After a full month of practice and adaptation, Akio's Space Ninjutsu finally made a breakthrough, he could now draw on a portion of his chakra without interference.
The Eight Trigrams Space had occupied the position of his Shocking Gate, one of the Eight Gates through which chakra normally flowed. Fortunately, it only took up a single point, not the entire pathway. Over the past month, Akio had focused all his effort on refining his chakra control until he managed to redirect the flow around that occupied point.
Even so, he still couldn't channel too much chakra at once. Only flight and a few basic elemental jutsu worked properly.
Aside from that, his proficiency with space transference had improved dramatically. Once inside his dimensional space, he could now reappear anywhere within a fifty-meter radius almost instantly. If not for the brief delay when entering and exiting the dimension, it would've been even faster than the Flying Thunder God Technique without the need for a marked kunai.
However, Akio was still unable to replicate Obito's intangible form ability, and that left him slightly dissatisfied.
"Greedy, greedy… I should just be happy with this much," he muttered with a self-deprecating smile. The unexpected gain of a space ability was already remarkable, and his chakra control, once thought to be perfect had advanced even further. Once he mastered this new power completely, he might even reach Tsunade's level in medical ninjutsu.
"It's time to compete for the title of Slug Princess… no, Slug Prince… or maybe Slug Supreme Elder!" he declared dramatically, striding toward Konoha's gates.
"Elder Akio!"
The same two gate guards were still on duty. Apparently, even wartime couldn't disturb their routine.
Akio waved casually. "I'm going to see Hiruzen."
He had left Uzushiogakure at the end of November and finally arrived in Konoha at the beginning of Year 44 of the village calendar, a journey of just over a month. Truly, he thought, "I got lost on the path of life."
The streets of Konoha still carried traces of New Year's celebration, proof that the war hadn't reached the civilians.
Akio made a small detour to the Senju Compound, sensing the familiar chakra within.
"Kushina's here, Mikoto too… Nawaki and Tsunade aren't?" he mused, nodding slightly. It wasn't surprising, Nawaki had finally realized his dream of going to the battlefield. His strength was solid; Akio had little to worry about.
Without dropping by, Akio headed straight for the Hokage Building.
In front of the building, he ran into someone he hadn't seen in a long time, Hyūga Hiashi, technically half his disciple.
Hiashi's face was tight with anger, but upon seeing Akio, his expression softened a little. He greeted him respectfully.
"What's wrong, Hiashi?"
"Teacher… you should ask the Third Hokage yourself," Hiashi said coldly. Though he still addressed Akio as "teacher," his tone toward Hiruzen was far from polite. Without another word, he turned and left.
"What's gotten into him?" Akio muttered, shaking his head as he entered the building.
The ANBU presence inside was noticeably thinner, only a few operatives around. The mission office was deserted; civilians rarely issued missions during wartime.
But when he reached the top floor, he found both Hiruzen and Danzō there.
Before they could speak, Akio chuckled. "Both of you in one place? Looks like Konoha's winning the war. Guess I came for nothing."
"Elder Akio, you're finally here!" Hiruzen said urgently, ignoring the joke. "Where have you been this past month? Your two disciples said you left before them!"
Akio blinked in surprise. Nagato and Konan came to Konoha to look for me?
"Where are they now?"
Hiruzen hesitated, but Danzō replied, "They claimed you sent them to train on the battlefield. They're in the Land of Rain now."
Akio's expression twitched. Those two brats really went?
He gave the two men a pointed look. "You didn't put them up to it, did you?"
Hiruzen quickly shook his head. "Your other disciples, Uzumaki Nanako and Uzumaki Jitou, went with them as leaders."
"Those two… they're not young anymore. No wonder you two are so relaxed using my disciples as your workforce?"
"How would we dare?" Hiruzen sighed. "We're tied down here. The village's situation…"
"Don't start with suspense. Out with it. I saw Hiashi earlier, he looked furious."
"It's a long story,,,,"
"Danzō, you say it!" Akio barked. Hiruzen was getting more long-winded with age.
"Elder Hi… Hyūga Nichikai died in battle against Kirigakure," Danzō said bluntly.
"Hiashi's father? And he's not out for revenge but arguing with you two instead?"
Hiruzen gave a weary smile. "Kirigakure has already retreated. They sent a formal message claiming that the Third Mizukage was under external control and that the attack on Konoha was his doing alone. They've offered reparations for the losses we suffered."
"Intelligence supports this," Danzō added. "They're already selecting a Fourth Mizukage."
"Under control?" Akio frowned. It did seem odd that Kirigakure had dared to bypass Uzushiogakure just to attack Konoha. Probably another move from Akatsuki.
"Uchiha Madara still seeks the destruction of Konoha!" Danzō spat bitterly.
Akio's expression twisted poor Madara, taking the blame again. That was what he got for Akio's little "Rōran incident" being misattributed to him.
"Elder Akio," Hiruzen said, "could you travel to Kirigakure for us?"
Akio sighed inwardly. He'd like to, but right now he could barely fly straight, his space jutsu still needed months of practice.
"So you're just letting it go? Not avenging Hyūga Nichikai?" he countered. "Hiruzen, that's not like you. If Danzō had died instead, you wouldn't be sitting here so calmly."
Danzō's face darkened instantly, while Hiruzen had no words for a long moment.
"Most of our forces are already in the Land of Rain," Hiruzen said finally. "And if Madara really is involved with Kirigakure… we can't risk splitting our strength."
"Madara? He's eighty, isn't he? He's not me. If he still had that kind of power, he wouldn't be playing tricks like this." Akio decided to let the legend shoulder the blame once again.
Hiruzen shook his head. "The Hyūga refuse to participate in the war. The advantage in the Land of Rain is minor, and Iwagakure is stirring as well. We can't divert any more manpower."
"The entire Hyūga Clan refusing to fight?" Akio's eyes widened. "That's practically rebellion. I thought only Hiashi stayed behind."
Hiruzen hesitated, then sighed. "Before Elder Nichikai died, he only managed to destroy one of his Byakugan. The other was taken by Kirigakure."
"I see…" Akio finally understood. The Byakugan had never leaked out of the Hyūga before, no wonder they were furious.
Right, in the original timeline, Kirigakure did have a Byakugan. What was that guy's name again… the one following Mei Terumī?
"We'd like you to retrieve the eye if possible," Hiruzen added.
Akio waved his hand. "Not now. Give me two months. You know how it is; at my age, there's always a time of year when… certain movements aren't suitable, right?"
Hiruzen blinked. "Know… what?"
Akio just smiled mysteriously and walked out.
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