Swordsmanship Lv. 6 (400,000 / 600,000)
"So that's level six already… Don't tell me I'm some once-in-a-millennium sword prodigy,"
Akio muttered with a chuckle, shaking his head.
It had been a little over half a month since they returned from the ruins of That Country. The wandering samurai Daidao, whom Akio had rescued there ended up becoming Kimimaro's basic sword instructor. Originally, Daidao had only planned to serve as Shū's bodyguard, but circumstances changed.
With nothing better to do, Akio occasionally joined the training himself. Somehow, in just two weeks, his swordsmanship had climbed to level six.
He weighed the wooden sword in his hand, then casually tossed it aside.
Level six was more than enough. Once they left the Land of Iron, he'd be perfectly capable of guiding Kimimaro on his own. There was no need to keep grinding, swordsmanship just wasn't his natural path.
Not far to his left, Karin and Haku were engaged in an oddly entertaining sparring match.
Dozens of ice mirrors surrounded Karin, while she held a small amount of explosive clay—only enough for three throws.
That meant she had just three chances to force Haku out.
To Akio, it felt oddly familiar, like one of those old training simulations from his past life. You're given a handful of chances, but you never know which one will actually pay off until you commit.
Karin technically had the advantage thanks to her sensory ability, but Haku might as well have been the game master; he could swap positions instantly between mirrors. After three attempts, the odds were basically fifty-fifty.
The two kids were completely absorbed, treating it like a game of chance.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
After three consecutive explosions, Haku's figure appeared behind Karin.
She lost again.
Akio thought for a moment, then stepped forward.
"Karin, try this, picture how Deidara acts. When you throw the clay, say something. Trash talk distracts people."
Karin blinked.
"'Art is an explosion'? That's stupid, Elder."
Akio waved his hands.
"No, no...how about something simpler. Like… 'I'm blowing you up!'"
Karin rolled her eyes and grabbed three more pieces of clay.
"Don't listen to him, Haku. Let's go again, this time I've got you!"
Akio laughed..
"Funny thing is, you already look like you're about to blow someone up. If you don't want to shout, then calm your expression. The explosion's scary enoughy, our face doesn't need to be."
"I know, I know, just hurry up, Haku. Put the mirrors out!"
Watching them start another round, Akio shook his head and walked away.
Kimimaro never needed supervision. Akio strolled out of the Land of Iron's training grounds, hands clasped behind his back.
"More than two weeks and no movement… Looks like the Rinnegan thief really isn't coming back," he murmured.
"That pretty much confirms it—That Country was targeted on purpose."
He sighed.
"Still don't know how their ancestors managed to anger Kaguya. That took some real courage. What, did they flirt with her or something?"
For a moment, Akio even suspected that the country's repeated destruction and rebuilding throughout history had been Black Zetsu's idea, tormenting them over generations. This time, with someone else wiping them out, they were finally… finished.
As he exited the grounds, he nearly collided with the samurai Shōsuke, who was hurrying toward him.
"Senior! I was just coming to find you," Shōsuke said quickly.
"The organization you mentioned before, the Akatsuki...they've arrived. A man and a woman. They're speaking with General Mifune right now."
"Oh?" Akio's expression sharpened.
He relaxed his senses slightly and immediately felt two familiar chakra signatures.
Yahiko… and Ringo Ameyuri.
"They didn't waste any time."
Inside the main hall of the general's residence, Akio found them.
Yahiko stood exactly as expected earnest, passionate, explaining his vision of peace and urging the Land of Iron to join Akatsuki's coalition.
Ringo Ameyuri, on the other hand, looked bored out of her mind, scanning the room
Until her eyes landed on Akio.
They nearly popped out of her skull.
"Wow, that happy to see me?" Akio grinned.
"Careful, keep staring like that and you'll crack a tooth."
Yahiko turned around, stunned.
"Senior?! What are you doing here?"
Akio raised an eyebrow.
"Take a guess."
Yahiko: "..."
Mifune stood and gave Akio a formal bow before turning back to Yahiko.
"I already understand your ideals, thanks to Senior here. There's no need to repeat them. But I must ask you directly, was Hanzo's body given to a puppeteer as payment?"
Yahiko froze and instinctively looked at Akio.
Akio simply smiled and spread his hands.
"So this old guy came all the way here just to make trouble for us?" Ringo muttered under her breath.
Yahiko inhaled deeply.
"Yes. I gave Hanzo's remains to Sasori of the Red Sand. Hanzo caused unimaginable suffering in the Rain Village. Death alone wasn't enough to atone."
Mifune's expression hardened.
"No matter his crimes, a body should not be desecrated."
Yahiko shook his head.
"I disagree."
…
Akio watched the argument for a bit, quickly losing interest.
Just as he was about to interrupt, he noticed Ringo staring at him sideways.
"What? Don't want your eyes either?"
Ringo: "..."
She nearly ground her jagged teeth to dust.
Only then did Akio remember, right. She was technically one of his informants.
So, he leaned closer and murmured near her ear:
"Knock. Knock. Knock."
Ringo: "???"
"Don't even know the signal. Useless. Find me tonight."
Her face darkened instantly.
"Hey, old man, where's the bathroom?"
The conversation paused.
After a brief exchange, Yahiko turned to Mifune.
"General, could you have someone show my companion the way?"
"No need," Akio said cheerfully.
"I was just about to go myself."
"Then I'll leave it to you, Senior."
Akio shot Ringo a glare.
"What're you looking at? Move. Your ancestor's escorting you personally."
They left the hall one after the other.
Once outside, Akio spoke quietly.
"Alright. Talk. At least you still remember I saved your life. I thought you'd fully switched sides by now."
Ringo flashed a feral grin, then quickly hid her teeth.
"Yeah. Real grateful."
"Relax. I'm not hitting you."
She paused, then changed the subject.
"Don't you think something's off about Yahiko?"
Akio's eyes narrowed.
"Call me 'old man' again and I'll knock every tooth out. Show some respect Senior or Elder, pick one. What's wrong with him?"
Ringo clicked her teeth thoughtfully.
"When he's with you, he's enthusiastic. But when others mention you, his expression changes. Same thing back at Iwa. Even under pressure from the great nations, he refused to ask you for help again."
Akio fell silent for a long moment.
Then he sighed and nodded.
"…I know."
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