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"This… how is that even supposed to work? That's impossible, isn't it?!"
Fugaku's brows knit together, his frown deepening.
This was basically like hauling a nuclear warhead right up to your own doorstep and then expecting everyone else to nod and say, "Yeah, makes perfect sense." Who would buy that?
To him, Akira was either bluffing—or planning to strong-arm the Third Hokage again, like last time, and force him to hand over control of the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki.
And if that was the plan… wasn't that just outright robbery?
How could anyone possibly agree to something like that?
"You don't need to worry about it," Akira said calmly. "I'll handle it myself. Just wait for me to bring the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki back to the Uchiha—cleanly and properly."
He didn't elaborate.
Fugaku was a little disappointed not to hear the details, but the moment he realized Akira intended to move personally, his mood flipped.
"Good! If our ancestor is taking action himself, then I've got nothing to worry about! The Nine-Tails' jinchūriki will surely return to the Uchiha in a way that no one can object to!
Do you need any manpower? I can arrange the clan's elites to assist you!"
"No need."
Akira waved him off and vanished on the spot with the Body Flicker Technique.
As he walked through the Uchiha district, Akira drifted into thought.
If he was looking for Konoha's Nine-Tails jinchūriki, that meant Uzumaki Naruto.
At this hour, Naruto should still be in class. Might as well check the Ninja Academy first.
Since transmigrating here, Akira hadn't stepped foot in that place once. Babysitting a bunch of snot-nosed brats playing ninja games? Hard pass.
Though now that he thought about it… had the academy been damaged in that fight a few days ago?
If the building was gone, he'd have to go straight to Naruto's apartment.
…Wait. Where exactly did that kid live again?
Whoosh!
While Akira was lost in thought, a shadow burst out from a side alley and lunged straight at him.
Just as he was about to swat the idiot away—
Thud!
A young Uchiha dropped to his knees in front of him.
"A-Ancestor-sama! I finally found you!"
The young man looked like he'd just met his idol. His eyes burned with excitement, and his words came out in a rush.
"It's me! Uchiha Tekka! Do you… remember me?"
Akira frowned and shook his head.
The name rang no bells. The face was painfully average. Total background-character energy. Not worth remembering.
Seeing his reaction, Uchiha Tekka flushed awkwardly and hurried to explain.
"You really are a man of importance, Ancestor-sama! Of course you wouldn't remember. I'm one of the three who tried to lay a hand on Izumi back then… the ones you personally dealt with!
You destroyed my Sharingan too. I've got ordinary eyes now."
"Oh. That guy. I vaguely remember," Akira said, eyes narrowing slightly, though his tone stayed even. "So what? Here for revenge?"
"N-No! I'd never dare!"
Tekka shook his head so hard it looked like it might fall off.
"You punishing me was completely deserved! Back then, I let Uchiha Yashiro manipulate me and almost attacked one of our own. I was scum!"
"Then spit it out. Don't waste my time."
Akira's face remained blank.
"Ancestor-sama, I want you to take me as your disciple!"
Bang!!
Tekka slammed his forehead against the ground so hard it split the skin. Blood trickled down, but he didn't care.
He lifted his head, face smeared red, eyes blazing with sincerity.
"I know my strength and talent are nothing compared to yours. Not even worth mentioning!
But please believe in my determination. I want to grow stronger. No matter how hard the training, no matter how painful, I'll endure it!"
"Oh?" Akira replied mildly. "So you can grow stronger and come after me later?"
"No! Of course not!"
Tekka shook his head frantically again.
"I want strength to atone. I dared to raise my hand against a fellow clansman. I was worse than a beast!
The clan's relationship with Konoha's higher-ups is already beyond repair. A clash is inevitable.
As someone who made a mistake, I should redeem myself in battle. I'll charge into the front lines and give everything for the clan!
But I'm too weak. When the time comes, I won't be fighting for the clan—I'll just be cannon fodder, barely able to keep myself alive."
There was frustration in his voice, but when he looked at Akira, his gaze was steady.
"So I beg you, Ancestor-sama. Accept me as your disciple.
Train me however you see fit. I'll accept anything.
As long as I can grow stronger and better serve the clan."
Bang. Bang. Bang.
He knocked his head against the ground three more times.
They say a prodigal son who returns is worth his weight in gold.
