After returning to the village, Aki spent nearly two more months in the hospital before fully recovering. On the day of his discharge, his mother, Nanako, went home ahead of him. As Aki stepped out of the hospital gates, he felt the heavy atmosphere of the village; the First Great Ninja War had reached its most violent peak.
Konoha was fighting a two-front war against the Hidden Sand and the Hidden Mist. Danzo and Kagami had long since been deployed to the front lines, which was why neither had been able to visit him during his recovery.
Aki wandered through the streets, his feet unconsciously leading him toward the ninja training grounds. There, he spotted a small figure sitting alone on a wooden post. It was Tsunade. Curious, he approached her.
He walked up to her side and noticed she was staring blankly at the ground. "Tsunade? Why are you here alone? Where's your shadow, Jiraiya? It's unlike him not to be pestering you."
Tsunade slowly turned her head. Her eyes were rimmed with red, and her voice trembled with a sob. "Aki-niisan... Grandfather is gone. No one wants to play with me anymore. I skipped school today."
Aki froze. Skipping school at four years old? She has a bright future, he thought wryly. Feeling a surge of sympathy and wanting to cheer her up, he patted the pocket containing six months of back pay and his recent mission bonus. "Don't cry. Whatever you want to do, I'll play with you. I'll stay with you all day."
At that moment, Aki had no idea how heavy the price for that single promise would be.
Tsunade's eyes suddenly sparkled. She jumped off the post, grabbed Aki's hand, and dragged him out of the training grounds toward a specific part of the village.
Standing in front of the Casino, Aki felt his soul leave his body. Is this a place for a four-year-old? Since when were kids this "progressive"? It's unscientific! If she's like this at four, she'll be a terror when she grows up. Well... I'll just consider it "paying for a smile." She's a kid; how much could she possibly lose? Surely not my entire six-month salary.
With that thought, he followed her inside. It was Aki's first time in a gambling den in both lives. Watching the four-year-old Princess of the Senju clan expertly exchange ryo for chips and navigate the strange, chaotic betting tables, Aki turned to stone.
"Big! Big! Big! ...Ah! I lost again!"
"It's okay, Tsunade. I bought plenty of chips. Keep going until you're happy!"
"Yay! Thank you, Aki-niisan! You're the best. Uncle Tobirama is so boring; he never lets me come here."
"Aww... lost again."
"It's fine. Next round."
...Three hours passed.
"Tsunade... aren't you hungry? Let's go eat. We've been here for hours."
Aki watched the jubilant girl at the table, cold sweat pouring down his back. Is this girl a demon? In less than three hours, she burned through nearly two million ryo! Since we walked in, she hasn't won a single hand! Has the world gone mad, or have I? Why did I agree to this?!
Tsunade rubbed her belly. "I guess I am a little hungry. Let's go!"
Aki let out a breath of pure relief. He took her small hand and led her out. Just as they hit the fresh air, Tsunade looked up. "Aki-niisan, will you bring me back tomorrow?"
Aki nearly tripped over his own feet.
After spending another hour buying Tsunade a massive feast that drained his very last coin, Aki dropped the "Little Ancestor" back at the Academy. Since they had played all morning and eaten like royalty, Tsunade was satisfied enough to postpone their next "casino date" until the weekend. She skipped happily into the school.
Aki finally exhaled. Just as he turned to head home, an Anbu appeared in a swirl of leaves. "Uchiha Aki. The Hokage summons you."
"Lord Second, Uchiha Aki reporting as requested." Aki knocked and entered the office. Inside, he saw a woman standing beside Tobirama, watching him with a gentle smile.
Aki bowed. "Chunin Uchiha Aki, reporting for orders."
Tobirama pointed to the woman. "There are two reasons I called you here. First, your Master's wife, Mito Uzumaki, wished to meet you. Second, your special training begins tomorrow. For the next year, while the war is relatively stable, I will personally instruct you in Taijutsu and Genjutsu."
