Chapter 293 - Story 21 Celestial Path Chapter 11

The scarred face of the Jounin Commander Shikaku Nara was brought to the attention of the room as he yawned loudly and said. "Alright, time for the all-important weekly meeting. We currently have three major plot points to cover today along with several minor points." 

The room was filled with the full war council of Konoha with each clan, clan head being in attendance. Along with the heads of the Torture and Interrogation office in Ibiki Morino, a Yamanaka who was the head of the Communications department and a few of the village elite Jounin also being in attendance.

Shikaku coughed as the Hokage, Kushina Uzumaki waved her hand for him to go on as the room became quiet. "First and most important order of business currently. Iwa's Samurai army is marshaling for war. Stone is collecting tithes of food and other supplies from their neighboring smaller nations to supply the said army." 

Shikaku took a breath and then continued. "I advise that we allow Kumo's armies to as per usual show off their supposed superiority. And attempt to sabotage Iwa's marshaling armies with Kumogakure's ninja's going after Iwa's non-ninja army."

Fugaku Uchiha then spoke up while raising his arm from the table it was resting on to symbolize him taking over talking for a minute. "If we have the advantage of information of on the ground Iwa and Kumo operations. I suggest we even sabotage Iwa's rising Samurai army further." 

Whispers broke out as the clan heads and other heads of Konoha's department began debating the point with how the Uchiha clan had thrown their lot in taking part in such a scheme.

But then Kushina spoke firmly. "It could be a very valid way to keep Iwa's samurai armies from marshaling well. If we could assassinate several key samurai generals especially. But getting onto their well-protected castles will be difficult. To say nothing of Iwa's violent reprisals."

Cutting off the head of Iwa's largest force in its samurai who were on average stronger than any normal ninja would earn violent hysterical reprisals from Iwa who could resort to some heinous actions to push out the invaders. But every nation had their secret weapons they could call upon.

The Land of Fire had the Glare of Amaterasu who had blessed the Great Map of Tagatha to display all of the Land of Fire and should too high of a concentration of foreign ninjas, samurai, or priests enter the land. The map would display their positions during the daytime.

Along with other secret measures. All other countries had their own secret weapons with such weapons, rituals, and dead-man switches being how the lesser nations survived and prospered.

Likewise, Iwa, had the Curse of Magatsuhi who was a divine of evil who after sacrificing ten thousand people born in the land of Iwa along with several Miko's and priests, the god would create a parade of ten thousand demons to wash over the lands of who had harmed Iwa.

That evil god could read karma most importantly... So should Konoha get involved in such a scheme then a parade of ten thousand demons would wash over the Lands of Fire. Causing great damage to the nation

Finally, Konoha's head strategist in Shikaku Nara spoke out again. "It would be more fruitful to wait for Kumo to make their move first. Then by gauging the damage done, we can see if it's worth us interceding to do more. To say nothing of Kiri also getting involved to raid our coastline the moment the tension explodes into proper war." 

Hiashi Hyuga also added on. "Our Daimyo also wants to take Grass, and Rice country with their extremely fertile lands so we can control the food stores heading to Kumo and Iwa respectively. He is wary of open war with Iwa and Kumo being at full strength after the last Great World War." 

The room filled with mutterings as the Daimyo's desires were far more important with his control over the Land of Fire's Samurai clans and independent Samurai who were sanctioned mercenaries. 

The Anbu Commander then asked quietly. "What is the opinion of the Head-Miko?"

The room went quiet as Kushina's face firmed and said. "Yae Miko has said Amaterasu has ordained that Fire will spread to Grass beyond all else. The goddess has had issues with Bishamonten, whose mortal avatar has killed several of Amaterasu's mikos while Takeminakata has had their priests and mortal avatar killing all the foxes in the land in its hunt to force the goddess Inari into becoming its new wife." 

Left unsaid was how Inari and Amaterasu were far closer than a typical greater god with their following lesser god. They had been close allies without fail for countless years when the bonds between the gods were regularly shattered.

With that, it was becoming close to a census as the ninja's in the room began speaking about the major plans. Obviously, first of all, the mortal avatars of the gods would need to be slain to keep Bishamonten and Takeminakata out of the battles.

Then Grass's super weapon in Satori the caged Great Demon god would need to be sealed with the Blood Prison being taken over so Kusa couldn't release it.

All of this would need to happen when Kumo and Iwa were going to be too busy snapping at each other. And making sure that Kiri doesn't raid all of the Land of Fire's coastal cities.

Trying to take over Grass/Kusa if Kumo and Iwa weren't too busy would result in both Iwa and Kumo getting involved, making taking over Grass Country take too long and costly.

"Grass has a slight border with the Land of Wind as well. Will we attempt to get our Suna allies into this event as well?" Inoichi Yamanaka asked with Kushina putting a finger to her lips in thought.

And after a moment she nodded and said. "Kusa has the important Onogi river separating the Land of Grass from the Land of Wind. We can advise the Daimyo to seek aid from Wind Daiymo to send their own troops to secure the river for themselves. It would close off Kumo from invading from the north to prevent them from messing with our invasion of Grass as well."

Everyone nodded as giving Suna an important river they could use to divert more water into their arid lands for the price of having Suna block much of Kumo's advancement would be very useful for the upcoming World War that was seemingly inevitable.

With an invasion plan solidified for Grass Shikaku moved on to the next topic. "Alright in other more local and worrying news. The Hakone forests, Ember Lord has left his haunt with the rest of the boar Youkai rallying to his banners as he wants to lead a great burning across the land to earn the favor of Amaterasu." 

Loud groans of annoyance rang out as the fiery boar Daiyoukai was fucking infamous with its extreme perversity and inability to die as it once swam across the ocean to the head to the Land of Water to attempt to earn the favor of the famously beautiful half-yuki-onna who was the Mizukage.

Which failed horribly to say the least.

"So the damned Boar needs to be beaten back into its hole?" Fugaku growled with some annoyance as he himself along with several samurai and priests had fought the blasted boar previously and that was how he earned his title of Evil-Eye Fugaku.

Kushina nodded saying with her own annoyance clear on her face. "Yes, the Daimyo has already called for three Elite Jounin to help track the Daiyoukai, with the shinobi being accompanied by Samurai and priests and a Miko to punish the Ember Lord."

The Hokage then looked at the clan heads, the heads of various departments with almost all of them being Elite Jounin themselves and she said bluntly. "Any volunteers? The Daimyo is paying the equivalent of two S-ranked mission payments for each ninja who volunteers."

And all the damned ninja shamelessly looked away from Kushina. Refusing to be given this literally god-forsaken task to mess with that damned Daiyoukai.

With Kushina growling before she huffed and ordered. "Fine. Fugaku, send Shisui, Tsume send one of your best trackers, and Hiashi I want one of the better Hyuga archers going on the mission." 

All the clan heads sagged in relief as Kushina said dryly. "The fact that a Miko is going means that Amaterasu herself is going to help put the Ember Lord in its place. So the ninjas need only to track and mess with the great beast. Not be in charge of actually defeating it." 

"Ahem, now onto the final main topic, I believe we all have heard plenty of." Shikaku spoke up as Kushina took a small drink. "Akari Sadra who has the Mokuton and hasn't been afraid in showing he has it." 

The old Senju elder who was sitting at the table scoffed but didn't say anything merely glowered as Shikaku continued with a calm expression. "He has already shown himself to be having ample chakra stores for a shinobi born of only career chunin after making several large Mokuton structures during his camping test. But he is... More of a Nara, with how he seems to enjoy sleeping and just hiding away from drama." 

Shikaku continued more firmly. "Akari could be pivotal in the years to come with the Great War. His Mokuton once he receives further training will be the perfect weapon for Grass's super weapon in Satori. To say nothing of the other nation's youkai and Daiyoukai who will seek to invade the Land of Fire." 

Ibiki, the head of the Torture and Interrogation department cut in with his hard voice ringing out. "He is all but a civilian born, however. He hasn't grown up within any of the Konoha clans nor has his ninja parents raised him with their passing. He doesn't have ties to Konoha frankly and for someone with the Mokuton, when the other nations find out how much of an easy target he would be honeypotting..." 

Ibiki only shrugged as the room was engulfed with frown-filled whispers as the reality of that fact sunk in. The holder of Konoha's most vaunted and powerful bloodline came from some orphan who literally had zero ties to Konoha... And could legally actually leave whenever he desired.

