The mood in the Village was depressing; there was no other word for it. The few people on the streets hurried to and from their destination, not stopping to chat or casually shop. Stores were open, yet empty, and subtle traces of the attack could still be seen. By the time that we neared Kushina's house, my mood had soured, but I had a crazy way to make it better.
"You two stay back," I said as I kept walking to Kushina's front door.
Kakashi and Rin looked at me with confusion but listened to my instructions and stopped. Chuckling to myself, I silently walked onto her porch then kicked open her door with no warning. There was a clatter from the kitchen before a red-headed missile came flying at me fist first. With my Yang Chakra Enhanced Strength, I caught her fist easily as I laughed.
"Hi, Nee-san!" I said cheerfully.
"Akari? The real you?" Kushina said with surprise then pulled me into a hug. "What brings... oh, hello Rin, Kakashi."
"Hello, Kushina-san," Rin commented with a light smile while Kakashi simply nodded his head.
"I wanted to ensure they made it here safe."
"Come on in, the three of you... and you're paying for my door, Akari," Kushina said then walked inside her house.
"Yeah, yeah, money bags," I retorted, knowing just how much money the Uzumaki Princess had, then looked at Rin and Kakashi. "Well?"
Rin looked like she was holding back a chuckle while Kakashi just stared at me with a deadpan expression, but they both walked into the house. I followed behind then tried to shut the door as best as I could with a smirk. There was a bit of awkwardness in the room, though, that my antics could not solve right away.
"Can I see the seal?" Kushina asked, looking at Rin.
"Umm..." Rin said softly, glancing towards Kakashi, so I yanked his forehead protector down over his visible eye. She blushed lightly with embarrassment, but lifted her shirt, revealing a black spiral ringed by fuinjutsu symbols that made eight points on her stomach.
Kushina placed her fingers on the seal as she sent a thread of her chakra into the seal, checking it carefully. "It's stable, though it may be because the Three-Tails is resting. How do you feel, Rin?"
Rin lowered her shirt when Kushina removed her hand and looked down at the ground. "I... I don't know. I still feel like me, but..."
"You're still you, Rin; being a jinchuriki doesn't change that," Kushina said.
"But... I'm dangerous," she said softly.
"Welcome to the club, most shinobi are far more dangerous than people realize," I retorted, nudging Kakashi, who understood and pulled up his forehead protector. "I can name seven people who could stop the Three-Tails if something ever went wrong, and one of the best is standing right in front of you."
"Don't worry, Rin, I'll teach you everything that you need to know," Kushina said confidently.
"Will... will people treat me differently?" she asked, looking up at Kushina.
Kushina's expression fell, knowing how the commoners shunned her, but before she could say anything, Kakashi remarked, "I won't."
I gave him a mental thumbs-up because it was exactly what Rin needed to hear. The sad truth was that she would be treated differently by nearly everyone in the Village. Aside from the general fear, her movements would be restricted and the people that visited her would be closely monitored. Even having a relationship with someone would be something that the Village leaders discussed more than she likely would.
"Your real friends won't either," I added. "I still need to check in with my father, but I'll come by later. I'll bring your official orders, so stay here until I return."
"Understood, Commander," Kakashi replied while Rin just nodded.
"Give the old man my regards," Kushina said.
"Will do," I said before I teleported myself to Shikaku's side.
Instantly, I recognized the interior of the Hokage's Tower, but we were not in my father's office. Judging by the smooth, gray stone walls and cool, yet stale air, we were in one of the secure bunkers under the tower. Shikaku and my father were not alone as Homura and Koharu were also sitting around the table. My sudden arrival had startled everyone except Shikaku, who was used to me teleporting in and out of places.
Ignoring the elders, my eyes focused on Hiruzen and the empty sleeve on his left side. He looked exhausted and like he had aged another twenty years since the last time that I saw him. When he looked back at me, I could see the pride and hope in his eyes.
"Akari," Hiruzen said. "You have recovered."
"Yes, father, thanks to Tsunade and Lady Katsuyu," I replied with a slight bow of my head.
"Where is the new jinchuriki?" Homura asked sternly.
"Rin Nohara is with Kushina," I answered, crossing my arms and giving him a hard look.
While he did not vocalize it, his annoyance was clear on his face.
"Sit, Akari, there is a lot that we need to discuss," Hiruzen said, motioning towards a seat at his side.
