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The next morning, Aki and Hiruzen Sarutobi borrowed a carriage from the Land of Frost. After loading Uchiha Hui's coffin onto it, they left the Konoha camp.
As soon as they rolled out, they saw Uchiha Kagami standing by the roadside, looking like he was waiting for someone.
Hiruzen grinned and called out, "Hey Kagami! Don't tell me you're tagging along back to Konoha too?"
Kagami nodded and explained, "Lord Tobirama was worried Aki wouldn't be able to keep the clan elders in check. Also..."
Lying on top of the coffin, staring up at the sky, Aki cut him off mid-sentence. "Worried I might go on a killing spree, huh? So he sent you to keep an eye on me? Makes sense. You're an Uchiha too, after all."
Right after he said that, his Mangekyō Sharingan flared up in his eyes, glaring coldly at Kagami.
Kagami immediately broke into a cold sweat and dropped his head, not daring to meet Aki's gaze. Inwardly, he was freaking out:That look... it's terrifying. Just like Lord Madara back in the day. The shape of the eyes might be different, but that pressure... it's too much. I can't even look him in the eye!
At that moment, Hiruzen smacked Aki lightly on the head, covering his eyes with his palm.
"Alright, let's go! You just gonna stand there like a scarecrow?"
Aki turned his head back to the sky and muttered, "This world... is so damn disappointing."
Hiruzen chuckled and teased him, "Listen to you! You're just a nine-year-old kid, talking like some jaded old man. What do you even know? There's still a ton of beautiful things in this world!"
Aki suddenly sat up and stared at Hiruzen, who was driving the carriage. "Like what?"
Hiruzen flicked the reins and said, "Peaches! Bananas! You telling me they're not delicious? And what about the smiles of the villagers back in Konoha? Aren't those heartwarming? Not to mention your mom. So many things!"
Aki gave him a look of pure disdain. "Sure, the view at the village bathhouse is pretty 'heartwarming'—too bad it's not me doing the heartwarming. And peaches and bananas? Don't think those are exactly what humans are after, y'know?"
Without looking back, Hiruzen kept going, "That's just 'cause you don't know how to appreciate the finer things in life. And hey! Don't bring up that whole 'spying' thing again. You've got no proof. You didn't see anything!"
Aki burst out laughing. "You had your crystal ball out and were drooling all over it! Don't tell me you were looking at fruit!"
Hiruzen was about to argue back when Aki's expression turned serious.
"I'm just... in a bad mood, that's all. This trip home is more like taking a break than anything else. I haven't fulfilled my teacher's dream yet. And I still want to protect my mom. I'm not gonna lose it or anything. I just hope the Second Hokage kills the Second Raikage soon and avenges my dad."
Konoha Encampment, Land of Frost
An ANBU captain pointed at a spot on the map. "The Iwa-nin haven't retreated. They've actually increased their numbers. Word is, the Third Tsuchikage has officially been appointed by the daimyo of the Land of Earth. He's not just the acting Tsuchikage anymore. We picked up some hidden clues—turns out Iwa has at least six thousand troops in the Land of Waterfalls."
The Second Hokage studied the map for a while before speaking. "That Tsuchikage's student is something else. Just a few days ago, he screwed us over by letting the Kumo-nin escape from right under our noses, only for them to show up behind our lines. If I hadn't double-checked everything, Konoha might've lost our battle with the Kumo-nin for good. And now he's trying to mess with us again?"
The ANBU captain frowned. "If we don't wrap things up soon, the Land of Wind might also start stirring."
"The Land of Wind? Didn't they learn their lesson the last time?"
"We've gathered almost all of Konoha's strongest shinobi here in the Land of Frost. That leaves the Fire Country dangerously exposed. If we don't settle things with the Kumo-nin quickly, I'm worried the Third Tsuchikage might team up with the Second Kazekage and launch a full-scale assault on our homeland. You know how it is—those two countries act like allies, but deep down, they hate our guts. Who knows what they'll try?"
Tobirama fell silent again. After a long pause, he finally said, "The Second Raikage is insanely strong. Taking him down won't be easy—it's gonna cost us. And don't forget the guys I've fought before: Kinkaku, Ginkaku, and that unknown disciple of the Second Raikage—they're all monsters. Nobody in this camp can beat them one-on-one. Not even you. Our only option would be to gang up on them in the middle of battle... but the Kumo forces aren't any smaller than ours. Honestly, I don't see any clean way out of this mess."