"The, Lord General might even command him to be added to the army. Or the Daimyo might send one of his princesses to marry him to bring the Bloodline into the royal bloodline... To say nothing of Amaterasu herself claiming him as her champion as she did for Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha all those years ago." Fugaku helpfully pointed out.

This left a major question... How did one tie an orphan to Konoha who had the most powerful bloodline? As should those outside factions request Akari and he agreed to join. It's not like Konoha had any right or ability to refuse, especially with how Akari was still legally speaking a civilian being with how he was in the academy.

Finally, Inoichi spoke with a wry smile. "Well if it's the matter of connections. We do have the Seduction Corps, we can secure the bloodline in samples that can be sealed to preserve them. And the agent would be told it's a long-term mission... Possibly life-long mission." 

This world was a hard... Very cruel place, and the Yamanaka didn't get their skills in tearing open minds, making false memories, and whole mental mindscapes from sitting on their thumbs.

The Seduction Corps was all but owned by the Yamanaka clan. The clan would take people from other lands who were sent through the Land of Fire if they agreed to it. They could become a ninja or kunoichi.

Should they agree, then their entire minds would be wiped of their previous memories... All of them, from childhood and everything. From there the Yamanaka would craft memories, a personality, and a whole new life for the agent to fit the role Konoha had in mind for them while making sure loyalty to Konoha was engrained down to their very soul.

The whole agreement bit was important though... Amaterasu wasn't an evil goddess, and she had warned the Yamanaka from doing such activities by cursing one of the clans members who forcibly wiped the mind of a civilian so he could build her up as his perfect wife.

The new person however would have a whole new life and personality basically installed into them with memories of life skills, training, and jutsu's downloaded into their minds to quickly make them powerful killing tools should the need be though they were rarely used for such methods.

"I... Akari is still a teenager. Putting a Seduction Corps onto him could literally ruin him for other women. And vice versa in no woman being equal to the woman" Kushina said with a twitching face.

As the Seduction Specialists weren't exactly... Normal. They had their bodies augmented with chakra-based surgery and chemicals to make their bodies more voluptuous, beautiful, and all-around a perfect lover.

Their mental state was also suspect with the treatments and intense mental training they went through during their months of modifications.

Fugaku coughed before he said. "I also believe such a movement is too much. He is a young man and such excitement could distract him from his training." 

Chouza the head of the Akimichi clan however chimed in. "Ehh, I am all for it. We need the Mokuton bloodline at least secured with some blood and semen samples to be sealed away. Give the kid a wife that won't betray him that's also publicly a chunin or genin to tie him to the shinobi side of Konoha." 

Shikaku Nara who was part of the the Achimichi, Nara, and Yamanaka clan alliance also threw in his own two ryo. 

"It doesn't cost us anything to do so if the agent hasn't been assigned to anything yet. And the gains far outweigh Akari needing to be guided later on from being buried between the agent's legs." Shikaku said bluntly.

The room was silent until Kushina brushed a hand across her face with a hushed groan ringing out... But no one commented on the groan as Kushina got over her emotions and said flatly.

"Fine. I don't like it, many of you do, and for admittedly good reason. So we vote on it. Raise your hands to agree to have Inochi send an agent to Akari after this meeting, if you don't agree or abstain from voting don't raise your hand." 

And Kushina held in a chuckle seeing more than three-quarters of the war council raising their hands in agreement with Kushina saying. "Alright, Inoichi. You are in charge of assigning Akari's agent who will be tying him to Konoha... Now let's move on to the next topic for the love of all the Kami!"

-

"Oh no... My virginity is going to be stolen by a woman who is millennia older than me!" I cried out in a deadpan voice.

"I am merely taking your measurement Akari. Please do not make the neighbors think I am such a fiend." Quelaag said with her voice being as dry as a desert as she worked to measure my limbs.

Because Quelaag, despite being a giant spider monster demigod was also an accomplished tailor. With her working at making me outfits out of her spider silk and using dyes, she bought by selling some of her spider silk to anbu of all people who wanted to use her silk to make ninja-wire.

And Quelaag was very hands-on in measuring my form to make sure the undersuit of reinforced silk would cling to my body to protect me from slashing wounds.

"Alright, I got what I need." Quelaag said as she stepped away making my lips twitch as I had to remind myself that although she was hot as hell... And wearing tight-fitting silk that showed off her amazing figure. But her true form was a massive mutated demonic spider that leaked lava from all her orifices.

All of her orifices...

Could never look at her the same when she was crawling through the cabin I made, and I saw lava leaking from her spider butt.

Either way, I just went back to putting on the clothes she had made during my training trip as I got ready for the new school day. 

"You going to be alright here alone Quelaag?" I asked with some concern.

Quelaag retorted with an amused smile. "Oh dear heavens I will be fine. A nice soft chair to sit and rest in, books to read, and the radio to listen to. I am spoiled for entertainment. Go ahead Akari, I will be fine. And should something happen just pulse your chakra and I will summon myself to you." 

And so I left for my next day of school at the academy with a skip in my step after eating a hearty breakfast... As for some reason, the food budget that was allotted to me via the village for being an orphan in the ninja academy doubled.

'Totally not the fact that the council and upper brass of the village is terrified my orphan ass is going to be malnourished.' I thought with amazement before I tilted my head in thought as I realized that Sakura Haruno wasn't in the elite class at all.

But hey, Sakura was utterly useless until Shippuden basically. So I wasn't exactly panicking to find out where the screaming pink-haired girl was.

Once I got close to the Academy, I was promptly jumped violently by Naruko and her brand of social strength. "Akari!!! You wouldn't believe it, but I ate three more bowls of ramen than Choji did haha, I out-ate an Achimichi and made him pay for it hahaha!" Naruko cackled proudly.

And Choji with unshed tears in his shiny eyes held up a fist as he growled while closing his eyes. "I may have faced great dishonor... But I will train to best you Naruko, what you have done is a challenge to the whole of the Achimichi clan!" 

My lips twitched before I shook my head and looked over Shikimaru who gave me a respectable jerk of his head upwards and I silently reflected his bro-speak of 'what's up' with a matching jerk of the head upwards after I shrugged which meant 'Not much, what's up with you.'

And Shikimaru's head snapped slightly to Kamimu who was sitting higher up in the classroom's rows making me hide a small frown as her glowing crimson eyes lazily met mine with a small smile crossing her face as she waved elegantly before she went back to speaking to Hinata Hyuga.

But with that, I gave Shikamaru a grateful dip of my head to tell him thanks for the warning. As it was clear Kamimu was still stalking me for some godforsaken reason.

So I took my seat next to Naruko on the bench with Ino speaking up with amusement. "So have you figured out what was up with the Halo above your head?" 

To which I said honestly. "Still no idea if it is from Lady Amaterasu... And it would be awkward to go up to a temple for it to apparently not be hers. Or if it's hers, what if she gets offended that I had the gall to question if it was actually her blessing?" 

My words resonated with the group before Naruko slowly poked my halo with her hand snapping back as an arc of flame snapped out like a tail slapping her finger away making our group look at the halo floating above my head with some fear.

But they were ninjas... In a land of gods, monsters, and humans who could kill all of the above. So they weren't going to throw a fit about the halo even if it was a bit weird.

"Oh by the way Naruko do you guys make ramen at home that often or do you just go out to get it?" I asked.

And so my social circle grew as I truly integrated with Naruko's friend circle and our talking continued unabated even when that bitch Satsuki came in, where I deliberately ignored her. 

Until our teacher came in, Iruka Umino who clapped his hands saying. "You guys had some good food and rest, so now it's time for your monthly taijutsu test that will be part of your grade."

I got up with the rest of my classmates and we headed outside once we were outside I saw a number of Chunin vest-wearing ninjas standing at the ready. "Now, you will be assigned a chunin ninja who will be sparring with you, they will be grading your current skills in taijutsu along with taking notes in what you need to improve upon," Iruka spoke.

But Satsuki snorted and called out flatly. "And what if we defeat the Chunin?" 

To which Iruka smirked and clapped his hands and I raised an eyebrow as a half dozen masked forms appeared in a shunshin. "Then these retired Chunin-level Anbu will firmly put you in your place." 

'Yeahhh... I don't want my shit kicked in by mystery assassin Anbu.' I thought with a wry smile before Iruka added on. "Also, this is a full taijutsu exam, meaning you are all welcome to use kunai as daggers if you want to." 

