More importantly, the ocean-like chakra in Akira's body had long since surpassed common sense.
Setting aside freak existences like the Ten-Tails' jinchuriki or Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, there was simply no one in the current ninja world who could match him in raw chakra volume.
His body was like a tireless black hole. It didn't just absorb the natural energy of the earth. It took in cosmic energy as well, refusing nothing.
If he only drew in earthly natural energy the way Naruto did, he would probably have drained the planet dry several times over by now.
That limitless capacity for growth was where his absolute confidence came from.
Akira turned and studied Yugito in the moonlight.
There was no denying it. She was stunning. Proud, powerful, and carrying that wild, untamed beauty unique to a woman who knew her own strength.
In Kumogakure, she was probably the woman countless men dreamed about.
Still, what Akira felt toward her was closer to admiration, the way one might admire a beautifully crafted weapon.
"To be honest, I never expected that airheaded little priestess to handle all this on her own."
Akira's voice was soft, but the confidence in it left no room for doubt.
"And I can tell that Mōryō, after this resurrection, is definitely stronger than the stories make it sound."
"I think you sensed that too, didn't you? Otherwise you wouldn't have come out here to ask me."
Yugito frowned and looked toward the brightly lit capital in the distance before letting out a quiet sigh.
"Yeah. My instincts are telling me the same thing. The current Shion is too weak. There's no way she should be able to wield that kind of sealing jutsu."
"But at the same time, something about her feels contradictory. There's clearly a terrifying power sleeping inside her, yet it's being suppressed with everything the seal has."
Compared to the previous generation's priestess, Shion really did seem underwhelming.
But Akira knew the reason.
Her mother had deliberately sealed away that power to protect her.
Otherwise, at Shion's age back then, she either would have been devoured by power too great for her body to bear, or assassinated by Mōryō's followers long before now.
Akira tapped his own chest and smiled.
"Your instincts are right. The power inside her is beyond Kage level."
"Did you notice the bell hanging at her chest?"
Yugito blinked. "I saw it. Why?"
The moment the words left her mouth, she realized what she had just said. A faint flush colored her cheeks, and she gave him a strange look.
"What exactly were you staring at?"
Akira's face darkened.
"Would you stop. I'm talking about the bell itself. It's a sealing vessel."
"There's an extremely advanced formula carved into it. That's what's suppressing Shion's power."
"If things really go sideways and she can't do it, I'll step in myself and see whether I can force Mōryō back into a seal."
Yugito looked at him skeptically. After a long pause, she finally muttered, "I don't believe you can actually pull that off. Even a trained priestess would struggle with something like this."
Akira just shrugged and didn't bother arguing. Instead, he abruptly changed the subject.
"Do you know anything about the Akatsuki?"
Yugito was caught off guard by the jump.
"I've heard of them. They're some mercenary group made up of rogue ninja, aren't they? What about them?"
Hearing how casually she said it, Akira could only shake his head.
No wonder you died so badly in the original story. Your intelligence work is a complete disaster.
"So that's where your understanding of them is stuck."
His tone turned serious.
"Every single member of the Akatsuki is an S-rank missing-nin who could run wild through any of the Five Great Villages. Their average strength is above Kage level."
"And lately, they've been hunting jinchuriki all across the ninja world. Several unlucky people have already been taken. Don't tell me you really haven't heard any of that."
Yugito looked blank for a moment.
"They're hunting jinchuriki? Are they insane? What could they possibly want with us?"
Seeing how genuinely unaware she looked, Akira let out a sigh.
"You really have no idea how monstrous those people are."
"The only reason they haven't come for Kumogakure yet is because the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails are harder targets."
"I've fought them before. There are at least four among them whose abilities are so bizarre you'd never figure them out in a thousand guesses."
"If you meet them without proper intel, you're basically already dead."
Yugito's eyes hardened immediately, clearly stung by that.
"You're looking down on me too much. I'm not some easy mark."
Akira gave a cold little smile.
"All right, then answer me this. If an enemy can kill you just by licking a single drop of your blood and then injuring themselves, what do you do?"
Yugito's pupils trembled.
"What kind of twisted jutsu is that supposed to be?"
"Unfortunately for you, the Akatsuki has exactly that kind of lunatic."
Akira's voice dropped low, almost like he was telling a ghost story.
"And that bastard is immortal. Once he links himself to you, he can stab his own heart with a knife. He won't die. You will."
"So tell me, against a fighting style that absurd, what exactly do you use to counter it?"
Yugito fell silent.
One hand tightened unconsciously around the railing.
After a long while, she finally looked up, her gaze complicated.
"Why are you telling me all this? This kind of intelligence should be classified."
Akira looked up at the moon overhead and answered in a calm voice.
"Probably because you're interesting. And I'd rather not watch you die for no reason."