Chapter 387: Idols and the Heavenly Palace
Dana wiped away his sweat, feeling thoroughly refreshed.
"I've basically adapted to forty times gravity... Once I consolidate my core strength a bit more, I can challenge fifty times."
This was the top floor of the Cloud Spire, inside a Gravity Chamber specifically constructed to meet the daily cultivation needs of the Consul and the Grand General.
It had been over two years since its completion. Dana's capacity for gravity training had risen steadily from eight times to forty times his normal weight.
The increase in gravity was all-encompassing. Unlike carrying physical weights, it affected every bone, blood vessel, and internal organ in the body. One had to proceed with extreme caution.
Fighting for a short burst under high gravity was one thing, but conducting systematic, long-term training was another matter entirely.
Under Tobirama Senju's development, the "Super Weighted Boulder Technique" had surpassed its original limits and had been adapted for various uses—the Gravity Chamber was just one of many.
The only slight drawback was that complex machinery couldn't be placed inside the chamber, as the pressure would cause rapid mechanical failure. They had to rely on traditional equipment like dumbbells.
Dana rolled his shoulders, and the sound of his bones popping echoed like firecrackers through the metallic room.
They say a man has a final growth spurt in his early twenties; perhaps because his body had been pushed to its limits in the Gravity Chamber, Dana had grown even taller over the past two years.
As his height and physique raced toward the proportions of an "Admiral," Dana himself was quite satisfied with the change. It was only Kayo and Natsu who found the new scale... challenging.
No pain, no gain, Dana thought.
"Consul-sama, Princess Mao is here to see you. She's approaching the Gravity Chamber. Shall we grant entry?"
"Let her through."
The heavy doors hissed open, revealing three children lined up at the entrance. Dana blinked in surprise.
Obito laughed awkwardly. "Consul-sama... these two are my younger clan brothers."
Dana reached out and scooped Mao up, letting her sit comfortably in the crook of his massive arm. "Quite a crowd. Has Mao made some new friends?"
Mao shook her head and pouted. "Obito is a friend! Those two aren't! They're too boring. They won't talk!"
The two younger boys looked instantly embarrassed. The smallest one gritted his teeth so hard his nasolabial folds—those distinct tear-trough lines—became prominent even at his age.
Given those iconic facial features, Dana had a very good guess as to who these children were. However, at his current level, he was far beyond having a visible reaction to meeting "familiar" faces from the original timeline.
He looked at Obito. "Aren't you on vacation today? Why haven't you returned to Konoha?"
As far as he knew, Kakashi and Guy had both returned to the village to visit their families.
"I don't really have any family left in Konoha..." Obito replied, scratching his head. "And it just so happened that someone from the clan was bringing Shisui here today to enroll in school."
Dana looked at the seven or eight-year-old boy. He had handsome features but a distinct, slightly bulbous nose, giving him an air of maturity beyond his years.
"Enrolling in the Federation General Academy? That requires quite the talent. Work hard."
To travel from other regions to study at the General Academy in Cloud City meant the child was a certified genius.
Shisui Uchiha snapped to attention and shouted, "Yes, sir!"
The boy was clearly intimidated by the Consul's presence. This was a figure straight out of his textbooks! The founder of the Federation! The man who ended the Era of Hidden Villages! The Lord of Benevolent Rule! The strongest shinobi in the world!
There were too many titles attached to this titan of a man.
Shisui hadn't expected to meet his idol on his very first day in Cloud City.
Unlike other children, Shisui was deep-thinking. He had learned from his Academy texts just how much the ninja world had suffered during the era of fragmentation. He was, quite literally, a die-hard fan of the Federation system.
Today was a "meeting the idol" moment born of pure coincidence.
Dana carried Mao out of the gravity training wing and toward his office.
"Is Grandpa around?" Mao asked.
"Grandpa went to Kirigakure for a work inspection. He won't be back until tonight."
Dana chatted idly with his daughter. Behind them, Shisui and Itachi walked with stiff backs, their eyes wide. They had never been inside the Cloud Spire, let alone the top floor. This was the heart of the entire Federation. They were terrified of doing something to disgrace the Uchiha name.
Suddenly, a stern voice rang in Itachi's mind.
"Itachi! Where are you? Why haven't you returned?"
As the eldest son of the Uchiha Clan Head, Itachi had some prestige; he carried a Communication Snail provided by his father—a privilege usually reserved for Academy graduates.
Itachi's heart skipped a beat. He quickly replied mentally, "I am... on the top floor of the Cloud Spire..."
On the other end, Fugaku Uchiha let out a series of dry coughs.
"Did Obito take you there? That boy is so thoughtless!"
The top floor of the Cloud Spire housed only two departments: the Administrative Headquarters, which governed all civil affairs, and the Military Headquarters, which commanded all armed forces.
Even as a Clan Head and a Konoha Elder, Fugaku himself didn't go up there more than once or twice a year unless summoned. He assumed Obito had used his position as a guard to sneak them in, which was a gross breach of protocol.
Itachi tried to explain to his father, but being so young, he stammered for a while without getting the words out. Fugaku decisively cut the connection with his son and contacted Obito instead.
After Obito's explanation, Fugaku finally understood the situation—they had run into the "Little Ancestor," Princess Mao.
Fugaku cleared his throat and tried to sound casual. "Ahem... so, how are Itachi and Shisui getting along with Princess Mao?"
Obito thought for a moment. "Not great... The Princess doesn't seem to like them very much."
Fugaku sighed deeply. My son... so disappointing. A golden opportunity right in front of him, and he can't seize it.
"Have Itachi try to personally invite the Princess to visit the Uchiha estate in Cloud City... you back him up. Try to make it happen."
Obito pulled a face but could only agree.
As a prominent clan, the Uchiha naturally had to have a residence in the Federation's center. Although property prices in Cloud City were far more expensive than in Konoha, the Uchiha had gritted their teeth and bought a manor. It wasn't as large as their clan grounds back in the Leaf, but it served as a symbol of status for clan members working in the capital.
If they could use a childhood friendship to build a bridge with the Consul's family, it would be a masterstroke! Fugaku had to worry about these political maneuvers even if the rest of his clan didn't.
Dana was unaware that someone was already plotting to use his daughter for political ties. He gave Mao a quick tour of the floor.
Shisui and Itachi took the chance to observe the inner workings of the Federation's heart. Itachi was too young to feel much, but Shisui was exhilarated, secretly vowing that he would work here one day.
Eventually, Dana sent the three Uchiha boys away. The Consul was a busy man; if it weren't for his daughter's sake, he wouldn't have spared a single minute.
Until the moment they left, neither Itachi nor Shisui found the courage to invite Mao to their home. They wondered if they would be punished when they got back.
Dana set Mao down on his exceptionally large desk. He resumed his paperwork, and Mao, clearly used to this, sat quietly watching her father work. Occasionally, she would hop down to find a snack or use the restroom, then climb back up on her own.
A seasoned professional, Dana thought with a smile.
After an unknown amount of time, a swish sounded as Tobirama Senju, wearing a white lab coat and carrying a stack of experimental data, appeared in the office.
Mao, who was starting to get sleepy, rubbed her eyes. "Uncle Tobirama!"
The seniority was wrong, but Tobirama managed to squeeze out a tiny smile and greeted the little girl. Then he turned to Dana.
"The 'Heavenly Palace' Project has yielded new results. I need you to come take a look."