Then the Chunin split up with them heading towards people... And even those anbu Chunin advanced on people with the biggest one going directly to Satsuki and towering over her low five feet height by an additional two feet.

Those unlucky bastards getting the anbu Chunin even included my poor ass with a figure clad in an oddly flaring out anbu cloak and wearing a mask that resembled honey hexagons that was painted in gold and black with small honey bees painted across the mask.

Their voice was clearly also modified via some kind of jutsu as it seemingly bounced with different tones, depth, and even fucking direction as they spoke. "Go to the side over there." With them pointing a completely covered hand and arm threw the cloak sleeve towards one of the sparring rings.

And by the time I looked from the sparring ring... They had seemingly timed their shunshin to avoid my view so as my eyes naturally snapped back to the arena seeing the empty space where they once were.

They were just standing in the arena with their limbs hiding in their robe making me sigh as I realized I truly landed a special anbu if they were trolling me like this.

'Well... Better I got a troll, then someone ultra serious who would torment me.' I thought wryly.

Walking up to my opponent, they tilted their masked face towards me before that same distorted voice hit my ears. "Go ahead, and attack me with anything but ninjutsu or genjutsu." 

"Anything? Are you sure" I asked curiously.

The form tilted their head to the side and then the voice returned with a hint of impatience. "Correct."

I shrugged and then I decided to take advantage of one of my perks 'Mountains out of Mounds' which allowed me to rip my limbs off and then fight with the ripped-off limb with the odd level of skill.

Then I paused as my hand went to my shoulder as my lips twitched as I realized should I do this, which was stupid as fuck to begin with. But with my immortality, I wouldn't even be able to reattach my arm. And assuming the fight actually happened and people didn't rush me to the hospital for literally just ripping an arm off...

What the hell would I do with my extra arm? No way in hell I wanted people fucking with my DNA, I knew Orochimaru wasn't a traitor in this timeline. But I still didn't know what the hell the madman was up to.

So I did the next, less stupid idea and I pulled out the Black Knife with its flaring with the flames of Destined Death.

"I said... Divine treasures are also banned now." The figure said as they carefully took a step back making me sag in place.

"I need to learn how to use this damned dagger, it's so oddly shaped." I grumbled as I put away the Black Knife and then advanced on the 'Chunin' fully expecting to get my ass kicked.

And kick my ass the figure did. My perks were all designed to make me better and more talented with magical shit... Or a dozen ways to be immortal. Not a single one of my perks gave me a supernatural advantage in throwing hands.

And the figure in the cloak seemingly specialized in hitting pressure points and lethal points which made sense for Anbu... But the figure was fucking brutal in dodging my blows and punching only their knuckles into the side of my head, my jaw, my liver, and into my armpit.

The figure was far more skilled and trained in taijutsu than I was and after she slapped me across the throat and then kneed me in the balls all at once. I just fucking flopped to the ground with a pained whine escaping me as I curled up in brief pain before my immortality kicked in and healed my body.

"You are untrained in true taijutsu. You have some grounding in the Uchiha Interception style striking moves. But that is all, and not even those techniques have any level of true refinement." The figure spoke without any emotion in their voice.

After a moment I spat out. "I just got into the Ninja Academy after living in the orphanage my entire life... You are beating on a civilian basically."

The figure's masked face tilted to the side before stating in the same emotionless voice. "Itachi Uchiha was killing Jonin level ninja at the age of ten years old who were ninja for more than twenty years." 

I groaned and replied flatly. "Cool for Itachi fucking Uchiha. He had an entire clan's heritage from birth grooming him to be a killing machine, I been at the academy for a fucking couple of weeks." 

 But I didn't just lay there petulantly like a child, I got up with a groan knowing I needed to get skilled with Taijutsu even if I wanted to use my Black Knife over hand-to-hand combat.

As it wasn't like, I was a Hyuga, or had the tutelage of Might Gai which had good reason to specialize in hand-to-hand combat.

I came in this time with my fists held up in front of my face and the anbu-clad figure sidestepped my form with their leg shooting out of under that cloak and smashing into the side of my knee. 

'Dammit! That fucking cloak hides all their movement.' I thought with annoyance as I got back up and this time the figure let me actually throw a couple of punches and send out a kick before they stepped into a punch and I felt the crook of their elbow close around my throat as they clotheslined me and knocked me back to the ground.

This time with my hands going to my throat I coughed painfully at feeling my throat recover from the clothesline.

"You have durability a plenty... But you are poor at hand-to-hand combat currently." They said bluntly.

And as though to fucking underscore their words the Celestial Grimoire half-assedly snatched a weak star from the tapestry of perks and I felt the information of the item fill my mind as said item remained in the Grimoires inventory until I decided to take it out for the first time.

[Pontiff's Right Eye- This ring rewards aggression, granting its unique ability to the wearer upon landing multiple successful attacks against an enemy's form or weapon during battle. The Right Eye Ring grants a small but noticeable increase in the strength of your soul, making your body and basic abilities stronger with it. This effect will last as long as you continue pressing the attack and land those hits.]

'Huh, well that's pretty useful... If I could fucking land hits on the squirrelly ass ninja's!' I thought with annoyance before the anbu said. "Your taijutsu needs further training, and combat experience in general as you are right in lacking the foundations the clans have." 

I raised an eyebrow as the Anbu seemingly gazed at me from behind their mask before they spoke again. "I have been cleared to offer you taijutsu training if you are willing." 

I actually pondered that for a minute. As I remember my sponsor before I even landed in this world had told me that Danzo was dead from his bullshit causing Amaterasu to nuke him from orbit via a sun ray blowing up his bunker.

So that meant that this person wasn't ROOT at the very least... But I shook my head and said frankly. "You haven't told me in any way how to improve, just telling me how and why I suck. I got a Uchiha teaching me Taijutsu anyway and I rather not blow her off... Wrath of a woman spited and all." I finished with a wry smile.

Because Kaori although more chill was still Uchiha, and they had their grudges burned into their fucking brains via their Sharingan. To say nothing of her much more... Crass, and tomboyish younger sister Kiyomi.

The anbu tilted their head to the side before that distorted voice stated. "Kaori Uchiha is still merely a Genin, who neither took the Chunin Exams. Nor has a history of eliminating enemy combatants." 

I gave the Anbu a dry look before I said flatly. "Once again, I would appreciate a teacher. Not someone to just beat my ass and tell me where I need improvement."

With that, I popped my shoulder and then I walked out of the dueling arena knowing what area's I was weak in... But having no clue on how to fix those weaknesses besides more practice anyway.

After I got out of the sparring pits I watched with a shit-eating grin as the huge anbu dude man-handled Satsuki into a Full Nelson with her being choked out and being unable to free herself as her legs just windmill kicked in the air.

With the sparring session done Iruka sent us back into the classroom where we did some... Math lessons, and some geography lessons before we were free for the day.

By the time I got out of the Academy with Naruko and her group, I was greeted by Kaori Uchiha herself leaning on the walls of the school with her raising an eyebrow at seeing my friend group before she spoke. "Akari, you ready for training?"

I nodded and then said. "Sounds good, Naruko I will see you at Ichiraku ramen for dinner. The rest of you guys have fun as well." I bade my friends goodbye with Naruko hissing and saying teasingly.

"You traitor... Even after Satsuki gave you trouble, now you are hanging out with another Uchiha!"

Then Naruko gave Kaori a knowing look who just raised an eyebrow in amusement as Naruko pointed two fingers at her eyes and then those two fingers at Kaori as though to say she was watching her.

"Your friends certainly are interesting," Kaori said with amusement before her slight smile disappeared before she twitched her head to the side to follow her and we began walking through the streets of Konoha.

And once we left the streets of Konoha and entered the low-intensity training areas, she spoke up. "So Akari, do you have any thoughts or opinions on how you can help me and my sister?" She asked quietly.

I gave a hum as I indeed had a thought on how I could do that... And I decided to answer frankly. "Well... I have two options that I can see frankly. First is the one you and your sister will hate, in being that 'The Rice is Already Cooked'" I said making finger quotations as Kaori's face twitched knowing what I meant.

Being that Kaori and Kiyomi couldn't be married off to some fat noble thirty years older than them if they were already 'used goods' as it were.

"Frankly, although I have the Mokuton. I am not Hashirama, I do not have his years of training, accumulated power, and all his techniques. To say nothing of not having the Senju behind me so I couldn't use politics nor ham-fisted strength which I don't have on your clan."

