Karin seemed very familiar with Kushina. She whispered questions about Kimimaro and Haku, her expression changing constantly.
"A boy?!"
After shouting, she stared intensely at Haku's face, a face prettier than hers and for a moment doubted her entire worldview.
When she recovered, her gaze toward Haku became even more cautious…
A boy could easily become an unbeatable rival.
Akio coughed twice helplessly. "Ahem!"
Their attention finally shifted toward him.
Kushina smiled and brought Karin to stand in front of Akio.
"Great-Grandpa, this is the girl."
"G–Great-Grandpa?"
Akio smiled. "You can call me Ancestor, or Grand Elder."
Karin finally understood who he was and nervously greeted him,
"Hello, Grand Elder."
"With Kimimaro and Haku, adding a sensory and healing hybrid like Karin in the middle… this team composition is perfect. No, beyond perfect," Akio thought with delight. He turned to Kushina. "You have good eye for disciples. Karin fits perfectly between them. I'll train them myself for two months. After New Year, I'll hand the whole team to you."
First, he needed to check the details of Kaguya's bloodline illness in Kimimaro, teach Haku some Ice Release secrets, and teach Karin the fine control of Kagura Mind's Eye and how to be 'bitten correctly'…
Kushina, however, wasn't too happy. She originally wanted only Karin as her disciple, aiming for a "future daughter-in-law." Now it'd be three kids… and she still had Naruto to raise.
"Kushina-auntie…" Karin whispered for help, clearly nervous meeting Akio for the first time.
Akio nodded approvingly.
Yes, that's the correct attitude toward a legendary figure.
Girl, you have potential.
"Naruto will be entering the Academy right after New Year. You don't have to watch him every day anymore," Akio added.
After multiple rounds of persuasion, Kushina finally agreed.
"Alright… go withdraw Karin from school, then you can take her."
Kushina rolled her eyes. "Great-Grandpa, we need her parents' permission."
"Oh… what a hassle."
Akio froze.
"Kushina, I leave it to you!"
…
Akio threw all the troublesome matters onto Kushina. Once she handled everything and brought Karin back, he escorted the two kids home.
Since he was free on the way back, he would check Kimimaro's body…
"Kimimaro, Haku, remember Kushina-auntie from earlier? After New Year, she'll be the one guiding you."
Kimimaro stiffened. "God!"
Akio shook his head. "You can't stay with me forever. You need comrades. Haku… and that little girl, Karin. They'll be your teammates."
"Don't worry. Even with Kushina teaching you, you won't lose sight of me. If you miss me, just come find me."
Kimimaro was still unwilling, but seeing Haku silently walking along without complaint, he didn't say anything more.
"And you, Haku train properly. When you become a jōnin, if you want to follow Zabuza, then follow him. I won't stop you. But staying with him now only slows down your potential."
Haku's stiff little face finally showed color.
"Mm!"
Akio sighed. "Two of them… both problem children."
Suddenly, loud shouting came from not far away. Akio looked in that direction, it was a structure similar to the Chūnin Exam stadium in Konoha.
Sensing the area for a moment, Akio smiled.
He glanced at the two kids.
"Come on. I'll take you to see something interesting. Haku, Zabuza is there too."
This was the stadium built especially for the Uzumaki Country's Chūnin Exams but today, the ones fighting inside weren't genin, but jōnin.
The reason, of course, was the selection of the new Seven Ninja Blade wielders not three, but four.
Right now, the ones fighting was an elite Uzumaki jōnin and Zabuza. Akio didn't even need sensory abilities, the mist covering the entire barrier made it obvious enough.
"Mr. Zabuza…" Haku whispered nervously, his little face tight.
"It's fine. Zabuza isn't going to die," Akio said without much concern.
In fights of this level, only Minato or Akio himself could act as referee, able to save the loser instantly, preventing deaths.
Akio sensed Minato's chakra at the center of the arena.
That meant no matter whether Zabuza won or lost, he would live…
On the other side, Nagato noticed Akio's arrival and walked toward them.
As he approached, the audience gradually quieted. Seconds ago, they were cheering loudly for the Uzumaki jōnin.
"Teacher."
Nagato looked guilty, so guilty he didn't even say "yo."
"What's going on?"
"The clan members… they're unhappy that you directly assigned the Decapitating Blade to a Kirigakure ninja. They want to challenge the blade's ownership."
Akio shook his head, smiling. "Where's the shark-faced kid?"
"Hoshigaki Kisame's Samehada originally belonged to him, so…"
"I understand."
Akio sighed and looked toward Haku.
"The Decapitating Blade was actually the price Zabuza paid for letting this 'little girl' join our Uzumaki Country. But if the clan has objections, then let them challenge."
Nagato exhaled in relief.
Akio added,
"But limit it to three challengers, one per day. No revolving-door battles. And anyone who loses the Decapitating Blade challenge cannot try for the other three blades."
"Understood!"
…
"clang!"
A loud clash of weapons echoed as the mist on the field dispersed. Zabuza's long blade was caught by Minato's kunai. Behind Minato stood a completely dejected Uzumaki jōnin.
"This match, Momochi Zabuza wins!" Minato announced.
The audience sighed regretfully.
Zabuza himself was barely standing, nearly collapsing but upon seeing Akio, he immediately propped himself up with his blade and sharpened his gaze.
Whether he didn't want Akio to look down on him, or he didn't want to embarrass himself in front of Haku…
Haku's face flushed, and his introverted nature made the joy get stuck in his throat, unable to shout, which made him even cuter.
Akio patted his head with a smile.
"Zabuza might not be able to keep the Decapitating Blade. If it were Kisame instead… aside from Minato and the four strongest, no one in Uzumaki Country could beat him. But Zabuza… we have seven or eight jōnin around his level."
"If he really loses it… he might go through a 'don't look down on young men' arc.
Lose his eyebrows, lose his hair, he might end up unstoppable."
Akio's thoughts wandered again.
"Teacher?" Nagato whispered.
Akio snapped out of it. "It's fine. Continue hosting the matches. We'll watch for a bit, then leave."
"Understood!"
Akio turned to the two kids.
"Take a good look, this is the backbone of the Uzumaki Country.
Your first goal… is to surpass them."
---
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