"Yes," Akashi thought, a quiet satisfaction settling within him, "I do love it when a plan comes together." The prospect of the Chinoike Clan bolstering Uzushiogakure's defenses filled him with a sense of progress. Yet, he knew this was but a single step on a long and perilous road. His ultimate goal remained the survival of the village through the cataclysmic Fourth Great Shinobi War and the even more enigmatic threat of the Otsutsuki Clan.
Hopefully, he mused, a sliver of uncertainty creeping into his thoughts, all the preparations I make in the coming years will be sufficient. The Otsutsuki remained a significant unknown, their power and motivations shrouded in the limited information he possessed from his past life.
A sigh escaped his lips. Better to focus on the immediate future, on navigating the treacherous currents of the Third Great Shinobi War that looms on the future horizon.
Grandfather Ashina's voice cut through his thoughts, addressing the assembled elders. "Furthermore, my grandson Akashi has bravely agreed to become the Jinchuriki of the Seven-Tails. The sealing ceremony will be conducted when he reaches the age of five; until then, Chomei will remain safely within the stomach of the Shinigami."
Two years, Akashi calculated. That's a manageable timeframe. A flicker of anticipation sparked within him. Perhaps I can forge a bond with Chomei, similar to the one Naruto shared with Kurama.
"With that," Ashina concluded, a note of finality in his tone, "this meeting is adjourned!"
Time Skip Jutsu – Two Weeks Later
Two weeks had passed since the pivotal elder council meeting, and Akashi had immersed himself in the foundational exercises of chakra control under his grandfather's tutelage.
"Dammit!" he exclaimed, frustration lacing his voice as the leaf stubbornly refused to adhere to his forehead. "Why won't this stupid leaf stick?"
Ashina's gaze was patient but firm. "You must focus your concentration, Akashi. We Uzumaki are blessed with an abundance of chakra. While this is a great strength, it also presents a unique challenge in the early stages of training. Our natural inclination towards large chakra reserves often hinders the development of fine control. You, in particular, possess an unusually high volume of chakra for your age, making this initial stage even more demanding."
Ashina's words resonated with Akashi's own experience. It was as if Kami, in his infinite wisdom (or perhaps sheer randomness), had bestowed upon him not just a second chance but also a veritable torrent of raw power. Controlling it felt akin to trying to dam a raging river with pebbles. "I understand, Grandfather," Akashi sighed, running a frustrated hand through his crimson locks. "It's just that whenever I try to create a steady flow, it feels more like… a surging flood." He finally understood Naruto's early struggles with chakra control, amplified by the disruptive presence of Kurama.
"Let me offer you a crucial insight, Akashi," Ashina said, his voice softening slightly. "Chakra control relies heavily on visualization. You must clearly imagine your chakra, the desired outcome, and then meticulously guide its flow."
Visualization, huh? Akashi's mind flashed back to a hazy memory from his past life, Ichigo Kurosaki's arduous training to control his spiritual pressure in Bleach. The concept of mental imagery as a tool for manipulating internal energy seemed to be a universal principle. If it worked for a Shinigami, perhaps it will work for a shinobi. He closed his eyes, focusing his inner eye. My chakra is like water… I am the faucet, precisely regulating the flow, directing it with intention.
"Hoho," Ashina chuckled, a hint of amusement in his voice. "It seems you have found your focus, Akashi. The leaf… it has adhered."
Akashi cautiously opened his eyes, maintaining his mental grip on his chakra. A single, fragile leaf clung to his forehead. Yes! A surge of triumph coursed through him. It wasn't as insurmountable as it seemed.
"I see that look in your eyes, Akashi," Ashina cautioned, his tone turning serious. "Do not allow this initial success to breed arrogance. This is a fundamental exercise, something every shinobi in the clan can achieve. You still have a long and arduous path ahead in mastering true control."
Ashina's words were a timely reminder. He was still leagues away from the fluid grace of tree walking, the delicate balance of water walking, and the intricate manipulation of shape transformation. "Yes, Grandfather. I understand. I'm simply… encouraged by this progress."
"That is a healthy sentiment, Akashi. But remember this: arrogance is the silent assassin of prodigies. Many promising talents in this world have withered on the vine due to their own hubris." Ashina's words carried a weight of experience, a somber truth about the perilous world they inhabited.
