Akio stood frozen for a long moment.
Only when the meeting hall grew noisy people chatting, chairs scraping as attendees began to leave, did he finally snap out of it.
"So it's about the founders?" Akio's mouth twitched. "If that's the rule, we should've just had Nagato and Konan set up an Akatsuki branch in the Land of Whirlpools years ago. Those two could've handled it just fine. I nearly missed out on a pile of qualifying milestones because of this."
"Then Team Taka would obviously be Sasuke," he muttered thoughtfully. "I should have him team up with Naruto and Toneri and call it something like 'Team Mutual Disdain Taka.' That'd work."
He paused, then sighed. "Anyone else I could've used? If I'd known, I would've made Danzō officially register 'Root' as a founding organization…"
By the time he finished his mental rant and looked up, most of the attendees were gone. Only Obito and his two companions stood nearby, while Kimimaro and the others waited behind him. Yahiko watched from a distance, an unspoken question in his eyes.
"Master… is it really you?"
Akio shot Obito an amused glance, then turned to Kimimaro's group.
"I hereby announce, Team Taka is officially disbanded."
Karin let out a long breath of relief. "Great Elder ah, forget it. As long as it's gone. What kind of weird name was that, anyway?"
Akio clicked his tongue. In the original story, when Sasuke came up with that name, she didn't complain at all.
…Was it because Sasuke was better-looking?
"Master! Answer me, was it really you?!"
Akio raised an eyebrow. "What do you think?"
Rin covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. Kakashi looked at Obito like he was watching an idiot struggle with a math problem.
Akio waved Yahiko off, signaling him to go handle his own affairs, then draped an arm over Obito's shoulder.
"Come on. Let's step outside. I'll let my fist answer that question for you."
Obito immediately broke into a stupid grin. "So it really is you, Master? I can't believe it's you! How is it you? It's really you!"
Akio sighed. He might have accidentally raised a moron. "Rin. Please handle him."
Obito snapped to attention. "I'm fine now, Master! Let's go! You don't have a clone in my Kamui space this time, you won't be able to hit me!"
Akio lifted his hand from Obito's shoulder. A faint red glow flashed across his palm.
"You think I casually put my arm around people?" he said flatly. "Go on. Activate your Mangekyō. Let me see."
Obito froze, then wilted instantly. "Master… that's just unfair."
"Idiot."
"Kakashi! What did you say?!"
...
Laughing and bickering, the group headed toward the exit. They'd only taken a few steps outside when Akio suddenly stopped.
A tall, graceful young woman approached them head-on.
She looked to be around twenty, with a noticeable beauty mark beneath her right eye. When she saw them, her face lit up.
"Kakashi!"
"…Huh?"
Akio and Obito spoke in unison, then immediately backed up, dragging Kimimaro's group back into the meeting hall with them. Rin blinked, then smiled and quietly followed.
Kakashi: "..."
From behind the door, Akio and Obito peeked out one above, one below secretly observing.
Kakashi and the woman began talking, their expressions shifting rapidly.
"Master," Obito whispered, "what are they saying?"
Akio raised a finger to his lips, listening carefully before replying, "She says she's a ninja from Kaname Village in the Land of Keys. Her name's Hualing. Apparently, Kakashi saved her when she got lost as a kid…"
He paused, scowling. "And this idiot says he doesn't remember."
Obito scratched his head. "Kakashi's been to a place like that?"
Akio chuckled. "You forget? He graduated at five. When he went there, you probably hadn't even passed yet."
"…But she remembered him all these years." Akio exchanged a knowing look with Obito.
Sure enough, moments later, even Akio's hardened heart nearly couldn't take it.
She confessed straight up.
"Alright, you two," Rin said gently, pulling them back. "Stop spying."
She shut the door.
Akio didn't resist. They'd already seen enough. Watching any longer would've burned his eyes.
...
After a while, Kakashi pushed the door open.
Everyone inside instantly turned toward him, faces full of gossiping curiosity. Even Rin wasn't exempt.
Kakashi tugged his mask up slightly and spoke as if nothing had happened.
"Senior. Rin. Let's go."
"Oh come on, Kakashi"
Akio cut in with a grin. "Relax. She said she has to escort the Land of Keys' daimyo home first. After that, she's coming to Konoha to find you."
Good hearing really was a blessing even through a door.
Kakashi pulled his mask up again.
...
After that entertaining detour, Akio didn't rush to lecture Obito. He took everyone back to the villa first.
Along the way, they passed delegations from various nations packing up to leave. Several minor-country daimyo were also preparing to depart.
"Hey Yagura, kid. Heading back alone? Where's Mangetsu?"
"I'm not a kid anymore!" Yagura protested, swatting Akio's hand away from his hair. Then he smirked. "Mangetsu's never accepted the Mizukage. He's being assigned as the permanent stationed ninja, so he's staying behind. Going back would've been pointless."
Akio laughed. "Alright then. Take care, kid."
"I said I'm not a kid! Goodbye, Senior!"
Akio shrugged and turned to Karin. "See? That kid's got manners. Learn something."
Karin rolled her eyes.
...
Inside the villa.
"Jiraiya! Get up, we're playing ball!"
"Lord Jiraiya?" Rin stared at the utterly drained man on the bed. "Are you alright?"
Jiraiya sat up, scratching his messy hair. "Rin? Kakashi? Obito? Huh...so the old man sent you, huh? I'm fine. Just haven't been sleeping well lately…"
Of course he hadn't. Akio barely slept anymore. Whenever night got boring, he'd toss that absurdly heavy ball at Jiraiya a few times.
"By the way, Master," Obito asked, "what is that black ball that can change faces?"
"A very useful thing," Akio said cheerfully. "I don't always need my 'fists of love' anymore. Sometimes I use the 'ball of love' instead."
...
Somewhere in the Land of Rain.
Obito lay flat on the ground, gasping for air as Akio removed the sealing formula from his body.
"That was refreshing," Akio said.
"You're still way too strong, Master."
"As if I'd ever let a foolish apprentice like you catch up," Akio replied. "Can you stand or not?"
"Of course!"
Akio smiled. "Since I revealed my true appearance to you today, I'll give you a proper gift."
Obito's exhaustion vanished instantly.
"…I'll teach you my personal fighting style."
He raised his voice. "Kakashi! Get over here too. Let's see who learns faster, you or this idiot!"
In the distance, Karin watched Akio start teaching that ridiculous godlike boxing style again and clicked her tongue.
"That technique… something's wrong with it, isn't it?" Jiraiya muttered thoughtfully.
Karin shot him a look full of disdain and scooted closer to Kimimaro.
Kimimaro turned calmly. "Being allowed to learn the techniques of a god is an honor."
Haku smiled sweetly and nodded.
Jiraiya stared at the three of them, a strange pity forming in his eyes.
"…These kids… no. Maybe it's not the kids that are the problem."
"Obito, you idiot!" Akio shouted. "Why did I ever take you as an apprentice?! Kakashi's already mastered the twelfth form, why are you still stuck on the fifth?!"
Obito shot Kakashi a sideways glare. "That jerk… how does he learn so fast?"
---
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