I shrugged and then continued. "So there is two, maybe three main options I see before you. The cooked rice plan, you yourself getting a master in like Tsunade or something. Or you, yourself become strong enough that the Uchiha clan can't tell you what to do." 

Granted... I did have another trick up my sleeves in the Guardian Angel perk which could increase a person's chakra/magical stores by fifty percent, along with their talent and skill level being increased. 

But I could literally only use it five times a year, I wasn't going to use it on someone I didn't explicitly trust or have a good reason to boost their strength.

So I wasn't going to even mention that.

Instead, however, Kaori hummed and said calmly. "Tsunade Senju is still a drunken lout who is working outside of Konoha healing nobles to fuel her rampant gambling habits. And none of the other elite Jounin would take me as a disciple out of fear of being dragged into Uchiha politics."

"Akari, do you know what separates strong Uchiha, from the weak?" She asked suddenly making me blink and shake my head. "The so-called Dirty Bloods, people born with the Sharingan, but un-blessed by the gods and thus being unable to unlock the Mangekyō Sharingan's abilities even should the Sharingan evolve to that stage." 

'Did the gods fucking nerf the Uchiha? Or is it more along the lines of the Uchiha's spiritual essence from the Sage of Six Paths being too weak?' I wondered as Kaori continued coldly.

"Both me and my sister are these dirty bloods... Even should our eyes reach the Rings of Samsara, we cannot use any of the divine techniques that make the Uchiha the strongest in the Leaf that call upon the domains of the gods." She explained.

Kaori walked over to a tree and then leaned against it with her arms folded under her chest as she took a breath and said. "Even still... My sister is determined to become an Elite Jounin even without the divine's blessing upon our bloodline. And although I also want to be strong, I mostly don't want to be married to some fat pig." She finished with hate in her tone.

I brushed a hand across my face before I said with a grunt. "Those are the options I have honestly. It's up to you to figure out what path you want. Or if you can figure out a different path all together." 

There was a pause as Kaori absorbed my words before she exhaled and said. "I understand, and I will consider your words... But for now, let us return to training you in Taijutsu, then I have a suprise for you afterwards." 

I raised an eyebrow at hearing of the surprise but nonetheless, Kaori and I began sparring with her actually teaching me how to improve after telling me where I needed improvement. Which was very different from how the Anbu treated me.

And after a while we finished sparring and fightning as we sat down across from one another with Kaori looking introspective before she spoke. "Akari, do you trust me?" 

I smiled wryly and said honestly. "I trust that you will hold yourself to the bargain of teaching me for my help in dealing with your clan issues even if I only have my future potential to lean on."

Her lips twitched before she sighed. "Yeah... Not much actual trust is between us." She then took a deep breath and spoke. "Akari, I went through the clan archives and I memorized all the information of Hashirama's hand signs for jutsu, his fighting style, his talent for weapon usage, and of course his chakra movements and hand signs for his wood-style." 

I raised an eyebrow as Kaori continued. "The Uchiha have a special way of writing that makes it so only a user of a Sharingan can read the writing, and if the writer is using proper chakra paper and sealing ink, you can do some interesting things like tie a genjutsu of the memory into the paper."

She tapped her head and said solemnly. "Akari, I can literally write the memories of Hashirama's fighting style and sparring sessions into you with some genjutsu if you trust me to do so." 

Exhaling at the thought as I knew I would need to pull back my perks that protected my mind from such fuckery I stated with a frown. "I already had a Yamanaka wanting to play with my mind and that was scary enough... Yeah, I don't exactly trust you to be rooting in my head." 

Kaori hearing the name Yamanaka grimaced knowing that was a real fear people had, because the Yamanaka in war were something feared across the entire world... Imagine you meet your wife or husband after work but its someone else inside that body and then they poison your dinner before slitting your throat as you lay paralyzed from the slow-acting paralytic.

But after a moment... I decide to say fuck it. I had several perks to defend my mind. And should she try to fuck with me mentally I could flex my chakra and a very angry spider demi-god would deal with her.

"Fine, let's give it a try." I spoke as I pulled back the perks protecting my mind.

Kaori's eyes flared into their Sharingan form with the tomoe spinning slowly in her eyes with her chakra invading my system. But instead of allowing the perks to smack aside the foreign chakra I embraced it instead.

With those spinning tomoe becoming larger until the red glare of her sharingan fully engulfed my vision and my consciousness weakened as something.. New instead took form.

Combat, I was fighting Hashirama Senju himself, in pure taijutsu with my Sharingan eyes ingraining his fighting style for the uncounted time within my mind. Using the back of my leather gloves I slapped aside the sycthe that Hashirama summoned from his scroll and in turn used my war fan to blow him away.

"Come on Hashirama haha! Why are you all the way over there old friend!" I spoke as I felt glee rose up inside of me seeing the swirls of ink crossing his rival's face at taking in Nature Energy.

And in response, I flared out my chakra with four loud cracking noises ringing out as I matched my rival by opening four of the Eight Gates.

'No... I am not Madara Uchiha, this is a dream, a genjutsu of the memories Madara himself must have put into the scroll she read.' I thought before my mind weakened as Madara's Sharingan kept on downloading Hashirama's moves into my Non-Uchiha mind.

Somehow Kaori was able to overlay the feeling and information intact of the Sharigan with the illusion she was feeding me. But then again... Genjutsu was bullshit when it wasn't being used by Kurenai on fucking Itachi Uchiha. 

As Kabuto showed an entire stadium and more could be forced into sleep with a Genjutsu. And he wasn't even a Genjutsu specialist like Uchiha's were born into being.

Or Yakumo Kurama with her inner mental demon that could use genjutsu on reality itself and hurt people with the actual genjutsu.

Either way, I just rode the false memories being ran through my mind of the battles Madara wrote about so fondly in his notes that he kept in the clan before he died.

Until finally I could feel Kaori's chakra receding and I pushed her chakra out with my perks slamming back into place and my vision restoring as I flared my chakra to clear out my audio and visual status.

With Kaori looked physically and mentally exhausted as she breathed deeply and even said. "You... Have a mind that's like working through mud. Whereas others... Have a mind of water that a genjutsu can paint over or fill with another sensation or information. Yours is like trying to make art with a chopstick by pushing through thick mud or something." 

My lips twitched at how she called my mind thick as mud but I knew she wasn't calling me stupid. Just the reality that even with how I pulled my perks back, I still had other passive defenses keeping my mind safe.

"Well... Kiyomi, want to see if I learned anything?" I spoke more loudly and I heard a 'hmph'. ring out as Kiyomi, Kaori's little sister came out from behind a tree.

Sure, I couldn't sense her or anything... But I knew she would be here as well.

And as I stood up Kiyomi called out. "You know. The Senju clan will probably get on your ass if they see you master their martial arts." 

To which I took a deep breath and my hands shot into motion as I did three hand signs and I flared my chakra as a large eastern draconic head that was covered in glowing holy sigils rose up from the ground with the head holding me up above the ground.

"I think... That I shall be fine." I said with a beaming grin before I came down off the Mokuton dragon head and readied myself to fight Kiyomi.

And all too soon... I realized that the little enhanced genjutsu trip didn't make me a master of martial arts or hand-to-hand combat. But... But it did fill the proper movements in my head to fight as Hashirama did at least.

So although I didn't pick up muscle memory, instincts, or combat experience. I still now have an important foundation of a fighting style though.

As Hashirama Senju's fighting style was perfectly matched for me. Powerful blows that matched a durable body that could ignore hits. As Hashirama was famous for his ability to fucking laugh at mortal wounds and heal himself without even making a hand seal.

'Hey... Can't I use this as cover for my immortality as well.' I thought in between punches and kicks being shared with Kiyomi who was on the back foot as I used Hashirama's powerful offensive martial art to pound on her.

As having two of the Eight Gates open? Yeah if she tried to block one of my kicks or punches, that meant my punch would be hitting her. And that meant she was going to be hurting real good as the punch would go past the guard and hit her.

"Ah, enough! You hit like horse youkai at full gallop!" Kiyomi hissed as she pulled back the sleeves of her long gloves that went up her arms to expose the purple splotches where my fists and feet hit her.

But just as I went to reply... My brain stuttered, and I felt my soul swell as the Grimoire snatched up a weak star but its effects were anything but weak.

