of the eruption of Mount Fuji should not be underestimated.

After the extraordinary battle in Sapporo, Japan was already in turmoil, with social unrest and economic collapse. At this time, the "Reiwa Great Fireball" was simply a sign of national subjugation!

Even if the harm does not necessarily reach Tokyo, which is 80 kilometers away, it will certainly exacerbate public panic and economic disorder, leading to unimaginable consequences.

"Yes! I understand, I will do my best to complete this mission."

Ultimately, the order from Tokyo was issued, requiring the Uchiha Senmon to cooperate with the Hyuga priestess in sealing Kaguya, who had escaped into the Moon Castle.

"Without the Nine-Tails, even Kaguya in her prime would not be a match for me."

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Now, we can only hope that the Hyuga Shrine Maiden can help us get through this difficult time.

At that moment, the various crescent-shaped marks on the backs of the hands of Uchiha Senmon, Hyuga Shrine Maiden, Yakushi Kabuto, Tosu Hideo, and Yuuki Mineko all shone brightly.

Five beams of light, each a different color—red, cyan, blue, gold, and purple—shot out and disappeared into Lake Motosu.

Lake Motosu was suddenly filled with shimmering lights, as if countless glowing plankton were swimming around, creating a dreamlike scene.

Uchiha Senmon suddenly felt an unprecedentedly strong pulling force, dragging him toward Lake Motosu.

"Princess Kaguya is so enthusiastic; she can't wait to meet us," Kabuto Yakushi said with a smile.

"Have you not brought the bow and arrows I requested?"

With great difficulty, Uchiha Senmon suppressed this inexplicable pull and turned to shout at a member of the Self-Defense Forces.

"We've already sent people by helicopter to Kawaguchiko town to search, but there's just not enough time..."

"It's alright, your weapons are quite interesting too, may I borrow them again."

The Hyuga Shrine Maiden calmly beckoned to a Self-Defense Force member, and the AWM sniper rifle in his hand was sucked towards her.

Clutching an AWM sniper rifle that seemed completely out of place with her attire, the Hyuga Shrine Maiden, with a light touch of her straw sandals beneath her white tabi socks, rose gracefully like a butterfly and plunged into Lake Motosu.

"Miko-sama!"

Uchiha Senmon couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

"Don't worry, Lake Motosu is now a special passage to the Moon City. Although it looks like water, it is actually empty."

Yakushi Kabuto squatted on the shore of Lake Motosu, cupped his hand down into the lake water, and the shimmering water disappeared in an instant, like moonlight.

As they spoke, the pulling force emanating from Lake Motosu grew stronger and stronger, to the point that the Uchiha Sage Sect could no longer resist it.

"Yuki, Tosu, grab your backpacks, let's go!"

"yes!"

The Uchiha Sage Sect is always meticulous in its work. Although they hadn't been able to procure the bows and arrows due to time constraints, they had already prepared ammunition, weapons, survival tools, and three days' worth of food and water at the camp.

"Thump!"

He shouldered his pack and followed Yakushi Kabuto into Lake Motosu.

Just as Yakushi Kabuto said, there was no suffocating feeling like drowning in Lake Motosu. You could breathe the air freely, and the lake water was so clear that you could see hundreds of meters away.

There was a subtle, light feeling, as if one had lost weight in outer space. Uchiha Senmon didn't even need to exert much effort; under the influence of the traction force, he sank to the bottom of the lake.

I swam 300 meters, which is more than the original depth of Lake Motosu, but it was still bottomless.

"Thump!"

It was as if he had broken through the boundary and plunged into the lake again. Uchiha Senmon discovered that in the deeper part of the lake, there were golden bubbles the size of basketballs floating.

The golden bubbles, like a full moon, emitted a hazy and dreamlike glow.

Uchiha Senmon was naturally very careful to avoid these golden bubbles of unknown origin, but as they descended deeper and deeper, the golden bubbles became more and more numerous and denser.

Before he could dodge, a golden bubble enveloped Uchiha Senmon's head.

"Immortal Sect, Immortal Sect."

Ah, that voice I miss so much.

Uchiha Senmon opened his eyes and was greeted by a beautiful face that was both angry and smiling.

"Immortal Sect, why are you crying while you're sleeping? Did you have a nightmare?"

Mikoto?

(End of this chapter)