I sat down beside him and across from Shikaku, sealing my fate for the next five hours. There really was not much of a reason for me to be there as they went over personnel reports, logistical figures, and the bits of intel that they had recovered from various spies, but I knew why I was pulled into the conversation when I saw the look in my father's eyes. His time as Hokage was over, even if the war ended tomorrow, so now he was placing his hopes on me to carry the mantle. I could only sigh internally, but nothing and no one could convince me to take up the thankless job.
"... And, finally, the Daimyo's envoy arrived yesterday, inquiring about when we plan to end the war and threatening this year's funding," Homura explained.
"As if it is a simple matter," Koharu scoffed.
"What are your thoughts, Shikaku?" Hiruzen asked.
Shikaku leaned back in his chair, pressing his fingertips together, as he thought. It was a familiar pose, though he looked more serious as the stakes were much larger than just the Mist front.
"All of the Villages are tired, low on money and troops... The Cloud's situation is almost paradoxical. Of the Great Villages, they have lost the least number of troops, yet it can also be said that they lost their most important person, so it's doubtful they will stop fighting. The Stone accomplished an impressive feat by killing the Raikage, so they won't surrender easily, even with the losses they took.
"Only the Mist have lost enough to consider true peace talks, but the Mizukage hasn't been making the most rational decisions. We've discovered that there is even more dissension than normal in their Village from the dead Mist shinobi, so with this loss, his position is going to be unstable. If he was to be assassinated by Ice or Boil Release, it would be assumed to be a coup and allow another to fill the position, who can negotiate a settlement for peace," Shikaku spoke, glancing at me at the end.
"How would you propose doing that? Have you made contact with the Yuki or Terumi clans?" Koharu asked with surprise, and possibly suspicion.
"No, we don't have contact with any of Mist shinobi."
"Then how...?" Hiruzen started to ask then noticed that Shikaku was staring at me.
"I may have developed another Kekkei Genkai... or two," I sighed, closing my eyes.
"What?!?" the elders and my father exclaimed in unison a few moments later.
"They are roughly on par with my Lava Release, and I only have a handful of self-made jutsus since I focus most of my energy combining them into my nin-taijutsu," I explained.
"Three Kekkei Genkais," Homura muttered.
"How long?" Hiruzen asked.
"I experimented a little while on the Sand front, but I've been able to develop them while on the Mist front since Shikaku handles most of my duties," I answered, which made Hiruzen lower his head in thought.
"Can you do it?" Koharu asked.
"It should be possible, though sailing close enough to get one of my Flying Thunder God marks inside their Village will be the true dangerous part. They know the seas better than we do, so staying unseen could be difficult."
"If you're discovered, the chances of peace talks could completely fall through before they even begin," Homura warned, stroking his beard. "You may not be able to rely on the Flying Thunder God jutsu to escape."
"I know the risks, but I believe that I can accomplish the mission... and, if I was discovered, I have the means to implicate the Stone," I chuckled.
"Your Lava Release is already documented; that won't be enough," Homura said.
"Perhaps, but Explosion Release isn't and belongs uniquely to the Stone."
Homura's mouth opened, but nothing came out as he stared at me. Koharu's eyes widened in disbelief while my father raised his head, looking at me seriously.
"You have developed Explosion Release?" Hiruzen asked.
"Yes."
"Have you created more?"
I smiled and shrugged my shoulders. "You know me, father; I don't show all of my cards unless I have to."
"Why have you hidden this from the council?" Koharu demanded.
I raised a brow and looked at her with disdain. "I already draw enough attention on the battlefield as the Front Commander and daughter of the Third Hokage. Going around bragging about my abilities is an excellent way to get myself killed, or worse, a stronger attack on the front. I already fought off the Six-Tails without anyone know my full capabilities, but please, go on and tell me how revealing more would have helped the Village, instead of painting a giant target on my back."
"You..." Koharu growled.
"Enough," Hiruzen said, "We do not require our ninjas to disclose all of their abilities, including my daughter."
"If Akari has multiple Kekkei Genkais, she may be too valuable to risk on this mission. If her abilities could be passed onto her children..." Homura started.
"No, don't even start," I snapped. "I have no plans to have children, and even if I did, you have no right start planning their futures."
"If we start picking which Kekkei Genkais are more important than others, the Village will tear itself apart," Hiruzen sighed.
"Besides, only Akari has a chance to pull off this mission," Shikaku stated, tapping the table with his hand. "If we want a chance of ending the war with the Mist soon, our best chance is removing the Mizukage."