[A True Companion]

[You are now a Deathbed Companion: One of those who practiced the art of holding champions in order to receive a measure of their warmth and vigour. You simply warmly embrace the tired hero in order to bestow what is known as Baldachin's Blessing. In exchange for a temporary depletion of vitality that is returned once the blessing is used or through rest. It confers a blessing of resilience and allows one to forget their aches and pains for a while. And while the blessings of two levels must be renewed by further embraces once expended. It is said that once in their life, a Deathbed Companion can produce a truly radiant blessing that can be used to permanently upgrade their companion and lover.]

[Your new powers have also given you a spiritual affinity for death and all associated with it, such that it might be possible for you to gestate a Mending Rune capable of embedding the principle of life within death into Order. You may also apply it as the main component for ritual magics concerning the death of all Kind.]

[Those Who Live In Death will naturally adore you and will not harm you without dire need or reason. You also have a supernatural... If not downright horrifying talent for giving soul-shaking hugs.] 

'Wow... What the actual fuck is with the Grimoire. Why is a perk that can kill all life in the world I am on with a ritual, such a low priced/intensity?' I thought incredulously before I looked at Kiyomi with an evil smile as I decided to do something funny.

"Actually, can I try something with my chakra? I got an idea from the genjutsu I saw Hashirama do?" 

Kaori tilted her head to the side before she said slowly. "His famous odd Senjutsu boosted medical ninjutsu?" 

But before she could clear her thoughts I waited for her to blink and then I wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her into a one-handed hug.

And the moment we hugged, I felt my chakra, no my spiritual/yin energy entering her body and I felt Kaori stiffen before she whispered. "What the..." 

Then I felt her arm tense as though she was going to punch me, but then she just relaxed against me and I felt some of her Yang energy from her chakra swirl back into my body.

'Wait... Is this basically a form of dual cultivation?' I thought incredulously as I felt that my chakra pool would grow if I kept doing this for a long time.

"This is something I figured out... By sharing my Yin chakra to overload yours. Your Yang chakra will flow into my own pool of chakra with our foreign chakra merging to expand our chakra stores." 

There was a long moment before Kiyomi gave my waist a soft push and I let her go only to see her cover her face before she quickly moved behind her sister and hide behind her.

"Kiyomi you alright?" Kaori asked as her Sharingan flared to life as she looked between me and her sister she took into a hug.

And I couldn't help a cough as Kiyomi said blandly. "His hug is perverted... Makes your hugs feel like getting out of a long shower and toweling off with sandpaper in comparison." 

Kaori actually look offended for a moment before she sniffed loudly and moved away from her sister and said dryly. "I see you are perfectly fine then." 

Her eyes snapped back to me and then she asked bluntly. "So how fast does other people's chakra grow from hugging you?" 

To which I replied honestly. "I have zero idea. I don't go around hugging people that often." 

Kaori's face pinched as she realized that was a fair point and she visibly considered before she asked curiously. "May I give it a try?" 

After a moment I opened my arms and Kaori slowly came closer and I gave her a one-armed hug with her going stiff before leaning into me with her voice coming out quietly. "So this is a real hug... Gods this feels entirely unfair." 

A moment later Kaori broke the hug before she exhaled and said. "Wow... My first hug with another person was from a person who wasn't my sister. And it ruins hugs for me forever."

I coughed awkwardly hearing that bit, but I shrugged and said. "Well, the deeper and more expressive the hug, the more chakra is being shared. Anyway, I am heading off, I got plans for dinner." 

Both sisters shared a look before nodding and Kiyomi said. "Then we will see you tomorrow or something. We will find you after the academy lets you out." 

-

With that, I started making my way back towards the heart of Konoha... Before I froze after walking a couple miles as that same oddly dressed anbu popped out of behind a tree.

"What?" I said as my hand sidled into my jacket to my Black Knife.

The anbu tilted their head to the side before starting. "You still need combat experience even if you had a genjutsu experience. I went through something similar and needed that experience engrained into your body." 

"Why are you here?" I pressed dryly as although the anbu had been cleared to train me... I really didn't need someone to just beat my ass for little reason.

There was a pause before the anbu actually sighed with a gloved hand coming up to her mask and I blinked as loud clicking and popping noises rang out as the figure stood up straight and seemingly grew like three inches and as the mask snapped open long silver hair that was tinted blue at the blue flowed down 'HER' back.

With the voluminous robes stopping their flowing motion and resting over their... Excessively curvaceous form.

The mask fully came down and I blinked seeing darker honey-toned skin which was... To say the least very fucking rare outside of Kumo in this world.

The figure had a very feminine face with slightly elongated ears and bright sky-blue eyes. "My Anbu title is Killer Bee, but my name is Eleonor."

My head tilted to the side before I asked slowly. "Are you from Kumo or something?" 

She blinked and then smiled with a small chuckle escaping her as she tucked her mask to her side. "Once upon a time yes, I was born in Kumo in fact. I even went to their ninja academy before my family fled Kumo after one of the mining lords tried to take my mother as a concubine."

'How the fuck is she an anbu here then?' I thought with a frown before she shrugged and added on. "Akari, I have been assigned to watch over you long term in order to make sure you don't get assassinated by any spies or traitors... As already four operatives have already made an attempt on your life." 

Before I could reply however she smiled and said. "Those operatives were quickly interrogated by the Yamanaka and had their guts spilled... Metaphorically and literally." 

After a moment I sighed and said with some amusement. "Alright, fine. You can watch over me. I won't cause any drama with you." 

With that, I coughed and then added on. "Now... If you will excuse me, I am getting dinner with some friends." 

I jumped into a nearby tree and then using my gliding Zelda perk I was off, flying through the tree line as I headed off towards the Konoha.

-

After a bit I reached the mythical Ichiraku ramen stand and after pushing aside the flap I saw Naruko sitting alone at one of the sides with her waving me over as I took the seat next to her with thankfully another seat empty on my side.

"So what do you recommend?" I asked curiously as I took in the menu and saw the list of different kinds of ramen they had available.

Naruko put a finger to her lips and after a moment of deep consideration, she said seriously. "For a first time Ichiraku go-er. I cannot help but recommend the classic. Miso Chashu Pork ramen!"

And at Naruko's shout the chef, who I couldn't remember the name of called out. "Alright Naruko, a couple of bowls on the way." 

"So how was your training with that Uchiha?" Naruko asked as she sat sideways with her elbow resting on the table as she looked at me.

"Went fairly well. Got some good training in... Then had that anbu who beat the tar out of me come up afterward and tell me she was going to be on watch duty for me." I finished dryly.

Naruko gave a knowing look and patted my arm saying with care. "I gotcha Akari, I have been living with at least one anbu constantly watching me every day of my life." 

For the child of the Hokage... And containing part of the Kyubi that made sense at least.

"Yup... Killer Bee, apparently. Thought Anbu stuck to animal mask and code names though." I muttered with Naruko shrugging.

"Don't know that Anbu personally, but Killer Bee sounds a lot cooler than getting stuck with like... Weasel or Rabbit I imagine." Naruko said, and you know what... That was a fair point.

After that the ramen chef brought us our food and Naruko said excitedly. "Thanks Teuchi!" Reminding me what his name was as Naruko began slurping the poor ramen into her endless gullet.

Where we remained silent for a good bit just eating the delicious ramen until Naruko finished her bowl off first and put the bowl down on the table after picking it up to drink all the stock with a sigh of joy escaping her.

"So Akari, the Academy is having an early graduation exam in a month. Any thoughts on trying to take it?" 

My lips curled at the thought before I said frankly. "I mean... I am not against it persay. But would I be alright with only a month of time in the academy?"

To which Naruko shrugged and said honestly. "Ehh, I mean Itachi and Kakashi were already Jounin at our ages. They only spent a couple of months in the academy to brush up on some survival lessons along with some other things. All that matters is skill, plus your Jounin teacher typically gets into the nitty gritty in teaching Genin the real ninja skills!" 

I raised an eyebrow at that before I hummed and said. "I mean... Alright, ah who do you want as your Jounin leader? Kakashi? Wasn't he, your father's student as well?" I spoke with Naruko's face twisting in disgust.

"What Kakashi? Ew... Ewwww no, like hell no! He still walks around in public reading smut books even after mom beat the tar out of him!" Naruko said with utter disgust and offense in her voice at the thought of that.

The sheer offense in her tone actually made me giggle as I had a thought that I needed to share. "Wait... What if you get assigned Kakashi knowing that? What if the higher-ups decide to put him as your teacher so you get the experience of working around perverted annoying nobles?" 

