Somewhere in the Land of Rain
Kakashi and Obito were sparring, still clumsy with their use of the so-called "Akio Divine Fist."
Akio stood off to the side, arms folded around a black sphere, quietly observing.
In the distance, Jiraiya frowned deeply. The fighting style was undeniably powerful but something about it felt off. He glanced at the three "problem children" nearby and immediately dismissed the idea of asking them anything.
As for asking Akio… he'd already been on the receiving end of enough flying balls for one lifetime.
After a long while, Kakashi and Obito disengaged, both breathing hard.
It was an even match.
In fact, neither of them had landed a single clean hit.
Akio clapped his hands, clearly pleased.
"You've got the core of it now. From here on out, it's just repetition. Practice."
"Thank you, Master."
"Thank you, Senior."
"Master," Rin said as she stepped forward, "it's getting late. The three of us should head back if we want to reach Konoha before nightfall."
Akio nodded. The black sphere in his hands stretched and reshaped itself into a floating broom.
"I'll give you a lift."
"…We're riding that?"
"Relax," Akio said with a grin. "It's sturdier than it looks."
He guided the broom to hover in front of Rin. "Hop on hm?"
He paused mid-sentence and turned toward the southwest.
A Rain ninja came sprinting toward them.
"Senior! Multiple daimyo were attacked while returning home!"
"Attacked?" Akio froze for half a second. "By who? Casualties? …Forget it. I'll ask Yahiko directly."
He nodded to Jiraiya, then vanished in a flicker of motion.
"…Should we go help?" Obito asked, scratching his head.
Kakashi hesitated, then shook his head. "If we don't leave now, we won't make it back before dark. The Third Hokage is waiting for our report."
Rin spoke softly, "Kakashi… which direction is the Land of Keys?"
Obito's eyes widened. "Oh! Right that kunoichi, Hualing! Damn it, Kakashi, what are you waiting for? Move!"
Kakashi paused, then sighed. "Idiot. This way."
Central Tower of the Land of Rain
Akio received the full report from Yahiko.
"White creatures… White Zetsu?" he repeated. "Out of more than ten daimyo who had already departed, three managed to escape after losing several guards. The others are unaccounted for?"
Yahiko looked tense. "I've dispatched most of our ninja for rescue operations and asked stationed shinobi from other nations for assistance. But some of the daimyo left early, the farthest group is already miles away. Your speed is unmatched. Could I ask you to personally intervene?"
Akio nodded. "Mark their routes on the map."
"Thank you."
As Yahiko turned to do so, Akio frowned slightly.
Something didn't add up.
He already knew that young man could control White Zetsu. If this was their doing, it had to be deliberate, but the timing made no sense. Akatsuki had already been established. Attacking minor-nation daimyo now served no purpose.
If the goal was intimidation, killing a few guards wouldn't accomplish much. It would only unite those nations against Akatsuki. Some might withdraw out of fear, but those types were dead weight anyway.
More importantly, no Edo Tensei forces were used. Only White Zetsu. And even then, three daimyo escaped.
That wasn't an extermination; it was a distraction.
"Senior, the map," Yahiko said, snapping him out of it.
Akio took it and vanished again, reappearing beside Jiraiya.
"They already left?" he asked.
Jiraiya smirked. "Looks like they ran off to rescue some kunoichi from the Land of Keys."
"Oh?" Akio smirked back then immediately sobered. "Go check on Tsunade's gambling den. I'm worried Hashirama and Mito might lose control."
Jiraiya stiffened at once and disappeared.
Akio turned to Kimimaro's group.
"Wait here. I'll be back shortly."
"Yes, my lord."
"Yes, Great Elder."
Akio shot skyward, the black sphere flattening beneath his feet like a floating platform. He unfolded the map.
"Let's start here… the Land of Claws. They trade with the Land of Whirlpoolshm?"
A faint flash of fire lit the southeast horizon.
Akio's expression changed instantly.
"That distance… that light—"
His voice dropped.
"A Tailed Beast Bomb. Yagura. The Three-Tails."
Everything clicked.
"So that's it. Lure me away, then strike the jinchūriki?"
A cold smile followed. "Bold starting this early."
A Sage-like cloak wrapped around him as he accelerated, leaving a streak across the sky like a blazing contrail.
He crossed dozens of miles in under two minutes.
Dense mist filled the air ahead.
At its center loomed the massive shape of Isobu, the Three-Tails.
"Just in time," Akio muttered. "But whoever Yagura's fighting is—"
He took a deep breath.
"Wind Style—Strong Gust."
It wasn't a particularly inspired name.
Infused with wind chakra, his exhale exploded outward, tearing through the mist and clearing the battlefield.
As the fog dispersed, Akio's brow furrowed.
"…Digging up graves now, huh? You bastard."
Standing before him was a gaunt, middle-aged man radiating overwhelming presence—even while bound by Edo Tensei.
The former leader of the Senju clan.
Hashirama's father.
Senju Butsuma.
"Fully controlled… no consciousness?" Akio muttered.
The black sphere launched.
"Earth Style—Earth Shore Return!"
Butsuma formed seals instantly. A massive slab of stone erupted in its path, but it didn't slow the sphere in the slightest.
At the last second, Butsuma twisted his body unnaturally, narrowly evading the attack through sheer battlefield instinct.
Akio frowned and prepared to recall the sphere
When Butsuma spoke.
"…Where is this?"
Akio froze. "He regained awareness?"
"A Tailed Beast…? Why am I here? I remember"
His eyes locked onto Akio. "Uzumaki Akio?! Was this your doing?!"
"Senior?" Yagura asked, reverting to human form as he approached. "You know him?"
Akio nodded slowly. "The young man isn't here… so it must be Roshi and the Four-Tails. Restoring his mind to stall me? He really thinks I'm that stupid."
"Uzumaki Akio!" Butsuma roared. "Why am I here?! Where are Hashirama and Tobirama?!"
Akio glanced back at him.
"So dying gives you an excuse to forget your own uncle?"
His smile turned sharp.
"Listen well. Your uncle will always be your uncle."
Akio blurred forward.
Five seconds later
Senju Butsuma was torn apart, reduced to fragments of dust and chakra.
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