Unfortunately, the "Journey to the West" expedition team failed before it even formed.
The four people on the other side didn't understand the reference at all. Ringo Ameyuri even swaggered and said,
"Sanzō, huh? Who's going to the Western Paradise is still up in the air!"
Awkward.
And the real awkward part came after. Yahiko struggled over and squeezed in behind Rin and Obito, speaking softly:
"Have you noticed? Hanzō keeps getting stronger… but his intelligence seems to be getting worse. If we find the right method, we might actually have a chance to defeat him…"
Obito nodded in deep agreement, making Akio's face turn dark as he instantly closed in on him.
A beloved Iron Fist passed straight through Obito's chest, as expected yet Akio smiled.
"Ah!!"
Obito suddenly screamed as if struck for real, flying backward and slamming into a wall.
"What the? Brat!"
Obito rubbed his chest and stood up. "Damn… I forgot there's still someone else in my space… Quanzo?"
Akio grinned. After all these years, Obito was still this… adorable.
To "educate" Obito, Akio had been standing very close to Rin. Yet until Obito got up and spoke, Rin hadn't shouted "yaaaah!" even once. Instead, she hesitated and said:
"…Master?"
Akio froze. She actually guessed it.
Obito, however, yelled:
"Rin! Why are you calling him Master?! Don't tell me you're actually going to the West with him to… get some scriptures?!"
Akio sighed. This kid's brain really needed some more Iron Fist education.
Ten minutes later.
Rin, smiling happily, was treating "Fatty Obito's" swelling.
Akio had already transformed into Hagoromo and was treating Yahiko and Ringo Ameyuri.
Yahiko, seeing the bizarre course of events, was completely lost. He tested the waters:
"Senior… you are…?"
Rin explained,
"Yahiko, this is mine and Obito's master, Master Hagoromo."
Akio chuckled.
"Rin, how did you recognize me?"
"During the battle, I thought it was strange. You hit Obito so many times, but he barely had scratches. And you had so many openings to hit me, but each time… you suddenly pulled back or changed direction."
Rin glanced apologetically at Yahiko and Ringo.
"They ended up much worse off than we did."
"I was only suspicious, but when you mentioned that 'Journey to the West' thing earlier… your tone sounded way too familiar."
Obito mumbled through his swollen face:
"Rin, you seriously thought the thing in your space was… Quanzo?"
Akio sighed. This kid and his "Quanzō" honestly…
Rin sighed too, then pinched Obito hard, she'd gotten very used to it.
"AHHH!!"
Obito's scream echoed, and the room became flavorless cough, quiet.
After a long moment, Obito's swelling subsided enough for him to speak clearly again.
"Master… that thing in my space?"
"Hm. That's my shadow clone."
Obito focused, his space warping, but he still couldn't pull Akio's clone out.
"Master?"
Akio smiled.
"Leave him in there. Without him, your space ability is too troublesome. It's a pain to punch you."
Obito's expression crumpled.
"Master… why do you want to punch me?"
Akio paused, and an image of Madara surfaced in his mind.
"Probably because… you're an Uchiha. And you've awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan."
The Madara-brand sandbag replacement, Obito!
"Tell me about your past two years. How did you meet those two?"
He pointed at the bedridden Yahiko and Ringo.
The two injured ninja were extremely annoyed but didn't know where to vent.
Especially Ringo Ameyuri, normally she would've cursed him out already. But now…
On one hand, "Hagoromo" was Rin and Obito's master. She didn't think much of Obito, but Rin had been the one taking care of her injuries.
On the other hand, she couldn't read Hagoromo's depth. Since when did the ninja world have such a powerhouse? And she was injured, better delay the "jumping around" for later.
So, the two lay there and watched the master and disciples chat… until nightfall.
"So that much happened?"
Akio sighed, genuinely shaken.
"No wonder you awakened the Mangekyō… that really was dangerous."
He turned to the two bedridden.
"Thank you for saving them."
He meant it. Without Yahiko and Ringo, Rin and even Obito might've died in that battle.
Looking at their bandaged bodies, Akio even felt a rare twinge of guilt. Maybe he had hit them a little too hard…
"Consider the entire Land of Rain yours. Compensation."
He said inwardly.
Rin looked at Obito and smiled.
"Master, that's all in the past. Tell us about what you've been doing all these years!"
Akio froze.
What had he been doing?
Dragged into a dimension by a stupid cat for five years…
Came out and beat up Madara twice for fun…
Went to Kirigakure and picked up two small brats…
Then disguised as Hanzō and punched Obito twice…
Ahem. Now that he thought about it… his life had been eventful.
Of course, he couldn't say that to his disciples.
So, he rambled from north to south, east to west, talking until Obito was stunned, Rin smiled sweetly and didn't believe a single word.
Yahiko's eyes were dead inside.
He'd actually lost his ideals to someone like this.
Ringo Ameyuri rubbed a loose tooth from the previous fight. Something about this unreliable old man felt strangely familiar…
Akio noticed and coughed, changing the subject.
"Alright, that's enough about me. It's late, I should head back, or 'Hanzō' will go missing again."
Yahiko blinked.
"You're still pretending to be Hanzō? Why?"
Akio smiled.
"If you want to take over the Land of Rain, killing Hanzō isn't as good as him handing the country to you himself."
Yahiko's eyes lit up, even his wounds felt lighter.
But Akio continued:
"But think carefully. Once you take over, what can you do? Konoha and Iwa won't care. War will still be war. Without Hanzō's protection, the Land of Rain may get even worse."
Yahiko hesitated.
"I'll do better than Hanzō ever did."
Akio smiled. Young people were always confident.
"Your strength needs work. Your injuries need two days. I'll come during the daytime for the next two days to 'educate' Obito. Learn what you can from the side."
"Thank you, Senior."
Obito's face twisted.
"Master… you're coming tomorrow too?"
"What? You don't want to see me?"
"…I do. I do."
Akio waved, transforming into Hanzō.
"Good. Then see you tomorrow; Hanzō is returning to his palace!"
"Safe travels, Master!" Rin called sweetly.
Obito's suffering faded into awe.
"Master… really is incredible…"
---
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