"You realize how dangerous your current position is, right?" Akio said calmly.
"Have you considered leaving the Hidden Mist and joining the Land of Whirlpools? I'll personally guarantee your safety."
"No, no, no."
Yagura shook his head so hard it was like one of those novelty desk toys.
"Really? Not even a little tempted?" Akio grinned. "I could even introduce you to my daughter."
Yagura froze. "…Your daughter?"
"That's right. My daughter. Don't look so terrified," Akio said casually.
"She's not that old, only thirty. Takes after me, so she looks like she's in her early twenties. You're twenty-one, right? Even if you look twelve, I'd say you're a decent match"
"No, thank you!" Yagura said quickly. "The Mizukage has treated me very well. I can't betray my village."
Akio blinked, then his thoughts veered off course.
"…Wait. Don't tell me you like Mei Terumī?"
Yagura's face turned beet red.
"I-I don't! That's not, You've misunderstood!"
Akio laughed.
"Well, she is pretty charming. Makes sense she'd have an effect on kids your age. Think it over. I've got other matters to attend to."
"Haaah… that awful turtle smell," a chubby cat yawned from Akio's arms as they stepped outside.
"Last time it was a 'damn fox,' now it's a 'damn turtle,'" Akio said dryly.
"Is there any tailed beast you actually like?"
The fat cat froze.
"Meow! The Two-Tails dares disturb my refined sensibilities?! I don't even hate turtles!"
Akio chuckled. The idiot cat had picked up his way of talking without realizing it.
With a few flickers of movement, he vanished and reappeared beside Kimimaro and the others.
"Lord Akio! …Eh? A cat?" Kimimaro said.
"Meow~ It's you again, annoying brat."
Haku smiled warmly.
"Elder, you're back! Hello, kitty."
"You finally came back! I thought you forgot about us!" Karin complained.
"How could I?" Akio raised an eyebrow.
"I might forget anyone else, but never Kimimaro or Haku."
Karin: "???"
"Meow~ All clear then?" the fat cat said nervously, avoiding Kimimaro's gaze.
"I'd better head back. The little girl will worry if I'm gone too long."
Akio scratched its head.
"Go. If anything happens, reverse-summon me immediately. Stay alert."
"Meow~ Got it."
The cat kicked off Akio's chest with its thick hind legs, flashed in white light, and vanished.
Akio brushed off the paw prints on his clothes and thought for a moment.
"Let's go. We'll grab dinner, then turn in."
There was no need to worry about the casino.
A chakra-restricted Hashirama probably couldn't beat Tsunade anyway and Jiraiya had rushed over as well.
After a simple meal at a nearby restaurant, Akio learned from Karin that Obito's group had already returned to Konoha.
Kakashi's second attempt at playing the hero had failed.
By the time they arrived, the fight was already over and the Key Country hadn't suffered a single casualty.
Still, Kakashi gained Hanalin's overwhelming gratitude… and even a hug.
That part was relayed by Karin courtesy of Obito.
"That brat…" Akio laughed.
"The Land of Rain is about to get lively. Ōnoki will probably come in person. The Hidden Mist will have to send someone too. And Konoha won't stay out of it, they'll send a high-ranking figure for sure."
The Next Day
Before any foreign villages arrived, Yahiko urgently summoned Akio to the Central Tower of the Land of Rain.
"What's wrong?" Akio frowned, scanning the room.
His gaze paused on the girl who had guided him before.
"Konan no… little Shion, right? What happened?"
Shion looked devastated, eyes brimming with tears.
"I had someone sketch the Akatsuki leader's appearance yesterday and distributed the image," Yahiko explained.
"This morning, she came to me and said she's seen him before and even saved him."
"…What?" Akio froze. "Explain."
"I didn't know he was an enemy…" Shion said softly.
"Speak up, kid," Ringo's sharp voice came from behind Akio.
"Stop mumbling."
"Yes, Lady Ringo!" Shion snapped to attention.
Akio glanced back.
"You didn't say anything, I almost forgot you were here. Where'd you go yesterday?"
"Ringo is a former Mist-nin," Yahiko explained.
"It wasn't appropriate for her to show herself."
"Tch…"
Akio nodded and turned back to Shion, softening his expression into what he thought was a gentle smile.
"Don't be nervous. Tell me where you met him and how you saved him."
Shion shrank back slightly.
"It's okay," Yahiko said reassuringly.
Shion's face flushed.
"O-Okay!"
Akio: "..."
"I think it was January nineteenth," she said.
"I found him about two kilometers southwest of the Land of Rain… on a mountain. He'd been knocked unconscious by a wild boar."
"January nineteenth…" Akio nodded slowly.
"If even a boar could take him out, he really was badly injured. Go on."
She hesitated, then glanced at Yahiko.
He smiled encouragingly.
"I… I helped him," she said quietly.
"And I gave him two steamed buns."
She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for punishment.
Akio chuckled, but his thoughts grew heavy.
I searched that direction back then. Even Rain scouts went through the area, nothing.
Did that bastard find a way to completely suppress his chakra presence? That's troublesome…
"Anything else?"
Shion opened her eyes, clenched her fists, and said,
"Before he left, he said it was to thank me… and gave me a summoning scroll."
She pulled it from her clothes and nervously handed it to Yahiko.
"He gave you a summoning contract and you didn't question who he was?" Yahiko said, unrolling it.
"…A panda summon? That's rare. No one else has signed this contract."
"A panda?" Akio blinked.
"Yes. Is something wrong?" Yahiko asked.
"With your status, acquiring rare summons shouldn't be difficult."
Akio's mouth twitched.
He'd lived this long and never once heard of pandas existing in the ninja world.
Maybe I really should read more.
After checking carefully, Yahiko handed the scroll to Akio.
"Senior, take a look."
Akio brushed chakra over it, erased a young man's imprint, and calmly returned it to Shion.
"The scroll is fine. Give me your hand."
Shion's face lit up as she hesitantly complied.
Akio examined her for a moment, then shook his head.
"She's clean."
The mark on the scroll had only been a sensory seal.
Judging by things, a fair amount of Rain Village intel had probably leaked through Shion but since she was unaware, Akio chose not to burden her further.
"I see…" Yahiko sighed.
"If we'd distributed the Akatsuki leader's portrait earlier, this mess might've been avoided.
Shion, don't worry, we won't punish you."
Akio nodded, then looked toward the window.
Outside, a Rain jonin sprinted toward the tower.
"Leader! The Third Hokage of Konoha has appeared near the Land of Rain with an escort!"
Akio froze.
"Hiruzen came personally?"
Yahiko stood at once.
"I'll go meet him!"
"Leader!" the jonin added quickly.
"The Hokage is accompanied by dozens of ninja and they're advancing aggressively!"
Akio and Yahiko exchanged confused looks.
"…What is Hiruzen trying to do?"
---
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