And Naruko paled as she seemingly could see something of that nature happening with her covering her face with her arms as she bent down to scream into said arms and the ramen bar's table. "Another round please!" I called out between laughter with Teuchi sending me a thumbs up.

Only when another large bowl of ramen got to us did Naruko pick her head up and begin eating did she calm down but she did growl. "You... Evil man! Now I am going to have nightmares about that!"

Making me shrug and say. "Whelp, do your best to convince your parents that you should have a different teacher or something. Anyway, thanks for the meal Naruko. I am heading home to get some rest." 

I left a small stack of Ryo coins to pay for my meal while Naruko said happily waved me off as she ordered herself a third bowl of ramen to apparently finish her dinner.

'Time to go home.' I thought as I made my way through the streets of Konoha and I idly went into a store to pick up a baked chicken for Quelaag for her own dinner if she hadn't already eaten. If she had well I could use it to make sandwiches or something for a couple of days.

And the walk home was rather uneventful until I actually got home and after entering my apartment, I facepalmed seeing Quelaag had created another like funnel web in the corner of the room so she could comfortably sleep within the funnel.

"Uhh Quelaag, I picked you up for dinner?" I called out and then my lips twitched as the black-haired beauty strolled out of the apartment's sole bedroom with her wearing a sleeping silk nightie.

"Welcome home Akari, did you have a productive day? And thank you for the food." Quelaag asked me casually as I handed over the food.

"Uhh... Yeah, it went fine. So what's up with the giant funnel web if you are napping in my room?" I asked curiously.

With Quelaag smiled coldly as she said. "Oh... It's a decoy so should someone break into the apartment they will focus on that, while I will be in the other room ready to pounce on them as they pass through the door."

"The front door and windows also have web lines that would snap should they be opened. Along with lesser webs spread across the walls and even the ceiling and floor should a ninja be able to phase through the walls." 

"Well, that works." I muttered with a nod before I yawned and said. "Alright, Quelaag. I am going to take a shower and get some sleep."

The spider demi-goddess just nodded and let me go do my things while I went and took myself a nice hot shower to wash off the stank of sparring several times a day.

Then, I threw my ass into bed... And I fell asleep.

-

Waking up, I blinked tiredly with a groan escaping me as I muttered. "Fucking Sharingan enhanced dreams. I knew getting a Matrix mental download was going to fuck me up when I slept."

I yawned but then froze as a firm knocking rang out from my front door in the other room. 

'Gods be damned... What's going on?' I thought as I took the Pontiff's Right Eye ring from my Grimoire's inventory and put it on my ring finger along with taking my Black Knife as I got up and went to the door as I saw Quelaag pop her head from under the fucking couch for some reason.

Opening the door, I paused seeing Eleonor the silver-haired mocha-skinned woman/anbu who had been assigned to watch over me. "Akari you have been assigned a house in a more secure section of Konoha. Another agent attempted to break into your house last night." 

I sagged in place before groaning and saying tiredly. "Alright... Give me the address and I will get my stuff moved over there after training later today." 

She reached into her very expansive cleavage and I just stared as with an actual soft 'pomf' noise she pulled out an envelope that she handed over to me. "That has your address, the land deed which is now in your name, along with some Ryo to pay the movers that will deal with your stuff while you are at the academy."

I had to process that... And honestly, that sounded far more convenient with Eleonor her even adding with a wry smile. "Also, the house has a basement for your... Contracted youkai ally, so she can set herself up with a more personal space." 

Holding the envelope I just nodded and then with a yawn I said. "Alright sounds good. Please excuse me though, I need to get dressed for the academy." 

She stepped back with her saying calmly. "Very well. I will be escorting you to the academy Akari."

I just offered a thumbs up as I went back inside and drank some sugar-filled tea to wake me up before I went and got myself dressed and took care of my daily hygiene and as I went back outside... She was still there.

'By the gods, she is stacked though.' I thought with a wry smile as I took in the beauty who was wearing semi-casual clothes but still with some ninja bags on her hip and right knee.

Then again... Samui, and Mabui from Kumo were almost Tsunade level stacked in the chest department but this Eleonor which was a fucking weird English name for the Elemental nations was even bigger!

"Do you have any plans to train in your Mokuton later today?" She asked me as she walked beside me. As we left my apartment and into the slow morning foot traffic of Konoha.

I shrugged and said frankly. "Probably, depends on how tired I am after getting my ass kicked the rest of the day."

That and I felt my Celestial Grimoire was tapped out for a bit so I had a few days unless something big happened before I got some new bullshit method to be even more immortal.

There was a bit of silence before Eleonor asked with amusement. "So you and those Uchiha girls... Is this some Madara X Hashirama thing going on. Just generations apart?" 

I coughed and gave her a weird look before I shrugged. "Ehh, they are certainly cute... And more, but they are in a tough spot and they are training me for a future favor." 

And Eleonor chuckled before she said. "Oh dear, and you a Mokuton user will be prime bait for the clans to throw their younger ladies at you. Do you have a girlfriend yet?"

"I am surprised you are even asking me that? Is this just for conversation as I am sure I had a painfully deep background check done on all my social life?" I spoke dryly.

With the darker skinned beauty saying honestly. "Correct in one Akari, but you will need to know how to deal with the fairer sex... Certain kunoichi from all nations, youkai, and even some Kami have skills for twisting men inside out with their techniques both physical, verbal, and supernatural.

I kept silent for a minute as we continued walking. Several people were walking around and past us. And I didn't want other people to hear this damned conversation.

Only once we got some relative privacy of a good three or four meters away from other people so they couldn't hear us past the din of all of Konoha's extra noise I spoke with some embarrassed humor.

"Yeah... I will get right on that, nabbing a girlfriend and making sure to get laid so no evil youkai and flirtatious foreign ninja can lead me around with a flash of cleavage." I said with some sarcasm.

But Eleonor instead spoke firmly. "Despite your sarcasm Akari, that would in fact be a good idea. If any lusts you have are firmly exhausted on a partner you trusted, then many techniques that could ensnare you while be found far less effective." 

"Getting a steady girlfriend who will do such things while we both are training, and my own hectic schedule is a bit too much... I am going to bed damn near exhausted each day, so that will have to wait I guess." I said frankly trying to move past this conversation with a total stranger.

And it thankfully seems that Eleonor understood I was feeling a bit put off from her line of questions and remained silent until we reached the academy.

Which went similar to the other days I went to the academy, we did a quick exercise regiment to wake us up. Then we did some rote learning about the Land of Fire, the other nations. And then we did some sparring.

This was followed along with some light chakra exercises as apparently, Naruko was very right as even for the 'genius' class. We didn't do too heavily of chakra exercises and such a future was left to our Jounin team leader who would tailor training for us.

But hey, they did teach the civilians, and ninja family-born students the replacement and clone jutsu today...

While knowing about the Shadow Clone and other Elemental clone jutsu's... The normal illusion clone was just kinda hot garbage, while the replacement jutsu was only good when you had time to flood your chakra thickly into a target to replace yourself with.

It wasn't a simple, process of latching your chakra onto a target and teleporting yourself to that thing you had tagged. No, the process required the thing to have a certain amount of mass close to your own mass and you also had to taint the object with your chakra.

Which in the middle of battle was very fucking difficult to do especially when the replacement jutsu only worked for a short distance as well.

Either way, I did find it interesting how the Nadeshiko village or the Kunochi village was established to the east near the coastline and was close to the Land of Water's territory.

But as I came out of the academy my lips curled in annoyance as I saw Kiyomi and Kaori being interrogated by Satsuki.

"Training a Senju... What honor and pride do you have as a Uchiha?" Satsuki demanded as I closed in and I could see several people watching the public dressing down.

But either way I closed in and said loudly. "Wow... Giving your clan mates a public shaming for daring to help a fellow Shinobi of the leaf. Is the Uchiha clan leader's stance that the Uchiha clan is now above any form of working with all other ninja's in the leaf?" 

Satsuki froze as she realized the verbal trap I had put her in... Just like before after our training exercise and I said fighting her would do me no fathers.

I shook my head and then I came up with an evil idea as I spoke proudly. "It's ok Satsuki... I understand!"

She blinked before she sneered and spat. "That you are a craven coward who refused-"

But I cut her off and I stepped into her personal space and she couldn't back away with how Kaori and Kiyomi were directly behind her... And I wrapped my arms around her arms bind them to her side as I gave her a bear hug... But then I flooded my chakra into hers at full power to give her my PLUS ULTRA HUG!