The ANBU captain leaned forward. "We're running out of time. We can't afford to drag this out. The longer this goes, the worse it'll get."
Tobirama sighed. "I know that too. But if we go all in, both sides will be devastated. No matter who wins, both villages could end up at the bottom of the Five Great Nations."
"You're saying the Mist wants us to pay up what I promised the Second Mizukage?" the Second Raikage asked, puzzled, as he looked at the ANBU kneeling before him.
"Yes, Raikage-sama. The Mist Village has submitted a formal request for the reward you promised the Second Mizukage. They want it delivered soon."
Ginkaku sneered. "When the Second Mizukage just died, they didn't say a damn thing. Now they're showing up to collect? Do they think we're idiots? Trying to take advantage of us? Not happening!"
A big white-haired man added, "But if we don't agree, they might attack us. Don't forget—they rule the seas. We'd never see them coming. If they strike from the ocean, they could wipe out our village in one go, and we'd be helpless to fight back. And don't forget—Konoha's still standing right in front of us."
The Second Raikage turned to Ginkaku. "How's Kinkaku doing?"
Ginkaku growled, "That bastard Tobirama hit him with some kind of sealing jutsu. He can't use ninjutsu right now. But it won't last long. Don't worry."
The Raikage nodded. "Take Kinkaku back to the village and get that seal broken ASAP. Forget about what's happening here. Once he's healed up, head straight to the coastline and keep an eye on the Mist."
Ginkaku knew this wasn't a discussion—it was an order. And with Kinkaku out of commission, he didn't have the clout to argue with the Raikage. Reluctantly, he accepted the mission and left the war room.
Once Ginkaku was gone, the white-haired man asked, "Why'd you send him away? I don't think the Mist are gonna move against us anytime soon."
The Second Raikage looked up and said quietly, "Not everything in this world can be solved with force. Right now, it's like Kumo and Konoha are two strong men standing on a narrow bridge. One wrong move, and both of us will fall into the river and drown."
The white-haired man thought for a moment. "But the hardliners in the village will never agree to a peace deal."
The Raikage laughed. "They're short-sighted fools. They don't get the big picture. For the sake of the village's future, forming an alliance with Konoha is the smartest move. If we fight to the end, even if we win, both villages could be wiped off the map."
"But Lord Tobirama might not want an alliance."
The Raikage laughed louder. "Hahaha! You think Konoha is really as united as it looks? Between their internal issues and the so-called 'allied nations' they're leading, it's a mess. Don't forget—it was the Third Tsuchikage who let Kinkaku and Ginkaku go!"
He turned and walked out, saying as he left, "From today on, Kumo-nin won't step outside the borders of the Land of Lightning. I trust Tobirama Senju will get the message."
After days on the road, Uchiha Kagami kept watching Aki closely. Hui's death had been too sudden, and the clan elders wouldn't take a nine-year-old seriously. They'd probably already started planning to replace the family head. But... did this kid really have the power to go on a killing spree?
Kagami remembered what Tobirama told him when he got the mission:"Uchiha Aki is hiding something from me. You may not be aware of it either. I can't say for sure what it is yet, but some people in your clan might try to block him from becoming head of the Uchiha. Your job is to help him resolve it—without using force."
Kagami was confused. "With your support, Aki-sama's rise shouldn't face too much resistance. But what do you mean by 'no force'?"
Tobirama looked at him and said, "Can you use any Uchiha-specific jutsu without proper training? Anything at all?"
Kagami shook his head. "No, sir. Even though our secret techniques come naturally to us, they still require years of practice."
Tobirama nodded. "What if I told you that when Aki returns to Konoha, he's going to slaughter every clan elder who opposes him? Would you believe me?"
Kagami was stunned. "That's impossible! Aki-sama only has a three-tomoe Sharingan. There's no way he could threaten the elders!"
Tobirama's face turned expressionless. "Aki has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. I've already sealed the mouths of all the vanguard shinobi, so the news hasn't spread."
Kagami stood there, completely shocked. "What? The... Mangekyō... Sharingan!?"
"....."