"Thank you, Grandfather. I will heed your lesson," Akashi replied, the initial elation tempered by a newfound awareness.
"Excellent. Now, let us continue your training. By the end of today, I want you to be able to maintain the leaf's adhesion for a full thirty minutes. And by the end of the week, you will strive to control three leaves simultaneously." Ashina's expectations were high but not unreasonable.
"I will accomplish it, Grandfather," Akashi affirmed, a spark of determination reigniting within him. "I also wanted to ask… when will I meet my personal instructor? Not that I don't deeply appreciate your guidance, Grandfather, but I know your responsibilities are immense, and you mentioned finding someone specifically for me the other day."
Ashina smiled reassuringly. "Have patience, Akashi. You will be meeting him… soon."
Kuroko's Thoughts – A Silent Witness
The memory of that fateful mission to Konohagakure still burned like a festering wound in Kuroko's mind. When the scouts had delivered the grim news of the impending invasion, a wave of despair had washed over Uzushiogakure. The Uzumaki prided themselves on their mastery of Fuinjutsu and their formidable chakra reserves, but even they recognized the impossibility of repelling such an overwhelming force.
It was then that Ashina had entrusted Kuroko with a desperate mission: to seek reinforcements from their long-standing allies in Konohagakure.
Initially, Kuroko had held a flicker of hope. The bonds between Uzushiogakure and Konoha were deeply ingrained in their history, a connection forged in shared battles and mutual respect. He had believed, perhaps naively, that this alliance would hold firm in their hour of need. Sadly, he had been tragically wrong. Upon reaching Konoha and relaying the dire circumstances to the Hokage, the response had been a cold, unwavering refusal.
The Hokage had cited their own strained resources as the reason for their inaction. Kuroko might have accepted this explanation had it not been for the subtle whispers of his Eye of Kagura. He had sensed the true emotions swirling within the Hokage and his fellow elders: not concern, but a chilling undercurrent of… satisfaction. No, more than that – a disturbing undercurrent of avarice.
Disillusioned and enraged, Kuroko had returned to Uzushiogakure with the grim tidings. The news had been met with disbelief and then a simmering fury. Yet, what recourse did they have? To attack Konoha would be to invite further destruction upon their already vulnerable village. Some had even suggested a desperate plea to Mito Uzumaki and the Senju clan within Konoha, but that idea had been swiftly dismissed. Whispers of the Senju's diminished influence within their own village had reached Uzushiogakure.
In the ensuing days, a suffocating tension had gripped the village, a palpable sense of impending doom. Then, an unexpected beacon of hope had emerged: the Clan Head's three-year-old grandson.
A child with no battle experience, yet he had proposed strategic maneuvers, a way of fighting that had never even occurred to their seasoned warriors. Following his seemingly intuitive instructions, they had not only survived the impossible battle but had emerged victorious.
The village had erupted in days of fervent celebration, a collective outpouring of relief and gratitude. But the victory had been Pyrrhic. The Uzumaki Clan had suffered devastating losses, more than half their shinobi fallen in the brutal defense. In the aftermath, the elders had made a crucial decision: Uzushiogakure would no longer restrict its trade solely to Konohagakure.
They would open their markets to all nations, even offering select, non-threatening sealing techniques to foreigners for a fair price.
Predictably, this news had not been well-received in Konoha. A delegation, spearheaded by the First Hokage's granddaughter, the formidable Tsunade Senju, her younger brother Nawaki, and the current, seemingly powerless, Senju Clan Head, had arrived in Uzushiogakure, attempting to mend the fractured alliance. Tsunade, radiating the arrogance of her lineage, had seemed confident that their mere presence would sway the Uzumaki.
Little did she know that the Uzushiogakure held little regard for a village that had abandoned them in their darkest hour, and even power less for a Senju clan that held no real power within its own village.
The rejection had visibly shattered Tsunade's considerable ego. Kuroko had even sensed her barely suppressed rage as she departed, the subtle tremors of her chakra betraying her fury. A grim smile had touched his lips. The arrogance of the mighty, humbled by the resilience of the seemingly weak, was a sight he found strangely satisfying.
The whispers of a new instructor for the young Akashi reached Kuroko's ears. He wondered who Ashina would deem worthy of guiding such a promising, albeit unconventional, talent. The future of Uzushiogakure, he sensed, was inextricably linked to the development of this extraordinary child.
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End of 9th chapter