My father stroked his beard for a few moments while he shut his eyes in thought. He was just missing his smoking pipe to complete the picture in my head, but that made me realize how difficult that would be for him to do now with his missing arm.
"Akari will proceed with the assassination," he said as he opened his eyes. "This is a stealth mission, but... if Konoha is exposed, show the Mist, and the Shinobi World, why we are the strongest Hidden Village."
Shikaku's eyes widened and he questioned, "You're wanting her to become a deterrent?"
"Not exactly... Akari's usage of the Flying Thunder God technique has already proven to be invaluable on the Mist front, but she's still only considered a powerful jonin and good commander. Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya reputations were built during the Second Shinobi War while Minato has already become famous as the Yellow Flash. If Akari demonstrates more of her abilities, she'll no longer be just a powerful jonin, but a pillar of the Village like the other four," Hiruzen explained.
I sighed internally, but I knew that it was time to reveal more of my abilities. Asuma and Guy had already seen me use Ice Release, and I had not bothered to hide my Laser Release during the large-scale assault, so the stories would ineitably spread. Madara and Black Zetsu were still a concern, but I had likely already pissed them off by saving Rin. Aside from those two, there were few that could kill me directly with my clones, Flying Thunder God, and now Sage Mode.
"Alright… if my mission is compromised, I'll send the Mist a proper message," I agreed after a few moments.
"Any objections?" Hiruzen asked.
Koharu looked as if she had swallowed a fly while Homura simply nodded his head without an expression. Shikaku sighed, shaking his head, then gave me a small apologetic look, no doubt for making me reveal more of my abilities.
"Then the rest of you are dismissed. Akari, stay and talk with me for a while."
Homura, Koharu, and Shikaku nodded their head and stood up before walking out of the room. My father took off the Hokage hat and placed it on the table, slightly between us. With a sigh, he turned so that he could look at me directly as his fingers drummed against the brim of the hat.
"Akari, I know that I haven't been the best father. There have been too many times where I have placed the needs of the Village, and even the Clan, over the needs of you and your brothers," he said with a heavy sigh. "From the moment that I first held you in my arms, I knew that you were special and that I wanted to protect you from the world even though I knew that I wouldn't be able to. You've exceeded every expectation that I ever had for you and made me proud to be your father."
"Geeze," I said, rubbing the back of my head awkwardly. "You're laying it on kind of thick, aren't you, old man?"
Hiruzen chuckled lightly and replied, "When you find that your life has suddenly changed, you can't help but look back and wonder what could have been different."
"Yeah," I sighed as I leaned back in my chair, thinking of my own brush with death.
"Have you truly recovered?" he asked after a few moments.
"Ninety-five percent or so... I can move around without hurting myself, but my new scar burns. I got lucky, really lucky. I had spread myself too thin across the front then the Six-Tails appeared at the main camp, and before I could recover, I had to deal with the Three-Tails situation... Thankfully, Lady Katsuyu specializes in healing and was able to bring Tsunade to also help," I explained, having thought about failings while I recovered.
"Take a day or two here to rest. Your mother has been worried about you and Asuma, so it would be good for you to see her before you leave; I'll even make time to join you for dinner tomorrow night."
I smiled lightly and nodded my head. "Alright, dinner tomorrow at the family house."
"I'll tell your mother," he promised.
I stood up and gave him a slight bow. To my surprise, though maybe I should have seen it coming, he stood and gave me a hug. I sighed and hugged him back.
For most of my life, when those Hokage robes were on, he was the leader of the Village. I could get away with a more casual attitude with him, especially as my strength grew, but there was always a barrier between the Hokage him and the 'him' that was my father. It felt as if he was at peace with stepping down and brought that barrier down with it.
"I'll be staying with Kushina until I return to the front; I'll see you tomorrow," I said when he pulled back.
He nodded his head, so I teleported away before anything else could be said. I did not head directly to Kushina, but rather to my apartment and collected a few minor things. Since I was trying to waste time, I went shopping for food and treats for the front as the stress and emotions from the meeting faded. I knew what he wanted to ask me, but the biggest sign of change within him was that he did not. The mantle of Hokage meant everything to him, and he had always wanted to pass it down to one of his children, but he also knew that it was something I never wanted as we had fought about it in the past.
Times really were changing, and I had no true idea of how things would play out from here. So many things had changed...