"Its ok Satsuki! We don't need to fight! We can make our relationship work someday even with our clan's history I promise!" 

Even as Satsuki moaned at the feeling of my chakra flooding her body in... All of the best ways that I bet she never felt with her asshole of a father and how distant Itachi was in the could proud Uchiha family. I just squeezed her before I let go and proudly shouted.

"I will become strong enough to marry you one day Satsuki, don't worry!"

And even as whispers turned to shouts at my bullshit I quickly fled the academy's front area where I fled to the forests of Konoha... As even I felt embarrassed as hell at my antics even if I found it fucking hilarious as I saw Satsuki's face filled with entirely too damned many emotions when I let go of her.

"Whelp, time to continue my training." I muttered with a wry smile before I refocused and carefully used the hand signs Hashirama used to summon a Wood dragon to rise up from the ground and then I could control the wood dragon.

'Why is it a wood dragon though... Does the dragon have any significance, its a lot more shape changing or does the dragon shape actually reinforce the jutsu?' I mused as I realized through my magical talent perk that yes, yes indeed the spiritual component of the dragon did help.

Which acted as a catalyst that allowed jutsu's like water, mud, and other dragon-style jutsu to launch smaller elemental attacks from the mouth of the draconic creation.

Pulsing my chakra, the large Mokuton dragon opened its maw and from its maw came a storm of hundreds of finger-sized spike splinters that shot out every second at high speed from the mouth.

"Well... That's interesting." I muttered as I got into the nit and gritty of the Mokuton. 

'Mokuton isn't just wood release... It's much more akin to life/tree release.' I thought as I could feel through the Mokuton the vibrant life of the old Mokuton tree's surrounding me that Hashirama Senju made with the founding of the leaf village.

The sensation of feeling other forms of life around me, also gave me a general idea of how Hashirama became a sage without anyone like the Toad's help. 'Hmm... Speaking of which, should I even bother doing the summoning jutsu to get summons?' I wondered.

Before shaking my head as I already had Quelaag for a 'summon' and if god knows if the fucking Grimoire will give me a Servant from Fate or something. Which I very much knew was possible and something I didn't want.

I just really wanted a perk to help my martial arts training at this point. It seriously wasn't fun getting your ass kicked even if it was good training.

"Hyup." I grunted as I jumped atop the draconic head and then I just plopped down upon it... Just stared up into the blue sky above that had clouds skating past ever so slowly while laying on a giant wooden dragon that was animated by my will.

'I wonder... My sponsor talked about how Kaguya was mentally fried by the Shinto Pantheon that basically rules this planet except for the other continent which isn't really talked about. But what is going in space? Are there more Ōtsutsuki's? Will I become a weird ninja cultivator like them that harvests worlds?' I mused.

A soft clatter rang out and then soft mocha flesh appeared within my view as Eleonor landed atop my dragon. With her expansive cleavage being displayed as she leaned over me.

"Are you sure, you cannot be a Nara in disguise?" 

"I am doing the maniest thing in the world... Watching the clouds and the sunset whilst relaxing atop a dragon's head." I said solemnly.

Eleonor just gave me an odd look before she herself looked outwards and with her here... And being an anbu I decided to get some info off her I couldn't normally get anyway.

"So... How do missions typically go? At least in the academy, we haven't really learned too much on how missions operate. I think such a task is being left to our jounin team leaders." 

The darker-skinned woman was silent for a moment before she hummed and said frankly. "It really all depends on the mission itself. Is it a mission here in the land of Fire? A mission in one of the smaller nations or one of the other Great Five Nations. Is it an outright hostile mission of our ninja's assassinate a target on our own land? Or elsewhere."

"All missions have different parameters, which is why they are ranked for their likely difficulty level and any repercussions the Leaf will face should the ninja or team fail." Eleonor finished.

I gave a hum before I asked curiously. "Whats the most common missions I will be seeing then?" 

Eleonor was silent for a long moment as she had to think for a while. "Well... For now, you won't be allowed to leave the Land of Fire in no uncertain terms with how tense the global politics are. But in that vein, with rising tensions bandit and ronin extermination missions will become more common than dealing with lesser youkai and chakra beasts." 

'Oh joy... Exterminating peasants who decided to rise up in the face of the noble masters.' I thought with a sigh.

Then Eleonor spoke again with some amusement. "However... You might be paid by some nobles to build some Mokuton, bridges, castles, and roads actually. Such buildings were how Hashirama made a good deal of the initial funds for Konoha's building." 

"Wow... Train my ass off, getting said ass kicked only to be paid to build some fat nobles pleasure palace. Such a wonderful dream." I said dryly making Eleonor snort at my tone.

Eleonor remained silent for a few minutes allowing me to just stare up at the sky as the Mokuton dragon underneath us swayed softly in place like a hammock rocking back and forth.

Until she broke the silence and said with a sigh. "You do realize Satsuki Uchiha is the heiress of the Uchiha clan correct? Doing such a thing in broad daylight is going to have consequences." 

My lips twitched at that and I asked curiously. "She is the heiress? I thought Itachi Uchiha was the heir?" 

To which Eleonor said calmly. "It's somewhat a private detail but Itachi is very sick with chakra-based lung cancer. Unless he completes a great quest for a divine, he will need to have his chakra sealed in the next couple of years lest his lungs begin failing." 

I remained silent before I asked curiously. "Tsunade can't fix him or anything?" 

"No, the Uchiha famously argued about asking for the Sanin's aid... And even when they got over their pride and did ask. Tsunade can't fix Itachi without giving him entirely new lungs basically and getting fresh compatible lungs from a ninja with the same fire element is even more difficult." 

'Wow... Being a medical ninja has got to be ass, when doing surgery. You not only have to worry about blood type rejections. But you also have to worry about people's innate elemental typing also matching.' I thought with a wry smile.

But still, Eleonor said more seriously. "Don't be surprised if the Uchiha police try to pull something on you. You did, do the equivalent of harassing the local yakuza princess." 

And hearing Eleonor calling Satsuki a yakuza princess made me giggle at the mental image before I sighed and said. "Alright alright... At least I got her with my new secret jutsu."

I heard Eleonor sit down beside me and then she sighed with exasperation. "What unholy jutsu did you use on her? I already heard about your feared and forbidden nutcracker jutsu. But what horrible political storm of a prank did you use on Satsuki?" 

And with utter seriousness I said. "Sage Art... One Thousand Beating Hearts in Harmony." 

"The Uchiha are going to string you up Akari... That or force you to marry one of their women to keep their honor." Eleonor said with exhaustion.

And with no shame, I said honestly. "No Eleonor... You don't understand the power of my hugs, they are something that will make you question love for the rest of your life." 

There was a pause before the woman chortled and said between chuckles. "Not to be mean... But what would an orphan know of love haha?" 

I held a hand over my chest as her words burned... But I sat up on the dragon's head and rolled my eyebrow opened my arms and said. "I will ruin hugs for you then... Just lean in and my arms will wrap around you, and you will never think of hugs the same way." 

Eleonor gave me a long look before she seemingly weighed something before while still remaining in her seated position across from me, leaned in, and entered my hug.

My arms slowly fell around her, and as her face rested on my shoulder I felt her go limp and lean into me with me pulling the thicc beautiful brown-skinned woman into my lap.

And I laughed evilly internally as I gave her the first step of the true meaning of a deathbed companion embrace.

"Thats a good girl." I whispered with my hand gently running down her back making her stiffen. "You did such a good job you know... Working so hard all the time, protecting the leaf, working so hard to protect me." 

I felt Eleonor beginning to rock back and forth in my arms as a soul-deep hug smothered her my affectionate chakra that hugged her internally as well. "Eleonor is such a good... Good girl, no she is the best girl hmm." I continued to whisper.

And the leaf village had nothing on my degeneracy as I went back... I went back to all that degenerate ASMR shit I watched in my previous life as I began whispering sweet nothings into her ear.

Finally, the damn broke, I heard Eleonor start actually crying as her arms latched around my back with her legs wrapping around me as well.

'Fuck you Naruto... My talk no jutsu doesn't even need me to beat a concussion into them for it to work first muahaha!' I mentally cackled.

Then abruptly I stopped the ASMR treatment and moved as though to separate ourselves and Eleonor reacted with her legs and arms tightening around me as she whispered. "Nuuuo! You can't!"

