Land of fire underworld market
This underground exchange was below a massive gambling den and was as big as the gambling den above.
This kind of establishment had become increasingly common; it was a sign that the underworld's power had grown in the last few years.
The underworld had always been a significant institution with deep roots, but they had always had to hide their existence, helpless against the great Ninja village. However, now even the great village had to tread carefully with them.
"Is that true?" Makari, a powerful rogue ninja, exclaimed, looking at the missions in the underworld exchange
"Yes, Jonin Makari, this is indeed the truth. A delegation of the Uzumaki clan will make its way to the Fire Capital in a few days to assist the Damyo's introduction of his new concubine.
A bounty of five hundred million has been put on their heads; the team that manages to eliminate them will probably have enough to leave that life of danger forever," One of the receptionists of the underground exchange said to his customer.
"Humph," After his initial excitement, Makari, as an experience ninjas, quickly calmed down and let out a cold snort,
"I know that the Uzumaki are deeply tied, with the underworld and eyes everywhere in the world now, hell the reason why you have grown so mush that the five ninjas village are wary of you is due to them are you trying to make me belive that you are going to kill your golden goose," Makari sneared as if he had uncover some great conspiracym, and maybe he had after all everything he had said was true,
Since their association with the Uzumaki, the underworld had grown enough to become a major player.
"Indeed, they probably already know that a bounty has been put on them, but them what, they aren't the only ones ruling the underworld, Daimyos, nobles, and other ninjas have an interest in it, and many want them dead so that they can finally steal their seals, particularly now, with all the billions they make."
"I can introduce you to a few nobles, in case you and your team need protection after that mission is complete, but you'd better decide quickly, you are not the only team on that."
The news of the Uzumaki will arrive at the land of fire for the Daimyo wedding, and quickly travel to the tables of various important people.
Crack crack
The wheels of a carriage vacillated against the harsh road.
It was a beautiful red and white carriage that was making its way through the forest of of the land of Fire toward the Daimyo castle.
"Hum, the scenery is good," Old man Kuroko said, with a peaceful smile on his face as he looked through the window of the carriage.
"You should stop spending so much time on your books and enjoy the beauty of the world around you. You are young and strong enough, you should have more...diverse interest,"
Kuroko said to Akashi, in front of him, who had his head buried in a book.
" I have diverse interests," Akashi responded flatly
"Look at that woman, her name is Ria, she possesses the crystal release Kekei genkai, she is beautiful, isn't she?" he attracted Akashi's attention towards one of the beautiful kunoichi escorting them outside.
"She is beautiful, what of it?"
"You know, I could send her to take care of you, if you know what I mean?!" The old man said with a sly and suggestive smile,
"What am I supposed to do with her? I am not yet of age," he said, returning to his book while thinking.g
'Is he giving me license to be a player?'
Nothing was shocking about that, really; that part wasn't shown in the original work, but seduction is part of the job, particularly for kunoichi.
It is part of the reason why, in the original work, Sasuke had so many fan girls; they were trying to seduce him as taught by their teacher.
It might seem dark, but it is normal in this world; only the strongest kunoichi are exempt of that.
"So now you know that you aren't of age yet, sigh, with your appearance and the way you act, I myself sometimes forget it."
"Don't worry, old man, I am not some kind of good guy who intends to remain pure or something. I will be a proper Daimyo for Uzushiogakur,e and a proper Daimyo needs to have multiple wives. I mean, look at the fire Daimyo, aren't we going to his fifty wedding or something?"
"Please don't become like him!"
"Humph,"
"Looks like we have visitors again," Kuroko said. He could feel a group of ninjas running toward them; his Kagura mind eye allowed him to see much farther than Akashi and all other Uzumaki. He warned one ninja outside with a mere gesture.
"It's already the fourth group, traveling in those carriages is cumbersome, we are attracting all those rats, it's like a beacon in the night."
"They are good training dummies for the kids," he said, looking at the ninjas outsi.de
Clank, clank,
"It's starting!"
Sounds of clash resounded all around the carriage, but Akashi kept his head in his book.
"Do you want to join them?"
"Later maybe," he replied noncommittally.
"Hum, I have something I wanted to ask," old man Kuroko said
"Ask away, grandpa."
"Have you awakened your mangekyo sharingan?"
That unexpected question made Akashi once again lift his eyes of his book
"No! Why the question? Are you also afraid of the mangekyo?"
"Of course not, do you take me for the Konoba Higher ups." Kuroko said, shaking his head, "I am asking because I am curious. How are you capable of using seals with your eyes, the same way you use illusions? That's why I am wondering."
Hearing that, Akashi realized that those abilities, for those who don't know, will make them think that he awakened the Mangekyo.
But he just let out a scoff
"It's just that I don't waste my gift, unlike others. You know how seals are made, amateurs use ink, experts can use blood or chakra,"
Clank
A small chain extended from Akashi's index finger. The moment it touched the wall of the carriage, a sound seal envelopped them,
"You also know how the Uchiha use their Sharingan right, contrary to other ninjas, a Uchiha can project chakra through their eyes into the brain of their enemies. This is how they use their genjutsu. Once you know that half the work is done,"
"I see! I guess compared to a genius like you, everyone is a little slow, but even then, the Sharingan is not programmed to send seals, immense perception, copying jutsu, and powerful genjutsu. Those are the abilities. How did you add more?"
"That's why I said this is half the work," He said, turning his gaze to the left window where a rogue ninja appeared outside, ready to strike
"Sharingan," At Akashi"s exclamation, the ninja froze, slowly, black patterns of a paralysis seal appeared on his skin.
Swoosh,
Before he could say anything, a crystal blade fell, and the rogue's head rolled on the ground, blood splurting from its neck.
"I just tweaked with my eyes a little, nothing really complicated about that,"
Kuroko let out a sigh, marvelling once more about how much of a genius Akashi was.
"You really aren't afraid that all those tweaks to your eyes will stop you from awakening the mangekyo sharingan?"
"I believe that I won't have a problem with that, but in the end, I don't really care if I can't awaken those eyes. I believe that after a certain point, what really matters is the quantity and quality of chakra." With that, he returned to his book
Akashi wasn't worried, for someone who knew the original story, he had many ways to get stronger, and even awaken six path if he wanted.
"Maybe you're right, you are a genius after all, and with two of the most powerful clan resources and kekkei genkai, I really can't predict how strong you will become in the future..."
As Kuroko said, his head turned toward the ceiling.
"Looks like we are gonna have to move ourselves." With his powerful mind eye, much more powerful than any other, the old man could see powerful ninjas entering his field of vision,
Dissipating the silencing seal that Akashi had previously put around them, he looked at the Uzushiogakure ninjas who had just finished eliminating the rogue.
"Time for us to stretch out our limbs, you're gonna have the opportunity to test your new techniques, Akashi,"
whoosh
With that, the two flickered in front of their escort. The moment they did, Maric Uzumaki, another powerful high-ranking ninja of New Uzushiogakure and friend of Kana, Akashi's mother, appeared beside. them
"Listen well, kids, a new attack is coming, this time much more numerous. Be ready,"
As that sentence fell, a series of whooshing sounds resounded around them, and nearly a hundred ninjas appeared in the trees.
The look they gave the people of this caravan filled with so much greed and hunger, like the people in front of them weren't human.
"We are gonna have so much fun!"