Mito smiled at Aki and turned to Tobirama. "Tobirama, you're too impatient. He just left the hospital. I simply wanted to see the disciple Hashirama chose. Would you mind if we had a private chat?"
Tobirama sighed. "War waits for no one. Danzo and Hiruzen's reports described Aki's Taijutsu and Genjutsu as 'disastrous.' I can't trust his growth to anyone else; he is Brother's only student. If you want to talk, Sister-in-law, feel free to do so here."
Mito laughed. "You're still as long-winded as ever. Come, Aki." She led him out of the office.
Aki followed Mito deep into the outskirts of the village until they reached a secluded lake. "Follow my steps closely," she warned. "Do not miss a beat, or it will be troublesome." She then vanished into a solid stone cliff face. Aki followed, passing through a hidden barrier into a cavern.
Mito stood in the center of a glowing array. "Your grandfather, Madara Uchiha, possessed eyes unlike any other. He was the only one to evolve the Sharingan into the Mangekyō, a power that allowed him to summon and control Tailed Beasts. Your Master and Madara trained together for years, and Hashirama had a dream: to make the Tailed Beasts into Konoha's ultimate guardians. If every Hokage could wield that power, the world would know true, lasting peace."
She looked at Aki solemnly. "But Madara refused. He left the village and returned to attack it with the Nine-Tails. After the battle at the Valley of the End, Hashirama lost hope in that dream. But then you appeared. You brought back that spark of hope in him."
Mito's eyes glowed. "I have tested you on our walk here. I possess the ability to sense malice, and in you, I found none. Not even the flicker of resentment most feel toward others. You have passed my trial. Now, prepare yourself."
A blinding light erupted from the array and swallowed Aki.
The sound of rushing water? Where am I?
Aki stood in a dark, damp space that looked like a sewer. He felt a massive presence nearby and walked toward a set of colossal iron gates. In the center of the gates was a paper seal with the character for 'Shift.'
Two massive, glowing red orbs ignited in the darkness. Aki fell into a defensive stance. A thunderous, guttural voice shook the pipes.
"You... you reek of that Uchiha filth. How did you get in here?"
Aki looked up at the source of the voice. It was the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, the source of all calamity. Its massive form was bound by golden chains, its nine tails thrashing behind the bars.
"An Uchiha," the Fox growled, baring its teeth. "Mito, you wretched woman, what is this? Do you think this brat's eyes can save you? I will outlast you, and when you die, I will tear this village apart. I hate your kind most of all!"
A massive tail lunged through the bars, aimed at Aki. The killing intent was so thick Aki was physically paralyzed. He couldn't even breathe.
Suddenly, Mito appeared beside him. "As long as I draw breath, you will stay in your cage." The gates erupted with golden light, severing the illusory tail and pinning the Fox to the floor with a massive wooden pillar. The Fox roared in fury, but the gates remained unmoved.
Aki snapped back to the cavern, collapsing to his knees and gasping for air. Even sealed, a glance from the Nine-Tails was enough to freeze his soul.
Mito handed him a small medicinal pill. As he swallowed it, a cooling sensation spread through his body, calming his racing heart. "Now you understand the power of a Tailed Beast," she said gently.
"It was... overwhelming," Aki managed. "To think Master defeated my grandfather and that monster. He truly was a god."
Mito shook her head. "Hashirama didn't defeat them together. He had to seal the Fox first before he could fight Madara as an equal."
She looked at Aki with profound hope. "I am a member of the Uzumaki clan; I have enough chakra to keep this beast caged forever. But Hashirama didn't want a cage. He wanted a partner. He saw in you the potential to be the one who finally masters the Tailed Beasts as true Summons—guardians who fight alongside the Hokage. Within three years, you must reach the level of power we require, or I will have to seal the Fox permanently within myself until I pass. Do you understand?"
Aki stood up, his gaze firm as he looked at the woman who carried the world's greatest burden. "For Master's dream... I will give it everything I have."