And with an evil smile that crossed my face, I said calmly. "Sorry Eleonor, but it's time for me to go home. I got a Yakusa Princess's assassination attempt to bypass tomorrow."

I used the distraction to get out of Eleonor's arms with a bit of force and I could see in her bright blue eyes utter mental devastation as I had truly, unequivocally ruined any hugs from another person for her.

"Have fun tonight Eleonor!" I called out as I began running back home leaving the clearly distraught woman behind while I wondered how Satsuki was going to get back at me tomorrow.

-

The next day at the academy everything was fine... Until pink-eyed Azula 'Satsuki' of the fire nation attacked.

As Iruka finally had the wonderful idea of having us sparring with our classmates and before Naruko could even react, Iruka had matched me and Satsuki together unaware of the blood feud between us.

So standing in front of Satsuki who was scowling, I awaited my inevitable horrid fate as Satsuki hissed quietly. "I hope you like broken bones!"

And knowing the ass kicking coming my way as her single tomoe sharingan flashed to life, I decided to go for broke and said. "Which pissed you off more? The fact that I embarrassed you socially with my words? Or that fact you enjoyed the hug so much?" 

Satsuki just glared bloody murder at me, and I idly wondered if I should go further... Mention something along the lines of how I the first male in her life probably made her feel physical affection when her father was a cold bastard.

Something something a joke about making her call me daddy or another. But that went a bit too far and was likely to end up with Satsuki 'accidentally' using a kunai in our fight and trying to gut me.

So I just sighed as Satsuki settled into the Uchiha clan's Interceptor Fist, I decided to say fuck it. I was going to beat her ass like a drum the Hashirama way.

See, the Sharingan had a bit of a thing I noticed from Hashirama's sparring with Madara in the genjutsu Kaori put me under. It didn't matter how far ahead they could see ahead or react. If you just gave them no chance to abuse their Sharingan to counter you.

"Alright. Satsuki, Akari go ahead, Naruko and Hinata you two as well start!" Iruka called out having two sets fight at once.

'Whelp... Time to throw hands.' I thought as I charged forward and in following the Hashirama/Tobirama style of 'fuck Uchiha fu' I used a weak straight punk that Satsuki slapped aside and then tried to punch me in the face.

But I just headbutted the shit out of her fist, making her eyebrows twitch as I slammed my palm into her chin as my weak previous punch coudn't be pushed far with how I didn't put any force behind it.

And from there, it was all hands on deck as I kept a brutal pace of close combat with Satsuki with myself ignoring all the intercepting blows that weren't lethal and it was clear that Satsuki herself wasn't trained in fightning people who could ignore her blows.

The Senju style, and heavy plate ninja's used to wear during the Clan Wars era was so powerful due to the Senju's strong bodies that were further augmented by chakra reinforcement that allowed them to ignore all but the most lethal blows.

Satsuki kicked down one of my kicks and she used the force that launched herself up to slam a knee towards my face. But I first blocked her knee with my arms... Which her knee kinda broke an arm a tiny bit.

And then when she was stuck in the air, I grabbed her leg and then I could see the 'Oh shit.' look on her face as I used her leg as a fulcrum and slammned her onto the ground.

'Fucking A, getting broken arms suck.' I thought ruefully as Satsuki groaned as she slowly got back up from where I slammed her into the ground.

She put back up her fists and then after taking a breath she charged back at me this time. Where I first slapped her kick further aside and as I came in, I blocked her thrown elbow that sought use the force of how I pushed her leg further out. 

And with my hands taking her elbow I just came in with a knee that struck her in side with the force slamming right home into her liver making her wheeze in pain as I slowly lowered her to the ground. "Akari, you win!" I heard Iruka call out and I backed away from Satsuki.

While I heard a feminine cry ring out making me look over as Naruko was trying and failing to pin Hinata down who was spinning around Naruko and trying to use her Gentle Fist to disable Naruko.

'A rushing bull versus the agile flying killer wasp.' I thought with amuesment as I walked back over to my friend group as Iruka called out. "Shikamaru and Kamimu, you two get into the ring." 

And without a hint of shame or hesitation Shikamaru called out. "I had really bad diarrhea and you can call my mom to confirm it. I can't fight today."

Iruka just glared at Shikamaru and said flatly. "The fact that I believe you would poison yourself to get out of sparring is entirely too damned depressing for a possible clan heir... Fine Uchaka, get in the ring with Kamimu." 

I didn't bother watching the sparring match between the random talented civilian guy and Kamimu as I was more focused on watching the game of cat and mouse as Hinata and Naruko continued to fight.

Finally Naruko took a hit to her arm that made it sag in place as she lost feeling in it. But before Hinata could capitalize on the lost limb, Naruko laughed as she slung the limp arm around Hinata and then she slammed the Hyuga heiress onto the ground with Naruko falling atop her.

And for a brief moment I saw Hinata flush brightly as Naruko smothered Hinata in her breasts before Naruko jumped up as Iruka called out. "Naruko you win! Next group get onto the field."

"Come on Hinata, you need to make a new friend as well." Naruko spoke boisterously as she held Hinata's hand and brought the shy Hyuga into our friend circle.

"Naruko... I haha, you should at least let me fix your arm." Hinata said shyly as she curled up in her thick jacket that covered up her curves.

But Naruko with no shame just said. "What's more important? A numb arm, or your stagnant pool of a social life?!" 

And Hinata's face twitched as she didn't know whether to be an offender or happy that Naruko seemed to care so much about her. And then she seemingly settled for offended as Naruko pushed her in front of me and said. "Here Akari! Here be the wild Hinata Hyuga turtle, look upon her beautiful form... And do not think she is troublesome or that a bag of chips is more important!"

Even as a dark flush entered Hinata's face as she went embarrassed and catonic at Naruko's words even Ino snapped back. "Wow, Naruko that was a bit much wasn't it!"

"Shikamaru and Choji wandered past the river we were bathing in and they didn't even notice us with how Shikamaru was staring up at the clouds... And Choji was stuffing his face as he emptied the last crumbs of a bag of pork rinds into his mouth." Naruko said hauntedly making me facepalm.

"They were spicy pork rinds! I had to be careful as I was getting the crumbs to make sure none of the dust got into my eyes!" Choji said defensively.

And Shikamaru said blandly which made all three girls look at him angrily. "Why would I look at you naked girls... I can just get a magazine and the magazine wouldn't tell me to do the dishes." 

Which resulted in Ino slapping Shikamaru across the back of the head with the Nara just muttering his trademark 'Troublesome.'

Either way, I looked back to not so catatonic with embarrassment Hinata and said. "Well, my name is Akari, its nice to meet you Hinata." 

Then I shivered feeling a cool sensation pass over me like someone walking over my grave. And I looked behind me and I saw Kamimu approaching from the arena directly towards me.

'Whelp, time to have a conversation with part of conceptual death.' I thought as the demi-goddess walked over.

"So how has your training been going Akari, I have noticed you putting yourself to the grindstone... Even defeating Satsuki even if she was a mite bit distracted is no easy feat especially when she is using her Sharingan." Kamimu spoke softly with her glowing crimson eyes staring at me with a weight only a Sharingan could match.

I shrugged and said calmly. "I have been sparring with some other Uchiha for the last week basically. Their Interceptor Fist can be countered if you just ignore it." 

Everyone's face twitched at my shameless words as everyone remembered how the half-oni Dojus, and that huge Anbu the other day man-handled Satsuki before and that was because they could just ignore Satsuki's greater skill and just fold her in half.

Then Kamimu went to say something but then Hinata spoke up cautiously. "Akari, I had a question... Uhm, I look at you with my Byuakugan, and I realized your uhmm... A couple of your Tenketsu's are broken or something with how they are constantly outputting chakra." 

'Huh, her special peepers can see the Gates in action.' I thought before Hinata continued more seriously.

"Akari were you messing around with the Eight Gates!? Hyuga's are told about the Gates so we can see any Samurai who have them active and I know those tenketsu's are the first two Gates!"

Even Shikamaru lifted his arms to peak at me in interest making me mentally groan before I smiled wryly and said. "Yeah... I am training my body faster by having the Gates open whenever I am exerting my body." 

"Ok... I know it's not my place to be asking these questions, I was just a bit... Curious and worried." Hinata said kinda nervously at my awkward expression with her even pushing her pointer fingers together as she tried to keep her hands busy.

I coughed and then violently changed the subject as I said. "Alrighty, so have any of you guys gone to a Chunin exams finale or something before?"