And with that level of sincerity, Akira naturally—
Refused.
His life goal was to taste every delicacy in the shinobi world. He didn't have time to babysit a disciple.
It definitely wasn't because the guy had lousy talent. Over twenty years old and only a chūnin? That was rough.
Still, while Akira had no interest in teaching him personally, he could at least point him in the right direction.
"I'm not taking disciples," Akira said casually. "But if you're that set on getting stronger, go find Might Guy.
You know, the guy with the bowl cut, the bright green jumpsuit, and the habit of running dozens—sometimes hundreds—of laps around Konoha's outskirts every day.
Train the way he does, and your strength will definitely improve. That is, if you can stick with it."
With Guy's personality, anyone who asked to train with him would be welcomed with open arms—probably to the point of tears.
"…That…"
Tekka imagined himself in a tight green jumpsuit and immediately shook his head in horror.
"No, no! How could that guy compare to you, Ancestor-sama?!"
Besides, he was an outsider. Why would he ever devote himself to teaching a member of the Uchiha clan with his whole heart?
"So please—Ancestor-sama, teach me instead!"
"I already said I'm not taking disciples. Stop bothering me."
Akira's brows knit slightly. He didn't spare the other man another glance and stepped around him, continuing down the road.
He hadn't taken more than a few steps when Uchiha Tekkā lunged forward and wrapped himself around Akira's legs, clinging tight as he pleaded nonstop.
"Please! I'm begging you, Ancestor-sama! Accept me as your student—please take me in!"
"Let go. My patience has limits."
Akira looked down at him, his voice turning ice-cold.
"No! I won't let go! If you don't agree, Ancestor-sama, I'll never give up!"
Tekkā's expression was resolute, his whole body radiating a stubborn, all-or-nothing determination.
Unfortunately, the way he was acting made him look more like a street thug throwing a tantrum.
"Get lost."
Akira kicked him off without hesitation. Tekkā was sent flying, releasing his grip instantly before crashing into a roadside utility pole, where he finally slid to a stop.
He wasn't seriously hurt—Akira had controlled his strength.
After all, Tekkā's intentions had been decent enough. He only wanted to grow stronger for the sake of the clan. It was his methods that were irritating.
Akira wasn't about to kill someone over something so trivial.
Of course, if Tekkā dared to keep pestering him in the future—clingy and shameless like some lovesick fool—Akira wouldn't be nearly so tolerant.
With the sudden interruption dealt with, he resumed heading toward the Ninja Academy.
—
Sitting on the ground with his back against the pole, Tekkā waited until he was certain Akira had completely disappeared from sight.
The fanatic excitement drained from his face in an instant.
What replaced it was a chilling, venomous glare.
"Bastard. Just because you've got some strength, you think you're invincible? Arrogant fool."
A cold smirk tugged at his lips as he muttered to himself,
"Still… not bad. Your arrogance bought me quite a bit of time. Inaba, you'd better not mess this up."
After lingering a few more minutes, Tekkā wiped the blood from his forehead and walked off as though nothing had happened.
Before long, he left the Uchiha district and hurried into a secluded alley.
At the far end, he scanned the surroundings carefully. Once he was sure no one was watching, he lifted a manhole cover and slipped down into the sewer, quietly sealing it shut behind him.
After weaving through the damp, winding tunnels, he finally arrived at his destination—
A hidden room built deep within the sewers.
"Inaba. Did you get her?"
He pushed open the concealed door and addressed the figure inside.
"Of course. And it went perfectly."
Uchiha Inaba grinned smugly and stepped aside, revealing the unconscious Uchiha Izumi lying behind him.
"Good. Looks like my efforts weren't wasted."
Tekkā's expression turned satisfied.
"Maybe distracting Uchiha Akira was overkill. But better safe than sorry. Just in case."
"Exactly. If that guy caught us laying a hand on Izumi again, we'd be finished."
Inaba nodded.
Tekkā walked over and looked down at Izumi's pale face. A cruel smile spread across his lips.
"Hmph. Let's see how arrogant he acts now. Acting high and mighty just because he's strong."
His expression twisted.
"We can't deal with you—but you think we can't handle the weaklings around you?"
His eyes burned with hatred.
"Damn it. Last time he gouged my eyes blind. Fine. An eye for an eye. I'll ruin this bitch's eyes right now."
He extended two fingers and thrust them toward Izumi's eyes.
"Hey! Calm down, Tekkā!"
Inaba grabbed his arm just in time.
"Don't forget why we brought this brat here! Don't screw everything up over your personal grudge!"
He stared at Tekkā seriously.
"We went through hell to capture her. She's not your punching bag. Lord Danzō ordered us to bring her back intact."
Tekkā let out a long breath and slowly withdrew his hand, regaining control.
"…Sorry. I got carried away. Anyone connected to that bastard makes my blood boil."
"You don't have to rush. Once Lord Danzō finishes his preparations, that guy will pay for everything. Your eyes. My arms. All of it—we'll settle the score."
As he spoke, Inaba lifted his newly replaced forearms, still stiff and awkward. Hatred burned in his gaze.
After indulging themselves in fantasies of their plan succeeding—and Akira breaking down in tears before them—they hoisted the unconscious Izumi and left the hidden room.
—
Somewhere deep within a secret Root base.
"Lord Danzō, the task you assigned us has been completed successfully."
Tekkā and Inaba knelt on one knee before him, heads bowed in respect.
"You've done very well. With this child, our plan for revenge is one step closer to success."
Danzō Shimura looked down at Izumi lying on the floor and smiled from the bottom of his heart—though the expression was anything but pleasant.
"You've worked hard. Go rest. There will be more missions waiting for you."
Uncharacteristically, he even sounded considerate.
"It was nothing. Everything is for avenging ourselves against Uchiha Akira!"
Hatred filled Tekkā's face.
"That's right. As long as it means getting revenge on Uchiha Akira, we'll carry out any mission—no matter how dangerous!"
Inaba gritted his teeth.
"Good. Our goal is the same. You may go."
Danzō nodded in satisfaction and waved them away.
Once they had completely left, a figure wearing a yellow spiral mask stepped out from the shadows.
Obito Uchiha frowned slightly beneath his mask as he looked at the unconscious Izumi.
"You made me wait all this time for… this brat?"
"Yes. With her, the final preparation is complete. Now we can begin my plan."
Danzō gave a slight nod, the corner of his mouth lifting into a cold smile.
"If I'm not mistaken, her chakra reserves barely qualify as Chūnin level. She hasn't even awakened the Sharingan."
Obito's voice turned sharp.
"She's so weak she's practically irrelevant in the Uchiha clan. What's the point of grabbing her? Or are you toying with me?"
Killing intent seeped from him.
Earlier, after Obito had broken Danzō out of prison, Danzō hadn't immediately taken them to the base housing his so-called secret weapon.
His excuse had been that he needed to tend to his injuries—and complete one final preparation.
That "preparation" had been capturing a key member of the Uchiha clan.
Obito had assumed they would seize the clan head—or at least an elder.
Instead, they had brought him someone who might not even be a full Chūnin.
To him, it felt like Danzō was stalling—buying time to recover and slip out of his control.
If that was Danzō's plan, Obito would show him just how small-minded that thinking was.
Sensing the thickening killing intent, Danzō quickly explained,
"Madara-sama, there's no need for impatience. What I need isn't her strength—but her identity.
"She may be weak, just a nobody in the clan. But she's Uchiha Itachi's childhood friend—and she has a close relationship with Uchiha Akira.
"With those two connections, we'll have plenty of room to maneuver."
Then he flexed his newly replaced limbs and sighed in admiration.
"Orochimaru's research skills are impressive. My new arms and legs have fused perfectly in no time."
He slammed his cane against the floor with a heavy thud.
"Bring the girl. We're moving."
A Root shinobi appeared soundlessly from the shadows, lifting Izumi and taking his place behind Danzō.
"Madara-sama," Danzō turned to Obito with a thin smile, "it's time for you to witness my secret weapon."
"Hmph. You've already wasted enough of my time. That weapon of yours had better not disappoint me."
Obito's voice was glacial.
"Rest assured. I wouldn't joke about my own life."
Danzō forced a confident smile, playing the obedient subordinate.
Inside, however, humiliation churned.
Since when had the leader of Root fallen so low as to be barked at and threatened like this?
Given the chance, he would eliminate this so-called Uchiha Madara—along with Uchiha Akira—once and for all.
Eyes flickering with calculation, Danzō led Obito deeper into Root's most concealed base.
"..."
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